Stroll Through the Historic Guanshan Township Old Street, Travel Down Memory Lane
At the mention of Guanshan Township, most people think of endless rice paddies and humble farming villages. Guanshan is not only Taitung’s rice-growing heartland, but was also an important town during the Japanese Occupation Period, and many historic Japanese buildings still stand today, tucked into its quiet lanes. We’ve mapped a stroll through the historic old street to uncover hidden gems that only locals know.
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Brief Introduction to Guanshan Township’s History
Old Guanshan was once called Terateran by the Amis people, named for its surrounding mountains and abundant boogie worms. The name changed to Lilong Office during the Japanese Occupation Period, becoming the administrative, police, and commercial center for northern Taitung. After WWII, completion of the Guanshan Canal boosted agriculture and made Guanshan the home of rice, and with county government support it has grown into a key tourist destination along the East Rift Valley.
Lilong Station is the old Guanshan Train Station, which began operation in 1922 mainly to transport sugar cane. The original station was phased out in 1980 when a new one was built for the expanded east coast railway. Lilong Station is the only remaining European-styled railway structure from the Japanese Occupation Period on the east coast and is a cultural heritage asset of Taitung County. Built like a Hokkaido residential building with western architectural touches, it blends Japanese and European style with humble countryside charm. Nearby stand the 1919 Japanese-style Guanshan Railway dormitories, also open to visit. （Photo Credit：IG@taiwanting_fukuoka）
- Address: No. 6, Boai Rd., Guanshan Township, Taitung County
- Opening Time: 09:00–18:00 (Mon-Fri); 08:00–20:00 (Sat-Sun)
Across from Lilong Station stands Ka Bin Guest House, the largest and most popular hotel in Guanshan Township. Built in 1940, it witnessed the town’s rise after WWII, when the Guanshan Canal and Nanheng Highway construction brought more travelers through the area, keeping the guest house near full capacity. It is not currently open to the public, but its metal stud framing and wooden rooftop remain, offering a glimpse of the prosperity of the old days. （Photo Credit：IG @mob_syuan0923）
- Address: No. 2, Boai Rd., Guanshan Township, Taitung County
The famous, once-exported pain reliever “Gobudama” was made in Guanshan Township, at Fushengtang Pharmacy, founded in 1920 as “Yishengtang Drug Store”. It was the town’s only pharmacy for generations, and its Japanese mud-plastered wall from the Occupation Period still stands. Step inside this traditional pharmacy to see old medicine boxes sure to spark childhood memories. （Photo Credit：IG@taiwanting_fukuoka）
- Address: No. 34, Zhongshan Rd., Guanshan Township, Taitung County
- Opening Time: 08:00–21:00
Guanshan Township built Taiwan’s first Police Historical Relic Museum to preserve aged police artifacts, including documents and equipment from the Japanese Occupation Period. Well laid out with criminal, security, and transportation equipment areas, it displays police service swords from the Occupation era, post-war kerosene lamps, ‘60s police uniforms, and more. （Photo Credit：IG@taiwanting_fukuoka）
- Address: No. 27, Zhongzheng Rd., Guanshan Township, Taitung County
- Opening Time: 08:00 – 12:00、13:00 – 17:00、18:00 – 22:00 (reservation required)
Guanshan isn’t a coastal town, so why a Tianhou Temple? In 1894, believers from Taichung brought a Matzu statue here and began worshiping alongside a growing following, and donations eventually funded the temple’s completion in 1930. One of Taitung’s most historic temples, it sits on over 14,000 square feet with a large entrance pavilion, two gable-roofed halls, and bell pavilions flanking the main structure. Tianhou Temple fills with crowds during sacrificial ceremonies and festivals, remaining a spiritual symbol of Guanshan Township. （Photo Credit：IG@huang.hsin.wen）
- Address: No. 1, Lane 2 Zhonghua Rd., Guanshan Township, Taitung County
- Opening Time: 05:00–21:30
