Solo jaunt.
This was part of the same jaunt that has been covered in this report, but because of its incredible size and features which are not short of epic, it definitely warrants its own standalone report. This is a polytechnic which was founded in 1967, before it got university status in 1998, at which point there were 10000 students. However as is the case with other universities and schools, the low birth rate meant enrolments ceased in 2013 owing to a financial crisis which meant staff salaries went unpaid. The final closure date came on 7th August 2014, becoming the second to close at that time. At that point, any remaining students were transferred to other universities around the island to finish their studies.
Since then, the place has survived remarkably well, and it really is quite astounding to see the contrasts in decay, but even more so is that not ONE room has been left empty. It is not an exaggeration to say that staff and students both walked out and never returned; the only comparison one could possibly make is somewhere like Pripyat. But that's already had the footprints of thousands and thousands of people since closure, and was long-looted for anything of value. It is true that the computer block at the back of the site, easier to access and out of sight of the main road, has been stripped heavily by pikeys for any copper, and attempts to break into the student dormitory block next door are obvious. However as of this visit, the student dormitory is the only building still powered up, and remains tightly locked and inaccessible; likewise, the further you progress to the front of the site, the buildings and individual rooms are as clean as can be, with only thick walls of dust to indicate the length of time passed. Graffiti is minimal and hard to notice too.
You'd think this would have top-level security protecting it to look like this, but I later discovered that there is no on-site security presence, and nothing to suggest that anyone comes to check on the site.
So as you can observe, the first block you can see here is the computer technology block, which as I say has been badly attacked and robbed of valuable metal, but everything that indicates its former use still stands as it did on that final day in 2014.
As is stated in the Guanxi media video report, why nobody chose to remove equipment worth millions of USD, whether it be old and worthless or relatively new is inexplicable.
Moving onto the library block in the centre of the site, this was without question the biggest timewarp of all, and despite having its glass door frontage smashed in and graffitied, is immaculate inside and completely undamaged.
Floor 4 of the library, with books still left on their shelves everywhere you look.
A storeroom, full of technology of varying ages.
I don't tend to focus on small details when I go exploring, especially for a site of such sprawling size (I do have to moderate my photos, after all), but one thing that really caught my eye was this copy of Windows 95, still with the original floppy disks sealed inside the box.
Lecture and conference rooms
The graphic design classroom
Had I not already visited three sites this same day I'd undoubtedly have spent more time taking photos and exploring the endless classrooms and hidden parts of the site, but obviously time was ticking on, so I had to choose carefully which rooms to shoot and which to ignore; as you can guess, that's not an easy thing to do. Furthermore, as I progressed, though this was far more the exception than the rule, I noticed some walkways and passages between different buildings had been locked or barricaded with sheet metal to prevent access. This meant I didn't look at two of the buildings to save time, and instead stuck with what was easily accessible.
As the central block is U-shaped, with the library on the right side, I made my way across the upper floors to the west side, where I found the main hall, which was absolutely breathtaking, since I'd never seen it before or expected it. As I say, this has been reported on, but nowhere even close to a UK site would have been, which means every single room you step into will often surprise you beyond anything you could ever imagine.
Heading to the building at the very front of the site, this was the block for beauty and art-related faculties.
A tanning booth?
At this point it was about 4:30pm which meant I had to move fast before darkness fell on an already-overcast day. I had no idea where to go at this point, which of the three floors I should see of the U-shaped central block. Nevertheless I knew there were some chemistry labs and engineering/physics classrooms somewhere in the building, and heading to the second floor I found what I was looking for. Calling it the best part of the entire campus is debatable, but it's one of the must-see parts of the site, no question about that.
I really try not to use the word epic to describe sites with the level of world-competition in urbex, but as far as Taiwan goes, Yongda is a real classic. A classic site, because you could have ten different urban explorers make reports, and there is no way they'd show you exactly the same rooms; everyone would have their own take and analysis of the site. How many sites can you say that for? That, if you ask me, is what makes this site so special. So, will I go back? It is possible, if I choose to return to Gaoxiong and do the school I have listed down there. After all, there were at least two buildings I ignored. But having such an extensive map of sites to do has provided such an incredible shot in the arm for my motivation, so if or when I do is something I can't say.
Best wishes,
TBM x
This was part of the same jaunt that has been covered in this report, but because of its incredible size and features which are not short of epic, it definitely warrants its own standalone report. This is a polytechnic which was founded in 1967, before it got university status in 1998, at which point there were 10000 students. However as is the case with other universities and schools, the low birth rate meant enrolments ceased in 2013 owing to a financial crisis which meant staff salaries went unpaid. The final closure date came on 7th August 2014, becoming the second to close at that time. At that point, any remaining students were transferred to other universities around the island to finish their studies.
Since then, the place has survived remarkably well, and it really is quite astounding to see the contrasts in decay, but even more so is that not ONE room has been left empty. It is not an exaggeration to say that staff and students both walked out and never returned; the only comparison one could possibly make is somewhere like Pripyat. But that's already had the footprints of thousands and thousands of people since closure, and was long-looted for anything of value. It is true that the computer block at the back of the site, easier to access and out of sight of the main road, has been stripped heavily by pikeys for any copper, and attempts to break into the student dormitory block next door are obvious. However as of this visit, the student dormitory is the only building still powered up, and remains tightly locked and inaccessible; likewise, the further you progress to the front of the site, the buildings and individual rooms are as clean as can be, with only thick walls of dust to indicate the length of time passed. Graffiti is minimal and hard to notice too.
You'd think this would have top-level security protecting it to look like this, but I later discovered that there is no on-site security presence, and nothing to suggest that anyone comes to check on the site.
So as you can observe, the first block you can see here is the computer technology block, which as I say has been badly attacked and robbed of valuable metal, but everything that indicates its former use still stands as it did on that final day in 2014.
As is stated in the Guanxi media video report, why nobody chose to remove equipment worth millions of USD, whether it be old and worthless or relatively new is inexplicable.
Moving onto the library block in the centre of the site, this was without question the biggest timewarp of all, and despite having its glass door frontage smashed in and graffitied, is immaculate inside and completely undamaged.
Floor 4 of the library, with books still left on their shelves everywhere you look.
A storeroom, full of technology of varying ages.
I don't tend to focus on small details when I go exploring, especially for a site of such sprawling size (I do have to moderate my photos, after all), but one thing that really caught my eye was this copy of Windows 95, still with the original floppy disks sealed inside the box.
Lecture and conference rooms
The graphic design classroom
Had I not already visited three sites this same day I'd undoubtedly have spent more time taking photos and exploring the endless classrooms and hidden parts of the site, but obviously time was ticking on, so I had to choose carefully which rooms to shoot and which to ignore; as you can guess, that's not an easy thing to do. Furthermore, as I progressed, though this was far more the exception than the rule, I noticed some walkways and passages between different buildings had been locked or barricaded with sheet metal to prevent access. This meant I didn't look at two of the buildings to save time, and instead stuck with what was easily accessible.
As the central block is U-shaped, with the library on the right side, I made my way across the upper floors to the west side, where I found the main hall, which was absolutely breathtaking, since I'd never seen it before or expected it. As I say, this has been reported on, but nowhere even close to a UK site would have been, which means every single room you step into will often surprise you beyond anything you could ever imagine.
Heading to the building at the very front of the site, this was the block for beauty and art-related faculties.
A tanning booth?
At this point it was about 4:30pm which meant I had to move fast before darkness fell on an already-overcast day. I had no idea where to go at this point, which of the three floors I should see of the U-shaped central block. Nevertheless I knew there were some chemistry labs and engineering/physics classrooms somewhere in the building, and heading to the second floor I found what I was looking for. Calling it the best part of the entire campus is debatable, but it's one of the must-see parts of the site, no question about that.
I really try not to use the word epic to describe sites with the level of world-competition in urbex, but as far as Taiwan goes, Yongda is a real classic. A classic site, because you could have ten different urban explorers make reports, and there is no way they'd show you exactly the same rooms; everyone would have their own take and analysis of the site. How many sites can you say that for? That, if you ask me, is what makes this site so special. So, will I go back? It is possible, if I choose to return to Gaoxiong and do the school I have listed down there. After all, there were at least two buildings I ignored. But having such an extensive map of sites to do has provided such an incredible shot in the arm for my motivation, so if or when I do is something I can't say.
Best wishes,
TBM x
