Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin arrived at the Bopilau historical site (the intersection of Kangding Street and Guangzhou Street) for the special exhibition featuring the Chen Lai Zhang Land Development Company.
Hau introduced the story behind the company during his speech. He indicated that the Chinese settlers founded the land-developing company, Cheng Lai Zhang, to secure the cultivating permission from the imperial court. The license was granted in the year of 1709 (48th year of the Kangxi reign period, Qing Dynasty), and became the first official license for settlers to break the new world. Some historians stated that this lift on ban arguably kicked off the immigration movement heading to Taiwan.
This year marked the 300th anniversary for Cheng Lai Zhang’s cultivation works at Daijalie – the former name for areas included Wanhua, Dalongdong, Dadaocheng and Songshan.
The exhibition will be held between November 28, 2009 and January 10, 2010. The main exhibit will be the original contract with the autographs from the company representatives and officials. The show will also feature other subjects, including the ethnic integration, the land reclamation, the footprints of progress and the diversity accumulating on the settlements.
Hau indicated that Taipei city is the joint creation of different ethnical groups; he hoped the inhabitants of the city will continue to collaborate on creating our own culture assets.