Dadaocheng Circle Air Defence Cistern

The Dadaocheng Circle Air Defence Cistern is an underground concrete water storage facility located in Taipei's Datong District. The structure features storage tanks and distribution systems designed to maintain water supply during emergencies.

The facility was built during a period when Taipei prepared for potential conflict by securing water as a strategic resource. Its construction reflects how city planning and defense strategy became intertwined during that era.

The cistern represents how people adapted everyday infrastructure to serve dual purposes during times of uncertainty. Its presence in the city center reflects the practical mindset of building for both daily life and emergency preparedness.

The cistern sits beneath street level and is not obvious from above, but information boards explain its purpose and construction methods. A visit helps you understand how such infrastructure remains embedded in the urban landscape.

The cistern is one of the few remaining examples of air defense water storage systems from that preparedness era, hidden beneath a busy urban neighborhood. Many residents walk past it daily without realizing what lies beneath their feet.