Dongshi Jincheng Theater (東勢金城戲院) - Spectral Codex
Spectral Codex
東勢金城戲院

Locations

Jincheng Theater (金城戲院) is located in central Dongshi, an old lumber town in the interior of Taichung. Very little information exists to substantiate the history of this particular theater, but it operated into the 1980s and was likely out of business after the 921 Earthquake devastated this town in 1999. Later on it was converted into a KTV of the same name. Whether the structure currently on this site is the original shell of the theater is unclear, but staff at some of the nearby shops seemed to indicate it wasn’t completely demolished. There is some suggestion it was actually established in the late Japanese colonial era but without a more credible source I would consider that highly speculative.

The narrow alleyway at the front of the former theater makes it almost impossible to photograph.
The narrow alleyway at the front of the former theater makes it almost impossible to photograph.
If you look closely you can see the top of an old-fashioned vaulted rooftop peeking out from behind some metal sheeting.
If you look closely you can see the top of an old-fashioned vaulted rooftop peeking out from behind some metal sheeting.
A quick peek inside the former theater before I was chased out.
A quick peek inside the former theater before I was chased out.

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Profile photo of Alexander Synaptic, founder of Spectral Codex
Alexander Synaptic
Curator, Spectral Codex

I am a web application developer, photojournalist, urban explorer, and history enthusiast passionate about the open web and documenting my experiences on this planet. This project was founded in the early 2010s and has evolved into a sort of personal Wikipedia of places that interest me (and often the photographs I’ve taken there). I’m originally from Toronto, Canada, but spend most of my time residing in Taiwan.