Toad Mountain listed as Taipei cultural landscape

2014-08-14

Toad Mountain was recently awarded cultural landscape status by Taipei City Government, protecting the homes of residents who settled in the area’s Huanmin New Village following the relocation of the ROC government from mainland China to Taiwan in 1949.

“Based on the findings of a cultural assessment carries out in March by Taipei City Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs, as well as ongoing discussions by the relevant committee, it was decided to protect the village and designated areas on the mountain,” DCA Commissioner Liou Wei-gong said Aug. 1.

“It is important to preserve the mountain on ecological, educational and safety grounds,” he said. “This decision is in the best interests of the residents and the city. It also keeps alive an important part of Taiwan’s history for future generations.”

Situated near the Gongguan commercial zone of Daan District, the area is one of the few authentic hill communities left in Taipei. It was once the site of the Joint Operation Command Center, which played an important role in maintaining the nation’s security in the face of armed aggression from communist mainland China. The center was founded under the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty (1955-1980).

Huanmin was co-owned by the Ministry of National Defense and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. It comprises 39 vacant ex-ROC air force dormitories.

After the MND and NTUST decided to tear down these structures in August 2013, film director Hou Hsiao-hsien came out in opposition. He has a special attachment to the area as it was the location for his features “Daughter of the Nile” and “Good Men, Good Women.”

Former Huanmin residents, many who moved out of the village in 2011, joined Hou in the struggle by founding nongovernmental organization Good Toad Studio. They also enlisted the assistance of cultural and creative workers in the battle to save their homes.

The MND agreed to postpone demolition of the buildings and turn them over to NTUST. But the university claimed it could not afford the NT$100 million (US$3.3 million) required to restore the structures.

With the mountain now a cultural landscape, NTUST is responsible for its management and upkeep. “We urge all parties to respect the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act and carry out all future development in a fashion promoting biodiversity and conserving historical buildings to preserve the mountain’s heritage,” Liou said.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=220554&CtNode=413)