Chiayi City GovernmentChiayi City Government

Mayor Huang Throws Ceremonial First Pitch at 2025 Asian Winter Baseball League Championship Game, Igniting Stadium-Wide Excitement   Post Date: December 7, 2025 Department of Education / Tourism and Information Department The 2025 Asian Winter Baseball League has been underway since November 17 at the KANO Baseball Stadium in Chiayi City, featuring five competitive teams: a Japanese corporate team, a Japanese professional league selection, a Korean professional league selection, Taiwan Sea Team, and Taiwan Mountain Team. A series of international-level matchups has drawn large crowds of baseball fans from Taiwan and abroad, highlighting Chiayi City’s enduring reputation as a baseball stronghold. Mayor Huang Min-Hui was invited today (December 7) to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the championship game, welcoming baseball enthusiasts nationwide to gather in Chiayi City and experience the city’s rich baseball heritage and vibrant sporting atmosphere. Mayor Huang noted that Chiayi City is one of the birthplaces of Taiwanese baseball and has hosted Winter League games for consecutive years—an affirmation of both the high-quality facilities at KANO Baseball Stadium and the City Government’s professional event management. She added that following damage caused by Typhoon Danas, the stadium was swiftly repaired and successfully restored for competition, once again demonstrating the efficiency and expertise of the municipal team. With fierce competition throughout this year’s tournament, Mayor Huang expressed confidence that the championship game held in Chiayi City would deliver an outstanding and memorable experience for fans. Director Kuo Tien-Tsai of the Department of Education stated that the Asian Winter Baseball League serves as an important international platform for professional rookies and minor-league players to refine their skills. He invited fans from across Taiwan to visit KANO Baseball Stadium and witness the crowning of this year’s champion team. Beyond the Winter League, Chiayi City’s baseball momentum continues to build. The 28th Jhu-Luo Mountain International Little League Baseball Invitational Tournament is set to begin on December 19, bringing together 258 elite youth teams from Taiwan and overseas. The tournament will further extend the sporting energy generated by the Winter League, ensuring that Chiayi City remains one of Taiwan’s most dynamic baseball cities throughout the winter season.

Chiayi City Claims Top National Spot for Governance Satisfaction in 2025 Happiness City Survey Post Date: December 1, 2025 Tourism and Information Department Chiayi City has once again earned national recognition in the 2025 Happiness City Survey conducted by Economic Daily News, released today (2). The city recorded the highest governance satisfaction rating in Taiwan at 81.2% and placed third nationwide in the Happiness Index. This marks Chiayi’s sixth consecutive year among the top performers and its second straight year ranking first in overall governance satisfaction, reinforcing its reputation as a consistent leader in quality of life. Mayor Huang Min-Hui accepted the award in Taipei and expressed deep gratitude to city residents. She emphasized that “there is no miracle behind happiness—only the steady accumulation of hard work.” The honor, she noted, belongs to the people of Chiayi and the municipal team whose efforts have turned challenges into progress, proving that “a small city can generate extraordinary energy.” Mayor Huang highlighted that Chiayi’s continued success stems from resilience during difficult times and from residents’ trust and support. She also thanked the organizers for fostering positive competition among cities, adding, “Chiayi City will keep pushing forward—every year, we aim for another +1.” Since its first selection in 2020, Chiayi City has remained on the Happiness City list for six consecutive years. Mayor Huang encouraged the city government team to “turn peaks into plateaus,” ensuring that policies evolve with public needs and global developments. She stressed that economic growth and sustainability must advance hand in hand to balance economic development, social well-being, and environmental protection. By confronting difficulties head-on, she said, the city has been able to transform pain points into breakthroughs. Mayor Huang also introduced Chiayi’s city image brand “Tao-Hsi,” inspired by the city’s founding in 1704 and its historic nickname “Peach City.” Symbolizing joy, warmth, and the spirit of Chiayi, the brand reflects the phrase, “bringing happiness to others, and to ourselves.” The upcoming “320+1 Chiayi City Expo,” to be held from December 12 to 28, will showcase Chiayi’s cultural heritage, landscapes, and innovative urban development to visitors nationwide. Reflecting on the past seven years, Mayor Huang noted that Chiayi’s economy had once faced serious challenges. Guided by sustainability-focused governance, the city has since achieved a steady economic revival. Corporate sales revenue has hit new highs for six consecutive years since 2019, and 20 major industries reported positive growth this year. Household disposable income has also risen for six straight years, indicating growing economic vitality among residents. Tourism has reached new heights, with Chiayi transforming from a stopover location into a primary travel destination. As of September, visitor numbers exceeded 23 million—a historic record. Wenhua Road Night Market remains the most popular night market in Taiwan, while the Chiayi Art Museum continues to lead the country in museum visitation. Chiayi also achieved national leadership in green mobility, becoming the first city in Taiwan to fully replace its urban bus fleet with domestically manufactured low-floor electric buses. The YouBike 2.0 system has maintained a zero-theft record—the only one in the nation—and has achieved the highest turnover rate among non-municipal cities since its launch in 2020. Cultural development, youth empowerment, and heritage preservation have continued to advance. Programs such as “Wood City 3.0,” “Wooden House Revitalization,” “Old House Economy,” and “Repair Instead of Rent” have strengthened Chiayi’s wooden architecture and supported talent development in the woodcraft sector. The “Experimental Wood Lab” further promotes long-term cultural and skills development. Youth initiatives—including the pioneering “Youth Matters Festival,” the “Nomad Program,” start-up subsidies up to NT$900,000, and the Young Creators Market—have encouraged young people to innovate and pursue their aspirations. “Chiayi City is full of happiness,” Mayor Huang said. “Happiness is not luck—it is built step by step through effort.” She expressed her appreciation to residents, the City Council, and all community partners for their strong support. Moving forward, the municipal team will continue embracing the spirit of “Small City, Big Innovation,” building a city where all generations can thrive. “With every new +1,” she said, “Chiayi becomes an even better place.” According to survey results from Economic Daily News, Chiayi City’s governance satisfaction rating reached a nation-leading 81.2% in 2025. The city also earned a score of 65.3 in the national Happiness Index, placing third overall. Since 2020, Chiayi has consistently ranked among the top four cities in the Happiness Index and has claimed the No. 1 spot in governance satisfaction for two consecutive years. The city excelled across multiple indicators—including government performance, living environment, family economy, environmental quality, and health—with a perfect score of 10 in the “government performance” category.  

Chiayi City Welcomes NIPPON TRAVEL for Renewed Taiwan–Japan Baseball Tourism Exchange   Post Date:  November 27, 2025 Tourism and Information Department   Chiayi City welcomed a delegation from NIPPON TRAVEL, Japan’s oldest travel agency, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen tourism and baseball cultural exchanges. The six-member team—including former NPB player Araki Daisuke—visited the KANO Baseball Exhibition at National Chiayi University on November 25 and met with Mayor Huang Min-Hui the following day. During the meeting, Mayor Huang presented Araki with a commemorative statue of Wu Ming-Chieh, symbolizing the enduring KANO spirit. Araki returned the gesture with a signed baseball. The delegation also visited Chiayi Municipal Minsheng Junior High School, a key training ground for young baseball talent. Mayor Huang noted that baseball has long been a cultural bridge between Chiayi and Japan. The legendary 1931 KANO team, the film KANO, and the Central Fountain statue of Wu Ming-Chieh all embody the city’s resilience and spirit of perseverance. She highlighted Chiayi’s strong sports culture, pointing to recent recognition in Global Views Monthly’s “Sports City Survey,” where Chiayi ranked third among non-municipalities and first in the “Sports for All” category. NIPPON TRAVEL representatives remarked that Chiayi’s preservation of KANO history has shaped not only its baseball heritage but also its cultural identity. The city’s dedication especially moved them to honor past athletes—something rarely seen in Japan’s urban centers. The delegation’s visit to National Chiayi University offered a closer look at KANO’s historical archives, including materials documenting the team’s 1931 journey to Koshien. The university has also expanded Taiwan–Japan baseball exchanges, hosting a friendly game earlier this year with the Shikoku University Baseball League. At Minsheng Junior High School, Araki observed training and encouraged students to embrace challenges and learn from setbacks. He emphasized that their skill level could compete with peers in Japan and encouraged them to continue improving through persistence. Chiayi City Government expressed its gratitude for the delegation’s visit and looks forward to further collaboration in tourism, sports, and cultural exchange. The upcoming Taiwan–Japan Baseball Exchange Forum on November 28—featuring Araki as a distinguished guest—will continue deepening ties and creating new opportunities for cooperation.