Taoyuan Photo Exhibition (桃園夏到你)

A few months ago some friends put forward the idea of having an evening where we would celebrate “Taoyuan” with some great live music as well as showing off some photos. The idea was that I would put on a photo exhibition of photos specifically from Taoyuan so that people could see how beautiful this area really is while at the same time listening to some great music and enjoying craft beer at the same time.

For me, this was a pretty good opportunity not only to put on a solo exhibition but to show off the beauty of this area and also have a wonderful night with friends and good music.

Apart from making a fortune with my photography, one of my goals (as well as this blog) is to help show off the beauty of Taiwan and promote the country to the outside world.

While I've spent a considerable amount of time travelling all around the country taking photos with my camera, one of my passions is showing off Taoyuan and helping to change the hearts and minds of people who often say negative things about this area.

In my decade of living here I have had to put up with comments from people who haven’t spent much time in Taoyuan but somehow are all of the opinion that Taoyuan is a boring, polluted industrial town with nothing to do, no culture and most importantly no MRT.

Before my arrival I had done a bit of research about the area that I would be moving to and had seen quite a bit of these negative comments with people describing the area pejoratively as the “armpit” of Taiwan or the “wilds” as if Taoyuan were somehow some uncivilized place. After a bit of research I almost regretted my decision to move to the area and started thinking I should choose somewhere else.

Thankfully I stuck with it and came here anyway.

I'm willing to admit that my first impressions of the area were not that great, which in retrospect I think were probably affected by a lot of the reading I had done. I quickly got myself set up though and after buying a scooter I started exploring whenever I had free time and quickly found out that while the industrial parks here are dull, the scenery everywhere else is breathtaking.

If you are basing your opinion of Taoyuan on the areas around the Taoyuan or Zhongli train stations, then I can understand how you might not think this place would be a nice one to live. If you do a bit of exploring however you’ll realize that Taoyuan, with its mountains, valleys and beaches is just as beautiful as any other area in Taiwan.

Not only is there beautiful scenery here but also a vibrant history and a plethora of places for tourists to visit and enjoy.

Taoyuan ultimately may not (yet) have a super convenient MRT like Taipei does, but the area has a lot more going for it than you think and things have improved so drastically over the past few years that the Taoyuan of today is not the so-called “armpit” of the past.

When Taoyuan County (桃園縣) amalgamated into the supercity known as Taoyuan City (桃園市) the local government was able to start procuring more funds from the Central Government and a more equal share of tax dollars which allowed for it to invest more in itself than ever before.

The government has spent a considerable amount of money on restoring and promoting Taoyuan’s tourist spots, promoting local culture and building new parks that allow for local people and tourists to enjoy the history and beauty of this area. The results are noticeable all over the city and if you pay attention like I do you’ll find that there are new tourist spots opening up to the public quite often.

For me, I only see great things for the future of Taoyuan and as this city continues to change for the better, I think its reputation will also change and people will finally see Taoyuan the way I have looked at it for the last decade.

The event which was held on August 19th was titled “桃園夏到你” which was a typical Taiwanese play-on-words meaning that “Taoyuan will surprise you” but with the word “summer” (夏) instead of “surprise” (嚇).

The band that opened the event consisted of some handsome members of the expat community here in Taoyuan with some local Taoyuan residents and they performed for an hour before giving me time to stutter though a speech in Chinese about what I do and the photos I prepared to show how beautiful Taoyuan is.

Afterwards the band played another hour long set and the event ended around midnight.

A few weeks beforehand I uploaded some photos to Facebook in a private album and allowed some close friends to pick their favourites and made some large prints which were framed and hung on the wall.

I also prepared two photo books which showed off some of Taoyuan’s scenic locations and also the people and culture of the area. The photos that were in the books were also put on display on a slideshow on a big screen TV.

The amount of people that showed up for the event was amazing and the small venue was overcrowded with people who came to enjoy the music, beer and photos. The night was really fun and it seems like people had a great time!

If you weren’t able to make it but still want to check out the photos, they will be on display at “Hop In” for the next few months. Feel free to stop over to have a beer and check out the photos. You might even see me there writing a blog!

Hop In: 桃園市中壢區廣安街11號2樓 (2F. #11 Guang-An Street, Zhong-Li)

Before I end this I'd like to thank all the people who showed up to the event, the guys at Hop In for allowing us to use the space and Celine, Darwin, Joseph and the rest of the musicians who peformed that night! 


Wu Zhuo-Liu Memorial Home (吳濁流故居)

The historic residence of one of Taiwan’s leading modern literary figures, Wu Zhuo-Liu (吳濁流) recently opened to the public after the Hsinchu government both restored and renovated the traditional Hakka-style home into a memorial museum for the iconic author.

The house which is located in Hsinchu’s Hsinpu township (新埔鎮) offers visitors a glimpse into the life of the man who authored several influential novels and helped to shape the notion of a distinct identity for the people of Formosa that wasn’t “Chinese” or “Japanese” but solely Taiwanese.

Before we start, I'm going to be honest - I had no idea that this house was the home of someone as historically significant as Wu Zhuo-Liu nor did I even know who he was - I just passed by and saw the words "Memorial Hall" (紀念堂) next to a beautiful old home and decided to check it out. 

Later, when I started to do research for this blog however I quickly found out that I was walking around the home of a giant of modern Taiwanese history and a person who I was absolutely sure that I would like.

Mr. Wu was not only an advocate of a separate Taiwanese identity but described for the world the history and harsh reality that the people of Taiwan have had to face for the past several centuries. 

After learning a bit about the man and his life, I knew that his books had to be added to my collection and I went out right away and bought an English version of his "Orphan of Asia" (currently reading) and a Chinese version of "Fig Tree" (無花果).  

I'm only halfway through the first book, but I can tell you that I'm extremely happy that in my ignorance I happened upon this Memorial Home as it helped me learn more about the struggle the Taiwanese people have endured for hundreds of years up until today.  

Wu Zhuo-Liu (吳濁流)

Wu Zhuo-Liu (吳濁流) was born as Wu Jintian (吳建田) in 1900 just a few short years after the Japanese Colonial Era began. Mr. Wu, a Hakka from Hsinchu’s Hsinpu Village grew up in Japanese occupied Taiwan and despite hailing from a family of farmers, received a formal education in the Japanese Education system. 

As an educated man Wu spent much of the first part of his life teaching in the Primary School system. At the age of 41 he quit his highly respected job as a teacher and took a job as a reporter in China where he spent fifteen months in Nanjing (At that time the capital of China) writing about the war that had enveloped the nation.

When Wu returned to Taiwan in 1943 he continued working as a journalist and also started to write novels and short stories based on his, and the experiences of his fellow Taiwanese people. In 1945 he penned what would become his most famous work titled the “Orphan of Asia” (亞細亞的孤兒) which highlighted the ambiguity felt in the hearts of Taiwanese as to their conflicting sense of identity and is a book that even today people can still relate to.

In 1968, Wu published his memoirs, an autobiographical look at life during the Japanese Colonial Era and then the Republic of China era. The book continued with the themes of his growing political conscious and search for identity. Both realistic and politically charged, its description of the events of the 228 Massacre and the repressive nature of the Chinese Nationalists who controlled Taiwan with an iron fist were enough to earn it a swift ban by the authorities due to the fact that discussing such things was taboo at the time.

Unfortunately Wu died in 1976 and at the age of 76 and was ultimately unable to see the lifting of Martial Law or the end of the repressive White Terror period which he had endured for much of his life. His contribution and his courage however are widely respected today in Taiwan and his books are a constant reminder of the tension the Taiwanese people have had to endure over the last century with regard to who they really are. 

History and Design

Thanks to the efforts of the Hsinchu City Bureau of Cultural Affairs (新竹市文化局), the Wu Zhuo-Liu Memorial House (吳濁流故居) recently re-opened to the public after several years of renovation and restoration. 

This memorial house is but one of the historic homes of Hsinpu village that has been restored (or is in the process of being restored) and opened to the public over recent years. Hsinpu Village has become an extremely important place for the Hakka people of Taiwan thanks to its wealth of cultural history and more importantly due to the fact that Yimin Temple (義民廟), the Mecca for the Hakka people is situated within the village.

In conjunction with the Hsinchu City Bureau of Cultural Affairs and the Hakka Affairs Council (客家委員會) the village has been revitalized in recent years and the promotion of Hakka culture, cuisine and history has made it as important location for the people of Taiwan to travel to learn about the nations history.

Hsinpu has several historic ancestral homes that are quite similar to the Wu Zhuo-Liu Memorial House and if you’re interested in Taiwanese history, Hakka history or viewing the beautiful Hakka architecture of the past, a day-trip to Hsinpu will not only allow you to view some of these historic homes but also allow you to enjoy some amazing Hakka culture and cuisine at the same time.

Some of the other historic houses in the village include:

  1. Chen Family Ancestral Home (新埔陳氏宗祠)
  2. Chang Family Ancestral Home (新埔張氏宗祠)
  3. Liu Family Ancestral Home (新埔劉祠)
  4. Pan Family Ancestral Home (新埔潘屋)
  5. Chu Family Ancestral Home (新埔朱氏家廟)
  6. Lin Family Ancestral Home (新埔林氏家廟)
  7. Fan Family Ancestral Home (新埔范氏家廟)

*There isn't a lot of information available in English about these beautiful ancestral homes, but I'll be making a post about them in the coming weeks to explain them in a little more detail. 

The Wu Zhuo-Liu Memorial House (like most of the houses listed above) is a traditional style Hakka “sanheyuan” (三合院) courtyard style home that is most identifiable by it’s “U” shaped design. The house was constructed sometime around 1840 and was the home where Wu Zhuo-Liu grew up and also where the rest of his family has lived and farmed up until recently.  

Sanheyuan-style homes were very common in Taiwan before the Japanese Colonial Era and are often still quite prevalent throughout the countrysides of Taiwan. The problem for these older buildings is that the majority of them have become dilapidated over the years and in most cases have been abandoned or are being demolished in favour of a more modern style home. Preserving them can often be a bit difficult due to the humidity of Taiwan and the amount of earthquakes that rock the island. 

Link: Hsinpu Ancestral Shrine (Already demolished)

The Wu Family Ancestral Shrine

The two longer wings of a sanheyuan are known as the “Hu-Long” or the “protecting dragons” (護龍) and is where you would find the bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, etc. The main section of the building that connects to the two wings is sometimes translated into English as the “Inner Protector” (內籠) but is also what I usually refer to as the “Ancestral Hall” (室德堂) in these Hakka-style homes. In truth it is a bit difficult to literally translate what “室德堂” means into English but in simple terms it is the central part of the home where you’d find not only the main entrance to the house but also the ancestral shrine which meets you at the front door.

Ceramic Tile on the roof. 

While these courtyard-style homes are prevalent throughout Taiwan and not unique to Hakka culture, one of the things that differentiates a Hakka home from some of the others is the ornate decorations on the roof and exterior walls. If you visit this home (or any of the others in Hsinpu), be sure to pay attention to the beautiful ceramic designs on the roof and the awnings which have been beautifully re-coloured and restored during the restoration process.

Now that the home is open to the public, the rooms have been emptied and displays have been set up which not only introduce the life of Wu Zhuo-Liu and his family but also the function of each room. There are displays in the kitchens that help teach the people of today as to how people in 1840s Taiwan lived. The displays and exhibits set up within the house are non-intrusive and allow people to learn about the home in a way that doesn’t involve too much modern technology.

If you visit you should also make sure to tour the surrounding grounds of the building and check out the historic trail nearby where you’ll find a nice little lake as well as beautiful Taiwanese cypress trees and also a bit of nostalgia for an old Canadian like myself - Maple trees!

Getting there

Getting to the Wu Zhuo-Liu Memorial Home can be a bit difficult if you don’t have your own means of transportation. Unlike some of the other homes I mentioned above, this one is not situated within the downtown area of Hsinpu village. The home is on the road that connects Hsinpu Village (新埔) in Hsinchu County with Longtan Village (龍潭) in Taoyuan.

There is a bus that connects both villages but it only runs three times each day and you’re likely to get stuck waiting by a rice paddy for a few hours if you choose this option.

If you absolutely have to rely on public transportation I would recommend taking a train or bus to Jhudong (竹東) and from there transferring to a bus that takes you into the downtown area of Hsinpu village and then hiring a taxi.

There are quite a few cool things that you can see while walking around the downtown core of Hsinpu, so I recommend a stop by the historic town to check out some of the historic mansions, temples and of course to eat some Hakka flat noodles (客家粄條).

 

 Address: #10, Jupu Village. Hsinpu Township, Hsinchu (新竹縣新埔鎮巨埔里五鄰大茅埔10號)

The recent renovation and restoration of the iconic author’s family home is not only an attractive destination for lovers of Taiwanese literature, but also those who respect the contribution Mr. Wu made to help promote the idea of Taiwanese identity to the world.

The subjects of his books dealt with topics that were quite sensitive when they came out but stand up to the test of time and still help the Taiwanese of today understand their history and why they should be proud to be Taiwanese.

The house is beautiful and walking around a traditional home like this can also teach people what life was like in Taiwan before all these modern high rise buildings were constructed. If you are in the area, I recommend a visit and think that a walk around the property can be a great learning experience.


Gallery / Flickr (High Res Shots)

The Tuba Church at Night

Note: As of September 2019, the Tuba Church is closed and a gate has been constructed to block access to the church for both the local indigenous community and tourists alike.

The period of closure is currently unknown due to a land dispute with the land owner holding the local community hostage for the price of $10,000,00NT.

Until the church reopens to the public, I’ll leave this notice here. If you are planning on visiting the area, make sure to check local news to see if it’s reopened or now.

FullSizeRender.jpg

A year or so ago I wrote about the historic stone TUBA Church in the mountains of Taoyuan. The church which was constructed by the Atayal People (泰雅族), one of the largest Indigenous groups in the country, is a semi-popular stop off for weekend day trippers visiting Taoyuan and one of the many interesting tourist spots in the area.  

Over the past few months the church has become quite popular with the photographers of Taiwan who visit at night to try to get some shots of the church with the stars in the background. I've seen some really nice shots of the church on Instagram over the past few months but the success of the photos are extremely dependent on the weather and Taiwan's mountains aren't always the most reliable places when it comes to that. 

Admittely, the shots I'm sharing today of the church are all from my second visit to the church. The first time I visited was supposed to be a clear night but just after I arrived clouds rolled in and getting the shots that I wanted wasn't really an option. 

This kind of thing is common in Taiwan though, so undeterred from my first failure I planned to take another trip out there on a night when the weather was looking good enough to try again.  

When I arrived on my second attempt there were quite a few photographers hanging out trying to all get the same shot. Clouds rolled in quickly after I arrived though and almost all of them took off. Since I had just arrived I decided to be patient, watch a video on Youtube and wait to see if the clouds would pass. 

Luckily they did and the photos I'm sharing here today are the result. I hope you like them.  

FullSizeRender.jpg

If you haven't read my original post about the church, here is a bit of history that I pulled from the article to explain it: 

The church was constructed by the Atayal people (泰雅族) in 1963 as a place for the people of the remote Tuba tribe (基國派) to worship. The tribe built the church with their own hands using stones that were carried one-by-one from the nearby Sanmin Batcave (三民蝙蝠洞).

The small place of worship was used between 1963 and 1992, but ultimately became too small for the growing population of the tribe which took a much more modern approach to the construction of their new church which was constructed nearby. 

After the congregation moved to the newer church, the original fell into a state of disrepair due to a lack of usage and maitenance. The community realized however that the church was not only an important part of the tribes history but also had cultural value that could help the people of Taiwan learn more about the tribe.  

Today the church stands in its original spot and is celebrated as a monument to the preservation and cultivation of Atayal culture and history and is now recognized by the government as a national historical monument.

IMG_6620.JPG

How did you get these shots?

Some people have asked how I was able to take these shots and what equipment was neccessary.

All you need is a camera, a wide-angle lens, a tripod, a remote control (would be great) and patience. 

Truthfully it doesn't matter what camera you are using as long as you have the ability to control its functions. You'll need to learn how to take Long-Exposure shots and that is quite a bit easier if you know how to use your camera's Bulb Mode with a tethered remote control to control your timer.  

If you don't have a remote control with your camera, it's fine, just set your camera to Manual or Shutter-Priority Mode and turn the dial on your camera to your desired exposure time. Once you press your shutter button make sure that your camera is stabilized by the tripod and you don't move it. Any movement between the time the shutter opens and closes is going to mess up your shot.   

A friend suggested that I spent quite a bit of time in Photoshop doing post-processing work on these photos to achieve these results. 

I'm going to let you in on a little secret - The shots I'm sharing today were taken while my camera was tethered to my iPhone 7. Each shot was directly fed onto my phone and I used Google's Snapseed Photo Editor to post-process these photos - each photo taking no more than one minute of work.  

You don't need the biggest and best camera with the most expensive lenses to take shots like these. You also don't need to spend a lot of time working on them in Photoshop. Anyone can take these kinds of shots, so don't be afraid to learn about your camera and its functions!  

If you have a chance to visit the church at night I hope the weather cooperates and you get some great photos!