Chiayi City GovernmentChiayi City Government

Chiayi Marks 321 Years with “+1+1+1” Special Issue Documenting City Expo and Governance Achievements   Post Date: January 26, 2026 Cultural Affairs Bureau / Tourism and Information Department As Chiayi City marks the 321st anniversary of its founding, the city government has released the “+1+1+1” Special Issue to document the outcomes of the “320+1 Chiayi City Expo” and the urban governance practices it represents. The publication highlights Chiayi’s indomitable spirit shaped through centuries of history, while presenting the cultural depth and civic energy that continue to guide the city’s development. The “+1+1+1” Special Issue, themed “We ChiaYi,” was officially launched on Monday (Jan. 26). Mayor Huang Min-hui led the Chiayi City Government team and welcomed guests from various sectors to the launch event, where the publication and a documentary film chronicling the City Expo’s achievements were unveiled. The event marked a symbolic conclusion to the City Expo, reaffirming Chiayi’s cultural significance as Taiwan’s earliest walled city. Mayor Huang noted that although the City Expo concluded one month ago, its most lasting impact lies in the connections forged between the city and its people. Beyond showcasing resilience and creativity, the Expo served as a practical exercise in cross-departmental collaboration and civic participation. The initiatives and experiments undertaken during the Expo, she said, reflected a collective exploration of Chiayi’s future direction and embodied the city’s governance philosophy of “the sum of all that is good.” The special issue was led by the Cultural Affairs Bureau in collaboration with “+1+1+1,” a local revitalization publication promoted by the Intelligence Technologies Department and now in its fourth year. The title symbolizes Chiayi’s continuously accumulated urban energy, with each citizen’s participation representing another meaningful “+1.” Through long-term publication and interdepartmental cooperation, the city’s governance experience is systematically recorded and made accessible for future reference. Featuring the Central Fountain Roundabout on its cover, alongside the City Expo mascot “Tao-Hsi,” the publication explores Chiayi through three themes—“Shared Chiayi,” “Livable Chiayi,” and “Modern Chiayi.” It documents a century of urban governance and civic engagement while illustrating how cultural spaces and natural resources have become integral to everyday life. Through diverse perspectives, design, and visual storytelling, the “+1+1+1” Special Issue offers international audiences a concise yet meaningful portrait of Chiayi as a city shaped by history, collaboration, and forward-looking governance.

Korean Reality Show Survival King 2 Concludes Filming in Chiayi City, Spotlighting Local Culture on the Global Stage   Post Date: January 21, 2026 Tourism and Information Department   The Korean large-scale reality television program Survival King 2, on Wednesday (January 21), held its wrap-up press conference in Chiayi City, marking the conclusion of on-location filming and placing the city’s cultural character and urban landscape in the international spotlight. Hosted by renowned Korean entertainer Kim Jong-kook, the program brought together cast members from South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Malaysia, drawing growing global attention to Chiayi City as a distinctive filming destination.   Mayor Huang Min-hui attended the event in person, expressing appreciation to Chosun TV and Tongxin Entertainment Production Co. for selecting Chiayi City as a filming location and welcoming the production team’s arrival. Mayor Huang said she looks forward to the program’s international broadcast, which will allow audiences at home and abroad to experience Chiayi City’s rich cultural character and unique urban charm through the power of visual storytelling. Mayor Huang noted that Chiayi is a city rooted in everyday life yet enriched by a deep cultural heritage. From school campuses and historic neighborhoods to iconic landmarks, the city carries stories that reflect its spirit and way of life. By choosing Chiayi as a filming destination, Survival King 2 enables artists from different countries to engage directly with the city’s daily rhythms, while allowing Chiayi to enter into a sincere and authentic dialogue with the world through images. The production team filmed at several of Chiayi’s most representative locations, including National Chiayi University, the Sun Shooting Tower, and the Central Fountain Roundabout. National Chiayi University traces its origins to the Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry School, whose baseball team made history in 1931 by becoming the first from Taiwan to compete at Japan’s Koshien tournament, earning second place—an achievement later immortalized in the film KANO. Filming at these sites went beyond scenic backdrops, offering a renewed visual expression of Chiayi’s enduring “never-give-up” spirit. Mayor Huang explained that Survival King 2 is an intellectually demanding program that challenges contestants’ strategic thinking and decision-making, while also requiring teamwork, physical strength, and endurance. Amid intense competition, participants build cooperation and friendship—an element she described as the show’s most distinctive and moving quality. Tourism and Information Department Director Chang Wan-fen said that visual media offers cities one of the most gentle yet powerful ways to communicate with the world. In recent years, the concept of “Taiwanese sensibility” has gained popularity on Korean social media—not through grand landmarks, but through street scenes, everyday rhythms, and ordinary moments of life. As a historic “City of Wood,” Chiayi preserves traditional neighborhoods and a lifestyle-oriented urban landscape. These seemingly modest scenes, she said, are in fact the city’s most compelling appeal. Through Survival King 2, international audiences are invited to see a city that is understated yet deeply resonant. In recent years, the Chiayi City Government has actively promoted the development of the film and television industry. Since 2023, the city has advanced the “Top Ten Flagship Projects—New Partnerships for Film and Television,” integrating cross-departmental resources to provide one-stop filming support. Through administrative coordination and on-site assistance, Chiayi has created a film-friendly environment that continues to attract domestic and international film and television productions, enabling more city stories to be told and seen. Lee Seung-hoon, President of Chosun TV, noted that compared to the first season, Survival King 2 incorporates a broader range of cultural elements from different countries. While initially framed as a competition between nations, the production revealed that emotional bonds among teams grew stronger through shared challenges, with friendship deepening alongside competition. Taiwanese producer Tong Yin added that the production team scouted locations across Taiwan before ultimately selecting Chiayi City for its distinctive identity as a “City of Wood.” He also expressed gratitude to the city government for its support throughout the filming process, which ensured a smooth and successful production. The Tourism and Information Department stated that Survival King 2 will be released on international platforms in the future. As scenes filmed in Chiayi are broadcast worldwide, global audiences will gain a closer look at the city’s landscapes and daily life—further enhancing Chiayi City’s international visibility through the lens of visual media.

Chiayi City Holds Investment Briefing for Phase II Public Urban Renewal Project West of Minzu Elementary School   Post Date:  January 19, 2026 Issued by: Urban Development Department / Tourism and Information Department The Chiayi City Government is advancing the Phase II public urban renewal project west of Minzu Elementary School and held its first investment briefing on January 19 at the Yuh Tong Hotel in Chiayi City. The briefing marked the official launch of the investment invitation and attracted representatives from central government agencies, public land authorities, construction companies, real estate development associations, insurance firms, and asset management companies. Mayor Huang Min-hui attended the event and welcomed nationwide participation. Mayor Huang stated that the city continues to promote urban renewal in response to climate challenges and evolving urban development needs. Through integrated planning and cross-department coordination, Chiayi City aims to create an environment that is inclusive for all ages and suitable for long-term living across generations. She noted that Phase I of the public urban renewal project adjacent to Minzu Elementary School was the first public-led urban renewal case in the Central Taiwan–Yunlin–Chiayi region. Phase II, located in a prime downtown area of approximately 2,976 ping, is planned to incorporate commercial functions, social housing, and other facilities, with private-sector participation expected to further drive urban revitalization. Mayor Huang further noted that the Phase II project is among the largest public urban renewal investment cases in Chiayi City in recent years. The site is located at a key intersection of Minzu Road and Wufeng North Road, near the Cultural Road commercial district and major urban amenities, offering strong development potential. Through a public-led urban renewal approach, the city aims to integrate private-sector resources and professional expertise to develop a new urban core that combines residential, commercial, and public service functions. Director Hsu Huai-chun of the Urban Development Department explained that the project site covers approximately 9,837 square meters and consists entirely of publicly owned land, with ownership integration already completed. The investment invitation was formally announced on December 30, 2025, with a total investment estimated to exceed NT$5 billion. Planned facilities include residential and commercial uses, social housing, public parking, and other social welfare amenities, striking a balance between urban development and public interest. During the briefing, the city government and its consultants provided explanations on site conditions, development concepts, public benefit contributions, and the investment mechanism, and responded to questions from participants. The Urban Development Department noted that inquiries regarding the investment documents may be submitted to the city government by January 29, 2026, with consolidated responses to be issued by February 28, 2026. The Chiayi City Government will hold a second investment briefing on January 28, 2026, at the Le Méridien Taipei, and invites interested enterprises to participate in advancing urban development and enhancing the city’s livability and competitiveness.