Zhongxing Zhuang Cultural Park, the Story of the 1950s Military Dependents' Settlement

Changhua’s settlement carrying profound historical memories and nostalgic sentiments—Zhongxing Zhuang—is gradually transforming into a cultural park that blends the past and future, tradition and innovation.

Zhongxing Zhuang’s history dates back to the Republic of China era, when a group of soldiers and their families from Qingdao, Shandong, followed the Nationalist troops to Taiwan amid turbulent times. They put down roots here and built warm homes. These migrants were not only soldiers but also elites from military, political, educational, and cultural fields. They carried uncertainty about the future yet shouldered the mission of preserving Chinese culture. What was thought to be a temporary refuge became decades of residence. Over time, Zhongxing Zhuang became the gathering place of their shared memories, embodying rich military dependents’ historical memories and a unique cultural character.

Through the passage of years, the historical value of Zhongxing Zhuang has gradually been recognized and valued. In 2010, to ensure proper protection of this historically significant settlement, Zhongxing Zhuang was officially registered as a historic building. In 2012, it was selected as one of the thirteen national Military Dependents’ Village Cultural Preservation Parks. In 2021, to achieve more comprehensive preservation and redevelopment, its registration status was officially changed to “Settlement Architectural Complex,” and a full preservation and redevelopment plan was simultaneously launched, signaling that Zhongxing Zhuang is moving beyond static preservation toward vibrant regeneration.

After restoration in 2026, the buildings of Zhongxing Zhuang will not only fully preserve traces of past life but will also be transformed into a multi-functional space. The park’s opening is planned in phases: May 2026: Partial areas of the park will open, with the “Zhongxing Zhuang Story House” serving as the core exhibition venue. November 2026: The entire park will open, featuring a cultural and creative base and unique immersive accommodation experiences, offering visitors richer and deeper cultural encounters.

The Zhongxing Zhuang Story House, divided into Hall 1 and Hall 2, serves as the key bridge connecting past and present within the park. Through advanced technological art, precious artifact displays, historical imagery, and vivid oral histories, the historical scenes are recreated here.

The establishment of the Zhongxing Zhuang Story House guides visitors to deeply understand the migration journey of Zhongxing Zhuang residents and the important historical figures of this land. The exhibition introduces how the original residents took root in Taiwan after arriving from Qingdao, Shandong. It then focuses on the soul of Zhongxing Zhuang—General Gao Fangxian. Through accounts of his heroic deeds after founding the Qingdao Security Brigade in 1931, visitors are transported back to that era of hardship and remarkable resilience.

On the second floor of Story House Hall 1, a 360-degree panoramic view presents the outline of the entire Zhongxing Zhuang. Visitors can walk around the model and feel how this once-bustling settlement evolved through the baptism of time, tracing the historical texture of its development.

Modeled after the bulletin boards commonly found at the entrances of military dependents’ villages in those days, the displayed content reflects the most authentic life of that era. Visitors can scan the QR Code on the bulletin board to activate AR interaction and experience the daily life of Zhongxing Zhuang’s military village.

Zhongxing Zhuang Story House Hall 2 features a traditional military dependents’ village kitchen filled with nostalgic atmosphere. Combined with AI technology, the hall vividly recreates military village life and historical scenes, allowing visitors to gain a more intuitive and in-depth understanding of the social customs, lifestyles, and stories buried by time.

Inside the Zhongxing Zhuang Cultural Park stands the public artwork “In the Same Boat,” inspired by a group of fellow townsmen from Shandong who crossed the sea aboard the Bohai Ferry to begin new lives in Changhua. The artist employs the imagery of “migratory birds” combined with military dependents’ village culture, local residents’ memories, and historical textures. Through artistic creation and reinterpretation, the work profoundly conveys different generations’ imagination of “home” and their cherishing and passing on of “memory.”