Yangmei Story Park Introduction
In 1948, Principal Zhang Fang-jie, entrusted by the local community of Yangmei, initiated the establishment of Yangmei Junior High School, collaborating with local gentry to successfully found the school through self-funded efforts. He was appointed as the first principal and later established eight junior high school branches of Yangmei Junior High School in the South Taoyuan area, laying the educational foundation for South Taoyuan. The early years of founding the school were challenging; at the beginning, during the seventh period each day, all teachers and students had to manually transport stones from the Laokeng Creek to help build their campus. Every stone became a memory, and the collective effort strengthened their bonds, becoming a shared recollection for early alumni. The revitalization of the "Yangmei Story Park" not only allows alumni to reminisce about the spirit of self-schooling from the seventh period but also showcases Hakka culture and the spirit of learning, making it worthwhile for tourists to deeply experience the unique local culture of Yangmei. The principal's dormitory, built during the early post-war period, features a blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles, with a façade made of exposed aggregate and elegant lines. The indoor space is about 50 ping and is equipped with a living room, study, master bedroom, children’s study, and a shared dormitory. Notably, the "student dormitory" was once provided by Principal Zhang for students who faced transportation difficulties or came from poor families, allowing them to study and dine with the Zhang family. During the summer vacation, the dormitory served as the venue for entrance examination preparations, making this space historically significant. The West Zhao Lou, located just across the street from the principal's dormitory, was once the staff dormitory of Yangmei Junior High School, consisting of nine households, each with a door and a window. Currently, West Zhao Lou is used as a cultural and artistic exhibition space and a multifunctional performing venue to promote the culture and arts of Yangmei and Hakka communities.
