"The rivers that converge in front of us are Xindian and Wansheng River, which both support a unique and rich waterfront ecology. Our "Treasure Village" is a unique existence. As "Treasure Villagers," we preserve, pass, and treasure the only and unique ecology in every part of the village," promised by Mr. Zhan Zhi-xiong, the Executive Director of Taipei Treasure Hill Cultural Community Association.

The Treasure Hill Village is in the southern part of Taipei City, located at the side of Fuhe Bridge and Tingzhou Road in Gongguan. Since the middle of the 1930s, when the Taiwan Army was stationed at the Taiwan Governor-General's Offices, it has evolved from a temporary military dependents' village and an illegal structure to a cultural asset that the academic community has been advocating for. In 2006, the village was hailed as "One of Taipei's most distinctive attractions" by the prestigious American media "The New York Times," making a dramatic turnaround in its fortunes. This transformation has attracted domestic and international artists to reside, establishing it as an international art village and a practical example of "Art and Life Coexist."

Art and Life Coexist: Treasure Village's Cultural Positioning
The Treasure Village Grocery Shop was launched in 2015 as a self-operating economic model of the community. The name of the shop points out that the main purpose is to renovate the old-time atmosphere. From the shop decoration, merchandise selection, display, and operation planning, the shop is full of the atmosphere of a traditional military dependent's village. Mr. Zhan Zhi-xiong explained that in the beginning of the plan, he has expected that the Treasure Village Grocery Shop will realize the goal in self-operating. Which means the material suppliers, product production, and the operational team are all operated by the 21 local households. Once a household moves out to the community, it can't be hired in the pool. "Because the Treasure Hill Village is the first launched 'living historical village,' thus it can realize the vision of public affairs development and coexistence of the community," Mr. Zhan explained.

Over the years, the Treasure Village Grocery Shop has continuously adjusted and renovated. It clearly defines 5 business areas:

1) Merchandise sales, including homemade drinks, food, and daily necessities;
2) Elderly meal services, allocating a certain percentage of surplus to care for elderly residents;
3) One dish per family. Every two months, the community residents and the resident artists each prepare a dish for a shared meal.
4) Seasonal workshops, including making herbal rice cakes for Qingming Festival, wrapping Zongzi for Dragon Boat Festival, and making tangyuan for Winter Solstice;
5) Guided community tours.

In those business areas, the first three were the activities that connected the community residents and had existed in the beginning. However, they had a limited effect and could not market the village's unique advantages. Therefore, in 2015, the Treasure Hill Cultural Community Association collaborated with the Treasure Hill Artist Village for the "Treasure Village Walking" activity. After two years of trial operation, Mr. Zhan Zhi-xiong confirmed that the business model was feasible and then applied to the government for the "Multi-Employment Promotion Program (MEPP)." The following year, Mr. Zhan obtained the Social Type of MEPP and was able to employ 3 project staff.

Organic Stacking Builds Multiple Functions of the Community
Mr. Zhan emphasized that the key to the work of MEPP partners lies in the "Organic Stacking," meaning continuously and regularly organizing interconnected activities to create a ripple effect. When those activities accumulate to a certain extent, they will generate a positive impact. "You have to do it. If you do something, there will be a movement, and only then can others help us. This has been my only philosophy for over 20 years."

Therefore, he proactively trains the MEPP partners. Through comprehensively knowing and understanding the community's history and reorganizing the development process, he explored various methods to record the community's memories through the angle of Community Building, and then used it to create the collaborative opportunities with the nearby organizations. For example, he connected with the nearby Taipei Water Park and the "Gongguan Commercial District Association," linking the Museum of Drinking Water, the Underground Water Palace (Guanyinshan Reservoir), the Treasure Hill Artist Village, and the Gongguan Business into a walking tour. This tour takes visitors on an in-depth exploration of the hidden gems behind Treasure Hill while recounting the journey and experiences of "Art and Life Coexist" over the past decade.

The Association also collaborates with the universities and colleges nearby, such as the South Side College of National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, which hosts an immersive summer camp every year, and Treasure Hill has been one of the regular venues for the event. In 2022, the Association partnered with the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology to launch the USR (University Social Responsibility) project "Community Renewal, Revitalization, and Resilience Enhancement—Taking Gongguan South Part Settlement as an Example," aiming to share, revitalize, and co-create cultural resources. The Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning at National Taiwan University actively participated in the preservation of Treasure Hill twenty years ago. They coordinated with government departments to jointly strive for its preservation. In 2024, faculty and students from the Department of Civil Engineering and Graduate Institute of Building and Planning at National Taiwan University collaborated to complete a wooden frame house at Treasure Hill, making it a new tourist attraction.

In 2023, the Association secured another project staff, thus expanding the guided tour scope to bring food culture back to the community by the medium of an ecological farm. In addition, Mr. Zhan called the local residents to "take on missions," such as setting up the "Treasure Nest" of residents' story museum, training residents to become tour guides, and encouraging them to guide tourists through the community's unique settlement architecture and art elements at their selected time slots. Those works not only allow residents to rediscover their own cultural heritage but also cultivate a bottom-up force for community self-narration, further strengthening the community's sense of identity.

Zongzi, Tangyuan, and Herbal Rice Cake DIY Workshops Are Very Popular
Mr. Zhan Zhi-xiong emphasized that the unique village culture and ecological environment development of the Treasure Hill community are the key to their works. He is also passing his uncle's experiences to the next generation. Ms. Guo Jia-yu, the project manager appointed by the "Multi-Employment Promotion Program (MEPP)," is from the young generation who are taking over the tradition. She uses her talent in social media and marketing to host the activities, which are very loved by the foreign students who came to learn Mandarin in the past two years.

The Association knew the activities serve as a bridge to connect residents with the outside world. In recent years, its seasonal workshops, wrapping Zongzi, making tangyuan, and handmaking herbal rice cakes, have been very popular. The most popular activity was wrapping Zongzi. In May 2025 alone, eight workshops were held, more than double the four held last year. In 2024, the total number of DIY activities for handmaking herbal rice cakes and tangyuan reached 24 events with a total of 500 participants, a significant increase from the previous year's 17 events and 300 participants. This success is attributed to the support of the "Multi-Employment Promotion Program (MEPP)." For example, the handmade herbal rice cake still retains the traditional method of grinding and draining rice, creating authentic traditional delicacies that became a popular snack in the Treasure village. The village has also become a prime destination for experiencing a traditional festival atmosphere, showcasing the social value of the Treasure Hill Cultural Community Association in preserving traditional culture.

It is not merely a continuation of the community story but also a convergence node for urban governance, cultural revitalization, and the local economy. From coexistence to co-prosperity, the Treasure Hill Cultural Community Association demonstrates a symbiotic path that integrates art, community, labor, and nature.

The Official Facebook Page of Taipei Treasure Hill Cultural Community Association

▲Treasure Hill Village is beside the water and nestled against the mountain, away from the noise but not the city. The houses are built according to the terrain, resembling a mini-Jiufen. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs) 

▲The Treasure Hill Cultural Community Association strives to preserve and record the local life in the village, allowing visitors to discover the fun by exploring the community's alleys and lanes.

▲The Association's annual activities include wrapping Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), hand-making Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) and herbal rice cake activities, engaging the elderly residents to participate, and always attracting large crowds of tourists. 

▲The staff of the Association are all from the Treasure Village, and the grandchildren of its members have become a source of hope for continuing the village's culture.

▲Treasure Hill Cultural Community Association Executive Director Mr. Zhan Zhi-xiong has worked hard to protect this likely military dependents' settlement and make it an important cultural asset of Taipei City.

Case Story: Multi-Employment Promotion Program
Interviewee: Treasure Hill Cultural Community Association