Retro floral tile walls make for amazing photos — a new IG hotspot in Chiayi

Text by / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

In early Taiwan, apart from the intricately crafted sanheyuan courtyard buildings, the floral tiles used as roof and wall decorations were rarely known to many. The floral tiles that were popular across Taiwan between 1915 and 1930 were a symbol of wealth and status — homes adorned with them belonged to the affluent class, making these tiles quite the luxurious decoration of the time. Located in Chiayi, the “Taiwan Floral Tile Museum” has transformed an abandoned cypress wood old house into a magnificent building covered in floral tiles, preserving and continuing Taiwan’s floral tile culture.

The Taiwan Floral Tile Old House houses a collection of over a thousand vintage floral tiles. Stepping inside feels like traveling back in time to the nostalgic early Republican era. The museum showcases entire floral tile walls, along with a variety of floral tile decorations and furniture, filling the space with a retro atmosphere that evokes memories of the past.

The floral tile culture flourished in Taiwan for less than 20 years before disappearing due to production halts caused by World War II. As Taiwan’s economy took off, thousands of old houses with floral tiles were demolished. In 2016, a French university applied for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for Taiwan’s floral tile culture, highlighting the importance of this architectural heritage.