Buddai 543 Story Museum Introduction
At the entrance of the Budai 543 Story Museum, there is an installation art piece called "Budai Mouth," which is the old name of Budai. The museum was formerly the "Customs Office of Kaohsiung for Budai," commonly referred to by locals as "the customs." It now showcases the historical changes and cultural characteristics of Budai through artistic exhibitions in an innovative and interesting way for visitors to gain a deeper understanding of Budai. The first floor of the museum features paintings that depict the 400-year history of Budai, with each painting representing a colonial period: the Prehistoric period, the Dutch and Zheng period, the Qing Dynasty period, the Japanese colonial period, and the post-war period. During the early post-war period, Budai thrived due to China's maritime commerce, earning the nickname "Budai Little Shanghai." The children's reading room in the museum is designed after the prosperous boat houses of that time, with tatami flooring for kids to sit and read picture books inside the boat house. The exterior is decorated with reference to famous shops from that era, such as Yongle Tea House and Night Blooming Jasmine, along with staple products like rice and sugar that were prominently exported, highlighting the former glory of Budai. The second floor features old photographs and installation art that present the daily lives of Budai residents. One stunning piece titled "Three-Dimensional Painting" resembles a flat oil painting in photographs but is actually a large installation where the artist has painted the colors of three-dimensional objects like tables and chairs to create the artwork, making visitors feel as if they are the main character in the painting. Next time you visit Budai, in addition to enjoying delicious seafood at the fishing market and admiring the High Heel Church, don’t forget to come to the Budai 543 Story Museum to experience the art and learn about the intriguing history of Budai.
