Xinfangchun Tea Shop Introduction
Dadaocheng was once the gateway for Taiwan to the world. Through the export trade of tea and camphor, modern Western civilization and traditional Han culture sparked exciting interactions along the Tamsui River. Whether it was the performances of modern dramas or the student opera troupes, or the rivalry of coffee salons and tea culture, Dadaocheng flourished in the first half of the 20th century. The "Hsin Fung Chun Tea House," built in 1934, serves as a testament to this prosperous era. It was established by Wang Lianhe, a tea merchant from Dadaocheng, who moved with his family from Anxi, Fujian to Taiwan. This building, a blend of Eastern and Western characteristics from the Japanese colonial period, is one of the few preserved mixed-use Western-style buildings in Taipei. Designated as a city historical monument in 2009, it underwent a four-year restoration project from 2011 to 2015. In the same year, the original owner donated this historically valuable monument to the Taipei City Government. Since the Taipei City Bureau of Cultural Affairs officially took over the "Hsin Fung Chun Tea House" in May 2016, it has launched several special exhibitions, including "Return to the Radiant Glory of Dadaocheng's Old Tea Houses," "The Story of the Hsin Fung Chun Old Building," "Purple Dadaocheng Aesthetic Exhibition," and "Revisiting the Elegance of Dadaocheng's Tea Aroma Years," to showcase the historical and cultural context of the industry. In 2018, the Taipei City Bureau of Cultural Affairs entrusted the management of the monument to the Taiwan Cultural Creatives Development Foundation, injecting innovation and vitality into the Hsin Fung Chun Tea House with three main themes: "Living Tea Story Museum," "Tea Cultural Creativity Development Platform," and "Friendship through Tea." The tea house recreated past commercialization scenes with a concept that combines exhibition and sales, and planned a "book, cultural creative products, tea drinks, exhibition activities" four-in-one mixed tea and book space for domestic and international tourists and the public. The opening thematic exhibition, "Fang Chun Tea Path – The Golden Age of Taiwanese Tea," inherits the achievements of Taiwanese tea exported to Europe and America and its popularity at world expos. It also narrates the rich history of trade artifacts from the Hsin Fung Chun Tea House, detailing its deep cultivation in the Southeast Asian market, allowing visitors to better understand Dadaocheng and admire the historical charm of Hsin Fung Chun Tea House. (Source: Taipei City Bureau of Cultural Affairs)
