Taichung｜The century-old prison officer dormitory is transformed into a comic time tunnel, with bougainvillea in full bloom reflecting the Japanese-style buildings
This used to be the dormitory for prison officers during the Japanese colonial period, from the Taisho and Showa periods to the present day. There is also the original martial arts field, which was where the prison officers practiced kendo and judo. It was used as a place to detain prisoners when the Nationalist government came to Taiwan.
Whether you like comics, Japanese architecture, or just want to take beautiful photos and check in, this place will definitely meet your needs.
The campus covers an area of more than 2 hectares, with 19 buildings scattered on the east and north sides of the campus. It is the most complete Japanese-style building complex in the Taiwan prison system. The most eye-catching is Dormitory No. 9 with bougainvillea in full bloom. The bright red flowers complement the quaint and symmetrical ancient buildings.
Currently, I have a collection of over 15,000 comic books, including the Shonen Express and Dongli Comics from my childhood, and even the earlier comic books that only our parents would know about, the Comic King. There are so many comics that I can’t finish reading. It’s like walking into a time tunnel, going back to the childhood when the comics were published and I would run to my classmates’ houses and take turns reading them. There is also an introduction area for artists who have won the Golden Comic Award in recent years, using Jiuganzai Store and Yigangchengzi to let more people know about Taiwanese comics. The curatorial space also uses the contrast between the old and the new, and the symmetry between real objects and imaginary comics to introduce cartoonists from various countries.
If you like Japanese architecture, you can see the different construction methods of the Taichung Prison buildings from the post-war, Taisho, and Showa eras. The symmetrical shape, raised floors to isolate moisture, eaves, and old trees beside the house provide shade, which allows the house to be ventilated and warm in winter and cool in summer.
The most special thing is that a big tree that originally wrapped the brick building left behind a big hole with tangled roots that looked like a tree house after the building collapsed. The original layout and toilet can still be seen inside. Just like a Japanese building that has gone through a century, it has now become a carrier of comics and is heading towards the next century.
📍Address: No. 33, Linsen Road, West District, Taichung City 403
🚗Turn left from Taichung Railway Station and walk to Jianguo Road for 20 minutes. Ride a ubike for about seven minutes and get off at the District Court bus stop. Multiple lines are available.
#2月好地方2025