Witness a Century of Taipei’s History: The Council for Cultural Affairs Moves into the Former Site of the Lianjin Temple, Creating a New Landmark

Since its establishment in 1952 (the 41st year of the Republic of China), the Council for Cultural Affairs has been in operation for over 60 years, witnessing and documenting the vigorous development of Taipei City. However, the council itself has moved seven times. Currently, four historic sites and buildings within the Lianjin Temple Plaza have been restored and repurposed, regaining their former glory and reborn through renewal. The quaint bell tower, eye-catching red-brick building, wooden Japanese-style structure, and the main hall — all historic buildings — are scattered across a lush, green park.


▲ A corner of the “The Past and Present of the Lianjin Temple Plaza” special exhibition venue (Photo provided by the Taipei City Bureau of Cultural Affairs)

The permanent exhibition is set up along the main corridor inside the main hall, with many displays making their debut. It utilizes imagery, music, and text to present content through three major themes: “Scenes of Taipei,” “Times of Taipei,” and “Taipei’s First Taste of Modernity.” The “Scenes of Taipei” section features a 3-meter-long aerial view of “Greater Taipei in 1935” as the central image, paired with vintage photographs and postcards of key Taipei landmarks, using comparisons of past and present photos to illustrate the city’s transformation over time. The “Times of Taipei” unit showcases works by pioneering photographers Deng Nan-guang, Chang Tsai, Lee Tiao-lun, and Lee Huo-tseng, all part of the council’s collection. Through these images, visitors can see the streetscapes and local life of Taipei from the 1930s to the 1950s. The “Taipei’s First Taste of Modernity” section presents a thematic exhibition using artifacts collected from the 1920s to the 1940s, highlighting stories behind projectors, gramophones, and sewing machines. Visitors can sense how, through clothing, food, entertainment, and daily life, Taipei began its initial encounter with modernity under the combined influence of Western and Japanese cultures.

The “The Past and Present of the Lianjin Temple Plaza” special exhibition is being held at the Shuxin Hall in the Lianjin Temple Plaza, and will run until May 4. Opening hours are from 10:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays).