What to expect
Huashan 1914 Creative Park operates as a low-rise campus of weathered brickwork and industrial chimneys in the Zhongzheng District. Unlike the polished high-rises of Xinyi, this complex prioritises texture: climbing ivy, concrete loading docks, and timber-framed warehouses. It serves as Taipei’s primary hub for independent design and "slow" retail.
By day, the site functions like a permanent festival ground. You will find pop-up exhibition halls hosting everything from high-concept Japanese anime retrospectives to sustainable woodcraft workshops. The permanent tenants are largely boutique lifestyle brands. VVG Thinking is a standout, combining a vintage bookstore with a refined bistro aesthetic, while FabCafe offers laser-cutting services alongside espresso.
The atmosphere shifts depending on the day. Weekdays are quiet, populated by freelance designers and architectural students. Weekends are dense with crowds, street performers, and a rotating outdoor market where local makers sell handmade ceramic jewellery and leather goods. It is a prime location for photography, particularly the "green wall" of the brewery’s former fermentation building.
A bit of history
Originally established in 1914 during the Japanese colonial era, the site was the Taihoku Winery, one of Taiwan’s largest producers of sake and ginseng wine. It remained a state-run liquor factory until 1987, when the government relocated production due to environmental concerns and the rising real estate value of central Taipei.
The site lay derelict for a decade until 1997, when a local theatre group broke in to stage a play. The subsequent police crackdown sparked a grassroots movement amongst artists and activists to preserve the industrial architecture rather than demolish it for residential blocks. This successful campaign turned Huashan into a blueprint for "urban recycling" in Taiwan, eventually leading to the formal establishment of the Creative Park in 2005. Today, it remains the most successful example of the city's commitment to adaptive reuse.
Practical tips
- Timing: The park grounds are open 24 hours, but most shops and galleries operate from 11:00 to 21:00. Arrive at 10:30 to see the architecture without the crowds, then stay for lunch as the venues open.
- The Cinema: Spot Theatre Huashan is located within the park. It focuses on independent and foreign-language films; most non-English titles have traditional Chinese and English subtitles.
- Exhibition tickets: Major pop-up exhibitions often require separate tickets, which can be purchased at booths outside each warehouse. For popular themes, expect queues of 30 minutes or more on Saturdays.
- Adjacent Greenspace: If the park becomes too crowded, the Huashan Central Park directly behind the warehouses offers plenty of lawn space for a picnic.
- Nearby Hubs: The park is a 10-minute walk from the Guanghua Digital Plaza, Taipei’s massive multi-storey electronics market, providing a sharp contrast between industrial heritage and modern tech.
Getting there
Huashan 1914 is centrally located at the intersection of Zhongxiao East Road and Jinshan South Road.
- MRT: Take the Blue Line (Bannan Line) or Orange Line (Zhonghe-Xinlu Line) to Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station. Take Exit 1 and walk straight for about three minutes; the park’s main gate will be on your right.
- Bus: Multiple lines stop at the "Huashan Creative Park" stop, including the 202, 212, 299, and 600.
- On foot: It is a 15-20 minute stroll from Taipei Main Station, heading east along Zhongxiao East Road.