Wugu Cultural Village

The Wugu Cultural Village (Chinese: 五榖文化村; pinyin: Wǔgǔ Wénhuà Cūn) is a cultural center about ceramics in Gongguan Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan.

Wugu Cultural Village
五榖文化村
Wugu Cultural Village
Taiwan
LocationGongguan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
Coordinates24°31′3.1″N 120°49′21.0″E
OwnerHsu Yong-huan
TypeCultural center
Opened2000

Name

The name Wugu was derived from the nearby temple name.[1] It represents the Chinese agriculture with the meaning of "five grains", which are rice, wheat, corn, bluesteam grass and beans.[2][3]

History

The center was originally established in 1987 as a ceramic manufacturing company under the name Gong Hsun Enterprise Co. (Chinese: 功薰陶瓷公司) by renting a courtyard house as their factory facility. Many of its products were exported to the United States and Europe. Due to the growing demand of their products, the factory had to be relocated to its present location in 1990 and more of its manufacturing process became automated. Along the way, the founder decided to turn the company into a tourism factory. The factory was redesigned to suit tourist visits. The center was then opened in 2000 under the name Wugu Cultural Village.[2]

After the signing of Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement on 29 June 2010 between Mainland China and Taiwan, the center faces tougher competition from the cheaper mainland products. In 2011, the center requested assistance from the Industrial Technology Research Institute. Subsequently, the center signed a technology transfer agreement with the institute and started to modify parts of the center facilities to manufacture ceramic knives.[2]

Architecture

The center spans over an area of 1.55 hectares and divided into seven sections in a Hakka architectural style, which are Bamboo Rice Pavilion, Granary Pavilion, Hakka Cultural Relics Pavilion, Silk Pavilion and Smoked Pottery Garden.[4][3] It also features a souvenir shop.[1]

Exhibitions

The center is the combination of industry, economy and culture-themed tourism. It showcases the traditional ceramics industry, Hakka rice and silk artworks from its 200 ceramic products display.[1] It exhibits the tools used by farmers and daily utensils used by local residents. The center is decorated with various kinds of pottery urns at its yards.

Activities

The center offers hands-on activities, such as ceramic paintings, cookie, ground tea, Hakka snacks and Hakka baozi making.[1]

Visitors

The center currently receives around 400,000 visitors annually.[2]

Transportation

The center is accessible from Tongluo Station of Taiwan Railways Administration.

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See also

References
  1. "Wugu Cultural Village in Miaoli". roundTAIWANround. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  2. "A Testimony in Ceramics". Taiwan Today. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  3. "Wuguu Cultural Village". Taiwan School Net. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  4. "One Day Tour to Miaoli Flying Cow Ranch, Wuguu Cultural Village". Small and Medium Enterprise Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
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