Old Stores


Kinghwakuei Gold Jewelry Shop, located at No.213, Kangting Road, was founded in 1910, which is one of the few gold jewelry shops existing since early days of Wanghwa. In its golden age during the period under Japanese occupation, Kinghwakuei hired several dozens of goldsmiths from Fucho, Southwestern Mainland China. At the time, each goldsmith could make two pieces of gold jewelry and was paid with 1.2 dollars per day. The wage was quite fair, compared to a Japanese policeman with 25 dollars per month and a store clerk 10 dollars. The old fashioned steelyards that Kinghwakuei used to weigh gold have been replaced by electronic scales as time advances. Kinghwakuei still preserves so-called 'Flower Book' that includes various jewelry design catalogues in the time of Japanese occupation and at early period of Taiwan's recovery. The shop also keeps about 30 kinds of chisels with a history of over 80 years and four different scales used in different ages.。