From a language institute to a rice-paddy classroom.
Hutian Experimental Elementary traces its origins to 1934, when it began as the Zhuzihu Mandarin Language Institute. It became a branch of Hushan Elementary in 1952, gained independence as Hutian Elementary in 1969, and took its current name in 1974. In 2018, the school converted into an experimental school built around 田園教育 (paddy-field and agricultural education) — a rice-farming curriculum distinctive enough that Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper featured it in 2020 as an example of "the world's elementary schools."
湖田實小創校可追溯至昭和9年(1934年),最初為「竹子湖國語講習所」。民國41年(1952年)成為湖山國小分校,民國58年(1969年)獨立設校為湖田國小,民國63年(1974年)更為現名。民國107年(2018年)學校轉型為實驗學校,以田園教育為核心,其稻作課程特色鮮明,曾於2020年獲日本《讀賣新聞》報導,作為「世界小學」的代表案例之一。
What makes this school worth knowing.
🌾 A Rice-Farming Curriculum
稻作田園教育
Since converting to an experimental school in 2018, Hutian has built its curriculum around 田園教育 (paddy-field education), with students growing rice as part of their schooling.
📰 Featured in Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun
讀賣新聞報導
The school's distinctive rice-farming program drew international attention in 2020, when Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper featured it as an example of "the world's elementary schools."
📜 Nearly a Century of History
近百年校史
Tracing back to a 1934 Mandarin-language institute, the school has passed through several names and roles on its way to becoming today's experimental elementary school.
In the highland basin of Zhuzihu.
Hutian Experimental Elementary is physically located in Zhuzihu (竹子湖), the highland basin on Yangmingshan famous for its calla lily and hydrangea farms. The school's entire agricultural curriculum is built around this highland farming landscape, turning the surrounding fields into an extension of the classroom. See the Taipei county page for more on the region.
Find the school.
No. 17-2, Zhuzihu Rd., Beitou District, Taipei City 112, Taiwan
臺北市北投區竹子湖路17-2號
School's Official Website (Chinese) ↗
Last updated: July 2026 · Content adapted and condensed from the school's official Chinese-language website by the Taiwan Bilingual Hub team, not yet reviewed by the school. If you're from Hutian Experimental Elementary School and would like to correct or expand this page, please contact us.