Taichung West

West District (西區) is the administrative heart of Taichung City, home to the highest concentration of Japanese colonial era government buildings in the city. The Taichung Prefecture Hall (臺中州廳), a national monument dating back to 1913, anchors a cluster of heritage buildings including Shiyakusho (市役所) and the Datun District Office (大屯郡役所). Taiwan Prefecture Examination Hall (儒考棚), a rare surviving relic of the Qing dynasty era provincial capital planned for central Taiwan, predates the Japanese civic buildings. The former prison martial arts hall (刑務所演武場) and surrounding wardens’ residences have been restored as a cultural precinct. The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (國立臺灣美術館), the country’s largest art museum, anchors the district’s western side.