1. The History
Taipei Children’s Recreation Centre is located in the Zhongshan of Taipei. It holds the record of being the first public amusement park in Taiwan occupying a small hill next to the Keelung River. It opened in1934 during Japanese rule when the Taipei Department of Education purchased land next to the then Yuanshan Zoo. After the war, in 1946, ownership was transferred to the new ROC government, and the zoo was split from the amusement park to become a separate entity.
In 1958, the first mechanical rides were installed and ownership the park was privatised. The park would switch between private and state ownership several times during its existence. The park was merged back with the zoo in 1970, until 1986, when Taipei Zoo relocated to Muzha District of Taipei. Around this time, the Department of Education were planning a redesign of the park to make effective use of the extra space. The redevelopment and expansion took place over the course of 6 years and was finally completed in 1992, with the opening of the 3D theatre and Science Hall that formed the centrepiece of the ‘World of Tomorrow’.
In 2006 Yuanshan was designated as a National Archaeological Site of historical and cultural importance due to the discovery of large numbers of prehistoric artefacts in the area. The site became protected under Cultural Heritage laws, to add on to existing height restrictions as a result of the park’s close proximity to Songshan Airport. The following year the government planned to relocate the park to Shilin District. The park closed in 2014 and has been derelict since.
2. The Explore
The first of three explores I managed to get in while in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. I spied this place from the MTR the previous year when I was in Taipei so on my return this Summer I headed over to check the place out. The entrance to the fun fair on the MTR side is now a hive of activity as the contractors have now started work on clearing the park. Hence, I entered from the far side where the 3D Theatre is. In the end it was a pretty relaxed explore. There’s not much left of the fun fair and the more modern theatre and science hall was locked up and appeared to have a live CCTV system. Despite that, this place was well worth the effort and quite a unique place.
3. The Pictures
Approaching from the 3D Theatre:
img8885 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8886 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8887 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and round to the right and up the hill:
img8890 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8891 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And on to the fun fair:
img8914 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8892 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8894 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8912 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Here it’s all about the carousel:
img8895 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8898 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8899 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8900 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8901 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And the ferris wheel:
img8903 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8906 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8907 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8908 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Then back round to the other side of the science hall:
img8915 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8916 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8920 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8924 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8925 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8929 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8930 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Tapiei Fun fair 02 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Tapiei Fun fair 03 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Tapiei Fun fair 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Taipei Children’s Recreation Centre is located in the Zhongshan of Taipei. It holds the record of being the first public amusement park in Taiwan occupying a small hill next to the Keelung River. It opened in1934 during Japanese rule when the Taipei Department of Education purchased land next to the then Yuanshan Zoo. After the war, in 1946, ownership was transferred to the new ROC government, and the zoo was split from the amusement park to become a separate entity.
In 1958, the first mechanical rides were installed and ownership the park was privatised. The park would switch between private and state ownership several times during its existence. The park was merged back with the zoo in 1970, until 1986, when Taipei Zoo relocated to Muzha District of Taipei. Around this time, the Department of Education were planning a redesign of the park to make effective use of the extra space. The redevelopment and expansion took place over the course of 6 years and was finally completed in 1992, with the opening of the 3D theatre and Science Hall that formed the centrepiece of the ‘World of Tomorrow’.
In 2006 Yuanshan was designated as a National Archaeological Site of historical and cultural importance due to the discovery of large numbers of prehistoric artefacts in the area. The site became protected under Cultural Heritage laws, to add on to existing height restrictions as a result of the park’s close proximity to Songshan Airport. The following year the government planned to relocate the park to Shilin District. The park closed in 2014 and has been derelict since.
2. The Explore
The first of three explores I managed to get in while in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. I spied this place from the MTR the previous year when I was in Taipei so on my return this Summer I headed over to check the place out. The entrance to the fun fair on the MTR side is now a hive of activity as the contractors have now started work on clearing the park. Hence, I entered from the far side where the 3D Theatre is. In the end it was a pretty relaxed explore. There’s not much left of the fun fair and the more modern theatre and science hall was locked up and appeared to have a live CCTV system. Despite that, this place was well worth the effort and quite a unique place.
3. The Pictures
Approaching from the 3D Theatre:
…and round to the right and up the hill:
And on to the fun fair:
Here it’s all about the carousel:
And the ferris wheel:
Then back round to the other side of the science hall:
