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Reporter： Hello, my name is Xiaoxing and I’m a reporter at the Shengli Star Times. It is my pleasure to welcome you to Shengli Star Village. This season’s special reporting series will feature the history of our military dependents’ village and spotlight local architecture and plant life. We invited Little P, a young resident, to help us explore!
Little P: The entire village is my playground; you’ve picked the perfect guide!
Reporter: Shengli Star Village features Taiwan’s best preserved complex of military officers dormitories of the Japanese colonial period right?
Little P: Yes! The homes in our village are like mansions! That’s because a lot of high-ranking military officers lived here! Pretty cool, don’t you think?
Reporter: Victorystar in Pingtung Zone covers a large area and is split into Village Remnant Park and the Shengli, Chenggong, Tonghai, and Kongxiang Sections. After restoration of the military dependent’s village was completed, the Pingtung County Government encouraged a variety of cultural and creative brands to set up shop. Businesses now include restaurants, bakeries, and retail outlets selling clothing, furniture, books and flowers. By taking advantage of existing cultural assets, the village attracts the public to experience both the past and the future of Shengli Star Village.。
Little P: Let’s go visit some older residents who can tell you more about our village. When I listen to their stories, the past truly comes alive in this space!
Reporter: Everyone, come along and learn with us!
Little P: Xiaoxing, if you want to hear about Shengli Star Village in the Japanese colonial era, you need to speak with Grandpa Shengli.
Reporter: Hello, sir, nice to meet you. Can you explain why the Japanese located their military officer dormitories in Pingtung?
Grandpa Shengli: Do you know where Taiwan’s first airport was built?
Little P, Reporter: Pingtung!
Grandpa Shengli: Well, then you know the answer. Pingtung played a pivotal role in Taiwan’s military aviation history! For the Japanese colonial government, the most difficult part of governing Taiwan was controlling the island’s indigenous people. Japanese forces could not penetrate deep into Taiwan’s mountainous terrain, so in 1919 they established the Aviation Police Office in Pingtung to fly airplanes over the mountains on reconnaissance missions and to intimidate indigenous residents. The Aviation Police Office was Taiwan’s first official aviation agency and a year later the Pingtung Airport was completed.
Little P: Was that the Aviation Police Office’s only mission?
Grandpa Shengli: No, during its seven years of operation, the Office also provided air links to Hualien and Taitung and airmail services. Then in 1927, Japan signed two international arms limitation treaties and moved the entire Eighth Air Regiment of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service from Kyushu in Japan to Pingtung, which replaced the Aviation Police Office. The first batch of officers’ quarters were constructed here to house members of the Eighth Air Regiment.
Reporter: Where are those earliest residences located in today’s Victorystar in Pingtung Zone?
Little P: I know, I know! They are in the Chenggong Section on Chenggong Road.
Grandpa Shengli: Correct! You do know a lot about the village, Little P!
Reporter: Grandpa Shengli, what exactly was the mission of the Japanese who lived here during the colonial period?
Grandpa Shengli: Well, during the late stages of the Sino-Japanese and Pacific Wars, Pingtung Airport played an ever more important role! In 1936, the Eighth Air Regiment was reorganized and expanded into the Third Air Brigade and Pingtung was designated a “key air base”. The following year, Japan set up an Army aircraft maintenance branch at Pingtung Airport responsible for repairing and supplying parts for all Imperial Japanese Army Air Service aircraft on the island. At the time, Pingtung was one of only four Japanese maintenance branches, so you can see just how important it was!
Reporter: Logistical support for all military aircraft on the island? That requires a lot of personnel!
Grandpa Shengli: Yes, by that time, Pingtung had evolved into an attack operations base and staffing was increased accordingly!
Little P: More residences were built to keep up.
Grandpa Shengli: Exactly. In 1937, the Japanese began construction on the Chonglan Military Dormitories near modern-day Zhongshan Road and Qingdao Street, the residences near The General’s House.
Little P: One of those buildings is huge, who lived there?
Grandpa Shengli: The highest ranking general, the head of the entire Third Air Brigade. Today it is known as the General Sun Li-Jen Residence!
Reporter: Little P, let’s go take a look.
Reporter: Grandpa Shengli, how did the area change when World War II ended?
Grandpa Shengli: After the Nationalist government moved to Taiwan, Pingtung Airport was taken over by the ROC Air Force’s Sixth Composite Wing. Some of the residences in the officer housing complex were converted into an air force dependents’ village. The Chonglan Military Officer Dormitories constructed in 1937 were taken over by the Army unit headed by General Sun Li-Jen and officially named Shengli New Village.
Little P: Oh, so it was originally called “new” village, not “star” village.
Reporter: I heard that you really had to be somebody to live here!
Grandpa Shengli: Right, almost all residents were important military officers, at least with the rank of major general, who fought under General Sun in his many campaigns.
Reporter: Stars are part of high-ranking officer insignia, so is that why the area is now known as Shengli Star Village?
Little P: Exactly, you couldn’t even count all the stars on the uniforms in our village!
Reporter: Soldiers and their families, who initially thought they were in Taiwan temporarily, began to set down roots in the Japanese-era army officers’ residences taken over by the Nationalist government. How did their homes eventually become the Victorystar in Pingtung Zone?
Grandpa Shengli: As the years went on, some residents passed away, while others moved out of the aging buildings, leaving behind more and more empty houses. With this phenomenon occurring in military dependents’ villages throughout Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense began to preserve and restore these old villages to preserve their unique culture and update the urban landscape.
Reporter: In 2007, reconstruction policy recognized the importance of cultural preservation. Across Taiwan, governments utilized different methods to preserve the many remaining military dependents’ villages both physically and culturally. Shengli New Village residences were registered as historical buildings in 2007!
Grandpa Shengli: In 2010, the Pingtung County Government began a series of projects in our village, including historical surveys and reconstruction or repurposing existing buildings. Finally in 2018, the area was officially renamed the Victorystar in Pingtung Zone.
Reporter: With the introduction of local Pingtung retailers and activities, the village's new look is now completed. The Victorystar in Pingtung Zone not only enables the sustainable development of Pingtung’s local cultural industries, it also preserves military dependents' village culture. Visitors experience that period of history and the values represented by our village.
Grandpa Shengli: Remember to come to visit us often! The younger generation could be important in helping us spread our local culture. 。
Reporter: The spokesperson of the Shengli Star Village, Little P, was revealed during the 2019 Lantern Festival. He represents the playful spirit of young military dependents’ village residents who still know how to “eat well, play hard, and laugh often”. There are 10 different statues of Little P located throughout the Victorystar in Pingtung Zone for you to discover.
Little P: Hello, I’m Little P, the busiest person in this village. Turn any corner around here and you might run into me playing marbles or catching frogs. I’ve grown up here in the village, so if you want to find something fun to do, I’m the one to ask! I’m actually an online influencer too, you know? Everyone loves taking photos with me! What? You’ve seen “Little P’s Weekly Diary” on the Shengli Star Village Fan Page? See, I told you, I’m an internet celebrity!
Woman’s Voice: Little P, time to eat!
Little P: I’ve gotta run and see what’s for dinner, I’m starving! Maybe my neighbors will share some of their tasty grub with me too! 。
Reporter: The VIP Zone Service Center behind me was once the residence of the ROC Military Academy Superintendent. So many generals have lived here that it is known simply as The General’s House. This white, detached building has a black tile roof. The walls that originally surrounded the courtyard were torn down. Only the large red gate remains to serve as a striking landmark in the village.
Little P: Xiaoxing, how many floors does The General’s House have?
Reporter: Of course just one. Wait, no. How does it have two at the back? !
Grandpa Shengli: Let me explain. The General’s House was originally just a single-story building. After the ROC military took over, they added a two story building on the north side. Have you noticed anything special about it?
Little P: Why is there a window near the floor?
Grandpa Shengli: That is actually a grille covering an air vent! Nearly all the buildings in the village have them. The Japanese took the local climate into account when designing buildings here. Because of the high heat and humidity, the houses feature raised floors and ventilation grilles in the foundation that allow air to circulate and keep the home’s interior cool. For an extra layer of protection, some grilles also have a metal mesh to keep out bugs and rats.
Reporter: The Japanese had little experience designing homes for tropical environments, so they spent quite a bit of effort to adjust traditional techniques to construct buildings that remain cool in summer and warm in winter.
Grandpa Shengli: Do you see the small window under the eaves of The General’s House?
Little P: Yes, I do!
Grandpa Shengli: That is the cornice’s convective hole that allows for ventilation under the wood roof. Restoration specialists doing work in the village told me that wood roofs constructed in 1927 and 1937 were in remarkably good condition. They had suffered some termite damage but were still strong enough to hold up the roof structure thanks to these convective holes.
Little P: Grandpa Shengli, Let’s go inside The General’s House and look around.
Grandpa Shengli: Sure. Inside there is a bamboo wattle and daub wall. I will take you to see!
Reporter: Those kinds of walls are usually used as indoor partitions, right?
Grandpa Shengli: Yes, they are made by first weaving thin bamboo strips and hemp rope together, then covering the woven surface with mud and rice hulls on both sides. Finally, the surface is finished off with a layer of lime. Bamboo wattle and daub walls can absorb heat quickly and help regulate humidity.
Reporter: Walls made entirely of natural materials? That is really in line with today’s low carbon, environmentally-friendly building trend!
Reporter: Your intrepid reporter, Xiaoxing, is now standing in front of No. 106 Qingdao Street, which is the famous General’s House. Grandpa Shengli and Grandma Shengli are going to tell us which general had lived here before.
Grandpa Shengli: This was the official residence of the ROC Military Academy Superintendent in Fengshan. General Tang Yuan-pu lived here from 1986 to 1989, making him the last superintendent to do so.
Reporter: Can you tell us a bit more about him?
Grandpa Shengli: General Tang was born in 1925 in a small farming village in China’s Jiangsu Province. Born into a military family, he retreated to Taiwan at the age of 10 with the Nationalist Army. He graduated from National Defense University and was stationed in Kinmen. At the end of 1986, General Tang became the superintendent of the ROC Military Academy. During his tenure, campus facilities were updated and the school hired many excellent teachers to upgrade the quality of education. After Superintendent Tang’s term expired, he continued to hold important positions in the military. Even after he retired, General Tang served as chairman of the Pingtung Gas Company and made significant contributions to the area.
Grandma Shengli: I remember that his family stayed in the village mainly on weekends, holidays, and over summer and winter vacations. The kids would run and play in their courtyard under the White Orchid Tree and pick mangoes with a long bamboo pole. All of the homes in the village were surrounded by fences. Adults felt comfortable letting their kids play in the backyard, which also served to control the noise of boisterous children.
Reporter: While General Tang did not spend a huge amount of time here, it must have been a warm, unforgettable experience!
Little P: Xiaoxing, this tall White Orchid Tree is a landmark here in Shengli Star Village! Let’s listen to its story from our local expert, Dr. Tree. 。
Reporter: Dr. Tree, what is that person doing to the White Orchid? ？
Dr. Tree: He is trimming the tree so it will grow faster and prevent its branches from damaging the building’s roof. Proper pruning enables the tree to grow even taller. The house will stay cool and look beautiful under the shade of this majestic tree. White Orchid Trees grow in tropical and subtropical Asian climates and can reach 15 meters tall. In 1661, they were imported from China to Taiwan and well suited to the local warm, sunny weather. Every year, the White Orchid Tree flowers from late spring through fall and the flowers even have health benefits according to traditional Chinese medicine.
Little P: Its flowers are big, white, and fragrant. You can smell them from far, far away!
Reporter: But if it smells so nice, the White Orchid Tree must attract a lot of bugs, right?
Dr. Tree: Yes! In the past, people avoided planting them near homes for this exact reason. However, White Orchid Trees symbolize wealth, power, and incorruptibility, so what better a place to grow than next to The General’s House?
Little P: Although White Orchid Trees are very common in Taiwan, this huge, nearly 100-year-old specimen is quite rare!
Reporter: Our village’s trees have been residents’ constant companions throughout the years and have served as silent witnesses to local history. They are intricately intertwined with village life.
Little P: Xiaoxing, can you guess what this installation artwork is made of?？
Reporter: It looks to me like a missile made of airplane parts!
Grandpa Shengli: You are half right! In the early days, military dependents’ villages suffered from supply shortages. Scrapped airplane parts became treasures! The two cylindrical objects on the top and bottom are actually auxiliary fuel tanks from an airplane.
Reporter: What is an auxiliary fuel tank?
Grandpa Shengli: It is a spare fuel tank, which can extend flight range and also be jettisoned to reduce the plane’s weight in an emergency. After old airplanes were retired, unwanted parts would be taken home to be reused. This auxiliary fuel tank could be transformed into a water tank in someone’s backyard!
Little P: Xiaoxing, let me tell you a secret. A big fuel tank like that is heavy and hard to carry. It is not something that just anyone could get their hands on. Pretty cool, right?
Grandpa Shengli: Oh, you can hardly imagine the scarcity we faced in those days. Airplane parts would become dustpans and buckets, while discarded aircraft skin was fashioned into steamer baskets. We even wore underwear sewn from flour sacks. People made the most of what they had!
Reporter: Little P, the village has many of these arched cement structures. What are they for?
Little P: Oh, those are air raid shelters. I remember Grandpa Shengli, you told me that during World War II, the Japanese constructed this kind of shelter to escape US bombing raids. The walls are 30 centimeters thick.
Reporter: So different kinds of shelters were constructed depending on the threat?
Grandpa Shengli: Every three to five households would share one above ground air raid shelter, which was specifically built to escape bombs and prevent shrapnel injuries. The village also has a few rare examples of the standing door type shelter that connected to an underground bunker.
Little P: I can tell you, most of the shelters in the village are arch-shaped because us kids are always using them when we play hide and seek.
Reporter: Now we have arrived at No. 81 Qingdao Street. This one-story duplex is the former residence of General Zhang Qizhong. I have invited Grandpa Shengli to tell us General Zhang’s story.
Grandpa Shengli: General Zhang was born into a farming family in Guangdong Province and fought in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. He dedicated himself to the army for 43 years. General Zhang moved into the village in 1960 and stayed here for the rest of his life. The residence has been transformed into a coffee shop run by the third generation of the Zhang Family to have lived in this village!
Reporter: The family still attempts to maintain their connection to Shengli Star Village. Such a commitment is so moving!
Grandma Shengli: I remember General Zhang’s children, always climbing the huge Plumeria tree by the front gate. Their family of nine all squeezed into that one small house and even General Zhang had to sleep on the floor. Such close quarters brought the family together and created lifelong memories!
Grandpa Shengli: General Zhang served as President of the Shengli New Village Self-Government Association from 1962 to 1966. Basically, he was like our mayor and knew the village like the back of his hand.
Reporter: I heard that Mrs. Zhang was renowned for her cooking skills.
Grandma Shengli: Yes, she was born in Guangxi, but was very good at cooking Cantonese dishes from her husband’s home province. She even kept several large jars in the courtyard for pickling vegetables and her preserved pork was first rate. Every year before the Chinese New Year, the courtyard was hung full of the stuff. Everyone’s mouth watered as they passed by!
Reporter: It is almost like I can smell it now!
Reporter: I have asked Dr. Tree to tell us a bit about the beautiful Plumeria tree outside No. 81 Qingdao Street.
Dr. Tree: Because of the tree’s yellow and white flower, Plumeria is known in Chinese as “Egg Flower”. Plumeria trees were first brought to Taiwan by the Dutch, who used the plant’s toxins as medicine to prevent malaria. Later, during the Japanese occupation, it was used to treat head lice.
Little P: Wow, that’s so cool! And this is the village’s largest Plumeria tree!
Dr. Tree: Here we have a nine-meter-tall Mexican Frangipani tree, just about the tallest height possible for the species.
Reporter: It smells wonderful! I also love Banana Magnolia, which gets its name from the ripe banana smell of its flowers.
Dr. Tree: Although Banana Magnolia is an ornamental shrub, it is also grown for its essential oils and medicinal properties. Banana Magnolia is suited to full-sun or partial-sun environments, but the more sun, the more beautiful and denser its flowers.
Little P: The Common Jasmin Orange also has such fragrant blooms!
Dr. Tree: Common Jasmin Orange flowers spread their lovely fragrance over long distances, so the tree is known as the “Moon Orange” in Chinese. The tree grows relatively slow, but its wood is very hard, enabling it suitable for making wood block stamps. The juice of the tree’s fruit can be used as clear nail polish for fun. Aromatic oil is extracted from the flowers, and even the tree’s leaves smell lovely when rubbed together!
Little P: Hi Everyone! We are now at No. 77 Qingdao Street with an Elephant Apple tree standing here!
Reporter: Little P, I think you might have a future as a reporter. I didn’t realize you know about Elephant Apple trees. They thrive in high heat and humidity, perfect for growing in Pingtung!
Dr. Tree: Xiaoxing knows her stuff! Elephant Apple trees originally hailed from China, Southeast Asia, and India. They have been grown successfully in Taiwan since first brought here in 1901. Elephant apple trees bear edible fruit and you can eat its leaves too. Elephant apple fruit can add texture to curry and its pectin can be used to make a natural facial or enjoyed as a sour drink. Early village residents even made elephant apple jam! But you have to be careful. Elephant Apple fruit can weigh up to one kilogram. You don’t want that to hit you on the head!
Little P: That’s scary! I have to tell my friends to watch out when they walk by here.
Reporter: Isn’t there also a Moringa Tree in the village? I’ve heard that Moringa is a superfood.
Dr. Tree: Correct! Moringa was imported into Taiwan in the 1930s. The tree’s leaves and fruit, used internally or externally, have many health benefits. Moringa leaves and seeds can be used as a substitute for wasabi and chili peppers. Fast-growing and drought-resistant, Moringa trees have earned the moniker “the miracle tree”, while in Japan they are known as “the incredible tree”.
Reporter: It is a plant with amazing nutritional and health benefits!
Grandpa Shengli: Xiaoxing, I will take you to see No. 95 Qingdao Street. General Lu Deyao used to live here. He and his family moved to the village in 1971.
Reporter: The Sweet Osmanthus Tree growing in front of the house is so fragrant.
Grandpa Shengli: This Sweet Osmanthus Tree has its own story! General Lu was born in a farming village in Zhejiang, China. As an intelligent and outstanding student, Lu was accepted into an education college, but he did not end up becoming a teacher. Instead, he decided to serve his country in army and eventually settled in Taiwan. Zhejiang is famous for its Sweet Osmanthus Trees, so when he moved to the village, he planted this tree as an homage to his hometown. After General Lu passed away, his son, who also loves gardening, continued to take care of the tree.
Reporter: That is so moving! This tree does not only represent memory, but also legacy!
Grandma Shengli: This Longan Tree has a story of its own too. During difficult times when supplies were short, the Lu family children loved to eat the longan fruit from this tree. Once, the kids greedily ate too much and ended up getting sick, and Mrs. Lu chopped down the tree in a fit of anger!
Reporter: Ha, ha. What is that concrete structure that looks like a gate?
Grandpa Shengli: That is an air raid shelter left behind by the Japanese. Me and the Lu children would often play in there. I have such warm memories of my childhood.
Reporter: Little P, what games do you kids play in the village?
Little P: Anything can become a game! We catch tadpoles in the stream and climb trees together. My next-door neighbor even hung a tree swing in his yard. Me and my friends always compete to see who can swing the highest. It is so exciting!
Reporter: What are some of your most unforgettable memories?
Little P: One time I was climbing a tree and accidentally kicked a beehive. A huge swarm of bees flew out! I was scared to death and fell right out of the tree.
Reporter: Ha, ha, ha. I bet that you were trying to pick some fruit, weren’t you?
Little P: No, that wasn’t why. From the top of a tree, you can see far out into the distance. I was trying to protect my village from suspicious strangers. When anyone has fruit ripe from the tree, like mangos, longan or star fruit, they always share with us kids. I don’t have to steal any!
Reporter: All the neighbors have such good relationships and help each other out. What is going on over there? Kids have surrounded the sausage vendor.
Little P: They must be hungry and are over there bugging him. He always gives us free sausages. Sometimes we go into the fields and dig up sweet potatoes. You can smell the roasted sweet potatoes from just about anywhere in the village!
Reporter: Have you heard of military dependents' village cuisine? Twice-cooked pork, Shanghai-style rice with salted pork and vegetables, and braised dishes? People living in the village come from different regions of China brought their own traditional and local home dishes.
Reporter: Grandma Shengli, are all those dishes on the table from your hometown?
Grandma Shengli: Dishes from my hometown, local Taiwanese delicacies, and our neighbors’ specialties all together on one table! During the Chinese Civil War period, supplies were scarce and people made do with whatever ingredients they had on hand.
Reporter: The food known as military dependents’ village cuisine is actually a melding of dishes from all over China cooked utilizing commonly available ingredients. Everyone wanted to recreate a taste of their hometown. But for me, when I think of village cuisine, my mind automatically goes to noodles and other flour-based foods.
Grandma Shengli: The United States began providing aid to Taiwan in the 1950s and the most part of government-distributed supplies were resources donated by the Americans. Among these, flour was the most useful because it could be transformed into a variety of foods. People initially used flour to feed their families, then talented cooks began to open restaurants and food stalls to increase their income. Flour-based cuisine slowly but surely became more popular in the village.
Reporter: No wonder Shengli Road has several restaurants specializing in military dependents’ village flour-based cuisine, like mantou, cold noodles, shaobing, and baozi.
Grandma Shengli: Yes, those shops are now pretty famous. Most were opened after villagers moved out!
Reporter: There is a big blackboard on the wall!
Little P: Oh, that is the Shengli New Village Self-Government Association’s bulletin board. All of the important happenings in the village are announced there!
Reporter: How come so many people are sitting on stools on the side of the road?
Little P: Today is outdoor movie night! The military really takes care of village residents. They even put on movies for us.
Reporter: Does the bulletin board say where the movie will be shown?
Little P: Look here, it will be at the intersection of Chongqing Road and Qingdao Street.
Reporter: Watching a movie under the stars is so interesting! What kind of movies do they usually show?
Little P: Of course mostly patriotic films. Grandpa Shengli said that there were very few TV shows, so no matter what screened, people liked it! Before the movie, everyone has to stand up and sing the national anthem! Let’s go see if we can grab some good seats!
Announcer: This is a Self-Government Association announcement. Residents, please pay attention. This afternoon we will hold…
Reporter: Little P, who is making that broadcast?
Little P: That is our Village Self-Government Association broadcast system. They make announcements whenever something important is going on in the village.
Reporter: The Village Self-Government Association sounds like a very important organization. I want to learn more about it.
Little P: Sure, I will take you to meet the Association’s president. Let’s go.
Reporter: Mr. President, how are you? Could you help share a bit about what the Self-Government Association does in the village?
President: The Village Self-Government Association serves as a bridge between the military and village residents. We are also the nerve center of the village, which involves disseminating government policy, handling emergencies, managing and maintaining public facilities, and organizing annual New Year’s celebrations.
Little P: No matter how big or small, if something happens in the village our first thought is of the Self-Government Association.
Reporter: That announcer has a pretty strong accent, does everyone understand what he is saying?
President: Yes, people in the village come from all parts of China and speak a variety of dialects. When speaking Mandarin, they all have different accents. If someone doesn’t understand an announcer with a particularly strong accent, they will go around to ask their neighbors. Everyone knows everyone in the village and news spreads quickly despite any language barriers!
Little P: Meow, meow.
Reporter: Little P, what are you doing?
Little P: I’m calling my cat friends! Shengyi Lane is Shengli Star Village’s famous “Cat Alley”. Many cats love to saunter around here!
Reporter: Really? Meow, meow… Wow, look, there really is a little tabby cat. He’s on top of that blue round object over there. Let’s go take a look!
Little P: Ha, ha, maybe the little cat is saying hi to the cat sticker on the floor!
Reporter: That sticker of a cat also says “Shengyi Lane” in Chinese. Is it a street sign?
Little P: Yes! Shengli Star Village is very large and we designed special cat stickers for the ground to help people navigate. They are our own unique street signs!
Reporter: As we walk through the village, let’s count and see just how many cat stickers we can find!
Little P: If we walk to the end of Shengyi Lane, we can see General Li Fahuan’s former residence. There is also a cat family mural on the wall! Even the film poster depicted in the mural features cat actors!
Reporter: That sounds so interesting, I want to go see!
Reporter: Now we are at No. 9 Shengyi Lane. Another general’s home?
Grandpa Shengli: Yes, General Li Fahuan had lived here. He was born in Guangxi into a relatively wealthy family. Originally he planned to study abroad in the United States, but decided instead to study at the Whampoa Military Academy because he wanted to serve his country.
Reporter: I know that after General Li left the Academy, he first studied in America, then the Soviet Union. He was even classmates with Deng Xiaoping and Chiang Ching-kuo.
Grandpa Shengli: That’s correct. After General Li returned home from his studies abroad, he once again joined the army where he impressed his superiors. He spoke several languages and performed important translation work for the army. After coming to Taiwan, everyone had been optimistic that he could continue to move up the ranks, but unfortunately he became embroiled in the Sun Li-jen incident and was demoted to colonel, the rank he held until retirement.
Reporter: Grandma Shengli, when did General Li move into the village?
Grandma Shengli: He moved here around 1949 and stayed for more than 40 years. As I remember, General Li did not leave home often. He enjoyed taking walks in his yard where he tended the garden and fed his chickens.
Reporter: General Li was so gifted with languages, he must have also spoken Taiwanese, right?
Grandma Shengli: Yes, he began learning as soon as he came to the island. He watched traditional Taiwanese opera to better understand the local culture. General Li was open to learning about a variety of cultures. Mrs. Li taught at the local kindergarten for 29 years!
Grandpa Shengli: Xiaoxing, I remember sleeping over at their home when I was a child. We all slept on a tatami mat with the sliding door slightly open. There was a cool breeze blowing through and it was really comfortable. At the time, our bathrooms were latrine pits and they were really inconvenient. Only later did people finally begin upgrading to flush toilets. Those are some of my unique memories of living in a military dependents’ village.
Reporter: Little P, why did you bring me to the front yard?
Little P: I want to show you a mysterious Japanese colonial era object.
Reporter: You mean that thing with a wooden cover?
Little P: Yes! Can you guess what it’s for?
Reporter: The front looks like it has a door you can open… is it a storage box?
Little P: I will give you a hint! It is for storing things, but what you put in it… are things that you don’t need!
Reporter: It is over in a corner of the courtyard wall; that is an unusual place to put something. You’ve stumped me, I give up. What is it?
Little P: That is a Japanese-era trash can! The cover prevents animals from rifling through the garbage. The sliding door at the front allows trash collectors to remove the contents without coming into the yard.
Reporter: That is really convenient!
Little P: Xiaoxing, No. 1 Yongsheng Lane has the village’s only noble bottle-tree! Dr. Tree once steamed noble bottle-tree fruit for me to eat!
>Dr. Tree:
Little P: Oh, then I better protect our kitty cat!
>Dr. Tree: Also the fruit of the phoenix reclinata trees you see in the village are edible! They are in the date palm family that everyone is familiar with!
Reporter: Doesn’t it have leaves that look like fans?
>Dr. Tree: No, you might be thinking of another tree. The phoenix reclinata has large pinnate leaves, which means having leaflets arranged on either side of the stem, making them look like a feather! Phoenix reclinata trees were introduced during the Japanese occupation as ornamental plants. They generally grow to heights of between three and six meters tall and have trunks 30 centimeters in diameter. Scholars have studied the trees in the village, classifying the later transplants such as phoenix reclinata, yellow poui, and Australian tea tree as “new nobility”, differentiating them from traditional longan, lychee, and mango trees.
Reporter: I’ve seen those trees in the Taipei Botanical Garden and Kenting National Park! There is such a diverse mix of trees in the village, each has their own special character!
Reporter: No. 2 Yongsheng Lane is a duplex residence formerly inhabited by General Luo Wenhao. Although the structure has been partially restored, the low pebbledash wall, fire trough in the front yard, and trash chute opening all date back to the Japanese colonial era.
Grandpa Shengli: Xiaoxing, in your research about the village, you must have learned about General Luo’s famous deeds.
Reporter: I once read a report about him. He was born in Hunan Province and applied to the military academy after high school. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, General Luo was awarded a medal for his participation in the Battle of Taierzhuang. He was an important person under the command of General Sun Li-jen and was appointed by Chiang Kai-shek to the position of Educational Director of The Institute of Revolutionary Practice. There he oversaw lectures and training for senior Republic of China Army generals. Many of the military top brass called him their teacher!
Grandpa Shengli: Right. When General Luo first moved to Taiwan, he lived in Taipei, but later moved the entire family to Shengli New Village, where they lived for more than 40 years. They raised many cats and dogs right here in this yard that brought much joy into their lives.
Reporter: Grandma Shengli, you and General Luo both love animals!
Grandma Shengli: Yes! Living in the village is great, the houses have large yards enjoyed by kids and pets alike. Japanese-style buildings are warm in the winter and stay cool in the summer. The construction materials are also very durable; our hardwood floors are nearly indestructible. Neighbors are also just a few steps away. If you ever get bored, just take a quick walk over for a friendly visit.
Little P: Xiaoxing, our village has so many fruit trees, don’t you think? One of the longan trees has an interesting story. An old woman lived at No. 77 Qingdao Street, which had a big longan tree in the yard. Despite being 90 years old, she was healthy and stayed very active. Then, she moved away and unfortunately died soon thereafter. Village residents believe that the old longan tree had been protecting and sustaining her.
Reporter: Sometimes people and trees can have a special connection! Little P, did you know that eating longan is supposed to bring you peace, wealth, and wisdom?
Little P: I didn’t know that! I prefer lychee and mango myself, ha, ha. What fruits do you like to eat, Dr. Tree?
Dr. Tree: I like lychee too. Lychee trees originated in Southern China and were imported into Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty. Not only can we eat the fruit, lychee husks can be made into a health supplement.
Little P: My teacher told us that lychee was Yang Guifei’s favorite fruit, who is well known as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China!
Dr. Tree: Correct! You have been paying attention in class! Did you know that mangoes are among the top five fruit producing trees in the world? The Dutch introduced mango trees into Taiwan in 1661. An agricultural expert lived here in our village. She crossed Irwin mangoes with green mangoes to create a hybrid. The small yards in our village became experimental orchards for these new fruit trees!
Little P: When I see ripe mangoes hanging in the trees, it is hard to resist picking them.
Dr. Tree: One village family faced just that problem. They put up a sign on their door that read, “Ring doorbell to pick fruit”. Visitors would be handed a pole so they could reach the fruit. Better to have people pick them mangoes openly rather than sneaking around. Sharing with others can also bring you joy.
Reporter: That was pretty smart. I can feel the neighborly love in this village!
Little P: Xiaoxing is holding a book and mumbling to herself, I wonder what she’s reading.
Reporter: “Following our move, I changed schools from the First Girls School to Pingtung Girls’ Senior High School. I was suddenly surrounded by palm trees and royal poinciana whose flowers nearly blotted out the sky. My innate love of nature suddenly blossomed.”
Little P: Hey, what are you reading?
Reporter: Oh! You startled me! I was reading an essay by author Chang Show-foong describing her feelings about moving to Pingtung. Chang Show-foong’s father, a general who was stationed in the area, moved his family to Shengli New Village. Chang Show-foong’s high school years were all spent here.
Little P: Wow, I didn’t realize that the village had produced such a famous author!
Reporter: Chang Show-foong has written many essays about Pingtung. Her time living in the village must have been very formative! She had her first writing desk here and she has many fond memories of her parents from that period in her life.
Little P: Which house did she live in?
Reporter: Chang Show-foong lived at No. 5 Yongsheng Lane. It has been turned into a small literary museum open to the public. Her childhood room now features her works and old photos. Let’s go take a look.
Little P: This Mahogany tree on Kangding Street is huge!
Reporter: Mahogany is very precious wood!
Dr. Tree: Someone just scattered seeds one day and this tree happened to grow. Now it is so tall. Actually, it took the work of many people to ensure that these trees are still with us today. Mahogany is a beautiful landscaping tree that loves high temperatures and a sunny environment. The tree’s hard wood features a lovely red color and beautiful grain that makes it a favorite of furniture makers.
Little P: I know that there is another type of tree in the village that is good for furniture, but I forgot what it is called!
Dr. Tree: Norfolk Island pine makes great furniture. Chinese Pistache is used for carving wood block stamps and walking sticks. And there is also the Kassod tree with darker wood that can be made into swords, gunstocks, and musical instruments!
Reporter: Norfolk Island pine is usually found in coastal areas?
Dr. Tree: That’s right. Norfolk Island pine is an evergreen tree suited to warm, full-sun environments that is drought resistant and can stand up to salty sea air. Chinese Pistache is a deciduous tree and a relative of the pistachio. Its wood has a distinctive tiger stripe pattern. The Kassod tree prefers plenty of sun and grows rapidly, but its wood is still very hard. During the Japanese colonial period, Kassod tree wood was used to make gunstocks, so it was widely cultivated at the time.
Reporter: Kassod trees that help shade Nanjing Road on either side. They must be at least 50 or 60 years old and are the only remaining once in the village. They really are worth a look!
Reporter: Those are acacia beans! Those little heart-shaped seeds are so cute! Little P, has anyone ever given you acacia beans? ？
Little P: No!
Dr. Tree: Ha, ha! Little P is embarrassed! Acacia beans are the local name for seeds of the ladycoot beadtree, a species introduced from Vietnam in 1903. When the tree’s pods ripen, they curl up and crack, then the red, heart-shaped seeds begin to fall out. People often craft them into ornaments because of their shape and connotation. But the seeds are poisonous, so never ever eat them!
Reporter: Many trees have special meanings! Nagai Podocarpus also has a story, right?
Little P: My grandma has one growing in her garden. I remember that she said Nagai Podocarpus can protect you?
Dr. Tree: That’s right, Nagai Podocarpus was thought to ward off evil spirits. It is native to Taiwan, but has become very rare in the wild! Nagai Podocarpus also grows in Central and Southern China as well as Japan. It prefers full or partial sun, but it can also survive in shady environments as well. If you look carefully, you can see the leaves do not have obvious veins. That’s pretty unusual. In recent years, Nagai Podocarpus has become a popular ornamental plant. They can also be eaten or processed into oil for industrial use.
Reporter: Wow, really! And if you rub the leaves together, they smell like guava! That’s so interesting!
Reporter: Grandpa Shengli, what city is depicted in the bronze map on the floor of Star Plaza?
Grandpa Shengli: It is based on a Pingtung Street Map from 1940. What do you think when you look at the map?
Little P: The streets are all laid out in a neat grid, almost like a checkerboard.
Reporter: The map must depict the streets after the Japanese began implementing urban reorganization.
Grandpa Shengli: Xiaoxing is correct. We already discussed when the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, Pingtung Airport required increasing numbers of personnel. Not only did the Japanese build many residences for officials, they also laid out the streets and underground sewers upon which the homes were constructed. These projects spurred the expansion and development of the entire Pingtung region.
Little P: Grandpa Shengli, where is our village on the map?
Grandpa Shengli: Do you see where Pingtung Station is?
Reporter: I found it, it is under the semicircle shape marked with the kanji for Pingtung Station!
Grandpa Shengli: Exactly. Now, follow the street coming out of the top of the station upwards. Modern-day Shengli New Village and Village Remnant Park are on the left side, by the characters “Gan Cheng Ding”.
Reporter: The map shows a complete layout of Japanese colonial era settlements. You can compare them to our current surroundings. Imagine the changes that have happened to the area over time in the broad sweep of history!
Little P: There is a big Chinese banyan tree in Star Plaza!
Reporter: Chinese banyan is one of the most common tree species in Taiwan. Dr. Tree, how old are the Chinese banyan in the village?
Dr. Tree: Our trees are about 50 to 60 years old. Chinese banyan are wind-, humidity-, and drought-resistant and are not very picky about their soil. The trees can reach up to 20 meters tall and have a dense crown. They are perfect for planting in parks as shade trees. In addition, Chinese banyan bears syconus fruit. That means its flowers develop within the hollow stalk, so they are not visible on the outside, but instead appear like a ball shaped fruit. Syconus fruit attracts hungry Muller's Barbet, Red-bellied Squirrel, Japanese White-eye, and spotted doves!
Little P: They attract squirrels? I want to see!
Reporter: Is that tree a Chinese banyan? But its leaves are heart shaped!
Dr. Tree: You are very observant! Bodhi trees and Chinese banyan are both in the Genus ficus of the Mulberry family so they are very similar. Bodhi trees can grow up to 30 meters and are native to Mainland Southeast Asia. I bet you have heard the story about Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment sitting under a Bodhi tree. Moreover, you can use one of the fallen leaves as a bookmark!
Reporter: Now we’ve arrived at No. 1 Bisheng Lane. This detached single family home has large trees in the front and back yards. I’m guessing that whoever lived here must have been a general.
Grandpa Shengli: Yes, that’s right. General Qian Tingyu lived here from about 1958 to 1982. General Qian was born into a northeastern Chinese peasant family. His studies were interrupted by the war and he joined the army. General Qian said he was among the last groups of soldiers able to escape to Taiwan. Mrs. Qian was already in Taiwan waiting for her husband. Unable to stand the uncertainty, she very nearly sold all of her possessions to fund the family’s return to China to search for her husband. It was an extremely scary time! General Qian later served as garrison commander of Dadan Island in Kinmen County and did not return home for six years. He really did dedicate much of his life to his country.
Reporter: General Qian made a huge contribution to the Army! ！
Grandma Shengli: Yes, General Qian was often away and his wife had to hold down the fort at home. She was an amazing cook. Her scallion pancakes always smelled so good!～
Reporter: My stomach is rumbling!
Grandma Shengli: After retiring, General Qian became the first president of the Self-Government Association. He was a hardworking man who handled all matters with care, no matter how big or small. Once, a typhoon hit and the village was in chaos. He asked the army to send personnel to help clean up! I was moved by his commitment to the village!
Little P: That smells so good. Grandma Shengli must be smoking preserved pork, also known as Chinese bacon. Come with me to check it out! ！
Reporter: Hello, Grandma Shengli. It’s Xiaoxing. Every year during Chinese new year I love to buy preserved pork for our celebration! ！
Grandma Shengli: Grandma Shengli: Yes, the holidays are a time for good food. I am from Hunan, where we love our preserved pork. People from northern China eat dumplings for the new year. The cook places a coin in one of the dumplings and whoever gets that one will have a full year of good luck! Village residents hail from different regions of China and every family has their own traditions and favorite holiday dishes!
Reporter: Do you use a traditional oven to make your preserved pork?
Grandma Shengli: Yes, firewood is placed in a layer, then meat is put on top. As the wood burns, the smoke rises upwards and imparts its flavor into the meat.
Reporter: Hunan is famous for its preserved pork. What type of wood do you use to smoke the meat?
Grandma Shengli: I have used longan wood, but also sugarcane. They are both delicious.
Little P: Xiaoxing, Grandma Shengli not only makes amazing preserved pork, she knows how to cook all kinds of delicious food!
Grandma Shengli: Ha, ha, I remember when I first got to Taiwan, I could barely boil water, but it was my responsibility to feed everyone in the family. If I didn’t know how to make something, I just had to learn. I would start by thinking of the foods we had at home and try to remember how my mom made them. We would also discuss with our neighbors and everyone would share recipes. Now, I can make Taiwanese, Hakka, and Sichuan cuisine too!
Dr. Tree: Dr. Tree: I bet you don’t know the national flower of Brazil.
Little P: Brazil is in South America. What kind of flower might it be? I don’t have a clue!
Dr. Tree: Then I will tell you the answer: It is the flower of the yellow poui tree, a deciduous tree that can reach 15 meters tall. Distributed from Mexico to Venezuela, it is best suited to a full sun environment.
Little P: Wow, it can get really tall!
Dr. Tree: True, but when used as a landscape tree, it is better to not let it grow that large. The yellow poui’s leaves have serrated edges and smooth fruit. In Taiwan, they are often confused with the Guadeloupe trumpet-tree, which has fruit with fine golden hairs, because the trees look so similar.
Reporter: Then you just have to wait for the trees to bear fruit to tell which is which!
Dr. Tree: Actually, if you look carefully you can tell them apart. The yellow poui’s leaves have a serrated edge, while Guadeloupe trumpet-trees have smooth-edged leaves. Furthermore, their leaflets and sepals are also different! Because of its beautiful, striking appearance, yellow poui are often used as street trees. If you want to plant one in your garden, you must have a large space free from shade. Otherwise it will not grow well.
Reporter: No wonder I often see them lining the street. Not only are they suited to Taiwan’s climate, they really add some beauty to the cityscape. When the trees bloom in the spring, they are covered with an enchanting sea of golden flowers!
Little P: There are so many star fruits on the ground! When I was sick, my mom brought home a basketful for me because she said they would help my cough.
Dr. Tree: Star fruit trees are perfectly suited to the warm climate in central and southern Taiwan. They were introduced here during the Qing Dynasty. Many people in the village planted one or two trees in their yard for the kids. Not only are the fruits tasty, but also good for health.
Reporter: If you have a star fruit tree in your yard, you can enjoy the fruit and also provide kids with a fun play environment. You get two for the price of one! I noticed that both the increasingly popular avocado and crisp, refreshing wax apple are growing in the village.
Little P: Yes, fragile wax apples are damaged if they fall from the tree, but we kids in this village won’t let that happen. We all know exactly when they are ready to be picked and eaten!
Dr. Tree: Wax apples were introduced way back during Dutch colonial rule. The fragrant leaves are a source of essential oil. The fruit can be eaten plain, or with a sprinkling of sugar or salt, and many people grow them in the village. Avocado trees came later, during the Japanese occupation, then in 1954 Taiwan imported another 12 varieties of avocado from America, which laid the foundation for the local avocado industry.
Little P: There are so many different kinds of fruit trees in the village.
Dr. Tree: Yes, and neighbors exchange their home grown fruit amongst themselves. These interactions help to build strong relationships between residents!
Little P: Dr. Tree, this royal poinciana is soooo big. I feel so cool sitting in its shade!
Dr. Tree: Royal poinciana are deciduous trees that can reach over 20 meters tall. Because the tree is shaped like an umbrella, they are especially suited to parks and schools where they are both ornamental and provide plenty of shade.
Reporter: What kind of environment are royal poinciana suited to?
Dr. Tree: The royal poinciana tree, native to the island of Madagascar, is drought-tolerant and suited to warm, full sun environments. Royal poinciana flourishes in places with clearly defined dry and wet seasons! However, it’s sensitive to the air, therefore if exposed to sulfides or acid rain, the tree will shed its leaves. Royal poinciana is also susceptible to developing large buttress roots, so you must plant the trees far enough away from buildings to prevent any damage!
Reporter: It sounds like royal poinciana are difficult to take care of. When I was a student, we would take flowers from the tree and make butterflies using the petals as wings, sepals as the body, and stamens as antennae!
Little P: Wow, do you still remember how to make them? Quick, teach me! I want to try too!
Reporter: Grandpa Shengli, who had lived here at No. 16 Kangding Street?
Grandpa Shengli: In 1949, General Ge Nanshan moved into this house and lived here continuously for more than half a century before moving away in 2010. As a young man, General Ge went to school in France. He originally wanted to study engineering, but motivated by a desire to help his country, he instead decided to attend a well-known military school in France. After returning from overseas and joining the Army, he participated in many famous battles and was promoted to general under Sun Li-jen. Among his many military exploits, the most famous occurred in Burma when he rescued a group of trapped British soldiers and British and American reporters.
Reporter: General Ge must have spoken French well?
Grandpa Shengli: Of course, when francophone diplomatic allies visited Taiwan, General Ge would be assigned as their interpreter.
Grandma Shengli: General Ge was born into a large family in Suzhou. He began reading poetry from a young age and was skilled in calligraphy. After retiring, General Ge even taught foreign languages in university. I remember during summer vacation he taught children in the village calligraphy, helped us memorize the classics, and would even give prizes to the best students. Most of all, he was just an honest, upstanding person. Once, a typhoon hit the village and his roof sprung a leak. The Army gave him two sacks of cement to repair the roof, but he would not accept them and insisted on buying the cement himself.
Reporter: He really seems like a gentle, kind man!
Reporter: This well-known song is called “Olive Tree”. The lyrics go “Don’t ask me where I am from, my homeland is far away…” I’ve heard that nearly all the residents in Shengli New Village had an olive tree in their yard! Is that right, Dr. Tree?
Dr. Tree: Correct! Look, the tree in front of you is a Ceylon-olive that has been here since the Japanese occupation. With a 140 centimeter diameter trunk, it is the biggest of its kind in the village. Ceylon-olive is named after its native land Ceylon, modern-day Sri Lanka, and its olive-like fruit. The tree’s leaves have long petioles and turn red in the fall and winter. Not only does that have practical value for the plant, it also looks lovely.
Reporter: Then… Why are so few olive trees left?
Dr. Tree: After the National Army moved in, the olive trees started becoming just too large. The roots were overtaking people’s yards and the trees themselves are difficult to care for, so many people cut down their olive trees and planted a different species.
Little P: That’s too bad! Ceylon-olive fruit is really tasty! Sweet and sour. My mom dries the fruit, uses it in jam, and even makes olive vinegar. The trunks of Ceylon-olive trees are really big and I love to go swinging from an olive tree because it’s so nice and cool!
Reporter: Wow, the village’s flower pots are so unique, they are made of cement!
Little P: Xiaoxing, those are not flower pots, they are fire troughs.
Reporter: You mean like a water storage tank for fighting fires? Why is one taller than the other?
Little P: Grandma Shengli, quick, help explain!
Grandma Shengli: The taller one was for water and the shorter one stored sand. Both can be used to put out a fire in an emergency! During the Japanese colonial era, every home had a fire trough, so they were prepared in the event of US bombings. At the time, indoor plumbing was rare, so most people had to fetch water from a pump. If you had to pump water to put out a fire, it was already too late.
Little P: We don’t need fire troughs anymore, so many people use them as planters. At my house, we keep goldfish in ours.
