Taichung Park is a landmark for the city, with the Huxin Pavilion a fixture in the hearts and minds of Taichung residents. From old stamps and state bonds to modern souvenirs and posters, Huxin Pavilion's elegant form is everywhere.
Situated in the bustling heart of Taichung City, at the intersection of Gongyuan and Ziyou Roads, the park occupies 10.5 hectares and was established under the Japanese colonial authorities in 1903. Unlike traditional private gardens such as the Lin Family Garden in Banqiao or the Wu Family Garden in Tainan, the Japanese introduced Western concepts of "public space" into their park design, creating the first public park in all Taiwan.
Even after the park opened to the public, construction continued on park facilities including the Huxin Pavilion, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2008. It was opened in 1908 to celebrate the completion of the Keelung-Kaohsiung train link, and Taichung's central location made it the perfect location for such a commemorative icon.
With its rich red roof and snow-white walls, the pavilion is a fusion of Western and Japanese design. Sitting on Taichung Park's Riyue Lake, the pavilion was known by the Japanese as "Broad Park Pavilion" or "Fragrant Pavilion." The pavilion also served as a leisure spot for Prince Kan'in Kotohito, which meant it was off limits to the public, who were left to gaze at it from afar until the Japanese defeat in World War II and Taiwan's subsequent return to the Republic of China.
In 1999, after review by a panel of experts, then-mayor of Taichung Chang Wen-ing announced that Huxin Pavilion and the neighboring Zhongshan Bridge were to be made official city historical sites.
To celebrate the pavilion's centenary, the Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau announced a three-day series of celebrations, including a vibrant party, a creative market, and a painting event, drawing large crowds.
Under the noonday sun, couples canoodle while parents and children frolic near Riyue Lake. Built in another age, Huxin Pavilion has been through many renovations, but it remains as glorious as ever. While this mortal world may change, visitors to this corner of this beautiful, hospitable city are as resplendent in their smiles as they were all those decades ago.
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