Why should we preserve Historical Heritage of Chung Hsing New Village?

      Studying history is a way to understand history. Visiting historical heritage is a way to experience history. That’s why a large group of people fight for the preservation of their hometown heritage. Chung Hsing New Village is just a typical instance. Because of the entering of Central Science Park, a part of the locals realize the importance of village preservation. They have been working hard on collecting disappearing memories of Chung Hsing New Village’s past for a long time, and have attempted to manage village self-image and identity to prove its value of preservation.

      According to  Liou Y.W. (2009), Chung Hsing New Village is equipped with special role and meaningful heritages. It appeared in the continuous atmosphere of Chinese Civil War. With limited material resources and human resources, Chung Hsing New Village has been the home to Taiwan Provincial Government for over forty years. At that tough time, several Taiwanese designers went abroad to Engalnd to learn special design of new town, Garden City, and implanted it into Taiwan land. In only two years, a local persevered new town was established. The process is not only full of inspiring footsteps of human striving but also documents Asian representation from the output of contemporary European civilization.  

The landscape of Chung Hsing New Village—A beautiful garden city. Referring to Wikipedia, Garden cities were intended to be planned, self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts", containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and agriculture.

      Facing the territorial exploitation from Central Science Park, Chung Hsing New Village is supposed not only to figure out its own identity but also to search for sustainable economic manner to be the backup of it. In 2002, Taiwan Provincial Government came up with several ideas about future development—to utilize existed resources such as historical document museum, dormitories, international conference center, swimming pool, golf court, badminton court, tennis court to transform into live museums and a sightseeing tourist center. With a little modification, Chung Hsing New Village could cater the needs to deal with meals and accommodation, by which tourists could enjoy the comfortable environment as well as its convenience.

    In conclusion, Chung Hsing New Village should make more effort on preservation due to its historical and profitable value. Furthermore, Government and the residents need to endeavor to build a sequel of potential and hopeful plans for a prosperous resort with historical significance for the elegant garden city.

Reference

 Liou Y.W. (2009). The Imagined Space for Chung Hsing New Village to  apply for World
               Heritage. Retrieved from
               http://subtpg.tpg.gov.tw/web-life/taiwan/9802/9802-13.html

Wikipedia. Garden City. Retrieved from
                http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_city_movement