Chiayi City GovernmentChiayi City Government

Chiayi City Seals NT$5 Billion Phase II Urban Renewal Deal to Transform Central District with Housing, Greenery and Public Space Post Date: October 21 Urban Development Department / Fire Bureau /  Tourism and Information Department Mayor Huang Min-hui signed an agreement with Kuo Cheng Construction on Wednesday for Phase II of the publicly led urban renewal project west of Minzu Elementary School. With investment exceeding NT$5 billion, the Phase II site at the intersection of Minzu Road and Wufeng North Road covers approximately 9,837 square meters. The development will deliver approximately 87 social housing units, 150 public parking spaces, and a mix of commercial, public welfare, and open-space amenities, creating a new landmark in central Chiayi. Mayor Huang said the project took more than two decades of coordination — making it Chiayi City's first publicly led urban renewal case and the first in the Taichung-Changhua-Nantou-Yunlin-Chiayi region to successfully attract private investment. Phase I is scheduled for completion in 2028. She recalled that Chairwoman Tsai Li-huan, a Chiayi native, declared "I am a Chiayi person" when committing to Phase I, and expressed hope that the company will build on that experience to bring new momentum to the surrounding district.   Phase II will include a public plaza, student pedestrian routes, Silver-Level Green Building–certified structures, approximately 200 ping (660 sq m) of social welfare facilities — including a community activity center and adult day care center — all designed around the city's "wind corridor" and "Chiayi House" principles of walkability, natural ventilation, and accessible green space. Kuo Cheng Construction also donated an ambulance at the signing. Fire Bureau Director Kuo Li-chang said Chiayi achieved a record 34.8% out-of-hospital cardiac arrest resuscitation rate last year and received the Gold Award for Outstanding Emergency Medical Services from the National Fire Agency.    

Chiayi City Opens Taiwan’s First Government-Built Junior High Outdoor Adventure Park, Setting the Stage for the 2027 National Scout Jamboree Post Date: October 17 Education Department /  Tourism and Information Department Chiayi City's 2026 Scout Jamboree opened Saturday at the Sustainable Academy Outdoor Adventure Park on Nanxing Junior High School's second campus, bringing together 470 scouts and teachers. The event marked the official opening of the park's first phase — Taiwan's first junior high experiential learning facility established by a local government — built with NT$580 million invested across the 7.5-hectare site.   Mayor Huang Min-hui said the goal is to "make the environment a classroom and everyday life part of the curriculum." Since the city began planning the facility in 2006 and gradually expanded its programs — adding water-based learning last year — the park has grown into an outdoor laboratory where students develop courage, responsibility, and teamwork by learning through doing. She expressed hope that every child in Chiayi will have the opportunity to explore the world with confidence.   Department of Education Director Huang Yuan-ting said the first phase adds a campground (capacity: 50 tents), an arts and performance plaza, and parking. After Typhoon Danas damaged trees, the park retained fallen timber for future scout activities. Existing vegetation — including starfruit trees — has been preserved, integrating sustainability into the park's natural learning environment.   Chiayi City will host the 2027 National Elementary and Junior High School Scout Jamboree, bringing together the city government, schools, scout organizations, and communities. The city has also continued its "Scouting in Every School" initiative — ranking second nationwide in scout participation — and has expanded international exchange through participation in the CSW70 NGO forum and a visit to the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey's DreamLab.  

After 21 Years of Waiting, Chiayi City Wins Central Government Support for BRT Expansion and Broader HSR Rail Assessment Post Date: October 14 Transportation Department /  Tourism and Information Department Mayor Huang Min-hui led a city government delegation to the Executive Yuan on October 14 to press for improved rail connections to the Chiayi High Speed Rail (HSR) Station — a project long sought by residents. The meeting, chaired by Premier Cho Jung-tai, reached three key agreements: 1. The Executive Yuan will support increased BRT services and improved connections, with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications asked to move forward with implementation. 2. The feasibility study for the Chiayi City Blue Line light rail will revise the proposed route and expand its assessment scope to better reflect local industrial development needs. 3. Once the feasibility study is approved, the central and local governments will hold dedicated negotiations on project financing.   Mayor Huang said the HSR rail connection is a long-standing commitment made by the central government when Taiwan's high-speed rail was first built. As the nation's technology industries expand southward, Chiayi has become a key piece of Taiwan's economic development. "The Chiayi Science Park of tomorrow could become what the Hsinchu and Southern Taiwan science parks are today," she said, urging the central government to move transportation planning ahead of anticipated industrial and population growth. The city emphasized that the HSR rail connection is more than a transportation route — it would strengthen links across the Greater Chiayi living area while supporting national industrial development. The city called on the central government to advance the project in the spirit of equitable access to transportation and balanced regional development, so that more than two decades of local expectations can finally begin to take shape as real infrastructure.