TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Hualien's historic Antong Hotel, a designated cultural asset, will undergo restoration to preserve its rich heritage and ensure its sustainable operation.
Registered as a historic building by the Hualien government in 2004, the hotel is renowned for its traditional Japanese wooden architecture and stands as a testament to Taiwan’s cultural history. With an indoor area of approximately 240 sq m, the Antong Hotel remains open for public visits, per CNA.
Third-generation operator Lien Hsiang-yuan (連祥淵) has expressed his commitment to maintaining the site’s historical significance. He aims to restore the Antong Hotel to its former 1930s splendor.
The building is the best preserved Japanese-era public bathhouse in eastern Taiwan, Cultural Affairs Bureau official Huang Yung-pin (黃用斌) noted. It is a rare example of hot spring hotels from Taiwan's colonial period, making it a significant architectural symbol.
Sustainable future, restoration and reuse project investigations, coupled with public briefing sessions, are being conducted, Huang said. These initiatives seek to deepen community understanding of the hotel's historical significance.
Despite past repair efforts, the 90-year-old building faces severe challenges. These include roof leaks and termite damage to key structural beams.
Lien, who grew up in the historic lodge, hopes to transform the site into a landmark for the Antong area, showcasing the architectural legacy of Japanese-era hot spring inns in Taiwan.
According to Lien, his grandfather acquired the property in 1973. While his father later envisioned expanding it into a modern hotel, his grandfather insisted on conserving at least one of the original Japanese-style structures.
Today, visitors are drawn to this well-preserved building, and efforts to revitalize the space have already begun. In 2023, a ramen shop was introduced within the historic structure, attracting more tourists and breathing new life into the venue.
Lien acknowledged the complexity of restoring such a historic building, particularly due to stringent requirements from the Cultural Affairs Bureau. However, he welcomed the opportunity, as heritage preservation regulations allow government funding to cover up to 95% of the restoration costs.
Antong, known as “hung-tso” in the Indigenous Amis language, translates to the sulfurous smell of hot springs. The Taiwan Governor-General’s Office initiated development of the area in 1896, with records indicating the operation of a bathhouse as early as 1903.
After World War II, the Hualien government assumed control before leasing the property to Yuli Township Office. It was eventually sold to private ownership in 1973.
The rapid growth of Taiwan’s tourism industry in the 1980s led to the demolition of the original bathhouse and the construction of a new hotel. However, the historic lodging facility was preserved and continued to serve as a commercial space.
