When you spot the eye-catching stele replica with the Chinese inscription “Never forget past hardship,” you know you have arrived at the Magong Duxing 10th Village, Taiwan’s oldest military dependents’ village. The wooden Japanese-style dormitories have been refurbished, transferred into a cultural and creative park. Local artists have set up a variety of art installations, adding charm to every corner of the village. Popular tourist attractions include nostalgia-evoking groceries, retro hotels, and coffee and snack shops.
The village used to be the Penghu Island Fortress Command and the accommodation of the Magong Artillery Brigade officers during the Japanese era. After the Second World War, the Nationalist government converted it into quarters for families of the Penghu Defense Command officers and renamed it the Duxing 10th Village. The site combines both historical and cultural landmarks. To ensure the continuation of military dependents' village culture, the Penghu County Government designated the compound the historic buildings in 2007 and transformed it into a cultural park.
Today, the Duxing 10th Village is the sole remaining group of Japanese-style dormitories in Penghu. The refurbished wooden buildings accommodate a variety of enterprises, including a revitalized bookstore, the former residence of Pan Anbang, a pop singer renowned for his "Grandma's Penghu Bay," and the former residence of Zhang Yusheng. Visitors can enjoy their captivating music, trace their growth as artists, and appreciate their musical creativity in these museums.