Treasure Hill is a former military dependents village in Taipei, which has been converted into an art village. In addition to understanding more about Taiwan's wartime history here, you can also appreciate the many art spaces and coffee shops in the village. This place is a hipster's paradise.
Background: Treasure Hill was originally an anti-aircraft location for the Japanese military during WWII. The barracks and dormitories leftover by the Japanese were later taken over by KMT army veterans after the KMT retreated to Taiwan in the late 1940's. There were also a few illegal structures added to the village made from cement and sand from the Xindian River. After 1960, the area was converted into a military dependents village for the families of army veterans. After years of no illegal renovations and add-ons. the Taipei City government planned to demolish the village in 1980, and some were destroyed. However, because the city could not find a place for the poor families that still lived there, the demolition was halted. In 2006 demolition of houses near the riverside was completed, and over 100 residents were moved out of the village. Later on, the remaining legal houses were converted into the international arts village, and a few residents were allowed to remain. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11 AM to 10 PM Price: Free Hotels in Taipei: High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Taipei Marriot (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Activities in Taipei: You can look for more activities in Taipei such as Rock Climbing, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, Diving, Snorkeling, Cooking Class, Glamping, Motorcycling, and more on Klook here or KKday here. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From Roosevelt Road, turn right toward Tingzhou Road Section 3. There is paid parking on the north entrance. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus/MRT: Take the MRT to Gonguan Station. The village is about a 10 minute walk away. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Map: Please see below: Our Journey: We have been to treasure hill twice. I recommend that you get there after 11 PM and before 6 PM, otherwise most of the art spaces and shops will be closed. I enjoyed it and I recommend going! I found this old village very interesting. The whole area is beautiful. However if old half-torn-down villages are not your thing, feel free to skip it. I would like to emphasize you need to get there after 11 AM and before 6 PM. I didn't make that window, so when I visited most of the shops were closed, so I feel like I didn't get down to the real meat of the village.
For an overview of the area, check out our drone footage above.
You can also see our 360 pano above.
Aerial view of the village, the most prominent feature being the Boazang Temple.
View of the village from another angle. I imagine that the grassy areas here were all once illegal houses.
Another view of the village.
At the front entrance there is a parking lot for cars, and also a hiking trail that goes to the village.
Murals along the levee here.
Artists map of the village.
Baozang Temple and the start of the village.
Another map of the area.
There is a basketball court here where an old military barracks used to be.
There is also a Ubike station here.
View looking down on the village.
Baozang Temple.
View inside the temple.
View of the roof.
View further inside the temple.
Main shrine of the temple.
Behind the temple is the main entrance to the art village.
The village is only open Tuesday to Sunday 11 AM to 10 PM.
There is a guard here who will stop you if you try to enter before 11 AM.
Since I came too early the first time, I came back later at a different time.
Each building is marked as an exhibition space, work space, coffee shop, or someone's house.
Art Space.
ROC flag in the wind.
Map of the area.
The Xie house.
Looking up an alley.
"You are sexy" in Chinese.
A bear mural.
Coffee shop which had closed up for the night.
Looking down the alleyway.
I presume someone lives here.
Another temple up the hill.
Cat guarding a shrine.
View looking toward the Xindian River at night.
Art space.
Another coffee shop.
View looking down from above.
Another view of the Xindian River.
Courtyard on top of the hill.
Someone's half destroyed bathroom.
Another view from above.
View looking west.
Closed off area.
Maybe a coffee shop closed early.
Another view looking back at the village.
Further into the village.
Old house.
Attic coffee shop which was still open.
Straggler.
An old kitchen on display, likely left over from the KMT era.
Another look back at the kitchen.
Someone's old bathroom floor.
A couple enjoys the night air.
Look over the Xindian River.
Hole where someone's toilet once stood.
Someone's curvy tile floor.
An old kitchen or bedroom.
Fortune cookie sculpture.
Rusty roof.
Romantic place to spend an evening.
Fortune cookie sculpture from another angle.
Another great view.
Closed art space.
This takes you on a hiking path over to the Taipei Water Museum.
Map of the area.
Another map of the area.
Looking back at the courtyard on top of the hill.
Coffee shop.
Another look at the Xindian River.
Looking back up at one of the buildings here.
Walking in the dark.
Same area during the day.
Gardens near the forest area.
More houses.
Looking back from the grassy area.
View of the village from the riverside.
Map of treasure hill.
You can see more photos of the area above.
Don't forget there are many more activities in Taipei such as Rock Climbing, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, Diving, Snorkeling, Cooking Class, Glamping, Motorcycling, and more on Klook here or KKday here. Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more blogs on Taipei to come!
2 Comments
Homer
1/12/2024 04:04:36 pm
So, is it worth to visit or not? this looks like an article you wrote 100% for SEO purposes, very little relevant or useful information, and that's too bad, since i find your other posts quite informative. ws it fun to visit? do you recommend it? seeing pictures of closed spaces and "Hole where someone's toilet once stood." tells me you didnt like it there at all....
Reply
Foreigners in Taiwan
1/12/2024 04:26:31 pm
Hi Homer, of course I enjoyed it and I recommend going! Why else would I make a post with hundreds of photos? To tell you to not go? I found that toilet hole very interesting. The whole area is beautiful. However if old half-torn-down villages are not your thing, feel free to skip it. I would like to emphasize you need to get there after 11 AM and before 6 PM. I didn't make that window, so when I visited most of the shops were closed so I feel like I didn't get down to the real meat of the village.
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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