Checheng Wood Industry Museum Introduction
During the Japanese colonial period, Checheng flourished due to the transportation and trade of sugar, camphor, and timber, along with the manpower and resources brought in for the construction of the Sun Moon Lake hydropower project. In 1958, Mr. Sun Hai, the chairman of the forestry giant Chen Chang Industrial, acquired the logging rights in the Danda Forest Area of Nantou, capitalizing on the convenience of transportation. He purchased land in Checheng to establish a factory for timber production and both domestic and international sales. At its peak, this industry attracted over 2,000 workers, marking a second golden age for Checheng, which became known as "Little Taipei" in the Checheng and Waterfall areas. However, after the 1970s, forestry policies shifted to focus on reforestation and land conservation, leading to challenges for the sawmill industry under government logging bans. Many businesses faced closures or the need to pivot, and Chen Chang Industrial, which primarily exported raw timber, found the sawmill operations obsolete, leading to their cessation and subsequent abandonment. To enhance the tourism and recreational resources in the Checheng region and help visitors understand the historical development of the timber industry, the former factory, which was regarded as a precious industrial heritage site, was rebuilt into the Checheng Wood Industry Exhibition Hall. Opened in June 2008, the exhibition hall offers tourists an insight into the past glory of Taiwan's wood industry. Notably, the wooden framework of the old factory is a product from the early 20th century and was considered quite advanced for the 1950s. Thus, in rebuilding the exhibition hall, the design concept of "overlapping new and old" was adopted, preserving the old framework as an exhibit in the creative wood industry hall while adding new wooden structures on top of the old ones, creating an engaging interplay of new and old wood constructions in the same space. The intricate support structures make the space dynamic and aesthetically unique, allowing visitors to witness the historical progression and advancement of the times. Visiting the exhibition hall not only allows one to explore the renovated factory and relive the sawmilling scenes of the 1950s but also to view various wood displays. Upon entering the exhibition space, one can smell the distinct fragrances of different woods, as if stepping into a forest and enjoying the cleansing essence of phytoncides. A visit to the Wood Industry Exhibition Hall provides a deeper understanding of the development of Taiwan's forestry industry. Opening hours: 04/15 - 10/31 Summer: Weekdays 09:30～17:30, Holidays 09:00～18:00 11/01 - 04/14 Winter: Weekdays 09:00～17:00, Holidays 09:00～18:00 Closure information is subject to on-site or official announcements.
