Chiayi City GovernmentChiayi City Government

Seven Years On, Chiayi City's All About Youth Action Competition Has Supported 136 Teams in Turning Ideas into Real Urban Change Post Date: October 4 Strategy Department / Tourism and Information Department Chiayi City's seventh All About Youth Action Competition held its final exhibition and awards ceremony on October 4. The Issue in Practice category was won by the Impression Chulo team, while the Innovation Competition category went to the Lightning Team from Da-Ye Junior High School for its "Dawn of Hinoki" project. For the first time, the competition opened to junior high school students aged 12 and above, expanding its reach from citywide challenges to everyday school life.   Mayor Huang Min-hui said young people are an important engine driving a city toward the future. Past projects have included turkey-shaped pedestrian traffic signals, tree-climbing experiential education, the revitalization of terrazzo craftsmanship, and sustainable circular-design initiatives — with some teams going on to establish companies or studios. The city provides real-world venues, action grants, and mentorship to help young people move proposals from concepts to implementation. This year's theme, "In Chiayi, Play with a New Formula," also brought Issue in Practice teams to the Open Chiayi Market to test their ideas with real users. "When young people have something to contribute," Huang said, "the country has nothing to worry about."   This year's Issue in Practice category attracted 42 teams from across Taiwan, with seven selected to carry out projects on AI applications, technology exploration, revitalization of old buildings, and cultural experiences. The Innovation Competition featured 12 teams developing ideas ranging from smart devices and environmental improvements to interactive play equipment and student relaxation spaces. Over seven years, the competition has earned recognition from Global Views Monthly's "Future Education Taiwan 100," CommonWealth Parenting's "Education Innovation 100," and this year's IASE Impact Innovation Awards Model Award in the Youth Governance and Development Innovation category.  

Central Taiwan's Eight Cities and Counties Meet in Hsinchu to Deepen a Regional Governance Platform Covering One-Third of Taiwan Post Date: October 2 Strategy Department /  Tourism and Information Department Leaders and representatives from eight cities and counties across central Taiwan gathered in Hsinchu City on October 2 for the 2026 Central Taiwan Regional Governance Platform Leaders' Meeting, reviewing joint initiatives and discussing opportunities for deeper regional cooperation. The platform now covers more than one-third of Taiwan's land area and population.   Mayor Huang Min-hui said the platform's greatest value lies not only in exchanges among elected leaders, but in giving government teams the chance to learn from one another and build practical mutual support. "Regional cooperation must ultimately come back to the people," she said, calling on the eight cities and counties to break down administrative boundaries, share resources, and ensure the benefits of regional governance reach residents' daily lives. She noted that issues such as food safety, air pollution, transportation, disaster response, and waste management do not stop at administrative boundaries — making regional coordination essential.   Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao, who takes over as platform host this year, congratulated Mayor Huang on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for Sustainable City Governance from Business Today (今周刊), recognizing her 17 years of commitment to Chiayi. This year's platform is advancing 30 new joint initiatives — 16 cross-city and county projects and 14 proposals seeking central government support — while tracking 26 previously listed cases. Key highlights include a joint intercity drunk-driving initiative, a national online drug-prevention forum, and 10 shared food-safety priorities. Regional cooperation also extended to waste management, with Chiayi sending 397 metric tons to Changhua for processing and in turn assisting Changhua with 34 metric tons.   After the meeting, Mayor Huang invited all regional partners to visit the 2026 Dancing of Light and Shadows at Beixianghu Park through October 11—a Winnie-the-Pooh-themed light festival celebrating the story's 100th anniversary—and experience Chiayi's illuminated nightscape firsthand.  

"Come to Chiayi and Make Things Happen": Mayor Huang Kicks Off a Packed Autumn Season at the Sixth All About Youth Festival Post Date: September 29 Labor and Youth Development Department / Tourism and Information Department Chiayi City's sixth All About Youth Festival kicked off with the "Back to LIVE: Offline Sing & Talk" session on September 28 at the historic Chiayi Chenghuang Temple — a more than 300-year-old venue that first hosted the festival three editions ago. Chiayi-born musician Liao Shih-hsien performed first, followed by Chuang Chiao-yen of Flooding Bridge. Mayor Huang Min-hui joined residents in putting phones away for an evening of live music and real conversation, living out this year's "Offline Romance" theme.   Mayor Huang said the evening felt like "old friends coming home." She noted that without screens or headphones, people simply sat together and rediscovered the warmth of face-to-face connection. "The temple is the same, and the land of Chiayi is the same — but we now have three more years of stories," she said, adding that cultural heritage is not just preservation but an invitation for new generations to walk in and add their own voices.   Mayor Huang also previewed Chiayi's packed autumn lineup — the 2026 Dancing of Light and Shadows, Chulo Rock Music Festival, Chiayi New Wave Music Festival and Migrant Festival, Open Chiayi Market – Chicken and Beer Festival, and more. "October in Chiayi is full of things happening. If you've got nothing planned, come to Chiayi and make things happen!"   The festival's main program runs October 3–4 at Tatung Institute of Technology, with a lifestyle market, student clubs, and live performances by seven acts: Pei-Yu Hung, No-nonsense Collective, Flooding Bridge, NeaR Band, Earl Blanc, Sonnie, and U & I. Satellite events — vinyl listening sessions, social gatherings, and a spinning top competition — are also scheduled throughout the week, encouraging young people to explore the city and reconnect in person.