by Miyu Chen, Project Student
Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages’ USR Our Town program in 2024－Foreign Language Tour Guiding Community, successfully completed the first major theme of walking tours on February 24th – exploring old houses. Trained by the project team, community members led the public on visits to the old houses of Zuoying. On that day, the members not only conducted English guided tours for the public but also put their coursework into practice. Participants of various ages engaged enthusiastically during the event, attracting new partners to join the ranks of the foreign language tour guiding community.
The first major theme of the foreign language walking tour was the old houses of Zuoying, including the Yu, Su, Ke, Huang, Liao, and Guo families' century-old houses and Almond Blessing Alley. The old houses in Zuoying, Kaohsiung is the largest old houses area in Taiwan. Following the footsteps of the foreign language tour guiding community, guides and visitors traversed through the alleyways, glimpsing into the long history of the old houses from Zuoying Yijia to Cijia. Each house was constructed with red bricks and tiles. The architectural features of the houses, such as decorative tiles on walls, door lintels, and water drawing wells, not only reflect the essential principles of Chinese culture, namely "Feng Shui," but also mirror the historical background and culture of the time, revealing the social hierarchy of the residences.
The walking tour was an important step for the foreign language tour guiding community, not only in exploring the traces of history but also in experiencing the cultural pulse of the city. We will continue to explore the local culture of Kaohsiung with partner members, savoring the charm of the city and looking at this land's beauty and diversity from a new perspective. Through the power of languages, we will spread the story of Kaohsiung to the world, allowing more people to know and fall in love with this vibrant and charming city.
Community member, Bobby, introduced Huang's old house.
Participants focused on taking notes during tours.
Community member, Jay Ho, introduced Liao's old house.
Group photos of teachers, staff and participants in front of Haung’s old house
