Checheng Wood Industry Exhibition Hall

The story of Checheng is not only about being the terminal station of a railway line, but also a condensed reflection of the rise and fall of Taiwan’s forestry industry.

As early as the Japanese colonial period, Checheng flourished thanks to the transport and trade of sugar, camphor, and timber, along with the development of the Sun Moon Lake hydroelectric project. This attracted large numbers of workers and materials, transforming Checheng into a once-prosperous mountain town. In 1958, forestry magnate Mr. Sun Hai led Jenchang Industrial into the area, securing logging rights in the Danda Forest District and establishing a factory in Checheng for its convenient transportation access. At its peak, the factory employed more than two thousand workers, bringing prosperity to Checheng and neighboring Shuili, which earned the nickname “Little Taipei.”

However, by the 1970s, Taiwan’s forestry policy shifted toward reforestation and land conservation. Logging gradually came to a halt, and the once-thriving sawmill industry declined. Jenchang’s sawmill was forced to shut down under the government’s logging ban, leaving behind an abandoned yet precious industrial site.

Years later, the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration revived this history. In 2008, the Checheng Wood Exhibition Hall opened to the public. The project not only restored the old factory but also embraced the design concept of “overlapping the old and the new.” The original wooden framework from the early 20th century was preserved, while new structures were layered above it. Walking inside the hall, one almost sees the silhouettes of 1950s workers sawing timber and hears the echoes of wood striking wood. The interlaced beams stand as both traces of history and symbols of progress.

Visitors entering the exhibition are greeted by the natural fragrance of various types of wood, as if stepping into a forest and breathing in pure phytoncides. Here, the experience is more than sightseeing—it is also a vivid reminder of the brilliance of Taiwan’s forestry past and the hardships of its transformation.