Songshan Cultural and Creative Park Company Visit

During the recent visit to Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, the participating students were deeply impressed by the park’s precious historical artifacts and well-preserved buildings.

Through a professional guided tour, they gained an in-depth understanding of Songshan’s history as a tobacco factory during the Japanese colonial period and witnessed firsthand how the park,

after its transformation into a creative cultural hub, has retained numerous historical features with great respect for the original structures, allowing traces of its industrial past to remain visible throughout the site.

Under the guidance of the tour instructors, the students explored the park’s representative architectural spaces, including the raw material warehouse, administrative office halls, boiler room, and the water areas that have since been transformed into ecological features.

The guides not only explained the historical functions and significance of each building but also introduced the different stages and equipment used in the tobacco production process.

Through these explanations, the students were able to move beyond merely observing the exterior of the buildings and gain a comprehensive understanding of the roles each space played in the factory’s operations.

Features such as brick walls, large wooden-framed windows, worn floorboards, and even the design of the tall chimneys allowed the students to feel as if they had stepped back in time, experiencing the bustling atmosphere of the factory at its peak.

During the restoration process, the park preserved a substantial amount of original materials and Japanese industrial design elements, including aged beams, exposed steel structures, and the original ventilation systems.

This allowed the students to simultaneously experience the weight of history and the ingenuity of modern design in the same space.

The “restore as original” preservation approach, combined with the concept of cultural revitalization, made Songshan not only a venue for displaying history but also a dynamic platform for creativity.

The students found this aspect of the visit particularly inspiring, noting that Songshan exemplifies how a city can preserve historical value while simultaneously fostering new cultural and industrial energy.

Through the visit, the students developed a deeper appreciation for the value of historical buildings.

They observed that the significance of these spaces lies not only in their architectural appearance but also in the stories and cultural meaning they carry.

Compared to learning from textbooks or online resources, physically entering the buildings, examining the bricks and materials up close, and listening to the guides’ explanations provided them with a far more tangible understanding of the importance of cultural heritage preservation. Several students shared that the sense of atmosphere and historical presence they experienced firsthand was far more vivid and impactful than anything conveyed in writing.

At the conclusion of the activity, the students generally affirmed the educational value of the visit.

They regarded Songshan not merely as a cultural and creative park, but as a “living textbook” that allows people to rediscover the history of the city.

The park also encourages students to actively participate in future Student International Ambassador Training Programs, noting that such activities can broaden horizons and provide inspiration, regardless of whether students have prior interest in history, architecture, or the creative industries.

Through on-site exploration and immersive experiences, it is hoped that more students will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of cultural preservation and create meaningful, lasting memories in their learning journey.