Rediscover the Soul of Old Taipei: Beimen Cultural Tourism Brings to Life a "Scroll of River Scenes in Dadaocheng"
▲ Beimen Cultural Tourism recreates the 1911 Kunming Guild Hall.
Reported and photographed by Cai Wenjun / Taipei
As cities continue to expand, high-rise buildings replace low-rise old houses, causing many structures that represent the history of old Taipei — even Taiwan’s development — to vanish over time. Hotel operator"Beimen Cultural Tourism"aims to restore the original spirit of Dadaocheng and preserve its historical legacy by recreating the 1911 Kunming Guild Hall using an old structure, while alsocreating the"Scroll of River Scenes in Dadaocheng" and employing VR and AR technologies to animate the painting, enabling both local and foreign visitors to understand the history of old Taipei.
▲ CEO of Beimen Cultural Tourism, Wei Jianhua.
Wei Jianhua, CEO of Beimen Cultural Tourism, said that the exterior of Beimen Cultural Tourism is a recreation of the 1911 Kunming Guild Hall, which was also the birthplace of "The General History of Taiwan". The entrance area has already been restored, and in the future, the restoration will extend upwards, with a viewing platform on the rooftop identical to the one that existed at the time, bringing the Kunming Guild Hall back to life.
▲ The biggest highlight of Beimen Cultural Tourism — the "Scroll of River Scenes in Dadaocheng".
The most distinctive feature of Beimen Cultural Tourism is the "Scroll of River Scenes in Dadaocheng", located in the lobby. Wei Jianhua explained that the painting faithfully depicts Dadaocheng in 1911, presenting the geography and landscapes of the time in full detail. He noted that the scroll hides three key historical figures closely tied to Dadaocheng — Lian Heng, Chiang Wei-shui, and Lo Fu-hsing.In the future, using VR and AR augmented and virtual reality technologies similar to those employed at the 2008 Shanghai Expo, the entire Dadaocheng scroll will come alive. Visitors will be able to explore the historical memory of Dadaocheng through this immersive experience, with completion expected in 2017.
▲ The interior of the scroll includes richly detailed representations of various scenes.
The scope of the "Scroll of River Scenes in Dadaocheng" isn’t limited to just one wall of the lobby. Wei Jianhua said that old Dadaocheng is just the starting point. In the future, the artwork will gradually extend from the first floor up to the third, and may even reach as far as the mouth of the Tamsui River. By moving up and down the stairs, visitors will feel as if they are walking through a corridor of time, gaining a deeper understanding of the history of old Taipei through each object and scene in the scroll. This makes Beimen Cultural Tourism not just a place for short stays but also a space that carries the mission of preserving the history of Dadaocheng and even Taiwan.
▲ Circular motifs representing Lo Fu-hsing are depicted with faithful detail.
▲ Beimen Cultural Tourism is not just a lodging space but also a bearer of Dadaocheng’s historical heritage.
Beyond VR and AR technologies, inspired by the popularity of the mobile game Pokémon Go, Beimen Cultural Tourism has creatively developed an interactive experience called "Meet Lian Heng". Wei Jianhua said that using special technology, although guests here can't catch Pokémon, they can encounter historical figures — an experience not to be missed at Beimen Cultural Tourism, with more features to be launched in the future.
▲ The interior of the building also features many artistic elements with historical significance.
Beimen Cultural Tourism has been in operation since 2015, targeting backpackers, independent travelers, and family tourists. Since its opening, the average occupancy rate has been over 80%, with a majority of guests coming from Southeast Asia and Northeast China.
▲ The interior design of Beimen Cultural Tourism also includes art and cultural elements.
Beimen Cultural Tourism has a total of 15 guest rooms, divided into three types: double rooms, triple rooms, and quadruple rooms. Prices vary between NT$2000 and NT$5200 depending on the day of the week. Some of the quadruple rooms include a Japanese-style room space. Staff mentioned that the tatami area can be used for extra bedding or equipped with a small table, allowing families to gather around, making it a multifunctional space. Additionally, though there is no elevator, guests staying on higher floors need not worry, as staff will assist in bringing large luggage to their rooms.
▲ The guest rooms and common areas inside Beimen Cultural Tourism.
▲ Amenities.
Beimen Cultural Tourism
Address: No. 3, Lane 145, Chang’an West Road, Datong District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2556-7797
Beimen Cultural Tourism Facebook Page
▲ The entrance design of Beimen Cultural Tourism.
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