The starting point of Kaohsiung's journey towards modernization can be traced to the reclaimed land at the foot of Shoushan. During the Japanese colonial era, the area was developed by filling the sea with silt, and railways were built to connect the commercial and fishing ports. This railway line was known as the "Hamasen", which locals pronounced as "Há-má-seng" in Taiwanese. Various businesses and government offices were established along this line, and the surrounding area became synonymous with Kaohsiung’s thriving cityscape a century ago. In 1921, the Sanhe Bank set up its Kaohsiung branch here in line with the era’s trends.
After over a century, the building has been magnificently transformed into "Shinbin Ekimae." "Shinbin" derives from the Japanese name "Shinbin-cho" for this area during the colonial period, while "Ekimae" refers to the area in front of the old Takao Station. By connecting with local historical names, the building’s elegance has been renewed.
