Dadaocheng Gu Family Mansion Introduction
The Gu Family Salt Warehouse, located at Lane 9, Guizui Street 303, was built in 1910 by Gu Xianrong, the father of Gu Zhenfu, the former chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council. Since the Gu family operated a salt business at that time, this mansion has also been known as the "Salt Warehouse." It faces the Tamsui River pier, originally built for business purposes, allowing boats to dock directly in front of the house. The Gu family moved out of the mansion in 1961, and in 1963, the current site was established as Rongxing Kindergarten, which continues to this day. This building is quite distinctive, designed in a neoclassical late Renaissance style, featuring a portico at the front, pale yellow brick exterior, elegant arched windows, and glazed flower railings, along with intricate emblems and relief decorations on the central gable, reflecting the trend of Western influence during that era and representing the homes of the wealthy. Inside the house, the exquisite cypress wood ceiling and staircase have been remarkably well preserved, and the walls display the markings of the Daihe Trading Company managed by Gu Xianrong. The Gu Family Salt Warehouse not only witnessed the prosperity of the Gu family but also became a page of history in Taipei.
