Li District Story Forest Introduction
Li Elementary School Japanese Dormitory is located next to Li Elementary School in Zhongli. Built in 1917, it was originally used as a dormitory for the staff of Zhongli Public School and continued to serve as the staff dormitory for Li Elementary School after the government relocated to Taiwan. In 2015, it was officially registered as a historical building. The dormitory complex consists of three buildings: one duplex Japanese-style dormitory, one single-unit Japanese-style dormitory, and one continuous brick building. The dormitory complex bears witness to the enlightenment of modern education in the Zhongli area and is valuable for studying architectural techniques from the Japanese colonial period. The site is conveniently located in the heart of Zhongli City and reflects the historical development of the old streets from the Japanese colonial era to the present, rich in historical significance and value. The dormitory cluster preserves precious old trees and features an outdoor second-floor observation platform, providing a panoramic view of the complex and showcasing the characteristics of Japanese black tiles and Minnan red tiles. The Li Elementary School Japanese Dormitory was registered as a historical building in 2015, with research, restoration, and reuse planning completed in 2016. Restoration efforts began in July 2017 and were completed on schedule in August 2018. Generally, the life cycle for the restoration and reuse of cultural assets is five years, but the Li Elementary School Japanese Dormitory was repurposed and restored in less than four years. The cultural bureau, while commissioning a private team for operations, also collaborated with the administrative team of Li Elementary School, environmental education instructors, and a professional curatorial team to launch new education exhibitions and showcase the features of the Japanese dormitory upon its opening. They integrated local curriculum and environmental education learning plans to implement parent-child reading, storytelling, listening to stories, and food education experiences in the facility. The Li Elementary School Japanese Dormitory was named "Li Little Story Forest" through public voting and is positioned as a space for parent-child education. Currently managed by the Taoyuan City Goodness and Beauty Social Welfare Foundation, it provides spaces for reading, storytelling, lectures, and food education, creating a comfortable and safe environment for parent-child interaction and diverse learning while collecting memories of everyday life, old photos, oral histories, and anecdotes from Zhongli residents. (Source: Taoyuan City Cultural Bureau)
