Northeast Corner Sandiaoling Reading Library

[Northeast corner San Diao Ling Reading Library]

[From the Deep Mountain Reading Library in Hong Kong]

【Wo Gwong】

https://www.verse.com.tw/article/wo-gwong

The Deep Mountain Reading Library from Hong Kong is like a personal studio;

I passed by it several times but never saw it open for business, so I had a chance to visit now.

香港人打造的一人一貓空間，有古早馬賽克浴缸，架上除了香港相關書籍亦有禾炚香港圖書館主理人製作的陶藝，這兒就在三貂嶺寬哥那邊的對面。

“The Hong Kong Library in the Deep Mountains” is Wo Gwong’s self-introduction on the fan page.

Hebing is located near San Diao Ling Station, the only station in Taiwan that is not accessible by road. Behind this narrow glass door, there is a Hong Kong-themed library located deep in the mountains of northern Taiwan. Its predecessor was a bathhouse near a mine that had been abandoned for decades.

The library is only a square inch in size, but for the person in charge, Ah Shen, the location and space are just right. There are not only books about Hong Kong, but also pottery, exhibitions, and Ah Shen’s yearning for freedom!

The built-in book has a handwritten introductory message from Heben’s manager, Ah Shen. Every time a new book is put on the shelf, Ah Shen will actively recommend it on the fan page.

He said: “Everyone thinks that I opened a library because I love reading and am a very educated person, but that is not the case.”

So why is such a “Hong Kong” library opened in the mountains? “I hope Taiwan can have a cultural base in Hong Kong, not just a teahouse where people can eat and drink.”

Ah Shen, who has no background in architectural design, concentrates on making pottery in the mountains while tidying up the old house that has been decaying for a long time and is full of smoke and weeds. “It took about two and a half years to sort it out, but when things started to get busy here, I felt that it took too long and it was time to open.”

In the past two years, more and more people have discovered the unique charm of Sandiaoling. The originally deserted settlement has gradually been opened with canteens, coffee shops and other shops, and the number of ordinary tourists has also begun to increase. “I was the first one to move in. Foreign visitors here are also the last to open a store. “In March 2021, Wo Gwong, a Hong Kong library located in a mountain village, officially opened in Sandiaoling.

Originally it was just a personal ceramics studio, but will it be opened to the public in the form of a library?

Ah Shen thought for a moment and said, “After 2019, I always feel like I have to do something.”

The experience of growing up in Hong Kong gave Ah Shen his belief in freedom. He traveled around, created pottery, and even came to Taiwan to chase girls and opened a library in the mountains. He lived a carefree life.

In reality, Ah Shen began to pay attention to the social media of some independent bookstores in Hong Kong. “They still post articles and hold lectures every day, talking about Hong Kong’s culture, history, environment, society, and even animal and plant issues. These are the things young people in Hong Kong used to do. It’s something that people pay less attention to, but can you imagine, these events are packed now.”

嚮往自由，開了這麼一間經營的香港圖書館，不是反而被空間綁住了嗎？

Ah Shen said with a smile: “Of course if someone takes over and does the best job, it’s best not for me to do it, so I can go and have fun.”

Ah Shen split the Hong Kong word “香” into “禾” and “日”, and took the “fire” from his own “犊”, which became the name “禾皚”. “皚” is the ancient character for “light”. The naming reflects his wish: I hope this library located in the mountains can become a glimmer of light in the darkness and illuminate Hong Kong.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UfPAgGbD635mUwdP6