Wenmeng building, Historic brothel in Datong District, Taiwan
The Wenmeng Building is a two-story red brick structure with yellow-green tiles covering its exterior walls and multiple rooms arranged inside. The interior spaces remain preserved, showing the original layout and furnishings from when it operated.
The building was constructed in 1925 during the Japanese colonial period and operated as a licensed establishment for several decades. Operations ceased in 1997 when Taipei stopped issuing permits for such activities.
The building served as a meeting place for activists fighting for sex workers' rights and dignity. Today it shows how society has grappled with questions of justice and equality.
The building is easiest to visit during daylight hours, as the surrounding area has narrow and uneven paths. Plan about an hour and a half to explore thoroughly and read through the information displays.
This is Taiwan's sole surviving example of such a building and preserves rare architectural details like original wooden beams and period ceiling work. The room arrangements reveal how daily life actually unfolded there and differ greatly from modern expectations.
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