Qiding Agriculture Education Center

NCL Special Collection / Yan Hui-long / Japanese Colonial Period (1895-1945) / 14×8.8cm / 《Visual Feast》

If the topic of raising and breeding horses in Taiwan comes up, most people will think of the Houli Horse Ranch in Taichung. However, in addition to Houli there are many places in Taiwan where people can experience the equestrian life. For example, Qiding in Zhunan Township of Miaoli County used to be the home of an important ranch. In 1935, when the Taiwan Exposition was being held in Taipei, officials in Hsinchu also wanting in on the action used government funds to purchase scores of horses from Japan and put on a prefecture-wide horse race. After the craze of horseracing wore off, these horses that had travelled the island were then put to pasture at the Qiding Agriculture Education Center (similar to agricultural schools today).