Postcards From Changhua City 2 (彰化市明信片二號) - Spectral Codex
Spectral Codex
Postcards From Changhua City 2
彰化市明信片二號

Posts

Not long after moving to the administrative capital of Changhua in 2014 I published a collection of photographs entitled Postcards from Changhua City. All of the photos in that post were shot in my first few months of residency but I ended up staying for half a year. In that time I gathered more than enough material for a sequel while making my daily rounds. So here it is: more photos from my time in Changhua City, a historic town in central Taiwan. As before, additional information and links are included in the caption for each photo, where available.

The gates to Kaihua Temple in the heart of Changhua City.
The gates to Kaihua Temple in the heart of Changhua City.
The city through the gates of Kāihuà Temple (開化寺). This temple dates back to 1724!
The city through the gates of Kāihuà Temple (開化寺). This temple dates back to 1724!
In Qing dynasty times Changhua was a walled city but the Japanese colonial authorities tore them down and imposed a new urban planning order on the city. Hidden in an alleyway, the North Gate Fude Temple (北門福徳祠) used to stand next to the northern entrance to the walled city.
In Qing dynasty times Changhua was a walled city but the Japanese colonial authorities tore them down and imposed a new urban planning order on the city. Hidden in an alleyway, the North Gate Fude Temple (北門福徳祠) used to stand next to the northern entrance to the walled city.
As the name would imply the Great Western Gate Fude Temple (大西門福德祠) marks the former location of the walled city’s western gate. This one is far more accessible than the north gate shrine, however.
As the name would imply the Great Western Gate Fude Temple (大西門福德祠) marks the former location of the walled city’s western gate. This one is far more accessible than the north gate shrine, however.
Inside the courtyard at the famous Changhua Confucian Temple (彰化孔子廯).
Inside the courtyard at the famous Changhua Confucian Temple (彰化孔子廯).
Doorway to the main hall of the Confucian Temple in Changhua City.
Doorway to the main hall of the Confucian Temple in Changhua City.
The ruins of the China Electric Chemical Factory (中國電氣化學廠) at the base of Baguashan.
The ruins of the China Electric Chemical Factory (中國電氣化學廠) at the base of Baguashan.
Gāobīngé (高賓閣), or the Changhua Railway Hospital (彰化鐵路醫院), is a unique colonial building that with a long and interesting history. It was abandoned for many years but is now being renovated by the city.
Gāobīngé (高賓閣), or the Changhua Railway Hospital (彰化鐵路醫院), is a unique colonial building that with a long and interesting history. It was abandoned for many years but is now being renovated by the city.
A Japanese colonial era building on Yongxing Street (永興街).
A Japanese colonial era building on Yongxing Street (永興街).
The historic Yíngōng Theater (銀宮戲院), immediately across from the Confucian Temple, now a fashion retailer.
The historic Yíngōng Theater (銀宮戲院), immediately across from the Confucian Temple, now a fashion retailer.
A stately row of colonial shophouses on Chángshòu Street (長壽街). The one on the left has since been demolished.
A stately row of colonial shophouses on Chángshòu Street (長壽街). The one on the left has since been demolished.
An impressive example of Japanese colonial architecture at the base of Baguashan. Today this is the Changhua Arts Museum (彰化藝術館) but it was built in 1933 as the Changhua City Assembly Hall (彰化市公會堂).
An impressive example of Japanese colonial architecture at the base of Baguashan. Today this is the Changhua Arts Museum (彰化藝術館) but it was built in 1933 as the Changhua City Assembly Hall (彰化市公會堂).
A closer look at the unique Wángzhǎngfā Trading Company (王長發商號), one of my favourite colonial shophouses in Taiwan.
A closer look at the unique Wángzhǎngfā Trading Company (王長發商號), one of my favourite colonial shophouses in Taiwan.
Inside the courtyard at Yuánqīngguān (元清觀), a temple with an unusual name. The censer appears to be levitating.
Inside the courtyard at Yuánqīngguān (元清觀), a temple with an unusual name. The censer appears to be levitating.
Ghost flowers: intricate arrangements of folder paper destined to be set ablaze.
Ghost flowers: intricate arrangements of folder paper destined to be set ablaze.
Blessings from Mazu. Tiānshàng Shèngmǔ (天上聖母) is one of her names.
Blessings from Mazu. Tiānshàng Shèngmǔ (天上聖母) is one of her names.
A chubby red Buddha in a temple in Changhua City.
A chubby red Buddha in a temple in Changhua City.
A jolly Sāntàizǐ (三太子) at Qing’an Temple (慶安宮) in Changhua City.
A jolly Sāntàizǐ (三太子) at Qing’an Temple (慶安宮) in Changhua City.
Study hall in the right wing of Qing’an Temple (慶安宮). These rooms are open to the public; just walk in and get to work!
Study hall in the right wing of Qing’an Temple (慶安宮). These rooms are open to the public; just walk in and get to work!
A vintage advertisement for palm reading and mole divination in the alleys of Changhua City.
A vintage advertisement for palm reading and mole divination in the alleys of Changhua City.
Japanese relics and curious pigeons on the desolate Xīntīng Old Street (新町老街).
Japanese relics and curious pigeons on the desolate Xīntīng Old Street (新町老街).
A row of abandoned shophouses next to Zhonghua Road Bridge (中華路橋). These buildings surely predate the construction of the bridge from which this image was captured.
A row of abandoned shophouses next to Zhonghua Road Bridge (中華路橋). These buildings surely predate the construction of the bridge from which this image was captured.
An abandoned Japanese colonial era police station on Minzu Road (舊民族路派出所).
An abandoned Japanese colonial era police station on Minzu Road (舊民族路派出所).
On the other side of Zhonghua Road Bridge is the Changhua City Fish Market (彰化市魚市場). There isn’t much to see here by day but long after dark it’s a bustling hive of activity.
On the other side of Zhonghua Road Bridge is the Changhua City Fish Market (彰化市魚市場). There isn’t much to see here by day but long after dark it’s a bustling hive of activity.
Peeling paint and utility stickers next to a disused apartment block on the far side of the railway tracks.
Peeling paint and utility stickers next to a disused apartment block on the far side of the railway tracks.
A cute character on the door of an old house in back alley Changhua City.
A cute character on the door of an old house in back alley Changhua City.
A vintage home in the back alleys of Changhua City.
A vintage home in the back alleys of Changhua City.
A palanquin entering Nányáo Temple (南瑤宮) on the south end of town.
A palanquin entering Nányáo Temple (南瑤宮) on the south end of town.
A round portal with carved versions of the Republic of China flag inside Nanyao Temple (南瑤宮).
A round portal with carved versions of the Republic of China flag inside Nanyao Temple (南瑤宮).
The pharaoh of Changhua City? No, this is merely a statue outside an Asian-fusion restaurant named Havivi (凱悅奇兵主題飲食館).
The pharaoh of Changhua City? No, this is merely a statue outside an Asian-fusion restaurant named Havivi (凱悅奇兵主題飲食館).
A cuckoo clock on a wall in the back alleys of Changhua City. Totally random.
A cuckoo clock on a wall in the back alleys of Changhua City. Totally random.
The entrance to an old medical clinic on the south side of town. The sign on the right is the schedule.
The entrance to an old medical clinic on the south side of town. The sign on the right is the schedule.
A stack of ghost money for anyone who needs it.
A stack of ghost money for anyone who needs it.
Poetic divination in Báilóng’ān (白龍庵), a rooftop retreat in the heart of Changhua City. These fortunes are drawn by lot after asking questions of the gods in a short ceremony.
Poetic divination in Báilóng’ān (白龍庵), a rooftop retreat in the heart of Changhua City. These fortunes are drawn by lot after asking questions of the gods in a short ceremony.
Another day in the office at the obscure Bìyìng Shrine (必應祠).
Another day in the office at the obscure Bìyìng Shrine (必應祠).
This mysterious statue at Biying Shrine vexed me while living in Changhua. I have since learned that this is Lín Xīlíng (林錫鈴), the founder or one of the original administrators of the shrine.
This mysterious statue at Biying Shrine vexed me while living in Changhua. I have since learned that this is Lín Xīlíng (林錫鈴), the founder or one of the original administrators of the shrine.
An electric flower car (電子花車) behind Jīngchéng Night Market (精誠夜市). I think they were doing some kind of raffle.
An electric flower car (電子花車) behind Jīngchéng Night Market (精誠夜市). I think they were doing some kind of raffle.
A shrine to light up the dark night on the north side of Changhua City. This is a land god shrine, an ubiquitous feature of the Taiwanese urban landscape.
A shrine to light up the dark night on the north side of Changhua City. This is a land god shrine, an ubiquitous feature of the Taiwanese urban landscape.
Taking the train from Changhua City on new year’s day.
Taking the train from Changhua City on new year’s day.
Boxed scooter waiting on the platform at Changhua Station (彰化車站).
Boxed scooter waiting on the platform at Changhua Station (彰化車站).
Moonrise over the towering ruins of the Qiáoyǒu Building (喬友大廈).
Moonrise over the towering ruins of the Qiáoyǒu Building (喬友大廈).
No evidence of a night market by day—but after dark this empty lot will come alive with activity.
No evidence of a night market by day—but after dark this empty lot will come alive with activity.
Out for a night ride along Zhúhé Road (竹和路), a small artery connecting two neighbourhoods bisected by a sprawling set of chemical plants and fabric factories on the north side of town.
Out for a night ride along Zhúhé Road (竹和路), a small artery connecting two neighbourhoods bisected by a sprawling set of chemical plants and fabric factories on the north side of town.
Broken glass outside an abandoned home in Changhua City.
Broken glass outside an abandoned home in Changhua City.
A popular local delicacy: fried and stuffed bread at Āzhēn Zhàmántou (阿貞炸饅頭).
A popular local delicacy: fried and stuffed bread at Āzhēn Zhàmántou (阿貞炸饅頭).
Propeller of a warplane in Jiànkāng Trail Park (健康步道公園) up on Baguashan.
Propeller of a warplane in Jiànkāng Trail Park (健康步道公園) up on Baguashan.
Inside the cockpit of a derelict C-119 Flying Boxcar resting in a park on Baguashan. Only about 7 of these Korean War-era relics remain in Taiwan (out of a fleet of more than 100 purchased from the US).
Inside the cockpit of a derelict C-119 Flying Boxcar resting in a park on Baguashan. Only about 7 of these Korean War-era relics remain in Taiwan (out of a fleet of more than 100 purchased from the US).
Buddhas galore inside the big temple at the edge of Baguashan.
Buddhas galore inside the big temple at the edge of Baguashan.
Looking south from Baguashan over a university campus and the more residential side of town.
Looking south from Baguashan over a university campus and the more residential side of town.
Baguashan (八卦山) in the drought of 2015. The fountain was shut off to conserve water.
Baguashan (八卦山) in the drought of 2015. The fountain was shut off to conserve water.
The Big Buddha of Baguashan (八卦山大佛) in black and white.
The Big Buddha of Baguashan (八卦山大佛) in black and white.

Be sure to see the first in this series and browse around the rest of my posts from Changhua City and Changhua for more from this part of Taiwan.

Themes

Regions

Connections

Similar Content

Postcards From Changhua City 1

Postcards From Changhua City 1
(彰化市明信片一號)

Changhua
Changhua City
Postcards From Xiluo

Postcards From Xiluo
(西螺明信片)

Yunlin
Xiluo
Postcards From Yuanlin

Postcards From Yuanlin
(員林明信片)

Changhua
Yuanlin
Changhua Bus Terminal

Changhua Bus Terminal
(台汽客運彰化總站)

Changhua
Changhua City
West Taoyuan Ride 2015

West Taoyuan Ride 2015

Taiwan
Taoyuan
Xinhua Old Street

Xinhua Old Street
(新化老街)

Tainan
Xinhua
Postcards From Ershui

Postcards From Ershui
(二水明信片)

Changhua
Ershui
Fugang Old Street

Fugang Old Street
(富岡老街)

Taoyuan
Yangmei

Author

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.