Chiayi City GovernmentChiayi City Government

Chiayi City Turns a 300-Year-Old Canal into a Taiwanese Hokkien Picture Book to Keep Local Memory Alive Post Date: July 21 Department of Education  / Tourism and Information Department To promote local-language education, reading, and the preservation of local culture, the Chiayi City Government launched Water Through the City—Daojiang Canal, a Taiwanese Hokkien picture book, at Xingjia Elementary School on July 29. The book transforms the city's important cultural asset, the Daojiang Canal, into a child-friendly story that introduces young readers to Chiayi's history while passing on the cultural heritage of their native language. Mayor Huang Min-hui said the publication uses Taiwanese Hokkien text and illustrations to introduce readers to Chiayi's historic landscapes and the story of its irrigation canals. The book will also serve as a key resource for local-language education in Chiayi's elementary and junior high schools. She noted that Taiwanese Hokkien grew out of everyday life and carries the historical memories of local communities, making it an important part of cultural heritage and language education. She hopes children will grow closer to their native language and hometown through reading, helping preserve local culture and collective memory for future generations. Mayor Huang noted that the Daojiang Canal has a history of more than 300 years. For generations, it has nourished local communities and witnessed Chiayi's transformation from an agricultural settlement into a modern city, while connecting the city's history, culture, and relationship with the land. Emphasizing the principle "The more local, the more global," she said Chiayi may be small in size and population, but its unique history and culture can create an identity that cannot be replicated elsewhere. She hopes the book will encourage readers to learn about the Daojiang Canal, appreciate the spirit of giving thanks to the sources that sustain us, and develop a greater commitment to protecting local land, water resources, and cultural heritage. Department of Education Director Kuo Tien-tsai said Chiayi has in recent years published Taiwanese Hokkien and Hakka picture books that transform local culture into educational resources. Written by Xingjia Elementary School teacher Huang Chiung-hui and illustrated by artist Pandora, Water Through the City—Daojiang Canal took a year to develop and is the seventh local-language picture book published by Chiayi City. Combining history, culture, ecology, and water heritage, the book uses a Taiwanese Hokkien story to help students learn their native language, understand the wisdom behind the canal's construction, and appreciate the importance of water resources and local cultural assets. At the launch event, Author Huang Chiung-hui adapted the story into a Taiwanese Hokkien call-and-response dialogue performance (答喙鼓, tah-tshuì-kó), which was presented by Xingjia Elementary School students Wen Hsiao-ning and Hsiao Yung-hsin. A picture-book reading session, student learning displays, and traditional farming tool exhibits further highlighted how students use their native language to explore local culture. Mayor Huang and guests also scanned a QR code in the book to access its audio content, demonstrating how digital media can enrich the reading experience. Author Huang Chiung-hui said she hopes the book will help readers better understand and appreciate their hometown. Quoting the Taiwanese saying, "When you eat the fruit, remember the tree; when you eat rice, remember the fields," she emphasized the importance of giving thanks to the sources that sustain us and cherishing the land and waterways that nourish communities. She added: "The waters of the Daojiang Canal are still flowing — not just through Chiayi City, but into the hearts of every reader." She hopes the book will plant a seed of love for Chiayi in readers' hearts and inspire the continued preservation of local culture. Illustrator Pandora noted that the book contains several visual details designed to deepen the story. Recurring facial features connect characters across generations — a grandfather in a modern scene and a farmer from the past both share the same distinctive mole, symbolizing the continuity of family spirit and purpose. Hidden cats scattered throughout the book add a playful element of discovery for young readers. A frog and boat that appear throughout the story carry particular symbolic meaning: the frog travels downstream by boat, encounters the protagonist, and eventually appears as an image on the final signpost — representing the enduring vitality of waterway culture and its living connection across generations. The Department of Education said the publication marks an important milestone in linking reading education with local culture and a new step forward in promoting local-language education across Chiayi City. The city government will continue to advance local-language learning, reading education, and curriculum innovation, encouraging more schools to develop locally distinctive programs so that children can discover their hometown through reading and connect with the wider world through culture.  

Chiayi City Showcases Social Welfare Achievements in Central Government Review Post Date: July 21 Department of Social Affairs  / Tourism and Information Department Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui led the city government team in welcoming Deputy Director-General Chang Mei-mei of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Social and Family Affairs Administration and the central government review team to Chiayi City on July 21 for an on-site evaluation of the city's social welfare performance for 2024–2025. Mayor Huang thanked the central government for its longstanding support of local welfare initiatives and expressed hope that continued central-local cooperation would further strengthen the social safety net and safeguard the well-being and rights of every resident. Mayor Huang said the city government is committed to a people-centered, locally rooted approach, strengthening social services through cross-departmental collaboration. From disability care and childcare support to community development, Chiayi is working to build a city that is friendly and supportive for people of all ages. Since 2024, Chiayi has pioneered the Long-Term Staff Retention Subsidy Program to improve working conditions and stabilize the workforce serving people with disabilities. The city has also introduced an online reservation system for rehabilitation buses and smart assistive devices to improve service quality. Through its Huei-Jia Youth program to attract young talent back to the city, alongside community development initiatives and social safety net programs, Chiayi has steadily built greater community resilience. Chiayi has received top honors for three consecutive editions of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Outstanding Community Awards. The city also pioneered an age-specific service model at its social welfare centers and became the first in Taiwan to introduce a "Social Worker Happiness Grant," providing each social worker with an NT$1,200 grant to ease the pressures of a demanding profession. Mayor Huang said these efforts reflect the city's commitment to creating a warmer, safer, and more resilient community. Deputy Director-General Chang Mei-mei said social welfare requires sustained investment and collaboration across government departments. She noted that Chiayi's Department of Social Affairs provides a wide range of services closely connected to residents' daily lives, including social assistance, child and youth welfare, services for older adults and people with disabilities, family support, and the social safety net. She said the review provides an important opportunity for central and local governments to exchange experiences and learn from Chiayi's achievements and innovative approaches, with the shared goal of improving welfare services and strengthening support for residents. Department of Social Affairs Director Lee Szu-hsien said a sound social welfare system is a critical foundation for sustainable urban development. As Taiwan's population ages and the range of welfare needs continues to grow, frontline social workers are under greater pressure than ever. The city government will continue strengthening workforce support, professional training, and institutional protections, and called for continued central government resources to help local governments maintain service capacity — enabling frontline workers to serve with confidence and ensuring that residents in need receive timely and appropriate support. The Department of Social Affairs added that Chiayi has strengthened its social safety net through cross-sector cooperation among social welfare, police, health, and education agencies. The city has received an "Excellent" rating for three consecutive years since 2023 in performance evaluations of the strengthened social safety net, while its staffing rate for social safety net positions reached 97% in 2025, ranking second nationwide. The city also continues to prioritize the professional development and labor rights of social workers through comprehensive support and training programs. The latest social welfare performance evaluation covers 10 key areas: public welfare lottery proceeds, social assistance, child and youth welfare, women's and family support, elderly welfare, disability welfare, community development, volunteer services, professional social work systems, and protective services. Together, these areas provide a comprehensive picture of how the city is delivering on its welfare commitments and where services can be further improved.  

Chiayi and Taoyuan Team Up to Advance Youth Entrepreneurship and Local Revitalization Post Date: July 20 Labor and Youth Development Department / Tourism and Information Department To promote cross-city exchanges on youth policies and local revitalization, Taoyuan City Government Department of Youth Affairs Director Hou Chia-ling led 15 local revitalization teams to Chiayi City on July 20. Mayor Huang Min-hui and her city government team warmly welcomed the delegation and arranged discussions on youth policies and peer exchanges among young teams. Through sharing experiences in city governance and youth-led initiatives, the visit aims to deepen cooperation between the two cities in youth affairs and local revitalization. Mayor Huang said young people are a vital force for sustainable urban development. This year, the Chiayi City Government established the Department of Labor and Youth Development, demonstrating its commitment to advancing youth policies. Guided by the vision of "Youth Stay in Chiayi, Talent Return to Chiayi, Dreams Come True in Chiayi," the city is integrating resources across employment, entrepreneurship, capacity building, public participation, and local revitalization to build a comprehensive support system for young people. Through the "Youth Generation Magnet" flagship initiative, the city has introduced programs including youth entrepreneurship incentives, employment support, career development training, enhanced rental subsidies, and the Youth Affairs Lab — helping young people build careers in Chiayi while encouraging their participation in local revitalization as key partners in the city's development. Mayor Huang emphasized that local revitalization requires not only developing industries with distinctive local character but also supporting youth entrepreneurship and integrating local culture with innovative thinking to drive broader cultural, tourism, and economic development. Because local revitalization spans diverse sectors, she stressed the importance of cross-disciplinary and cross-departmental collaboration — pooling resources and working collectively to achieve shared goals. Mayor Huang also highlighted Taoyuan as a vibrant, youthful city that attracts many young people for work and entrepreneurship. She recently visited the Hengshan Calligraphy Art Center in Taoyuan to attend an exhibition by Chiayi native Wang Yi-chun, and thanked Taoyuan for providing young artists with a supportive environment and platforms for creative expression. In welcoming the delegation, Mayor Huang quoted from the theme poem of the 2021 Taiwan Design Expo: "Come, come to Chiayi, our hometown, where we welcome you with all our hearts." Director Hou Chia-ling said Chiayi has long been a city that stands with young people — actively promoting youth policies while also having several young department heads in its city government, reflecting its energy and commitment to intergenerational inclusion. She noted that Taoyuan and Chiayi's Bureau of Cultural Affairs have maintained close ties over the years, including past exchanges on micro-entrepreneurship and design, which left a strong impression. Chiayi's track record in local revitalization, cultural development, and urban governance offers many valuable lessons — reasons she said made her eager to personally lead local revitalization teams to learn from Chiayi's experience. Director Hou particularly praised Chiayi's efforts under Mayor Huang's leadership to revitalize vacant spaces, breathe new life into old buildings, and promote neighborhood revitalization. By preserving the city's historic urban fabric while introducing youth creativity and new business energy, Chiayi has given old spaces renewed purpose, strengthened local identity and distinctive character, and injected fresh vitality into the city — an approach she said Taoyuan has much to learn from. To showcase Chiayi's cultural identity and culinary heritage, the city government arranged for the visiting teams to sample two iconic local specialties: Chiayi turkey rice and the renowned Lin Cong Ming Stewed Fish Head Casserole. Through local cuisine, visitors gained a deeper understanding of Chiayi's distinctive character and experienced how local brands can connect culture, tourism, and industry. Mayor Huang and Director Hou also exchanged locally themed gifts: Chiayi presented the Taoyuan delegation with a Daozuo Tea gift box, the "100 Local Picks" guide to local businesses, Youth Affairs Lab promotional materials, a popular mini lightbox, and selected gifts from Chiayi's featured local shops, while Taoyuan reciprocated with local specialty products as a gesture of friendship between the two cities. The Department of Labor and Youth Development noted that the exchange also featured discussions between the Taoyuan delegation and two Chiayi youth teams — "Chiayi Stranger" and "Chiayi Household Name" — who shared practical experience in local brand management and community initiatives, offering Taoyuan participants firsthand insights into how young people in Chiayi use creativity and action to bring new energy to local development. The department expressed hope that the exchange will further strengthen cooperation between the two cities in youth affairs and local revitalization, and help build a more supportive environment for young people to grow and thrive.