Changhua TRA Dormitory Village 彰化台鐵宿舍村

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The Changhua TRA Dormitory Village is an abandoned village near Changhua Station that was used as housing for TRA employees and their families until 2004. It was originally set for demolition, but this did not happen due to local backlash. It still stands today abandoned, waiting to be renovated someday. It is the best preserved TRA dormitory area in Taiwan.

Background:
The Changhua TRA Dormitory Village was completed in 1922, built by the Japanese after the completion of Taiwan's coastal railway line from Zhunan to Changhua, across from the Changhua Roundhouse. The village had a community hall, convenience store, barber shops, and air raid shelters. In 1958, the village was damaged by a Typhoon. Cement apartments began to be built here in 1970. In 2003, the occupants were required to leave, and the village was going to be demolished and turned into a park by the city in 2011. When demolition work was about to begin in 2014, a local group called Banxian Xinshenghui (半線新生會) started a protest, which was successful in stopping the demolition. This involved finding old residents and explaining the historical significance of the village to authorities. In 2018 the village was listed as a historical monument. However, as of 2021 the village still sits abandoned. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
​Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Changhua TRA station, travel north and turn left on Zhangmei Road Section 1. The village is on your left next to the train tracks. There is limited parking on the side of the road. 
By Train: The village is within five minute walking distance from Changhua TRA Station.

Map:
Please see below:

Our Journey:

We have been to the TRA employee dependent's village once. Like many dependent's villages in Taiwan, it is made of not so high quality materials and was likely a fire and earthquake hazard in its time. 

For an aerial view of the village, see our drone video above. 

Another 360 degree of the area above. 

Ditch next to the village, painted with dogs. 

Another view of the stinky ditch near the village. 

Closed up shops along the main road.

The end of the road here takes you to a set of tracks.

I guess there is some remodeling work going on here?

Walking into the abandoned village. 

An old sink and living room.

Front walkway.

Someone's old kitchen.

Living room with ceiling coming apart.

Another view inside a living room.

View inside a room filled with junk.

Empty classroom.

There was a truck parked here getting rid of garbage?

Overgrown alleyway.

Old wooden chair.

Rotten front room.

More junk.

A rotting living room.

Shed with piles of leaves.

An iron gate that leads to an overgrown park. 

Another view of junk.

House.

Old wooden house, likely built by the Japanese in 1922.

View inside.

Second story.

View inside a porch.

You will notice there are a lot of old photos here. I think they were placed here as part of the protest to show the historical significance of the place.

Another view down the road.

More old photos on display. Memories of times past.

View inside a living room.

Another patio.

More old photos.

A wedding took place here.

And someone uses the place as free parking. 

Exiting the village. The village is very extensive and there are quite a few squatters in there, so I did not explore everything. 

If you have time, you should also visit the Changhua Roundhouse across the street. For our full blog on Changhua's Roundhouse, click here.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more of our blogs on Changhua to come!

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