Xinfucheng Cultural Market Introduction
Xinfu Township Grocery Market was completed in 1935 and belongs to the later period of the Japanese colonial era public markets. The buildings within the market feature various materials from that time. The main structure of the market is a horseshoe-shaped single-story building supported by reinforced concrete beams, with walls made of reinforced brick. Additionally, there are auxiliary buildings including wooden Japanese-style dormitories and brick public toilets, which symbolize the modernization of the market during that period; unfortunately, they have not been completely preserved over time. In 1930, the Taipei Prefectural Government announced the "Grocery Market Regulations," which detailed specifications for the construction and spatial configuration of market buildings based on sanitation considerations. Against this backdrop, the "Xinfu Grocery Market" was completed; other markets constructed during the same period, such as the Taipingli Grocery Market (1938, now abolished), the Xingli Grocery Market (1938, now "Xing'an Market"), and the Rufenchong Grocery Market (1938, now "Zhi Xing Market") have all been renovated or abolished, making Xinfu Market a precious example in public market architecture during the Japanese colonial period that showcases modern sanitation standards and architectural styles. At the time of its construction, the market's site was approximately 506 ping, and the building was about 199 ping, surrounded by a red brick wall about 160 cm high. The main building's walls are made of reinforced brick, with the exterior featuring a refined horizontal decorative line made of washed gravel. Each entrance has a rain canopy above, the roof is cast in concrete, and supported by reinforced concrete beams. The overall architectural style is simple, with little decoration, and possesses strong functionality; for instance, its horseshoe-shaped floor plan is quite rare among public markets in Taiwan, creating a smooth shopping flow with a unique central skylight that meets the needs for ventilation and lighting within the market. (Source: Xinfu Cultural Market website)
