The two big highlights of the Zhongzheng Road (中正路) and Zhongyi Road (忠義路) intersection are the Hayashi Department Store (林百貨), and the shrine-like Land Bank of Taiwan (土地銀行). During the Japanese Colonial Period, the bank was known as the Kangyo Bank of Japan (勸業銀行); “Kangyo” means promoting and awarding industries in Japanese. The external style of the bank is also quite unique, and it makes use of columns as if from Greek temples arranged on both sides. The main body of the building towers high like a tall equilateral triangle, and it helps convey a sense of calm and relaxation on members of the public. Tourists frequently take pictures of the bank from the top floor of the Lin General Merchandise Store in order to get a clear and complete view of this incredible site, and along the top of the pillared veranda many swallows have built their nests. When here, raise your head to look up at the majestic pillars sight and you can catch site of swallows feeding their young. This gives a further interesting dimension to the Land Bank.
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