30 Fascinating Photos Capture Street Scenes of Taiwan in 1954

Taiwan is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south. The capital, Taipei, forms along with New Taipei City and Keelung the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Other major cities include Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.

Taiwan is among the most densely populated countries in the world. These fascinating photos were taken by David Putnam while he was on active duty in the US Navy (1953-1955) that show street scenes of Kaohsiung and Tainan in 1954.

Common transport in Taiwan, 1954

Kaohsiung rooftops, Taiwan, 1954

Kaohsiung street scenes, Taiwan, 1954

Kaohsiung street scenes, Taiwan, 1954

Kaohsiung. A street lined with shops and full of shoppers, Taiwan, 1954

Kaohsiung. Aborigine swing bridge, Taiwan, 1954

Kaohsiung. Aborigine village, Taiwan, 1954

Kaohsiung. Bum boats, Taiwan, 1954

Kaohsiung. Commercial tanker was tied up in harbor, Taiwan, 1954

Kaohsiung. Country estate, Taiwan, 1954

Kaohsiung. One of many fishing boats transiting the harbor, Taiwan, 1954

Kaohsiung. The roof top of this building hosted the Officers' Club, which was used by the US Navy and US Army MAAG troops stationed in the area, Taiwan, 1954

Rice farmer in Taiwan, 1954

Rice paddies on the way to Tainan from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan main street, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan monastery courtyard, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan movie theater, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan park, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan side street, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan siesta, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan street scenes, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan street scenes, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan swim beach, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan. A monk doing laundry beside a well inside the monastery, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan. A monk doing laundry beside a well inside the monastery, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan. A view from a monastery showing the rooftops of the clustered houses below and the bay beyond, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan. Catching shade, Taiwan, 1954

Tainan. Ox cart, 1954

Tainan. Pill box in the yard of a monastery, Taiwan, 1954

Tank barrier wall, Taiwan, 1954

(Photo © David Putnam)