Shigang Rice Barn

Shigang Rice Barn (石岡穀倉), formally known as the Shigang Farmers’ Association Rice Milling Barn (石岡農會碾米穀倉), is one of the best preserved Japanese colonial era rice barns in Taiwan. Constructed with locally-sourced timber in 1941, it was designed to be earthquake-resistant, benefitting from hard lessons learned from the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake and the 1935 Hsinchu-Taichung Earthquake. It was in use for many decades before modernization of rice milling made it obsolete, presumably sometime in the 1980s or 1990s, leaving the building derelict and threatened with demolition.

Date CapturedDecember 2nd, 2016 at 06:31 UTCCameraCanon EOS 600DLensTokina AT-X 116 AF Pro DX 11-16mm f/2.8Apertureƒ / 5Shutter Speed1/100 secFocal Length16.0 mmISO100Exposure Value11.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Date CapturedDecember 2nd, 2016 at 06:09 UTCCameraCanon EOS 600DLensTokina AT-X 116 AF Pro DX 11-16mm f/2.8Apertureƒ / 6.3Shutter Speed1/160 secFocal Length11.0 mmISO200Exposure Value12.6 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

In 1999 the catastrophic 921 Earthquake struck central Taiwan, severely damaging much of Shigang (including its iconic dam, but this old rice barn held up incredibly well, attracting media reports of its sturdy design. In the aftermath of the disaster the central government dispensed relief funds—so the local agricultural cooperative opted to properly restore the structure and transform it into a tourist attraction. It was awarded heritage status in 2002 and is now open to the public. Entry is free of charge and guided tours can be scheduled in advance.

Date CapturedDecember 2nd, 2016 at 06:29 UTCCameraCanon EOS 600DLensTokina AT-X 116 AF Pro DX 11-16mm f/2.8Apertureƒ / 2.8Shutter Speed1/40 secFocal Length11.0 mmISO320Exposure Value8.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Date CapturedDecember 2nd, 2016 at 06:25 UTCCameraCanon EOS 600DLensTokina AT-X 116 AF Pro DX 11-16mm f/2.8Apertureƒ / 2.8Shutter Speed1/20 secFocal Length16.0 mmISO3200Exposure Value7.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

The building is divided into two sections: one for rice milling and another for storage. The rice mill is connected to the storage area by a system of tubes and conveyor belts running to the second floor, which was not open when I visited in 2016, as well ducts running under the floor. The storage area consists of six chambers with viewports for monitoring rice levels and ventilation shafts to control temperature and humidity. Every chamber has its exact dimensions displayed next to the door in Taiwanese units of measurement, specifically Taiwanese feet (台尺) and inches (台寸), due to slight variations in size.

Date CapturedDecember 2nd, 2016 at 06:13 UTCCameraCanon EOS 600DLensTokina AT-X 116 AF Pro DX 11-16mm f/2.8Apertureƒ / 2.8Shutter Speed1/15 secFocal Length11.0 mmISO3200Exposure Value6.9 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Date CapturedDecember 2nd, 2016 at 06:14 UTCCameraCanon EOS 600DLensTokina AT-X 116 AF Pro DX 11-16mm f/2.8Apertureƒ / 2.8Shutter Speed1/40 secFocal Length11.0 mmISO2000Exposure Value8.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

There appears to be some confusion about exactly what sort of wood was used to build the rice milling barn. Official information from the cultural bureau specifies Chinese fir, Cunninghamia lanceolata (巒大杉), whereas others mention Taiwan cypress, Taiwania cryptomerioides (台灣杉), both members of the cypress family. Whatever the case, most of the structure between wooden beams is wattle and daub over a woven bamboo matrix, a common construction method in colonial times, while the inner storage chambers feature a layer of concrete over that same matrix.

Date CapturedDecember 2nd, 2016 at 06:11 UTCCameraCanon EOS 600DLensTokina AT-X 116 AF Pro DX 11-16mm f/2.8Apertureƒ / 4Shutter Speed1/30 secFocal Length11.0 mmISO1250Exposure Value8.9 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Date CapturedDecember 2nd, 2016 at 07:06 UTCCameraNIKON D3100LensAF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIApertureƒ / 3.5Shutter Speed1/50 secFocal Length18.0 mmISO200Exposure Value9.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Date CapturedDecember 2nd, 2016 at 06:26 UTCCameraCanon EOS 600DLensTokina AT-X 116 AF Pro DX 11-16mm f/2.8Apertureƒ / 5Shutter Speed1/100 secFocal Length11.0 mmISO100Exposure Value11.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Overall I would recommend a brief stop at the Shigang Rice Barn if you happen to be passing through the area, especially if you’re already taking the Dongfeng Bicycle Green Way (東豐自行車綠廊). Naturally there are many good articles about this attraction in Chinese; if you’d like to see more photos, try here, here, here, here, and here.