Dongcun Hostel Introduction
"Nanzhuang East Village Dormitory" was established in Showa 10 (1935) and renovated in Showa 15 (1940). It was originally named "Nanzhuang Brain Storage Center," which in Japanese refers to the office for the collection and distribution of brain products. The original layout included a "storage warehouse," "director's office," and "inspector's dormitory." In 2007, in response to local conservation calls, the Miaoli County Government assessed this dormitory as an auxiliary building of forestry, recognized as a significant case in Taiwan's industrial historical architecture, and an important building from the Japanese colonial period in Miaoli County. It is well-preserved, surrounded by beautiful scenery, and has high conservation and reuse value, leading to its designation as a historic building on June 14 of the same year. Currently, this historic building retains only the director's dormitory, the inspector's dormitory, a bathroom, and a toilet. It consists of a single floor connected by three buildings. The architectural features include a mixed-use functionality for both office and living spaces, and it is one of the few remaining small public bath buildings for residential use in Taiwan. The layout comprises an L-shaped office and director's dormitory combined building, an M-shaped inspector's dormitory building, and a standalone building for a public bath and toilet used by the dormitory. The roof design retains traditional Japanese demon heads and ornate roof tiles, with a frame composed of traditional wooden structures, exterior walls featuring unpressed "armored rainproof" panels, a brick foundation, and elevated flooring, representing high cultural and historical preservation value. This site preserves local historical memories and connects to expand the travel routes in Nanzhuang. In 2018, the historic building was repurposed, and efforts were made for restoration and reuse; operating under a "cultural tourism" model, it connects tourist attractions around Nanzhuang Old Street and the diverse bicycle routes of Shitou Mountain, enriching the cultural and tourism characteristics of Nanzhuang, allowing the historical significance of the building to be conveyed and continued through visitors.
