Former Tait & Co. Merchant House, Colonial trading building in Anping District, Taiwan
The Former Tait & Co. Merchant House is a two-story white building in Anping with arcade passageways and green glazed vase decorations on the upper level. The ground floor contains three rooms on each side, reflecting how colonial trading houses were typically arranged.
The building was constructed in 1867 following the Treaty of Tientsin, which opened Anping to international trade. It served as a base for Tait & Company's operations in exporting sugar and tea during the peak era of European commerce in the region.
The ground floor displays exhibits about Taiwan's immigration history, while upstairs you find wax figures representing people from that era. The rooms tell stories of the people who once lived and worked here.
The building is accessible daily and can be explored in roughly an hour. Visiting early in the morning or late afternoon works best when fewer visitors are around.
The central corridor on the ground floor was originally the heart of the building, connecting offices, storage areas, and living spaces for the merchant family. This layout shows how traders of that time managed business, family, and inventory all under one roof.
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