Yilan Governance Memorial Hall is a Japanese-style wooden official residence built in 1906 by Yilan's first prefectural governor, Saigō Kikujirō; it covers about 0.25 hectares, with a floor area of 243.65 square metres, and was registered as a historic building in 2001. The hall presents a systematic display of records covering Yilan's administrative history from the Qing-dynasty establishment of the prefecture through the post-World War II restoration. It opened to the public as a memorial hall in 1997 and remains an important case study in Japanese colonial-era official residence architecture.
Yilan Governance Memorial Hall was built in 1906 by Yilan's first prefectural governor, Saigō Kikujirō, who brought carpenters and a garden designer from Tokyo; it covers about 0.25 hectares (roughly 800 ping) with a floor area of 243.65 square metres. The building was registered as a historic structure on 29 June 2001, and it opened to the public as a memorial hall on 13 December 1997 in a ceremony presided over by then-magistrate Yu Shyi-kun.
Highlights of Yilan Governance Memorial Hall
Yilan County's Qing-dynasty administrative history began in 1812 (the 17th year of the Jiaqing reign) with the establishment of Kavalan Prefecture — the formal starting point of Qing governance over Yilan. In the early Japanese colonial period, authorities adapted and renovated the existing prefectural facilities. The surviving wooden residence was built in the middle-to-late Japanese colonial era in an eclectic Japanese-Western official-residence style. Its spatial layout retains traditional corridor and sliding-door designs, and both the exterior and interior details still reflect the standards of official-residence architecture of the time.
The permanent exhibition is divided into several thematic sections covering Qing administrative organization, the Japanese colonial governance structure, and the post-restoration history of the county government. Exhibits include facsimiles of official documents, maps, artefacts, and photographs. A garden surrounds the building, planted with species typical of Japanese-style gardens. The overall atmosphere is quiet and reflective; most visitors come with an interest in local history.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There
- By car: located on Jiucheng West Road in Yilan City; street parking and nearby public car parks are available in the area.
- By public transit: take the TRA to Yilan Station, then walk about 15–20 minutes, or take a local bus to the old city area.
- Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the visit. Check the Yilan County Government's official announcements for current opening hours and admission fees before you go.
Nearby Connections
- Zhaoying Temple is on Zhongshan Road, about a 10-minute walk away — a good chance to visit Yilan's most important Mazu temple.
- Yilan Winery is on Jiucheng South Road, within walking distance. Combining both gives you a half-day cultural route through the old city area.
Source: Yilan County Government Cultural Affairs Bureau and hall documentation. Photos pending Dio's on-location shoot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who built Yilan Governance Memorial Hall?
It was built in 1906 by Yilan's first prefectural governor, Saigō Kikujirō, who brought carpenters and a garden designer from Tokyo.
Is the hall a designated county monument?
No — it was registered as a historic building in 2001, not as a county-designated monument.
When did the memorial hall officially open to the public?
It opened on 13 December 1997, in a ceremony presided over by then-magistrate Yu Shyi-kun.
Sources
- 宜蘭設治紀念館 - 維基百科 — 建造年份1906年、西鄉菊次郎、歷史建築登錄2001年、1997年啟用開放