Why did the Japanese choose this place? It is mainly because a building on such a slope possesses a commanding point with an excellent view. Not only could they monitor ships on the Pacific Ocean but also air traffic in the nearby airport. Furthermore, the pine trees’ thick growth of foliage helps to conceal the gray building, making it the natural choice for a military base.

When the Second World War ended and the Japanese army retreated from Taiwan, the base was taken over by the KMT government. In 1947, it came under jurisdiction of the Army Headquarters and was a recreation center for the American Military Assistance Advisory Group (or the MAAG) until the US broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Since then, it has been managed by the Veterans Affairs Commission. On several occasions, there was some news that the land would be sold to a consortium to build a hotel. It was only through the joint efforts of the local community that the beautiful land was preserved. Up until 2000, the Hualien County Government had designated it as a “site of historical and scenic interest”. Repair and restoration commenced in 2002 and the site was finally opened to the public on November 16, 2004. Since then, it has become an important historical and cultural site for the Hualien area.