Chen Chonghe Memorial Hall Introduction
The Chen Cheng-Ho Memorial Museum, located in Lingya District, was once the residence of the prestigious Chen Cheng-Ho family in Kaohsiung. Completed in 1925, this Baroque-style mansion sits on a land area of 900 ping (about 2980 square meters) and features a garden that spans 2700 ping (about 8915 square meters). The building is exquisitely designed, elegant, and grand, making it the first private Western-style building in the Kaohsiung area. The structure is a two-story brick building, adorned with archways, columns, corridors, gable ends, and other Western architectural elements. Inside, the layout follows a nine-square grid design, featuring classical gables, dormer windows, keystones, parquet floors, window frames, and stone columns, all embodying traditional Minnan architectural styles, fully showcasing its eclectic architectural characteristics of Minnan and Western styles. Once a magnificent mansion, the building has faded with the passage of time. In 1996, a foundation established by the Chen family commissioned the Department of Architecture of National Cheng Kung University to restore the site according to historical records and open it to the public, while also displaying family artifacts. Strolling along the corridors filled with the charm of yesteryears, visitors can savor the architectural beauty and the historical elegance of the erstwhile aristocracy. Cultural activities enrich the soul, and one can gaze at the sunset over the harbor from the railings, taking in the boundless and beautiful sea view.
