臺北市政府文化局

To the people of Taipei, Ka-la̍h is both unfamiliar and familiar. Located in southern Wanhua, Ka-la̍h is one of Taipei’s earliest developed settlements and is known for its hospitality. During the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, Ka-la̍h consisted of six communities, known as the “Six Villages”: Bazhangli, Houcuzai, Xiazhuangzai, Gangzaiwei, Juezaitou, and Kezaicuo. According to historical record, the soil of Ka-la̍h area was very fertile, and early settlers cultivated sugarcane, flowers, and other agricultural products. Production of jasmine and gardenia flowers, used for making scented tea, was particularly abundant. In the 1930s, after a glut of jasmine flowers, cultivation shifted to include bamboo shoots and bean sprouts, together known locally as the “Three Treasures of Ka-la̍h”.

As time passed and industries evolved, the farmland disappeared, leaving only remnants within Rishan Park’s natural landscapes. Stepping into the park feels like entering a microcosm of Ka-la̍h history. During the Second World War, Taiwan became a target of Allied air raids. Between 1944 and 1945, around 15,900 air sorties were made and around 120,000 bombs dropped. Older residents recall how locals would make dummy airplanes out of bamboo to deceive the American forces.

In the early post-war period, the aircraft were relocated to what is now National Taipei University of Technology, and the park set about preserving remnants of Japanese colonial era culture, including stone walls and ruined air raid shelters from the Second World War. In light of the wartime air raids, these historical relics are even more precious. While the park has been transformed into a green leisure space, its historical content add a fascinating dimension to the texture of the Ka-la̍h area.