Hsin Fang Chun Tea Shop Introduction
Dadaocheng was once Taiwan's gateway to the world. Through the export trade of tea and camphor, the sparks of modern Western civilization and traditional Han culture ignited along the banks of the Daan River, whether through the performance of modern dramas or the competing showcases of opera troupes, as well as the flourishing coffee salons and tea culture. In the first half of the 20th century, Dadaocheng was thriving. The "New Fangchun Tea House," built in 1934, witnessed this period of prosperity. It was the residence built by tea merchant Wang Lianhe, who moved with his family from Anxi, Fujian to Taiwan. This Japanese colonial period building, which blends Western and Chinese styles, is one of the few mixed-use western-style buildings in Taipei that has been completely preserved. It was designated as a historic site by the city in 2009, and underwent a four-year restoration from 2011 to 2015. In the same year, the building, holding significant historical value, was donated to the Taipei City Government by its original owner. Since officially taking over the "New Fangchun Tea House" in May 2016, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taipei City Government launched several special exhibitions on September 20, 2016, including "The Brilliant Glory of Dadaocheng's Old Tea House," "The Story of the New Fangchun Old Building," "The Aesthetic Exhibition of Purple Dadaocheng," and "Revisiting the Fragrant Years of Dadaocheng Tea," which showcased the historical and cultural context of the industry, aiming to introduce the historical site and the flourishing years of Dadaocheng's tea merchants to the public. In 2018, the Cultural Affairs Bureau entrusted the historic site to the Taiwan Creative Content Agency for management, injecting innovation and revitalizing energy into the New Fangchun Tea House with three main themes: "Living Tea Story Museum," "Tea Creative Development Platform," and "Connecting with Friends through Tea." The tea house revitalizes the past commercial scene with a concept of integrated exhibition and sales, planning a composite tea and book space for domestic and international tourists and the public that includes "books, creative products, tea beverages, and exhibition activities." The opening theme exhibition "Fangchun Tea Trail – The Golden Years of Taiwanese Tea" inherits the story of Taiwanese tea's export to Europe and America and its popularity in world exhibitions, while also narrating the journey of the tea house's deep engagement in the Southeast Asian market through its rich cultural artifacts of trade, enabling visitors to better understand Dadaocheng and appreciate the historical splendor of the New Fangchun Tea House. (Source: Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taipei City Government)
