Chen Tianlai's Former Residence Introduction
**Cultural asset restoration suspended on March 27, 2024**. The restoration of the building is expected to be completed from the end of 2026 to early 2027. Dadaocheng was one of the most prosperous metropolitan areas in Taiwan in its early days, and Guider Street is known for its association with tea. Many merchants engaged in the tea trade became wealthy, including Chen Tianlai, who founded Jinji Tea House and invested in entertainment businesses such as Penglai Pavilion, First Theater, and Yongle Theater. The former residence of Chen Tianlai, located at No. 73 Guider Street, was once the "Jinji Tea House." This three-story building in Neo-Baroque style was constructed in 1920, with the first floor serving as a trading space, the second floor as a tea merchant's guesthouse, and the third floor as a residence. Its grand European-style exterior features a central body flanked by two side towers, adorned with decorative elements such as hanging flowers and brackets, along with classical columns and large arcades, exuding a romantic atmosphere. It was once a popular guesthouse where Dadaocheng tea merchants gathered to enjoy tea and overlook the Tamsui River dock, becoming renowned far and wide. Additionally, there was a private garden at the back, adjacent to Gangzi Gou (now Xining North Road), which is an important witness to the glory years of Dadaocheng in the first half of the 20th century.
