HOW A MURAL-PAINTING GRANDPA SAVED HIS ABANDONED VILLAGE
Taichung’s understated Rainbow Village is a colorful collection of beautiful and touching animal-centered murals that decorate a former military village. At this free and non-profit art village, travelers can meander through narrow, cozy alleys decorated with uplifting murals, take photos and selfies, and even say hello to Rainbow Grandpa, who up until recent years has still had a hand in maintaining his never-ending project.
A Colorful Tale of Transformation
Prior to its transformation, the dilapidated village was home to just one remaining resident, military veteran, and grandpa Huang Yung-fu—now affectionately known as “Rainbow Grandpa”.
When developers offered Huang 2 million NTD (61,000 USD) to relocate, he declined two consecutive offers. Instead, he started to paint vibrant murals throughout the village in hopes of reanimating a place that remained dear to his heart.
Using a full palette of bright colors, Huang started with the interior of his house, painting animals, people, and multi-colored patterns. This lively DIY project quickly expanded to include wide-eyed pandas and people popping out from doorways, and soon covered the majority of the neighborhood’s empty homes.
When local university students discovered Huang’s work, they successfully campaigned to save the area. Today, the village is run by a foundation dedicated to preserving the village and maintaining the murals. Free entry is offered, and the foundation’s budget entirely relies on proceeds from souvenirs.
Is Rainbow Village Open Now?
Rainbow Village briefly closed down in 2022 to allow time for maintenance and redecoration following a case of vandalism. Fortunately, not all of Rainbow Grandpa’s original work was destroyed and the village has since reopened. As of 2023, some areas of Rainbow Village have been redecorated with new art pieces created by local artists, and the art styles now include hanging crochet art as well as murals.
