Iconic 100-year-old Japanese villa transformed into Taiwan's West Slope Cultural Museum.

The historic building, "Original Xiluo Street Magistrate's Residence," located in Xiluo Town, Yunlin County, has been renovated and officially reopened as the "Xiluo Guest Town Cultural Hall" on August 8th. This century-old building, which witnessed the administrative changes and era transitions in Yunlin, not only restored its elegant appearance from the Japanese colonial period but also acquired a new cultural purpose. In celebration of the new opening, the hall has specially planned its inaugural exhibition, "A History of Political Transition: From the Japanese Colonial Era to the National Government's Arrival in Taiwan," aiming to guide visitors through time and space to witness the grand transformation of this old building and the centennial charm of Xiluo Town.

The historical value of the Xiluo Street Magistrate's Residence lies in its building itself, which is a living textbook of modern history. Constructed during the Japanese colonial period, this building served as the residence of the local chief executive, adopting typical Japanese-style wooden official building architecture, blending local climate characteristics with Taiwanese building techniques. As the eras progressed, after the National Government moved to Taiwan, this space has undergone different usage periods, carrying the memories of local residents' lives and administrative contexts. However, as the years passed, wooden buildings faced the threat of insect damage and weather erosion, once standing at the brink of abandonment and aging. How to preserve this valuable cultural asset became a long-term concern for local government and cultural circles.

In recent years, following the growing awareness of historical and cultural asset preservation in Taiwanese society, Yunlin County Government actively sought central and local resources to conduct comprehensive research and renovation projects on the Xiluo Street Magistrate's Residence. Cultural asset restoration is never an easy task; the restoration team had to adhere to the principle of "restoring to original" and adopt traditional techniques and authentic materials as much as possible, from the bricklaying of roof tiles to the mortise and tenon joints of wooden structures, and even the ventilation and lighting adjustments. After a long period of painstaking effort, this century-old building finally regained its original architectural beauty, preserving the historical essence while meeting the safety and functional requirements of modern public spaces.

To facilitate the integration of this restored space into contemporary residents' lives and to maximize its cultural education function, the Xiluo Guest Town Cultural Hall chose August 8th as the opening day, accompanying the debut of the substantial inaugural exhibition, "A History of Political Transition: From the Japanese Colonial Era to the National Government's Arrival in Taiwan." This exhibition is not a simple collection of artifacts but a comprehensive presentation of the critical historical periods, from the Japanese colonial era to the National Government's arrival in Taiwan, and the pivotal position of Xiluo in this historical tide, as well as the transformation of common people's lives. The exhibition team hopes to engage visitors in a dialogue with historical archives, old photographs, and literary materials to allow them to appreciate not only the architectural beauty but also understand the era's impact and cultural fusion on this piece of land.

The rebirth of the old building is not just the completion of a construction project but represents the connection and revitalization of local cultural corridors. Xiluo Town is rich in historical heritage, from the famous Xiluo Bridge to the Baroque-style houses of the old street of Yanping, and the newly reborn Xiluo Guest Town Cultural Hall, which together outline the wealth of Xiluo's tourism and human geography. The opening of the cultural hall is expected to become a new gathering point for local residents, while also providing an excellent platform for visitors from outside to deepen their understanding of Yunlin's history. Through exhibitions, lectures, and various cultural activities, this century-old building will continue to narrate an extraordinary story of the past, present, and future in Xiluo's land.