Chiayi Old Prison
Taiwan · Asia
About
Chiayi Old Prison (traditional Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: Jiāyì Jiù Jiānyù) is a former prison located at 140 Wei Hsin Road, East District, Chiayi City, Taiwan. It underwent restoration and reopened as the Chiayi Prison Museum (traditional Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: Yùzhèng Bówùguǎn) in 2011. It was designated as a historic monument of Taiwan in 2005.
Chiayi Prison commenced its operation in 1922 under the name of Tainan Prison Chiayi Branch. In 1994, the Chiayi Prison was relocated to Lucao Township in Chiayi County.
A distinct feature of the Chiayi Old Prison is the radial layout of the prison blocks with a staff positioned hall in the center. In contrast to the design of panopticon prisons, individual cells cannot be seen by the staff in the central hall unless they enter individual prison blocks. Another other similar Pennsylvania-style prison building is the Abashiri Prison in Hokkaido, Japan.
The museum is accessible within walking distance East from Beimen Station of the Alishan Forest Railway.
The Forgotten Corner – Old Chiayi Prison Within these walls- a tour of Chiayi Prison
Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.