Jinshan Old Airport Ruins and Li Qifeng Ancient Residence Introduction
Heading northwest along Zhongshan Road from the downtown area of Jinshan, after crossing the Huangxi Bridge, there is the Sanzhai Bridge nearby, which has two places suitable for a brief stop. One is the airport ruins on the left side of the roadside, where a small military airstrip was constructed during the Japanese occupation. It is said that shortly after it became operational, a plane crash occurred, and it soon lost its significance. Today, three stone rollers used to compact the ground remain on site, and a base for display and guided tours has been established by the Dharma Drum Mountain Cultural and Educational Foundation. The original airport site has largely been transformed into farmland, located within the Chongguang Liu’gu Flower Agricultural Area, which is the largest supplier of azalea flowers in the country, with an annual output reaching several million plants; most of the azaleas on Yangmingshan are transplanted from here. Additionally, there is a century-old mansion accessible by winding through the fields on the right, considered the most magnificent historic house in Jinshan. The owner was once extremely wealthy in northern Taiwan and was known as Li Buguo. According to the Qing dynasty system, only officials or families who passed the imperial examinations were qualified to build roofs with swallowtail decorations, suggesting that the Li Qifeng residence could be from an illustrious official family, capable of constructing such a grand residence. This typical Sanheyuan (three-section compound) features a rectangular main house and guardian dragons on both sides, exuding impressive grandeur. Notably, the front courtyard retains a semi-circular feng shui pond, a rarity in Taiwan today!
