Century-Old Prosecutor Dormitory Reborn as Hualien's New Arts and Food Landmark

The Hualien County Prosecutor's Residence, originally built during the Japanese colonial period as an official government residence, was later designated as a local historic site due to historical shifts. The 0403 major earthquake that struck in the early hours of February 7, 2021, caused severe damage to the century-old building, leaving wall cracks and widespread tile detachment from the roof, briefly placing the original historical appearance at risk of disappearing. Following the earthquake, the county government immediately launched emergency restoration projects, combining efforts from the Ministry of Culture and local cultural heritage teams. They employed traditional timber construction techniques alongside modern seismic-resistant materials, striving to enhance structural safety while preserving the building's original architectural features. After two years of meticulous repairs, the residence reopened at the end of this year, becoming a model for historic preservation and adaptive reuse in Hualien.

Following the completion of the restoration, the prosecutor's residence was handed over to renowned historian Fan Ya-chun for management. Fan has long been dedicated to the research and promotion of Taiwan's history and cultural assets, holding deep insights into how to revitalize historic sites. She stated that mere preservation only turns a building into a static exhibition piece; if the general public is to truly feel the pulse of history, the space must be endowed with new functions and uses. Therefore, under the name "Hualien Chih-So," she planned a diversified operational model combining arts and cultural performances, themed exhibitions, and specialty dining, aiming to transform the historically atmospheric building into an active hub for local cultural exchange.

The operational concept of "Hualien Chih-So" centers around "chih," meaning to know, understand, and share. The interior preserves the original wooden beams and brick-and-tile layout, utilizing movable display cases and projection equipment as exhibition platforms to regularly host works by local artists, traditional handicraft demonstrations, and historical lectures. The dining area focuses on local ingredients, offering creative cuisine that blends indigenous and coastal flavors, allowing visitors to experience Hualien's natural and humanistic contexts while savoring the food. This composite model of "performances plus dining" not only increases the utilization rate of the historic site but also attracts numerous young demographics and tourists.

This initiative has generated a positive effect on Hualien's cultural ecology and tourism industry. In the past, Hualien's tourism focus was largely concentrated on natural landscapes, such as Taroko Gorge and Qixingtan, while the development of cultural resources remained relatively weak. The successful revitalization of the prosecutor's residence has demonstrated a viable pathway for combining historic sites with local creative industries, sparking reflection among other townships on the reuse of historic buildings. The local government has also indicated that it will use this as a blueprint to plan more similar cultural clusters, enhancing the depth and diversity of the overall tourism experience while further driving the local economy and community cohesion.

From a broader perspective, the transformation of the prosecutor's residence reflects Taiwan's recent policy trends regarding cultural asset preservation and revitalization. Since the amendment of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, the government has encouraged private sector participation and promoted the concept of "revitalization" rather than mere "preservation," hoping to reintegrate historical sites into contemporary life through innovative management models. The case of Hualien Chih-So is a concrete manifestation of this policy spirit, proving that historic sites do not have to be silent monuments, but can instead become multi-functional platforms for social dialogue, creative exchange, and economic development. Looking ahead, as more similar projects are implemented, Taiwan's historic districts are expected to become active cultural ecosystems while protecting their original appearances. (Source Fact: Central News Agency)