Professor Yukio Nishimura, a renowned Japanese expert in urban planning and community development, visited Taichung at the invitation of the Architecture Research Design Center of Feng Chia University. On November 2, 2025, accompanied by Director Chen Chia-chun of the Cultural Affairs Bureau and Director Li Chih-fu of the Cultural Heritage Department, Yukio Nishimura toured several significant cultural heritage sites in Taichung’s West District, including the national historic site Taichung Prefectural Hall, the city-designated historic site Taiwan Prefecture Confucian Examination Hall, and the historic Datun District Office along with the auxiliary buildings of Taichung Prefectural Hall, gaining an in-depth understanding of Taichung’s achievements and challenges in cultural heritage preservation and adaptive reuse.
Director Chen Chia-chun noted that the West District serves as a crucial starting point in Taichung’s urban development, encompassing numerous representative government buildings and cultural-educational facilities dating from the Qing Dynasty through the postwar period, making it an important area that reflects the city’s historical trajectory. The city government has long been committed to the preservation and revitalization of cultural heritage and hopes that insights and recommendations from international experts will further enhance Taichung’s cultural preservation strategies.
Professor Yukio Nishimura was a vice president of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) under UNESCO and has long been engaged in research related to urban development and cultural heritage. He highly commended Taichung City’s efforts in the restoration, preservation, and adaptive reuse of cultural heritage. Professor Nishimura noted that heritage sites such as Taichung Prefectural Hall and the Datun District Office possess significant historical and cultural value. He praised the Cultural Affairs Bureau for its professional achievements in restoration and preservation, highlighting that by integrating these efforts with overall urban planning, Taichung not only showcases its local characteristics but also sets a model for cultural cities across Taiwan.
This visit not only fostered professional exchange between Taiwan and Japan but also brought a fresh international perspective to Taichung’s cultural heritage preservation policies. Director Chen Chia-chun expressed gratitude for Professor Nishimura’s recognition and stated that the city government will continue to advance the restoration and adaptive reuse of cultural heritage, ensuring the continuity of the city’s historical memory and transforming it into a driving force for sustainable urban development.