'Top haunted house' in north Taiwan hosts photo exhibit, attracts long queues

北台灣“最猛鬼屋”舉辦攝影展，引來大排長龍

Built in 1931, Baroque-style architecture in Keelung accepts only 10 visitors per hour, creates buzz on social media


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Once known as one of the top 10 most haunted places in Taiwan, a heritage building site in Keelung has recently been converted into a historical photo exhibition venue that accepted only 10 visitors per hour during the exhibit.

The photo exhibit "Light Up Keelung Harbor, Revive Old Heritage Buildings" took place in the legendary 80-year-old house and attracted a long queue outside the building every day between June 10 and 19, as many tried their luck to fill a vacancy if a reservation were canceled.

The cap for visitor numbers was set mainly for the safety of the building and visitors, given its limited floor space. All slots were fully booked soon after the reservations opened on June 9.

Local historian Wu Sheng-hong (吳盛宏) debunked claims of paranormal activity in the building, saying the rumor of a fire set by a bar girl taunted by an American soldier some 50 years ago was wrong, UDN reported.

Wu said the Baroque-style building was erected in 1931 by mining entrepreneur Lin Kai-chun (林開郡) and is located at an intersection in the busiest part of Keelung City. It was once a residence of the country's first western-style painter, Ni Chiang-huai (倪蔣懷), and was later leased as a bar. The bar ceased operation not because of the rumored fire disaster, as it was in fact a building nearby that burned down due to a fire decades ago, Wu told UDN.

"The building had been deserted for a long time due to complicated estate inheritance issues and was once occupied by groups of homeless people. That explained why noises were sometimes heard and faint lights were occasionally spotted from outside."

Another interesting fact about the three-story building, Wu said, is that it was featured in a 1966 American epic war film "The Sand Pebbles," and could be seen on the movie's posters.

The historic building restoration and the exhibit were made possible under the leadership of Keelung Mayor Lin Yu-chang (林右昌), who began to approach the owner at the beginning of his term. The city government said it took the team three years to unravel the mystery of the building, which features the most advanced construction techniques at that time with many delicate and artistic elements that are worth seeing.