Khóo Tsú-song old house Audio Guide

Khóo Tsú-song old house: what does the audio guide cover?

1. 01

   Welcome to Khóo Tsú-song old house

   Welcome to Keelung, Taiwan's rainy northern port city, and to one of its most intriguing historical sites: the Khóo Tsú-song old house. It was built in 1931, and it sits high on a hillside, well above the busy streets below. The house is named after its main owner, Khóo Tsú-song, who lived from 1874 to 1945. He was a notable figure in local politics and civic life during the Japanese period, and he moved in artistic circles too. In this guide we will look at the man, the house, the climb that leads up to it, and the volunteers who brought it back into public view. The house sits very close to Keelung's famous night market. That detail matters, because getting from the neon and street food to this quiet hilltop is half the adventure.

2. 02

   The First Person of Keelung

   Who was Khóo Tsú-song? His name is Hokkien, the language he grew up speaking. Today he is often called Hsu Tsu-sun, the Mandarin pronunciation of the same name. On the brown heritage road sign near the house you will see yet another spelling, Xu Zi-sang, which can puzzle visitors, since it is the same man. He was one of the most prominent Taiwanese-born figures in Keelung's modern history, and locals know him by a grand nickname: the First Person of Keelung. During the Japanese period he held responsible positions in the city's administration. Alongside politics he was a well-known personality in artistic circles, especially among poets from all over the country. He worked alongside the Japanese authorities of his day. Yet he also put considerable time and effort into preserving Taiwanese culture and traditions, at a time when that was frowned upon. Many people read the design of his house as a reflection of that character.

3. 03

   Qingyu Hall: A House of Many Styles

   The mansion's formal name is Qingyu Hall. The Khóo family built it in the district that was known in the Qing dynasty as Hsintien town. That area stretched from the harbor front across much of the city's historic economic district, which made it prime real estate. Visitors describe a building that blends several architectural styles, and it is easy to imagine why a lover of poetry and art would want a home like that. Once you reach the second floor, the layout of the rooms and the central square are very typical of the Fukien architecture found all around Taiwan. The city of Keelung recognizes the house as cultural heritage. Look out for the details as you explore, and compare the style of one part of the building with another.

4. 04

   War, Silence and the Youth Who Reopened It

   The Khóo family lived in the mansion for only about a decade. Then the Second World War arrived, and Keelung, as a vital port, became one of the most important targets of Allied bombing. For their own protection the family moved elsewhere, believing the move would be temporary. The mansion itself escaped destruction. Khóo Tsú-song himself died in 1945. In the years that followed the house fell into decay, and for a long time visitors thought of it as an abandoned mansion, a forgotten piece of the city's past. Then, in July 2014, a volunteer group called the Keelung Youth Front began cleaning the house so that the public could visit this architectural heritage of Keelung. Volunteers from that group have kept looking after the site since then.

5. 05

   Before You Head Off

   Getting here is part of the experience. From the night market area, the only ways up are narrow walking passages that turn into stairways, climbing until they reach the house on top of the hill. Once you are there, look out over the rooftops of Keelung. The view takes in the clutter of buildings climbing the hillside, with a landmark on the ridge and even an abandoned temple among the roofs. Picture the poets who may once have enjoyed a similar outlook. Take your time with this place. Compare the layout of the second floor with the other styles you notice, and think about the man who built it. There is more to discover in the streets and stairways around you.