Yangmei Story Park Introduction
Principal Zhang Fang-jie was entrusted by the local residents of Yangmei to establish Yangmei Junior High School in 1948. Collaborating with local gentlemen, he successfully founded the school through self-financing and was appointed as its first principal. Subsequently, he established eight junior high school branches of Yangmei in the southern Taoyuan area, laying the foundation for education in southern Taoyuan. In the early days, building the school was challenging. At the beginning of the school's establishment, during the seventh period class each day, all teachers and students had to transport stones from Laokeng Creek to create their campus, working together with a shared spirit, which deepened their bonds and became a common memory for early alumni. The revitalization of the "Yangmei Story Park" not only allows alumni to relive the spirit of self-supported school building from that seventh class but also showcases Hakka culture and the spirit of education, making it worth a deep experience of Yangmei's unique local culture for visitors. Principal Zhang provided dormitory accommodations with a heart for nurturing talents. The principal's dormitory, built in the early post-war period, features a blend of Western and Japanese architectural styles, with a façade made of a large amount of washed stones, presenting beautiful lines. The interior space is approximately 50 ping, equipped with a living room, study, master bedroom, children's study, and a dormitory area. Notably, the "student dormitory" was provided by Principal Zhang for students who faced transportation difficulties or came from impoverished backgrounds, allowing them to study and dine with his family. During the summer break, the student dormitory served as a venue for entrance exam preparations, making this space historically significant. Across the street from the principal's dormitory, the Xizhaolun, which used to be the staff dormitory of Yangmei Junior High School, consisted of nine households, each with its own door and window. Currently, Xizhaolun is used as a cultural exhibition and multi-functional performance space to promote the humanities and arts of Yangmei and Hakka communities.
