On September 1, 1911—just forty days before the Xinhai Revolution—Taipei faced a forgotten catastrophe of "total annihilation." This wasn't a scene from a distant land; it happened right here, in the city where we live today.

For decades leading up to 1945, this pivotal event was recorded annually in the Governor-General’s reports, meant to be a cornerstone of Taiwan’s collective memory. Yet, in the eighty years since the end of WWII, it has nearly vanished from public consciousness. As we walk these streets daily, we rarely realize that our city once stood at such a violent turning point.

The "Annihilation of Taipei" was the bitter climax of half a century of environmental degradation. In its wake, the Governor-General’s Office devised radical water management strategies—projects like the Taoyuan Canal, Horikawa (the "Moat" canals), the Guandu Gap widening, and the Yuanshanzihu Flood Diversion. Over the last century, these blueprints have gradually become reality, fundamentally shaping the Taipei we see today.

This lecture will transport you back to the "Ground Zero" of 1911. We will explore how a series of massive engineering feats responded to crisis and rebooted the city. Join us to rediscover how the very ground you walk on was forged through disaster and resilience.

Lin, Wei-Shu／Secretary General of the Chinese Association for Community Education /Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of General Education, Yuan Ze University

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Date: 31 Mar. 2026 (Tues.) , 12：20-14：10
Sign-in starting from 12:00

Venue: IB-202

Registration: Click me

Contact: Ms.Chen / Phone:02-2730-1148 / Email: Hola@mail.ntust.edu.tw

 

Benefits

🔹Get a limited-edition meal voucher!

Just sign up for the lecture and fill out our feedback survey after the event. You can then grab a meal voucher at the sign-in desk before you leave. These are super limited, so make sure you claim yours while supplies last!

🔹Share your thoughts and win big!

Want to win a prize just for writing about your experience? Here's your chance!

How to enter:

•Submission deadline: Submit your feedback essay by midnight on the day of the lecture.

•Word count: No word count minimum, but your submission must be relevant to the lecture.

•Prizes: The top entry will receive a NT$200 convenience store gift card!

Don't miss out on these fantastic offers! We can't wait to see you there!

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Sponsor: Ministry of Education    Hosted by: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Higher Education Sprout Project, Center for General Education, South Side College