Gangshan Juancun Cultural Park is a heritage site in Kaohsiung's Gangshan District preserving two of the area's original eighteen Air Force dependents' villages, Xingcun and Lequn Village. After its 2010 city-county merger, Kaohsiung preserved nearly 90 hectares of army, navy, and air force juancun landscape — the largest such preservation in Taiwan — bearing witness to how mainlander military families put down roots after arriving in Taiwan.
After Kaohsiung's city-county merger, the city preserved nearly 90 hectares of juancun (military dependents' village) landscape across army, navy, and air force communities — the largest such preservation in Taiwan. Of Gangshan's original 18 air force villages, only two remain: Xingcun and Lequn Village. Xingcun was originally worker housing for the Japanese Navy's 61st Air Arsenal during the colonial era; the Kaohsiung City Cultural Affairs Bureau has been restoring the site, with area-wide completion and public opening planned for 2026.
Highlights of Gangshan Juancun Cultural Park
Because the Air Force Academy has been stationed in Gangshan for decades, the area retains one of Taiwan's more complete clusters of juancun settlements. The architectural style typically consists of Japanese-style dormitories converted for civilian use, or simple brick-and-timber single-story houses built quickly after arrival. The narrow alleyways and close-knit neighborhood scale follow a spatial logic quite different from other Taiwanese communities. The Cultural Park has restored some of the units as exhibition spaces, preserving original door plaques, courtyards, and interior arrangements.
The park's displays cover the lived memories of mainlander communities who came to Taiwan: kitchen and living-room furniture arrangements, the local evolution of multi-provincial food cultures, and the childhood memories of juancun children who grew up here. Gangshan is known for its diverse food culture shaped by the juancun communities — lamb hot pot, honey, and the local adaptation of dishes from various Chinese provinces all trace back to this juancun history.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There & Timing
- Take the TRA to Gangshan Station, then walk or transfer by bus. By car, exit National Highway 1 at Gangshan Interchange — about 10 minutes.
- For opening hours and guided tour activities, contact the Kaohsiung City Cultural Affairs Bureau or check on-site notices. The park may be closed on certain dates.
Nearby Connections
- Several well-established lamb hot pot restaurants and honey specialty shops are in Gangshan town center — most meaningful to visit after the cultural tour.
- About 30 minutes south is the Yanchao Mud Volcanoes — combine Gangshan juancun culture with natural geology for a varied itinerary.
Sources: Kaohsiung City Cultural Affairs Bureau juancun cultural preservation information; Wikipedia entry on Gangshan District. Photos pending Dio's own photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which juancun villages does the park preserve?
Gangshan originally had 18 air force juancun villages; only Xingcun and Lequn Village remain today, forming the park's core preservation area.
What was Xingcun originally used for?
Xingcun was originally worker housing for the Japanese Navy's 61st Air Arsenal during the colonial era, later repurposed as air force family housing.
How large is Kaohsiung's preserved juancun landscape?
After its merger, Kaohsiung preserved nearly 90 hectares of army, navy, and air force juancun landscape, the largest of any city or county in Taiwan.
When will Xingcun fully open to the public?
The Kaohsiung City Cultural Affairs Bureau plans to complete Xingcun's restoration and open the full area in 2026, subject to official confirmation.
Sources
- 岡山樂群村 - 高雄眷村 — 高雄陸海空三軍眷村保存面積與分布
- 岡山觀光新亮點 醒村擬於一一五年開放 — 醒村整建與開放時程
- 走讀高雄陸海空三軍眷村 - 高雄畫刊 — 醒村前身與岡山18座眷村背景