Dadaocheng Wu Family Mansion Introduction
The Gu Family Salt Warehouse, located at No. 9, Lane 303, Guizui Street, was built in 1910 by Gu Xianrong, the father of the former chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation, Gu Zhenfu. Since the Gu family was engaged in the salt industry at that time, this mansion has been known as the "Salt Warehouse." It faces the Tamsui River wharf, originally built for business purposes so that boats could dock directly in front of the house. The Gu family moved out of the mansion in 1961, and in 1963, Rongxing Kindergarten was established at the current site, which continues to this day. This building is quite distinctive, adopting a Late Western Renaissance architectural style, featuring an arcade in the front, with pale yellow facade bricks, elegant arched windows, and glazed flower railings. The complicated medals and relief decorations on the central gable of the front reflect the trend of Western influences during that era, representing the households of the wealthy at that time. Inside, the finely crafted cypress wood ceilings and staircases are well preserved, and there are still markings of the Taihe Trading Company, which Gu Xianrong operated. The Gu Family Salt Warehouse not only witnessed the prosperity of the Gu family but also stands as a page in the history of Taipei.
