Telling the stories of a hometown and writing the history of a city, the Central Branch of the Taichung Public Library connects the century-old history of the Central District with the traveling exhibition Exploring the Old City and lectures by local artisans. The exhibit, which began its tour in October, is now on display at theBranch of the Taichung Public Library. Citizens are invited to savor the district’s rich cultural heritage through stories and images. The exhibition runs from now until the end of February next year(2025), welcoming visitors of all ages to experience the unique charm of the old city.

Taichung's Central District boasts a wealth of cultural heritage and industrial history, witnessing both the rise and decline of its business districts. The Central Branch Library has long engaged the community through its "Living Library" initiative, inviting local business owners and artisans to share their stories. These precious memories are recorded as videos for preservation. The Exploring the Old City exhibit not only showcases the cultural essence of the district but also integrates these cultural memories into citizens' everyday lives.

Touring the Old City through Schools

The Exploring the Old City traveling exhibition has toured various schools since October, including Wenxin Elementary School(文心國小), National Taichung University of Science and Technology, and Guangfu Elementary School(光復國小), bringing the old city's stories to campuses. For example, Mr. Lee Han-Chiang(李漢強) of Han-Chiang Herbal Store(漢強百草店) shared his experience taking over the shop at the age of 18 and fulfilling his mother’s wish to uphold quality and pass down traditions. He encouraged students at Wenxin Elementary to observe their daily lives and discover historical stories in small moments. Similarly, the “Fruit Granny” of Qingzhou Fruit Store shared at Guangfu Elementary how her family built their business on “integrity” and “persistence,” inspiring students to adopt the same values in their daily lives. Schools also designed learning worksheets and walking tours to help students explore and uncover touching stories in familiar scenes, planting seeds for cultural inheritance.

At National Taichung University of Science and Technology, Mr. Hsiao Shih-Huan(蕭世桓), the second-generation owner of Ming-Chang Photography Equipment Store(明昌照相器材行), discussed his forward-thinking business philosophy and encouraged young students to use cameras to document their own stories. With photography as its special collection focus, the Central Library has recorded over 40 videos featuring “living storytellers” and continues to gather and produce new materials. This exhibit also collaborates with the university's Department of Commercial Design to re-interview artisans and produce new visual narratives, presented in hanging scrolls. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in these visual stories and feel the historical warmth of the old city.

A Tribute to Wang Shui-Ho
To commemorate artist Wang Shui-Ho, who helped shape the cultural identity of Taichung's business districts, a special dialogue will take place on December 14 at 2 PM on the 6th floor of the Central District Office. The event will feature Professor Liao Chen-Fu(廖振富) from National Chung Hsing University, Wang's descendant Mr. Wang Wen-Fang(王文芳), and granddaughter Ms. Wang Yun-Ling(王允伶), discussing "The Artistic Journey of Wang Shui-Ho." Interested members of the public are warmly invited to attend.

For more information about events and to view related videos, please visit the Central Branch’s official Facebook page:  https://reurl.cc/zDEy27    .