A 97-year-old Japanese-style building in Taipei was opened to the public on May 24 following an 18-month restoration and 10-year hiatus.
Liou Wei-gong, head of Taipei City's Department of Cultural Affairs, told a press conference in Taipei that talks about restoring Kishu An, a refined riverside restaurant during the Japanese colonial era, began some 10 years ago. The city has built a three-story structure next to the restored building, which is a historic site, in a bid to develop the complex into a venue where people can read and participate in cultural activities.
Kishu An was built in 1917 by the Hiramatsu family, who ran it as a restaurant along the Hsin-tien River. The complex comprised a three-story main building, a secondary building reserved for dignitaries and a third building for balls and banquets.