Chiayi City GovernmentChiayi City Government

Chiayi City Unveils Regional Design Center as Design Week Brings Global Perspectives to Urban Innovation Post Date: June 11 Cultural Affairs Bureau / Tourism and Information Department Chiayi City officially unveiled its Regional Design Center today (June 11) at Warehouse No. 1 of the former Chiayi Tobacco Leaf Factory, marking a significant milestone in the city's efforts to advance design-driven urban governance. Facing the challenges of urban transformation, industrial innovation, and public governance, the city established the Regional Design Center as a key platform integrating culture, design, industry, and international exchange — using design thinking to connect policy with citizens' everyday lives, build the city's aesthetic capacity, and create a development model that combines cultural depth with global vision. Mayor Huang Min-hui said design is more than an expression of aesthetics — it is a way of approaching urban challenges. In recent years, Chiayi City has steadily incorporated design thinking into public governance through initiatives such as the 2021 Taiwan Design Expo, the Ten Flagship Projects, public space revitalization, cultural exhibitions, and the 320+1 Chiayi City Expo, gradually building experience in applying design to public governance. The establishment of the Regional Design Center represents an important achievement in revitalizing the former tobacco factory and marks Chiayi City's transition from a "Timber City" and "Painting City" toward a new era of design-driven urban governance. Going forward, the platform will connect resources across culture, industry, talent, and international exchange, positioning design as a key medium linking urban development with everyday life and continuing to build a more innovative and livable city. Mayor Huang noted that cities today must embrace innovation and cross-sector collaboration to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world. The Regional Design Center will function as an urban innovation platform, promoting design-led governance, cultural programming, talent cultivation, and international partnerships, allowing Chiayi to stay connected with the world while preserving its cultural heritage and showcasing its distinctive character and creative energy. As part of this vision, Chiayi City will launch international residency exchange programs this year with Fujiyoshida, Japan, and Chiang Mai, Thailand. The program will encourage creative collaboration and professional exchange, helping connect local talent with international networks and further expanding the city's international cultural network. Director Hsieh Yu-che said the Regional Design Center is intended not merely as an exhibition venue, but as an important platform for advancing design-driven urban governance. Located within the revitalized former tobacco factory, the center preserves the site's historical memory while demonstrating how culture and design can continue to revitalize urban spaces. Future initiatives will focus on four key directions — urban innovation, cultural curation, talent development, and international cooperation — using design thinking to connect culture, industry, and public governance in response to urban development challenges. The center will also promote international residencies, city forums, and cross-sector collaboration programs to help more creators, designers, and young talents connect with the world through Chiayi, building an urban innovation platform with local character and international vision. Coinciding with the center's opening, Chiayi City is launching its inaugural Design Week, themed "Original Resonance," running from June 11 to June 21. Bringing together design centers and design-related platforms from across Taiwan, the event presents diverse examples of how design responds to local development, public governance, and industry innovation. Through dialogue and exchange between different cities' experiences, the event invites residents to see how design can serve as a driving force for urban progress, while gaining a deeper understanding of the Regional Design Center's future direction and role. The city government invites residents and visitors alike to come to Chiayi and witness this milestone moment for the Regional Design Center. Through exhibitions, forums, workshops, and exchange activities, "Original Resonance" invites everyone to take part in a conversation about how design can respond to everyday life and connect the city with its future. For more information and updates, please follow the Regional Design Center's official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chiayicityexpo2025?locale=zh_TW Event Information Chiayi City Design Week: June 11 (Thu) – June 21 (Sun) Opening Hours: Weekdays 11:00–18:00; Weekends 11:00–20:00 Venue: Warehouse No. 1, Former Chiayi Tobacco Leaf Factory (No. 460, Beixing St., West District, Chiayi City) Chiayi City Urban Design Forum: June 12 (Fri) 13:00–17:00 Chiayi Tobacco Market: June 19 (Fri) – June 21 (Sun) 13:00–20:00 Resonance Stage Performances: June 19 (Fri) – June 20 (Sat) 15:00–20:00  

Chiayi City Sets New Benchmark in Public Satisfaction as Mayor Huang Earns Fourth Five-Star Rating Post Date: June 3 Tourism and Information Department Results of the 2026 local governance survey conducted by Global Views Monthly have placed Chiayi City at the forefront of public satisfaction nationwide. Mayor Huang Min-hui received a Five-Star Mayor distinction for the fourth time, while Chiayi City became the first and only city in Taiwan to achieve an average satisfaction rating above 80 percent across all eight major governance categories, reaching 80.8 percent overall. Mayor Huang received the award from Wang Li-hsing, publisher of the CommonWealth Magazine Group, and returned to Taiwan immediately after leading a tourism promotion delegation to Busan to attend the awards ceremony and thank residents for their continued trust and support. She noted that the past year brought significant challenges, including typhoon damage, shifting global economic conditions, and rising costs linked to international conflicts. Against this backdrop, she said, the survey results carry special meaning because they reflect citizens' confidence in the city's direction and the collective efforts of the community. "Public service is never about standing still," Mayor Huang said. "There is always room to do better." Over her tenure, the city earned three four-star and nine four-and-a-half-star ratings before achieving its first five-star recognition. The latest results, she said, belong to all citizens who continue to support Chiayi City's development. Mayor Huang framed the results around four key observations. The survey highlighted Chiayi City's strong performance across a wide range of policy areas. Education, environmental protection, and tourism ranked first nationwide, while healthcare retained the top position for a record sixth consecutive year. Satisfaction with healthcare services reached 89.3 percent, and public safety indicators, including firefighting and policing, ranked first among Taiwan's mainland municipalities. The results further reflected growing confidence in the city's long-term development strategy. Consecutive national-leading rankings in education and environmental protection underscore the city's commitment to sustainability and future generations. Meanwhile, notable gains in economic development, employment, and tourism demonstrate the vitality of a city that successfully blends cultural heritage with innovation. Mayor Huang noted that Chiayi City's appeal is rooted not in abundant natural resources but in its unique cultural character, warm hospitality, and rich wood-industry heritage. Through cultural revitalization projects, creative tourism initiatives, and strategic city branding efforts, Chiayi has continued to strengthen its position as one of Taiwan's most distinctive and livable cities. The survey also identified transportation as an area for continued improvement. Ranked third among non-special municipalities in roads and transportation, Chiayi City will continue enhancing its public transit network while advocating for the long-awaited rail connection between downtown Chiayi and the High Speed Rail station. With an approval rating of 85.1 percent, Mayor Huang set a new personal record, surpassing the benchmark she herself established in 2022. The magazine praised her achievement with the words: "Only Huang Min-hui can surpass Huang Min-hui." The survey also ranked the city first nationwide in administrative efficiency and responsiveness to public opinion, reinforcing its standing as a leading example of citizen-centered governance in Taiwan. At the ceremony, Mayor Huang also presented Professor Kao Si-chiun with a statue of pitcher Wu Ming-chieh to celebrate the publication of his new memoir, From "There Is No Free Lunch" to "Peace and Happiness."    

Mayor Huang Leads Team Chiayi to Busan to Strengthen Tourism Ties and Expand the City's International Reach Post Date: June 2 Tourism and Information Department Mayor Huang Min-hui arrived in Busan on June 1 with Deputy Mayor Lin Jui-yen and a city delegation for a five-day, four-night visit to strengthen tourism partnerships, expand international exchanges, and promote Chiayi City in the Korean market. The delegation was welcomed upon arrival by Kuo Cheng-kai, Director of the Taipei Mission in Busan, and Hsueh Chia-ling, Director of the Tourism Administration's Korea Office, underscoring support for Chiayi City's efforts to advance city diplomacy and international tourism cooperation. Mayor Huang said the visit reflects Chiayi City's commitment to building stronger connections with key international tourism markets. The delegation met with the Busan Tourism Association to exchange ideas on destination marketing, international promotion strategies, and tourism industry collaboration. A tourism promotion event will also introduce Korean travel professionals and media representatives to Chiayi City's cultural attractions, distinctive accommodations, religious heritage, local cuisine, and urban character. As tourism exchanges between Taiwan and South Korea continue to grow, Chiayi City sees significant opportunities to attract more Korean visitors. According to official statistics, South Korea ranked as Taiwan's third-largest source of inbound tourists, with 1,016,652 arrivals in 2025. Meanwhile, Taiwanese visitors to Busan in the first quarter of 2026 totaled 208,984, ranking first among all foreign nationalities. To showcase the city's tourism strengths, the delegation has assembled "Team Chiayi," bringing together representatives from Chiayi City God Temple, the Chiayi City Hotel Association, the Chiayi City Commercial District Cultural Promotion Association, and the Chiayi City B&B Cultural Development Association. Through this collaborative effort, the city hopes to highlight its welcoming environment, rich cultural resources, and growing tourism capacity while strengthening its international visibility. Director Cheng Ya-wen noted that the recent popularity of "Taiwan Sensibility" among Korean travelers has increased interest in Taiwan's historic neighborhoods, local lifestyles, cafés, traditional streetscapes, and authentic cultural experiences. She said Chiayi City is uniquely positioned to meet these interests. Known as the gateway to Alishan National Scenic Area and the starting point of the Alishan Forest Railway, Chiayi City blends deep cultural heritage with contemporary creativity. The city is home to approximately 6,000 wooden houses and has actively promoted preservation and revitalization projects that transform historic buildings into vibrant cultural and lifestyle spaces. These efforts have helped shape what the city describes as a distinctive "Chiayi sensibility," where history, timber city culture, design, and everyday life come together. In addition to tourism promotion activities, the delegation will visit several destinations in Busan and Gyeongju to study successful examples of cultural preservation, historic district revitalization, and tourism development, including Gwangbok-dong, Gukje Market, and BIFF Square in Busan, as well as Gyochon Hanok Village, Woljeonggyo Bridge, and Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju. The experiences and insights gained will help inform Chiayi City's ongoing efforts to enhance urban governance, strengthen cultural tourism, and create a more attractive and sustainable destination for visitors.