Due to the increasingly westward development of Taichung City, the Old City District has transformed from bustling city center to ghost town. Since taking office, City Mayor Lin Jialong has been determined to turn the central district around, attracting people to return through renovation of Liuchuan and Luchuan, and construction of waterside facilities. The city will also take stock of old abandoned buildings, promoting gradual renovation of the Old City District. After 2 years of hard work, many old abandoned buildings have been repurposed, including a culture hotel and youth creativity base, revitalizing the old city. This work allowed the future second-largest city in Taiwan, Taichung, to regain its glory of old.

The City Development Bureau stated the Central District is both the original location of Taichung and the soul of the city’s culture. Many of the important historical and cultural events of Taichung happened there. Witnessing the decline of the Old City, Mayor Lin proclaimed prior to his election that, “if I cannot save the Central District, I don’t deserve to be mayor.” After his election, he established the Taichung City Revitalization and Development Commission, introduced many courses of action, and went to work restoring the former glory of the Old City District through entrepreneurial guidance, tourism programs, abandoned building revitalization, and renovation of the river area.

Now the Old City is showing the budding fruits of these 2 years of hard work. For example, under city government planning in Liuchuan, including the introduction of low-impact development near the river between Chiang Kai-Shek Liu Bridge and Minquan Liu Bridge. The government has created a gentle slope through expanding canal by 8 meters on either side, not only increasing the area covered by water, but also reducing environmental impact and conserving old trees. The government has also improved waste-water damming and local water quality processing to transform the smelly canal of Liuchuan into a riverside attraction of Taichung. This has attracted many tourists, successfully increasing development of local businesses and the tourism industry. Local businesses have experienced 50% growth since Liuchuan started development last year. Due to the success of the first period, the second period will expand work further along the river of Liuchuan.

Luchuan is also undergoing construction and environmental projects, creating a 700 meter public riverside recreation environment for walking or cycling from Shuangshi Road to Minquan Road, bringing back memories of Luchuan’s past. Additionally, Sun Moon Lake is set to complete its hundred year clear water project, and the Taiwan Sugar pool is set to become a lakeside ecological park.

The City Development Bureau stated that the city government is taking stock of old abandoned buildings in order to promote the gradual renovation of Old City District buildings. The government has collected funds to revamp old houses or renovate the city to improve its appearances. For example, the Luchuan Qianyue Building, Yuanbai Building, and General Building, which have been abandoned for many years, have already been turned into the City Renovation Center, a milestone for the revitalization of the Central District. After completion, the government will continue to renovate other abandoned buildings representing the public’s hopes that the Central District may be revitalized.

In addition to this, the crumbling façade of the Changshou Finance Building, located at the intersection of Taiwan Boulevard and Pingdeng Street, will be completely renovated with support from the city government. The headquarters of the Taichung Commercial Bank is also set to be renovated with beautiful night lights to bring out the building’s dazzling architecture. The Jiu Jinsha Mall is set to become Le Meridien Taichung, and there are new plans for the Central Book Store. Mayor Lin described the Central District metamorphosis as “like a child growing up; every day brings a new surprise.”

The City Development Bureau stated, Taichung is a city born from the railways. This year marks the 100th anniversary since the Taichung Train Station was completed in 1917. The city government will continue to promote the revitalization of the Old City District in the hopes of allowing it to relive the glory of old for the next 100 years.