General Village (將軍村新竹)

History Goes Trendy

Throughout the developed world, many aging historical sites have seen a breath of fresh air. From old textile mills to crumbling warehouses, these overlooked pieces of history are typically overlooked when compared to houses of political figures and massive monuments. What saves many of these buildings from meeting the wrecking ball is turning them into youthful hotspots. Simply string up some lights and open a coffee shop and suddenly you have a place where tourists will come from hours away to visit.

Taiwan has also jumped on the trend of preserving decades-old buildings by opening art exhibits and hipster cafes in them. Nearly every city on the island has several neighborhoods dedicated to weekend markets and handmade goods. Hsinchu’s General Village (將軍村) is the most recent addition to a long list of historical sights that have seen a facelift over the last few years. Buildings that were once left to rot have now been made into popular tourist attractions.

Looking to go out and exercise? Be sure to bike over to Hsinchu’s Tofu Rocks!

Founding of General Village

General Village was built in Hsinchu in 1959. The village originally consisted of a total of 89 homes. The purpose of these homes was to give a safe haven for the families of high-ranking generals while they were stationed on the island of Kinmen (金門) off the coast of China. While missiles were launched at Kinmin from the mainland, the generals could rest assured their families were out of harm’s way.

As time went on, only 15 of the original 89 homes remained. Even the air raid shelter was forgotten and was paved over to become nothing more than a parking lot. The shelter actually predates the founding of the village. It was first built during the final days of Japanese control over Taiwan. While Hsinchu continues to dig and preserve General Village, more and more artifacts come to light. Everything from historical buildings to century-old tools have been found around the neighborhood.

If you want to check out more about the history of Hsinchu, be sure to make a visit to Xiazhuting!

Shops and Exhibitions

Currently, General Village consists of a small cluster of buildings. Without knowing the history of General Village, your average passersby would simply assume this is just a collection of shops masquerading as a historical site for the sake of being “hip”. Everything from the brick to the pristine interiors echos modern decor rather than a half-a-century-old home.

While visiting Hsinchu’s General Village you’ll want to be sure to stop in for a coffee or a bite to eat. Inn Coffee (影咖啡) is front and center from the street. They even have a few tables to sit at while sipping on your coffee or eating your pastry. Directly behind the coffee shop is an unassuming noodle restaurant called Chaijiu (翟九). The last of these buildings include an exhibition center with rotating exhibits. Most recently it housed ceramics by Kuiyao (陳威恩陶藝創作).

More interested in the religious side of Hsinchu? You won’t want to miss Changhe Temple!

Weekend Market

General Village’s real potential rests with its weekend market. Located inconveniently in the back of the other three buildings, the market consists of several stalls selling everything from homemade jams to street snacks. Unfortunately, the vendors are few in number. As a visitor, you will be eyeballed by each of the sellers who are hungrily waiting for you to take a look at their wares.

With the absence of a night market in Hsinchu, the weekend markets can potentially fill that void. The only competition General Village has would be the weekend flower market in Hsinchu Park. With all the vendors behind the large brick buildings, potential visitors have no idea that a market is even taking place. The best advertising a business can have are crowds. It is difficult to attract crowds if your market is hidden.

Hsinchu really comes alive during its festivals. Read more about Dragon Boat Festival in Hsinchu here!

Baby Steps

Hsinchu’s General Village is a tourist market in its infancy. Currently consisting of only three buildings and a small market, the buzz of this newly resurrected community is slowly resonating throughout the city. Other than the original cluster, many more of the century-old dormitories are being rebuilt and are waiting for hipster shops to move in. It is only a matter of time before visitors will be able to visit every one of the 16 remaining homes in General Village.

These cold concrete houses reflect little of what General Village once looked like. From the shiny tin roofs to the fresh concrete exterior, many of the “historic” houses look more like hollow shells. One can only hope that as boutiques and bakeries move into the dormitories, at least one of the buildings can be furnished in such a way to reflect what life was like for families who lived there in the late 1950s. Without historical context, General Village will exist as nothing more than a collection of cheerless buildings with bright lights strung in front of them.

Looking for more things to do in Hsinchu? You can find the best things to do in Hsinchu here!