Chen Tianlai's Former Residence Introduction
※ Cultural heritage restoration will pause operations on March 27, 2024. The building repairs are expected to be completed by the end of 2026 or early 2027. Dadaocheng was once one of the most prosperous metropolises in Taiwan, and Gui De Street is known for its association with tea. Many merchants involved in the tea trade became wealthy, with Chen Tianlai being one of them. Chen Tianlai established the Jin Ji Tea House and invested in entertainment businesses such as the Penglai Pavilion, First Theater, and Yongle Theater. The former residence of Chen Tianlai, located at No. 73 Gui De Street, was once the "Jin Ji Tea House." This three-story building, constructed in 1920 in a neo-Baroque style, features a first floor dedicated to transactions, a second floor serving as a tea merchant's guesthouse, and a third floor for residential use. Its grand and European-style exterior includes a central body and two side towers, adorned with decorative elements like drooping flowers, brackets, classical columns, and arcades, exuding a romantic atmosphere. In the past, it served as a regular gathering place for tea merchants in Dadaocheng to enjoy tea and gaze at the Tamsui River pier; it gained fame far and wide. Additionally, a private garden in the back adjoins the Gangzi Gou (now Xining North Road), making it an important witness to the glory of Dadaocheng in the first half of the 20th century.
