As France canceled the Historic Monuments and Sites Day this year for security reasons, Taiwan celebrated the international day yesterday as planned at Huwei Fortress in Tamsui, Taipei County with 47 other countries around the globe.
France inaugurated the third weekend of September as the Historic Monuments and Sites Day in 1984. On this particular day, historic sites, monuments and museums which charge for admission or are not open to the public on regular days, are open to the public free of charge.
This is the first year Taiwan is holding such an event. During the two-day event, the public is welcome to visit the 14 historic sites in Taipei City and 27 others in Taipei County as well as 300 more in other parts of Taiwan.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Speaking before the media and representatives of consulates and trade offices, along with the cultural chiefs of 25 counties and cities, Tchen Yu-hsiu (陳郁秀), chairwoman of the Cabinet's Council for Cultural Affairs, said that there is a historic meaning to the selection of Tamsui for the Historic Sites day ceremony.
"Tamsui is a traditional yet exotic place. It was a busy harbor about 300 years ago and became an international seaport around two centuries ago. Spain, Holland, England, and Japan, all of which have once occupied Tamsui, have had tremendous impact on its culture, architecture, and religious beliefs," she said.
The purpose of the event, Tchen said, is to encourage and educate the public to appreciate and protect Taiwanese cultural heritage.
"Cultural conservation is not a private business nor the sole responsibility of the government, but a joint venture of the people and the government," she said.
Taipei County Commissioner Su Tseng-chang (
"We hope it not only raises public awareness of the importance of culture, but also allows the international community to have a better understanding of Taiwanese culture," he said.
Yesterday afternoon, rainfall brought by tropical storm Nari did not seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the participants.
Wang Chin-tu (
A native of Tamsui, Wang said that the fortress has a special meaning for him.
"Three days after my first son was born in 1944, my family and I moved into the fortress and stayed there for a month to hide from air raids," said the 81-year-old. "When I was young, this is where I led my cattle to feed."
Wang also offered interesting tidbits about the fortress told by his grandfather.
"He told me that beneath the fortress, there was treasure hidden before the Ching Dynasty ceded Taiwan to Japan," he said. "You see that wall over there? It was once torn down by gold diggers."
Chen Chih-hung (
"The public was not allowed to enter the fortress because it was a military base," he said. "My first impression about this place after it was open to the public was that it was a pity nobody took care of it."
Built in 1886, Huwei Fortress was built by the first governor of Taiwan Province, Liu Ming-chuan, two years after the Sino-French conflict. It became a military base about 10 years ago and was designated as a national historic site in 1985.
Sung Hung-yi (
"I'm happy because we finally see the beginning of cultural conservation on a national scale. On the other hand, I'm worried that nobody talks or cares about it after such a grandiose ceremony," he said.
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