Checheng Wood Industry Exhibition Hall Introduction
Checheng flourished during the Japanese colonial period due to the transportation and trade of sugarcane, camphor, and timber, as well as the manpower and resources introduced by the Japanese for the Sun Moon Lake hydropower project. In 1958, Mr. Sun Hai, the chairman of the lumber industry giant Cheng Chuang Industry, acquired logging rights in the Nantou Daanlin area, taking advantage of the convenient transportation. He established a factory in Checheng to produce timber for domestic and export markets, which during its peak attracted more than 2,000 workers, leading to a second golden era for Checheng, earning it the nickname "Little Taipei" alongside Shui-Li. After the 1970s, forestry policies shifted to focus on reforestation and land conservation, leaving the domestic and export lumber industry struggling under government bans on logging. Many faced factory closures or the need to transform. Cheng Chuang Industry shifted its focus primarily to the export of raw timber, rendering the sawmill obsolete, which eventually led to its abandonment. To enhance the tourism and recreational resources of the Checheng area and improve visitors' understanding of the historical timber industry, the former factory—originally regarded as a valuable industrial heritage site—was reconstructed into the Checheng Wood Industry Exhibition Hall. Opened in June 2008, this exhibition hall offers visitors insights into the heyday of Taiwan's lumber industry. Notably, the wooden framework of the old factory dates back to the early 20th century and was considered a highly advanced design in the 1950s. Thus, in reconstructing the wood industry exhibition hall, the design philosophy of "overlapping the new and the old" was adopted, preserving the old framework. The restored old framework becomes an exhibit within the creative wood industry hall, while new frameworks are added on top of the old structure, creating an interesting blend of new and old wooden elements in the same space. The intricate supports fill the space with variation and unique aesthetic beauty, allowing visitors to witness the evolution of history and progress through time. At the exhibition hall, besides visiting the refurbished factory and reliving the scene of sawmilling from the 1950s, various types of timber are displayed. Upon entering the exhibition area, one can smell the unique fragrances of different woods, reminiscent of stepping into a forest and enjoying the refreshing aroma of phytoncides. A visit to the Wood Industry Exhibition Hall provides a deeper understanding of the development of forestry in Taiwan.
