Taipei Renjiyuan Wins Land Dispute Against 'Shanghai Lao Tian Lu' in Appeal
The Taiwan High Court on June 3 rejected an appeal by the Cai family, operators of the famous 'Shanghai Lao Tian Lu' shop, in a land dispute with Taipei Renjiyuan. The court upheld the original ruling, ordering the Cai family to demolish buildings, return the land, and pay NT$1,842,338 in unjust enrichment plus monthly payments of NT$27,257.
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- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 14:30
- 🔍 Collected: June 3, 2026 at 14:37 (7 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 22:05 (79h 28m after Collected)
(Central News Agency reporter Xie Junlin, Taipei, 3rd) Taipei Renjiyuan filed a lawsuit against the Cai family of 'Shanghai Lao Tian Lu' for the return of land. The first-instance court ordered the Cai family to demolish the buildings, return the occupied land, and pay unjust enrichment equivalent to rent from June 1, 2018. The second-instance court today rejected the Cai family's appeal. The case can be appealed.
The plaintiff, the Taipei Renjiyuan Foundation, argued that Renjiyuan and the Cai family were co-owners of the building and had a lease agreement. Renjiyuan leased the land to the Cai family as part of the building's foundation, with the lease term ending on May 31, 2018. No new lease was signed after the term expired. The unauthorized occupation area was 33 square meters and 5 square meters. After the first-instance verdict, the Cai family demolished the building and returned the land on October 15, 2024.
Renjiyuan claimed that from June 1, 2018, to October 15, 2024, the Cai family had no legal basis for benefiting from the equivalent of rent. It requested the return of an amount calculated at 8% of the land's declared value per year, demanding NT$1,842,338 in principal and interest for the period from June 1, 2018, to February 29, 2024, and NT$27,257 per month from March 1, 2024, to October 15, 2024.
The first-instance Taipei District Court ordered the Cai family to demolish the buildings, return the occupied land to Renjiyuan, and return unjust enrichment calculated at 8% of the declared land value per year from June 1, 2018, until the date of return. The Cai family appealed only the part concerning the return of unjust enrichment, and the second-instance case was heard by the Taiwan High Court.
After review, the High Court found that the Cai family did not dispute the fact that they had occupied Renjiyuan's land without rights from June 1, 2018, to October 15, 2024. According to general social concepts, they had obtained benefits equivalent to rent, so Renjiyuan was entitled to request the return of unjust enrichment for that period.
The High Court considered that the land is located in the bustling commercial area of Ximending, that the Cai family operates the famous 'Shanghai Lao Tian Lu' by combining the use of buildings at No. 56 and behind No. 56, Chengdu Road, and that the surrounding area has complete functions, convenient transportation, and obvious commercial activity. It deemed Renjiyuan's request for unjust enrichment calculated at 8% of the declared land value per year to be appropriate.
The High Court upheld the first-instance verdict, ruling that Renjiyuan can demand NT$1,842,338 from the Cai family, plus interest at 5% per year from March 1, 2024, until the date of full payment, and NT$27,257 per month from March 1, 2024, to October 15, 2024, plus interest at 5% per year from the day after each payment date until full payment. The case can be appealed. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150603
The plaintiff, the Taipei Renjiyuan Foundation, argued that Renjiyuan and the Cai family were co-owners of the building and had a lease agreement. Renjiyuan leased the land to the Cai family as part of the building's foundation, with the lease term ending on May 31, 2018. No new lease was signed after the term expired. The unauthorized occupation area was 33 square meters and 5 square meters. After the first-instance verdict, the Cai family demolished the building and returned the land on October 15, 2024.
Renjiyuan claimed that from June 1, 2018, to October 15, 2024, the Cai family had no legal basis for benefiting from the equivalent of rent. It requested the return of an amount calculated at 8% of the land's declared value per year, demanding NT$1,842,338 in principal and interest for the period from June 1, 2018, to February 29, 2024, and NT$27,257 per month from March 1, 2024, to October 15, 2024.
The first-instance Taipei District Court ordered the Cai family to demolish the buildings, return the occupied land to Renjiyuan, and return unjust enrichment calculated at 8% of the declared land value per year from June 1, 2018, until the date of return. The Cai family appealed only the part concerning the return of unjust enrichment, and the second-instance case was heard by the Taiwan High Court.
After review, the High Court found that the Cai family did not dispute the fact that they had occupied Renjiyuan's land without rights from June 1, 2018, to October 15, 2024. According to general social concepts, they had obtained benefits equivalent to rent, so Renjiyuan was entitled to request the return of unjust enrichment for that period.
The High Court considered that the land is located in the bustling commercial area of Ximending, that the Cai family operates the famous 'Shanghai Lao Tian Lu' by combining the use of buildings at No. 56 and behind No. 56, Chengdu Road, and that the surrounding area has complete functions, convenient transportation, and obvious commercial activity. It deemed Renjiyuan's request for unjust enrichment calculated at 8% of the declared land value per year to be appropriate.
The High Court upheld the first-instance verdict, ruling that Renjiyuan can demand NT$1,842,338 from the Cai family, plus interest at 5% per year from March 1, 2024, until the date of full payment, and NT$27,257 per month from March 1, 2024, to October 15, 2024, plus interest at 5% per year from the day after each payment date until full payment. The case can be appealed. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150603