Former Anping Office of the Tainan Branch of the Taiwan Governor-General's Monopoly Bureau, Colonial administrative building in Anping District, Tainan, Taiwan
The former Anping office is a reinforced concrete structure that combines Japanese and Western architectural elements in its design and layout. The building features characteristic details from both traditions in its exterior appearance and interior spaces.
Built in 1924 under Japanese colonial rule, this office oversaw the monopoly system that controlled salt, tobacco, and other essential goods across the island. The structure represents how economic power was centralized and managed during that administrative period.
The building demonstrates how colonial administrators blended Japanese and Western design traditions to assert control over Taiwan's economy. Visitors can see this cultural fusion in the architectural details and decorative choices throughout the spaces.
The office is open to visitors and offers guided tours explaining its role in Taiwan's monopoly system during Japanese administration. Plan time to walk through the different rooms and understand how the building functioned as an administrative center.
This structure is among the last surviving examples of Japanese colonial administrative buildings dedicated specifically to economic control in southern Taiwan. Its preservation reveals how carefully the infrastructure was organized to maintain the monopoly system.
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