An urban oasis — Qingmu Zhuyu. Step into this century-old wooden heritage site, a cultural teahouse with a human touch.

MOOK Scenic Spots Text by Zhang Yingying Photography by Liao Weiren

When it comes to Japanese-era wooden buildings, many people can immediately picture simple and unassuming wooden bungalows. Most can also quickly associate them with police or school dormitories from the Japanese colonial period. But what if such a place transformed into an astonishing cultural teahouse, blending various healing elements, and hidden within the bustling city? Doesn’t that make you even more curious to explore?

“Qingmu Zhuyu” is exactly such a place. It is tucked away in Taoyuan 77 Art & Culture Block, which was formerly a Japanese-style dormitory of the old Taoyuan Police Bureau. Just a 5–6 minute walk from Taoyuan Railway Station, after passing through the busy streets lined with department stores, take a turn into the alleyway, and you’ll be greeted by the serene and lush greenery of Taoyuan 77 Art & Culture Block.

This little urban oasis not only features beloved Japanese-style wooden architecture, but also offers a wish wall with wooden ema plaques, a Japanese garden landscape, pink cherry blossom trees, vintage bicycles, and other scenes that instantly transport you to another time and place, immersing you in a nostalgic Japanese setting.

Taoyuan 77 Art & Culture Block is already a peaceful retreat amidst the hustle and bustle, but once you open the wooden door and step into “Qingmu Zhuyu,” the atmosphere becomes even more refreshing and tranquil. Changing into thoughtfully disinfected indoor slippers gives you the relaxing feeling of being at home, while the greenery visible through the wooden lattice windows instantly soothes the mind and washes away worries.

Though there aren’t many guests during weekday afternoons, groups come in one after another — couples, students, local residents, and even those dining and unwinding alone. Everyone enjoys their afternoon in their own seats, each face showing a sense of contentment. The space remains quiet and peaceful. And when you observe everyone’s expressions as they eat, the healing quality of “Qingmu Zhuyu’s” dishes is truly beyond expectations — both visually and in taste, they are outstanding.