I remember the first time over 20 years ago that I visited Taichung. I liked it right off-milder weather than Taipei, friendlier people, less chaotic pace. Then it hit me-Taichung seemed like the perfect balance of city and country in terms of its flow and feel. In fairness to Taipei I lived there at one of the worst possible times: the MRT was under construction, crippling the already too limited transportation grid by engulfing it off with new construction; weather was much rainier back then which resulted in 2 kinds of Taipei weather prognoses: it's going to rain or it sure as hell looks like it's going to rain.
So yes Taichung is growing up. These images are from the booming 7th Municipal Re-zoned District area or simply-the new downtown. Home of Mitsukoshi and Tiger City and all these shiny new luxury apartments. I'd say there were at least a dozen or more buildings in process in a .5 square mile radius. Busy, busy but yet Taichung still retains much of it's early charm and friendliness. Perhaps because most its residents roots are in the surrounding countryside: Taichung County (soon to disappear under incorporation to new Taichung Municipality with the city), Miaoli , Nantou and Changhua .
Rumor has it that this area was developed by city councilmen and their rich cronies? What I do know for a fact the new municipal govenment building is currently under construction and it is quite large. Hopefully with improved governmental ranking Taichung will get soem more love from the Central Government that usually goes to Taipei or Kaohsiung? Time will tell.
Music: Graham Parker and the Rumor-Nobody Hurts You
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