一探台中放送局 / Exploring the Taichung Broadcasting Bureau

台中放送局是我在某場活動時，聽人提到的地方，台中放送局是日據時代的廣播電台，是日本政府為發展廣播事業，作為全島廣播中繼而設的，是全台第三個廣播電臺，現在被列為歷史建物，講者之前在那處地方有舉辦展覽，作為古蹟活化再利用的受益者，要不是講者有提到這個地方，我真的是聽都沒聽過，但也萌生我想去一探究竟的念頭。

台中放送局位於電臺街上，不過，要到那裏的交通不太方便，我研究了好久，最後還是決定走過去，從我住的地方，走了二十來分鐘才到，從外觀來看，台中放送局保留了大量昭和時代的建築風格，彷彿一座迷你的歐風城堡，灰白色的外牆，圓拱形的窗戶，還有屋頂那微微泛黃的瓦片，都訴說著它的歷史，門前的小廣場有幾棵老樹，陽光從枝葉縫隙間灑落，讓整個空間都顯得寧靜而溫柔，其實一走到這個地方，就感覺時間停止下來了。

放送局的門口有一座古早時代的電話亭，上面寫著1935年，哇！這類的電話亭，在我出生時，早就沒有了，除非特別保留下來，我想，只有在歐美電影中才會看到它，走進主建築，內部展示了許多廣播設備與老照片，介紹了台中放送局的前世今生，其中一間模擬錄音室的空間，裡面擺設著復古的麥克風、轉盤式電話與老式收音機，讓人彷彿穿越回1930年代。

當然，放送局似乎也定期舉辦文創市集、手作課程與展覽，不過，放送局內的空間不大，展覽多屬小型特展，我去的那天，展覽了一些文創性質的餐具，不過，這裡入場不需要門票，也沒有過度商業化的干擾，有的只是歷史與現代緩緩交融的情懷，假如，您也是喜歡老建築的話，倒是可以安排時間，到這裡感受這個有點懷舊卻很有生命力的地方。

I first heard about Taichung Broadcasting Bureau during an event I attended. Someone mentioned it in passing. It used to be a radio station during the Japanese colonial period, built by the Japanese government to develop the island’s broadcasting network. It was actually the third radio station established in Taiwan and is now classified as a historical building. The speaker who mentioned it had held an exhibition there before and described themselves as a beneficiary of this kind of cultural site revitalization. Honestly, if they hadn’t brought it up, I probably would’ve never even heard of the place. But after that, I became curious and wanted to check it out for myself.

Taichung Broadcasting Bureau is located on a street called “Radio Street” (how fitting!), but getting there isn’t exactly convenient. I spent quite some time figuring out the best route, and in the end, I decided to just walk. It took me a little over 20 minutes from where I was staying. From the outside, the building still keeps a lot of that old Showa-era architectural style—it kind of looks like a miniature European castle. The off-white walls, the arched windows, and the slightly yellowed roof tiles all speak to its long history. There’s a small square out front with a few old trees. Sunlight filters softly through the leaves, giving the whole space a peaceful, gentle vibe. Honestly, the moment I arrived, it felt like time had stopped.

There’s also an old-school phone booth near the entrance with “1935” written on it. Wow! This kind of phone booth had already disappeared by the time I was born—unless one was specially preserved somewhere. It really felt like something straight out of a European movie. Inside the main building, there are displays of old broadcasting equipment and black-and-white photos that tell the story of the place. One of the rooms is a recreated studio, complete with vintage microphones, rotary phones, and old radios. It truly feels like stepping back into the 1930s.

These days, the bureau also hosts small markets, craft workshops, and art exhibitions from time to time. The space inside isn’t very large, so the exhibitions are usually on the smaller side. When I visited, they were showing some creative tableware designs. What I appreciated, though, is that there’s no entrance fee, and the place doesn’t feel overly commercialized. It’s more like a quiet blend of history and modern culture. So if you’re someone who enjoys exploring old buildings, I’d definitely recommend setting aside some time to visit this charming and nostalgic little spot.

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