Around 1949, a large number of military personnel and civilians retreated to Taiwan due to the Chinese Civil War. To accommodate the soldiers and their families, the government constructed military dependents’ villages. These villages were one of a kind around the world, not only because it was rare for a large population of military families living together in a village, but also because they fostered a distinctive culture rooted in community and mutual support. At first, these residents considered their stay in Taiwan temporary. Therefore, the houses were relatively basic. Over time, concerns about public safety arose. In the 1980s, the government began to demolish and reconstruct these villages. Among the 800 villages, only a few are preserved, and Heart Village is one of them. As the only military dependents’ village with hot spring and mainly consisting of medical personnel, Heart Village was selected by the Ministry of National Defense in 2012 as one of the 13 Military Dependents’ Village Conservation Areas.
