Linyuan Anle Building Introduction
Anle Building is a Baroque architecture built around 1930. During the Japanese colonial period, it served as an officers' club for the Japanese army, and later transformed into a restaurant and inn. It was once a gathering place for merchants and intellectuals, vibrant and lively, witnessing the flourishing days of Linyuan. Eventually, due to years of neglect, it fell into ruins. It gained some fame as a shooting location for the Golden Bell Award-winning drama "A Touch of Green," becoming a popular spot for Instagram posts. Linyuan was an important military base during the Japanese era, with frequent interactions between soldiers and merchants. The old street (Fuxing Street) and new street (Linyuan North Road) in Linyuan Township were the earliest and most prosperous areas of local development. Located in a small alley off Linyuan North Road, Anle Building currently has its main entrance demolished, with access only through the back door. The inscription "Anle Building Restaurant" on the main entrance plaque has become worn, but the lettering is still vaguely visible. The building is shaped like the letter "M," blending a Japanese garden with Baroque architecture. The staircase leading to the second floor in the center is the most representative and best-preserved part of the building, where many visitors like to take photos. Numerous corners still showcase the original design, including about ten private rooms, restrooms on both floors, with separate facilities for men and women, which were very advanced for that time. The lively nights of the former grand hotel are long gone, and the declining Anle Building is hidden in the alleys of Linyuan. Its story is little known, with many locals unaware of its existence until it was featured in "A Touch of Green," allowing more people to see this elegant and exquisite historical building.
