It’s a military dependents’ village, a museum, and a cinema too — the nostalgic photos at Taoyuan’s Matsu New Village are super photogenic!

▲Matsu New Village in Taoyuan. (Photo provided by netizen shiuany. Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Taiwan’s rich cultural history has left behind many buildings and settlements that are worth savoring and experiencing. These places, with their nostalgic charm, have become perfect backdrops for modern-day photography. Matsu New Village in Zhongli District, Taoyuan, is an old military dependents’ village that evokes memories of bygone eras. It has now transformed into a new cultural and creative hub in Taoyuan, perfectly showcasing a blend of old and new cultural elements.

▲Matsu New Village was first built in 1957.

The reason Matsu New Village has the name “Matsu” is that when Madame Chiang Kai-shek, Soong Mei-ling, led a labor service troupe to Matsu to comfort the troops, she proposed relocating the families of soldiers stationed at the frontline to Taiwan in order to boost morale. This led to the construction of what is now Matsu New Village. The first batch of residential quarters was completed in 1957, followed by the subsequent construction of public facilities such as an activity center, auditorium, community park, lawn, sports courts, and pavilions.

▲Around 276 households once lived here.

After local residents gradually moved to the renovated Lugu No. 5 Village, the Taoyuan City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau began efforts to preserve the military dependents’ village. Matsu New Village is the second such village in Taiwan to be preserved under the “Cultural Heritage Preservation Act,” following Taipei’s Sishiwu South Village. Although the exteriors of the houses have deteriorated over time, the weathered walls and worn tiles have only added to the area’s unique charm.

▲The nostalgic alleyways are full of character.