Dashan Beiyue

Fengxiang Elementary School, built during the Japanese colonial era, not only educated many students but also left behind many moving stories. However, with urban development, this elementary school located in the mountains saw its student population drastically decrease due to mass outmigration, leading to its closure in 1983. The abandoned school space subsequently became a hotspot for security issues and a derelict building. It wasn't until the Dashan Beiyue team moved in in 2014 that they began revitalizing the idle space, starting with trash removal, weed clearing, and painting. After ten years of effort, they gradually opened the old classrooms, continuing the spirit of the 'cowherd principal' through an innovative school model, and resuming its role as a spiritual lighthouse for the Dashanbei area. We restored the appearance of the elementary school, decorating it with colorful desks and chairs and blackboards. Even the menu design is in the form of exam papers and textbooks, helping everyone rediscover their simplest and bravest selves from childhood. Returning to our original intention, we operate as an 'Open Museum' with an emerging model, utilizing the new concept of 'Curation' to promote local social innovation, artist residencies, agricultural sustainability, venue revitalization, and the development of a cultural living sphere. We integrate 'aesthetic education,' 'in-depth agricultural experiences,' and 'public space transformation' into local life. Over 10 years, we have cumulatively organized over 600 events, guided 400 university students to explore Hsinchu Hengshan, and attracted over 600,000 visitors to the remote Dashanbei, helping to sell 10 million catties of agricultural products and promoting local development. Most scenic restaurants in Taiwan unfortunately sell pasta or American steaks, lacking local characteristics, which is quite regrettable. Furthermore, Hsinchu's Provincial Highway 3 passes through five townships – Guanxi, Hengshan, Zhudong, Beipu, and Emei. Each location is beautiful, but a lack of integration and contextual connection hinders promotion. Therefore, Dashan Beiyue, situated at the central point of Hsinchu's Provincial Highway 3, aims to give it new meaning. We visit rural areas to find good local ingredients, offering everyone the 'Shanyue Slow Food Set Meal,' a culinary journey along Hsinchu's Provincial Highway 3. It begins with Emei's Oriental Beauty Tea Champagne, continues with Hengshan's kiln-baked bread, Guanxi's grass jelly noodles, Zhudong's handmade mochi, and concludes with Beipu's Hakka Lei Cha (pounded tea). Through food curation, we combine the unique characteristics of the five Hakka townships with their carefully prepared local flavors. This connects the Hakka villages along the Hsinchu line, allowing everyone to enjoy high-quality meals while learning about the distinct features of the five townships along Hsinchu's Provincial Highway 3, thus driving regional tourism and economic development. Dashan Beiyue was selected as one of the 'Top 60 Scenic Restaurants Island-wide' in the 2014 'Taipei Walker' Scenic Restaurant Special Issue, and also received a two-leaf recommendation from the Green Dining Guide and the 'Most Community-Friendly Award'.