Chiayi City GovernmentChiayi City Government

Chiayi City's Ancient Chenghuang Night Patrol Wins Two International Film Awards, Bringing Taiwan's Folk Culture to the World Stage Post Date: September 4 Cultural Affairs Bureau / Tourism and Information Department A film documenting the traditional "Chenghuang Night Patrol" at Chiayi Chenghuang Temple has received honors from two international festivals — the Theta Short Film Festival in Italy and the Film and Folklore Festival in Trinidad and Tobago. The awards were announced on September 4 alongside the launch of a new book, Pacifying the People and Seeking Blessings: The Chungyuan Festival and Chenghuang Night Patrol in Chiayi, showcasing Chiayi's distinctive folk culture to international audiences through both film and publication.   Representing Mayor Huang Min-hui, Deputy Mayor Chen Yong-feng noted that the Chiayi Chenghuang Temple Chungyuan Festival was officially registered as a designated municipal folk custom in 2021. Directed by Chiayi native Wang Shih-heng, the award-winning film takes viewers into the night patrol procession, traditional folk performance troupes, and the cultural landscapes of Chiayi's neighborhoods, capturing the deep-rooted traditions of Chenghuang worship. A series of festival events — including the Chenghuang Night Patrol and the traditional "Carrying the Cangue to Ward Off Misfortune" ritual (夯枷解厄) — will take place from the first day of the eighth lunar month. The city and temple warmly invite visitors from across Taiwan to join the festivities. The newly published book was produced by Chiayi Chenghuang Temple with support from the Bureau of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture and the Chiayi City Government's Bureau of Cultural Affairs. Building on a 2024 research publication, the new book explores the Chungyuan Festival rituals, the cultural heritage of East Market and the temple's nine major ceremonial groups, the Chenghuang Night Patrol, and annual birthday celebrations. The Bureau of Cultural Affairs will continue to promote folk tradition preservation through publications, workshops, guided tours, audiovisual documentation, and digital tools including AR interactive experiences and 3D modeling of historic artifacts.   The city is also embedding sustainability into its religious processions. This year, a reusable "Blessing Cup" system has been introduced to reduce waste, with Environmental Protection Bureau Director Sun Yi-tun noting that Chiayi Chenghuang Temple has become a key partner in the city's efforts to build a greener tradition that brings together faith, culture, and sustainability.

Chiayi City Breaks Ground on Major Sewer Expansion, Pushing Infrastructure East of the Railway to Serve a Growing City Post Date: September 3 Public Works Department / Tourism and Information Department Chiayi City today broke ground on the second package of its Phase II wastewater infrastructure project, marking another major step in expanding the city's sewer network east of the railway and into the Huzi Nei area. Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui and Minister of the Interior Liu Shih-fang attended the groundbreaking ceremony and prayed for the project's successful completion. The project will connect approximately 3,241 households to the sewer system and construct one pumping station. It is scheduled for completion in March 2029, further extending wastewater services beyond the railway and laying a stronger foundation for the city's long-term urban development. Mayor Huang said Chiayi's wastewater infrastructure has advanced through years of challenges, from policy changes and difficulties attracting private investment to the impacts of COVID-19, labor and material shortages, and rising construction costs. Under the Phase I program, the city invested NT$4.369 billion from 2015 to 2024, completing 11 construction packages and connecting more than 15,000 households by the end of 2024 — exceeding the original target. She thanked residents and the city government team for their cooperation throughout numerous public briefings and coordination meetings. As more households connect to the system, residents are increasingly seeing the benefits of improved sanitation and cleaner neighborhood environments. "Wastewater infrastructure may be largely invisible, but its impact on everyday life is real," Huang said, emphasizing the city's commitment to keeping the project moving forward. The mayor also highlighted the importance of forward-looking infrastructure planning. Drawing lessons from the experience of Hsinchu and Southern Taiwan Science Parks, where industrial development outpaced transportation infrastructure, Huang urged the central government to move ahead with a rail connection between Chiayi HSR Station and the urban area. Chiayi's high-speed rail and conventional rail stations now serve more than 14 million passengers annually, while existing BRT services face growing demand. With the Chiayi Science Park and the broader Southern Taiwan Silicon Valley initiative accelerating, such a connection would create an integrated transportation network linking high-speed rail, conventional rail, the Alishan Forest Railway, and the wider Yunlin–Chiayi–Tainan region. Interior Minister Liu said total investment in Chiayi's first, second, and third phases of wastewater infrastructure is expected to reach approximately NT$13 billion. The Ministry of the Interior will continue to support Chiayi's infrastructure development and provide as much assistance as possible through central government funding, she said. Public Works Department Director Yu Cheng-yu noted that the city has also upgraded alleys and drainage systems during household connections, including pavement and utility line improvements. Five locations have incorporated local characteristics into alley beautification projects, transforming once-unpleasant spaces into cleaner and more livable environments. Chiayi's wastewater construction efforts have received national recognition, with the city ranking No. 1 in its category for five consecutive years in the national evaluation of wastewater sewer construction. The Phase II program, with a total budget of NT$4.633 billion, includes 14 construction packages and is scheduled to run from 2025 to 2030. Central government funding accounts for NT$4.367 billion, with the city contributing NT$266 million. The program is expected to connect 28,818 additional households, bringing total sewer connections citywide to approximately 43,903 households. The latest package includes approximately 4.3 kilometers of major and secondary sewer lines, 17.2 kilometers of local connecting pipes, household connections, and one pumping station. Once completed, it is expected to increase Chiayi's overall sewer connection coverage by approximately 2.96 percentage points. The Huzi Nei area is one of Chiayi's key emerging urban districts, with new housing and a growing population. The project will improve sanitation, reduce wastewater pollution, and ensure that underground infrastructure keeps pace with above-ground development such as roads, parks, and housing — providing a stronger foundation for the area's continued growth.      

Chiayi City's "Culture +1" Initiative Connects 27 Cultural Hubs, Turning Neighborhoods into Living Art Spaces Post Date: August 29 Bureau of Cultural Affairs / Tourism and Information Department The Chiayi City Government's Bureau of Cultural Affairs continues to connect the city's cultural resources through its "Culture +1" initiative, linking 27 cultural hubs across Chiayi and extending culture beyond cultural institutions into neighborhoods, shops, and everyday spaces. On August 29, the "Culture +1 Showcase" opened at the Ximen Community Innovation Hub, featuring the achievements of the 27 cultural hubs. The event also launched "One Stone Monkey, One Everyday Life: Seven Arts Enriching Daily Life," connecting Chiayi's distinctive stone monkey craftsmanship with a range of everyday settings. Chiayi City Mayor Huang Min-hui attended the event and thanked cultural hubs, craftspeople, local businesses, and corporate partners for their contributions to strengthening Chiayi's cultural vitality and making culture part of everyday life and urban development. Mayor Huang said Chiayi has continued to use culture and design to drive urban development in recent years. Initiatives including the "320+1 Chiayi City Expo," the Regional Design Center, Chiayi Design Week, and Taiwan Creative Expo have brought the city's distinctive character, local culture, and brands to wider audiences. The Chiayi Regional Design Center also officially opened this year, further integrating cultural, design, and industrial resources and expanding design beyond exhibitions to connect communities with urban governance. Under this year's "Culture +1" initiative, the city's cultural nodes are connected through four themes: crafts, performances, cultural action, and community development. The distinctive features, stories, walking routes, and year-round initiatives of the 27 cultural hubs have been transformed into exhibition content. Visitors can first learn about the hubs at the Ximen Community Innovation Hub before following the exhibition into surrounding neighborhoods and visiting the cultural sites in person — turning an exhibition visit into a new way of discovering Chiayi. During her visit, Mayor Huang shared that she was deeply moved after seeing a visitor describe Chiayi as "a place full of culture." She said the city was once misunderstood and even described as a "cultural desert" — a characterization that no longer reflects how Chiayi is viewed today. She credited generations of cultural workers, craftspeople, artists, community groups, and private organizations for their long-term commitment to the city, working alongside the government on performances, design, cultural hubs, and cross-sector initiatives. Their efforts have helped more people discover Chiayi's cultural and artistic vitality. Today, culture has become an integral part of the city's neighborhoods and daily life. Bureau of Cultural Affairs Director Hsieh Yu-che said the "Culture +1 Showcase" is playfully reimagined as a "Cultural Skewer Bar," presenting the distinctive features and collaborative achievements of the 27 cultural hubs while encouraging greater exchange among them. "One Stone Monkey, One Everyday Life: Seven Arts Enriching Daily Life" takes inspiration from Chiayi's iconic stone monkey craftsmanship and brings together creators from different generations with local businesses. The stone monkeys are introduced into settings including floral design, food, hospitality, and retail — demonstrating how traditional craftsmanship can move beyond preservation and display to find new applications through contemporary design and collaboration. The Bureau of Cultural Affairs also noted that Chiayi has continued to promote cultural sustainability and ESG partnerships. Collaborations with partners including Hsin Yue Garden Hotel, Fen Chi Fu Rice Crackers, Lin Cong Ming Stewed Fish Head, and Shan Qing Co., Ltd. combine cultural expertise with corporate spaces, resources, and creativity. These partnerships are gradually evolving from one-time support into long-term relationships, creating a collaborative model involving government, cultural institutions, creators, industries, and businesses. The city government will continue connecting with more local partners to build a sustainable cultural ecosystem and foster greater collaboration, ensuring that culture remains a vital and living part of Chiayi's development and everyday life.