Guling Street Small Theater. During the Qing Dynasty, Guling Street was on the route between Taipei City and Guting Village. During the Qing Dynasty, Guling Street was on the route between Taipei City and Guting Village. During the Japanese era, this area was named Sakuma-cho in memory of the 5th Governor-General Sakuma Samata. After Japan's defeat, Japanese people who were forced to repatriate came here to sell books and calligraphy to raise money to return to Japan, which became the predecessor of Guling Street's used bookstores. Later, mainlanders came to Taiwan and, imitating the Japanese, set up stalls selling used books and antique calligraphy and paintings. The fame of Guling Street's used books spread, and the name Guling was chosen to replace Sakuma-cho, removing the colonial influence. The entrance of the Guling Street Small Theater faces northwest. The Japanese built it for surveillance purposes, scanning the plains for potential threats, so its architecture differs from neighboring buildings. The Nationalist government continued to use this building for surveillance as a police station, symbolizing state power. After the Zhongzheng 2nd Precinct moved to Nanhai Road, this building became the performance space for the small theater, developing arts and cultural activities. The space is planned into offices and a service desk, promotional materials area, experimental theater, detention room, conference room, arts and cultural space, audiovisual room, and rehearsal room. Various events and performances are held here from time to time, occupying an important position in the history of small theater development in Taiwan.
Address: 臺北市中正區龍匣口牯嶺街1
Hours: 00:00–23:59
Taipei