Chiang Ashing Western Style House, a cultural highlight on the Hakka Romantic Avenue (Provincial Highway 3), is officially under restoration. The restoration budget is NT$35.33 million, funded respectively by the Hakka Affairs Council, the local government, and the owner of the building. This 70-year-old building is a cultural, tourist, and industrial landmark in Beipu.
ealthy businessman Chiang Ashing built this baroque style architecture in 1946 to accommodate visiting guests. The quaint gray building is still emanating an air of elegance after more than 70 years. It was listed as a county-designated historic site in 2001. In 2015, Chiang’s granddaughter Chiang Hui-lin bought the property, bringing it back into the arms of the Chiang family. The restoration work will address leaks, termite infestation, and structural damage. Design has been out-sourced by Hsinchu County Cultural Affairs Bureau. The restoration is expected to be completed in March 2018.
County Magistrate Chiu Ching-chun said that restoration of historic sites not only represents the revival of culture but displays Taiwan’s vitality. Apart from Chiang Ashing Western Style House, the county government has planned to restore a number of old buildings in Beipu, Xinpu, and so on. All of these projects aim to enrich local culture and promote the development of the tourism industry.
A ceremony to mark the start of restoration work was held in Beipu on the morning of March 28. The western style building in Beipu will show the public its new look as Chiang Ashing Memorial Museum in the second half of 2018 and will become a new highlight on the Hakka Romantic Avenue.