Trendy New Cultural Spot: Yilan Zhongxing Cultural & Creative Park Begins Trial Operation

By MOOK Scenic Spots’ Chen Wenlin, compiled report
 
Located in Wujie Township, Yilan, the “Zhongxing Cultural & Creative Park” has recently begun its trial operation after years of planning and renovation by the Yilan County Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau. With its vast grounds, numerous concrete buildings, and towering chimneys standing amid large lawns, the site is a former paper mill from the Japanese colonial era and features an exterior with a somewhat exotic charm, quickly becoming a popular spot for Instagram photoshoots.

Looking back at the history of the “Zhongxing Cultural & Creative Park,” its origins can be traced back to the “Taiwan Industrial Co., Ltd.” established during the Japanese colonial period. Later, as paper demand increased, leftover sugarcane bagasse from local sugar production in Yilan was turned into sheets of paper, making it the largest “Zhongxing Paper Mill” in the country at the time. The scale of the paper industry back then can still be seen in the current spatial layout.

Many parts of the park retain their original character. Currently, only the Cultural & Creative Zone 1 is open, with 15 micro cultural & creative businesses having set up shop. A variety of DIY workshops are available for registration. Other sections are currently cordoned off and not open to the public, but future plans include transforming the old factory buildings and warehouses into different exhibition areas and performance spaces. However, the dilapidated, abandoned style and boldly graffitied walls have already made this a new hotspot for photo ops in Yilan, attracting many netizens to visit this architectural gem.

In addition, the trial-operating Zhongxing Cultural & Creative Park will feature a family-friendly pavilion that combines parent-child co-creation, dining services, children’s play areas, and a library space. There will also be various performance art venues, along with a weekend “Xing Market” showcasing Yilan’s unique characteristics.