Taiwan Today
Date: October 20, 2016
A short film about Pine Garden, a Japanese colonial era (1895-1945) building in eastern Taiwan’s Hualien
Pine Garden, a historic building in eastern Taiwan’s Hualien County, is the subject of the film “Passing through the Pine Garden,” which claimed the awards for best TV program and best documentary at the 2016 ART&TUR International Tourism Film Festival Oct. 19-22 in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. (Courtesy of Ministry of Culture)
County, claimed the awards for best TV program and best documentary at the 2016 ART&TUR International Tourism Film Festival Oct. 19-22 in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
“Passing through the Pine Garden” explores the history of the landmark as well as the surrounding ecological environment and related cultural attractions, such as the Japanese colonial era Keishuin building, Hualien County Stone Sculptural Museum and Railway Culture Park. Judges particularly praised the film’s innovative use of animation to examine the building’s connection to kamikaze pilots, who would gather at the structure one day before embarking on suicide missions.
Pine Garden was constructed on high ground overlooking the Meilun River in Hualien City in 1942, serving as a military command center until the end of the Japanese colonial period three years later. Renowned for its combination of both Baroque and Japanese architectural styles, the structure was designated a historic site in 2000 by the county government.
A popular tourist attraction, Pine Garden also functions as a platform for international cultural exchanges, hosting annual events such as the Pacific Poetry Festival. [FULL STORY]
