Abandoned Haunted House Transformed into Graffiti Building – Free Trendy Photo Spot for Street Culture

Text by / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
 
The Liuchuan Qianyue Building in central Taichung, situated near the Jiguang Commercial Area, Liuchuan River, Taichung Railway Station, ASEAN Plaza, Taichung Prefectural Hall, and Miyahara Eye Clinic, was once a key building in the district. Completed in 1981, it was left vacant for over ten years after a fire and became known online as one of Taiwan’s top ten haunted houses. Currently, an art collective has moved in and is gradually renovating the site, turning it into a hidden photo spot in Taichung.

Facing redevelopment, the Qianyue Building saw the first wave of artists from Taichung’s graffiti art group “Escape Plan” move in and set up studios in 2017. Using creative and trendy street art, they covered the dilapidated old building inside and out with vibrant colors, breathing new life into the long-abandoned structure and attracting many young trendsetters to visit and take photos.

Injecting colorful graffiti onto the weathered textures, the fusion of old and new brings out a unique old-Taichung vibe. The Qianyue Art Village has now been launched, with resident young artists working in painting, photography, sculpture, as well as special effects makeup and vintage clothing. There are also occasional exhibitions.

Visitors can freely explore the graffiti art areas or the fifth-floor art village exhibitions, but those coming to shoot cosplay or explore the building by entering other areas must first register and pay a fee at the management office downstairs. Regardless of your reason for visiting the Qianyue Building, please note that some residents still live here, so be respectful during your visit.

The Qianyue Building was once called the “Liuchuan Commercial Building,” home to Taiwan’s first ice-skating rink, the “Dome Ice Palace,” and a revolving rooftop restaurant called the UFO House. Other floors housed popular spots at the time such as disco dance halls, KTVs, and private MTV rooms. Due to the shift of the city center, high rents in central Taichung, and complex property rights, only the seventh floor remains in use as a weekend dance club for migrant workers, and the fifth floor has a few individual tenants. The rest of the floors have truly become ruins of a haunted house.