Qidu becomes colorful tourist attraction with gigantic murals

Qidu becomes colorful tourist attraction with gigantic murals

2026-05-04

A dreary weather-stained apartment building just outside Qidu train station is now a riot of colorful and intriguing murals depicting the Keelung people’s daily lives. Featuring retro elements the murals include sky lanterns, police dogs and cute cats. They were completed in just 10 days by billboard painter Chiang Chin-feng. The murals are the brainchild of Keelung’s deputy council speaker Yang Hsiu-yu, who obtained corporate sponsorship for the project. She wants to beautify her city. Let’s find out more.

A sky lantern gradually rises into the sky. There is a cute kitty. There’s even a realistic 3D image of a train. As soon as you step out of Keelung’s Qidu train station, you’ll see a decades-old apartment with a completely new façade. The driving force behind this seven-story-high mural with 3D images is Keelung’s deputy council speaker, Yang Hsiu-yu.

Yang Hsiu-yu
Keelung deputy council speaker
My thoughts at the time were that the sky lanterns represented dreams taking off. I hoped that Keelung’s MRT would be completed soon. I also hoped that these sky lanterns would protect all of us in Keelung.

Walk along streets and alleys, and you can also see hopscotch and games of marbles that evoke childhood memories for the city’s residents. Of course, Keelung’s local snacks are also depicted. Through the artist’s skillful work, each brush stroke depicts the people’s daily lives, with retro elements and playfulness.

Cute police dogs seem to leap out of the walls as they promote anti-drug, anti-fraud and anti-drunk driving messages. Anime-style illustrations add a touch of warmth to Qidu’s police station. Yang obtained corporate sponsorship to promote these murals to beautify the appearance of her city. She is inviting the public to explore Qidu’s alleys and discover the beauty of Keelung.

Yang Hsiu-yu
Keelung deputy council speaker
Taiwan’s counties and cities actually have a vast number of old residential buildings. How many have undergone urban renewal? Really, not many. But at this moment, every city, every county, every village has its own story. I’m starting with the stories of the lanes and alleys where our people live.

Qidu in Keelung is a major railway hub, a starting point for many trains travelling north and south. Now the colorful paintings depict Qidu’s diverse culture and document Keelung’s century-old splendor.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#qidu #travel #tourism #publicart #art #mural #colorful

基隆七堵火車站壁畫彩繪瀑布桐花.貓咪天燈點亮市容

2026-05-04

基隆市七堵火車站外一棟7層樓舊公寓，原本斑駁外牆經看板彩繪師江錦豐巧手，10天後大變身，將七堵車站、天燈、泰安瀑布等意象，躍上牆面相當吸睛，成為七堵新亮點，最大推手副議長楊秀玉爭取企業贊助推動彩繪，美化市容也期待基隆捷運儘速啟動，實現城市未來發展的夢想。

冉冉升空的天燈，可愛貓咪，3D立體火車頭栩栩如生，一踏出基隆七堵火車站，就能看到對面這棟數十年老公寓，有了全新風貌！七層樓高的立體彩繪，最大推手就是副議長楊秀玉。

[[基隆市副議長楊秀玉]]
“我當時的想法是天燈就是夢想起飛，希望基隆捷運在不久的將來能夠趕快成型，那也希望說這個天燈護著我們所有基隆市的鄉民

穿越大街小巷，還能看到跳格子、打彈珠，勾起民眾童年回憶。當然也少不了基隆在地美食，透過畫家巧手，一筆一劃勾勒出市民的日常生活，復古元素活潑趣味。

可愛警犬躍上牆面，宣導反毒、打詐、別酒駕，動漫風格圖畫讓七堵派出所更有溫度。副議長楊秀玉爭取企業認養贊助，推動彩繪美化市容，邀請民眾走入七堵巷弄，探索基隆之美。

[[基隆市副議長楊秀玉]]
“台灣各縣市其實很多的老舊民宅非常非常多，都更到底有幾棟，真的不多，但是在這個當下，我們每一個城市，每一個縣市，每個里都有他們的故事，我就是從我們人民住的巷弄街道的故事開始延伸”

基隆七堵是台鐵縱貫線南下北上的始發車站，如今透過彩繪傳達七堵的多元文化，也紀錄基隆的百年風華。

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民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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We’ve tested it on people of all ages, including children 3 years old and pregnant women. Everyone has tried it. Especially seniors. For older folks, it’s harder to bend over.

The owner extended invitations to seniors in the area to come try out the machines. They emulate a classic hair wash, helping customers wash and condition their hair while simultaneously giving a full-body massage. The entire thing takes about 20 minutes. The testers all found it incredibly comfortable.

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The owner invited the local residents to come try it out. It could also be a form of public service, helping out these older folks. It can show them that if there’s no one around in the future, things like this might flourish. Without anyone there, they can go by themselves and wash their own hair.

With the advent of the AI era, “smart” machines like these are becoming more and more common. With a fully automated process, it saves on personnel costs. The customers might have to dry their own hair, but for this price, it might catch on.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Restaurants seeking to capitalize on NT$10bn anime market

Fans of anime and manga are certainly willing to spend on their passion! The market in Taiwan surpasses NT$10 billion every year, and restaurant chains are eager for a slice of the pie. In just one example, a Japanese conveyor-belt sushi restaurant has joined forces with the volleyball series “Haikyu!!” Fans can not only get capsule toys, but even “dine” with their favorite characters. Another fast-food giant is collaborating with “Gundam” for a limited-edition meal set. Let’s take a look...

As soon as you step into this conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, you’re greeted by iconic Japanese characters. This time, the chain is partnering with “Haikyu!!” for a themed restaurant, limited-edition merchandise and capsule toys, all seeking to attract the avid anime enthusiast.

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With its high-octane matches and a classic soundtrack, when you come to this Japanese sushi restaurant, you can not only get a capsule toy, but even eat with your favorite characters.

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Collaborations provide added value by making dining more fun. Being able to sit with your favorite idols or characters adds a layer of joy to the experience. We always look to negotiate partnerships with IP that is popular or highly requested by our customers. We expect this round to bring in excellent results.

Over at this restaurant, a giant model Gundam stands guarding the entrance. Eyeing Taiwan’s NT$10 billion annual anime fandom, this fast-food chain has collaborated with the classic series “Gundam.” Beyond exclusive set meals, customers can also buy action figures and mugs to add to their collection, sparking a frenzy among the substantial “Gundam” fanbase.

Customer
If there really are limited-edition products, I’ll line up to buy them.

The battle of the anime collabs has begun! It’s not just sushi and Haikyu!!A fast-food chain is working with “Gundam,” while another sushi spot has enlisted “Cardcaptor Sakura” to join their team. By leaning hard into otaku fandom, these restaurants are sure to find a way into their hearts as well as wallets.

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Taiwan runs a number of cooperative capacity building projects in Eswatini, primarily in agriculture. On Sunday evening, President Lai Ching-te showcased the results of a guava grafting project on his personal Instagram account, to highlight results of such efforts. Amid a shifting global landscape, the President said Taiwan is drawing on its strengths of values, resilience and technology to establish deepened relations with trusted partners, including Eswatini. His remarks on Monday touched upon Taiwan’s two largest-yet cooperative projects with Eswatini, namely a strategic oil reserve facility and the Taiwan Industrial Innovation Park, demonstrating Taiwan’s current diplomatic strategy.

- Hello, everyone. I am holding a guava in my hand, as you can all see.

President Lai Ching-te published a short video on his personal Instagram account about Taiwan’s agricultural capacity building project in Eswatini.

- You can see from this guava, the close allied relationship between our two nations, Taiwan and Eswatini, and between our peoples.

Taiwan’s own guava variety is grafted onto a local fruit tree to produce fruits of higher market value. Pitaya, strawberry and tilapia are also being introduced to Eswatini. In addition to agriculture, the president expounded on two cooperative projects between Taiwan and Eswatini, after hearing related briefings from Taiwan officials.

Lai Ching-te
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The strategic oil reserve facility signifies greater energy security and national resilience amid the possibility of risks and crises. The Taiwan Industrial Innovation Park represents a forward-thinking industrial plan and the aspiration to develop. These are our largest and most strategically significant cooperation projects since our establishment of diplomatic relations.

The president also reiterated the importance of trusted relationships in a rapidly changing global landscape.

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The president says that Taiwan remains a dependable and enduring cooperative partner to Eswatini.

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Pundits weigh in on how President will return to Taiwan from Eswatini

Despite China’s interference forcing President Lai Ching-te’s team to cancel a state visit to Eswatini earlier, in the end, Lai still pulled off a surprise landing in Eswatini on Saturday, by traveling with a Swazi chartered flight. The question now, is how he will return to Taiwan. Pundits have weighed in on several options, but a DPP legislator said that just as the presidential team had surprised everyone with Lai’s arrival in Eswatini, he’s confident that the return will be just as successful.

It’s been three days since President Lai Ching-te arrived in Eswatini for a state visit. On Sunday, the president had visited the Queen Mother of Eswatini Ntfombi Tfwala at her royal residence. Lai’s state visit came as a surprise, since it had been blocked earlier due to pressure from Beijing. However, KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun seemed reluctant to give due credit to the president’s team.

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Even though we’ve made it, but the entire process—shouldn’t we thoroughly reflect on it? Who put in us in such a dire state, forced us into a corner? I’ve talked about this a million times already, but I know that they won’t listen. It’s OK if they don’t. The ruling party will change in 2028.

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Be it the KMT’s former Chair Hung Hsiu-chu or the current Chair Cheng Li-wun, it seems that neither are happy to see Taiwan achieve breakthroughs on the international stage. If you’re not happy, could it be that you’d rather side with the CCP?

Lai would’ve departed for Eswatini on April 22, had three African island nations not abruptly revoked overflight permits for Taiwan just one day ahead. In the end, the presidential team still made it, landing on May 2 with Eswatini’s chartered plane. But the question now is how the president and his team will return to Taiwan, as Beijing’s interference cannot be ruled out yet again.

Pundits have weighed in on the matter. Taipei City Councilor William Hsu of the KMT says that Lai and his team could use another Swazi charter flight to Paraguay, before returning westward. Some also suggest that Taiwan’s flag carrier, China Airlines could pick up the team in Paraguay. However, a former China Airlines pilot, Chang Chih-hao says that taking a Swazi chartered flight back would be the most feasible. Meanwhile, Professor Yen Chen-shen at NCCU says that another option is to take an airliner flight to Europe before heading back to Taiwan; whereas Professor Lin Ying-yu at Tamkang University said that the team’s return via a Swazi chartered flight back could still be sabotaged, should Beijing decide to hold military drills.

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Member of public
Commenting on incident
I would be scared if someone barged in like that. They really should ramp up security to protect the cheerleaders.

Member of public
Commenting on incident
It must’ve been so emotionally taxing for the cheerleader. She was all alone in a closed off space like that. It’s terrible. Fans really need to learn about boundaries.

There have been many reports of cheerleader harassment in Taiwan in the past. Last year, South Korean cheerleader Lee Da-hye was stalked by a paparazzi after she wrapped up a round-the-island trip. She says she was so scared she didn’t dare return to her own home. She was also on the receiving end of a lot of sexual jokes after heading to Guangfu in Hualien to help clean up in the aftermath of a flood. Even More alarming was the case of South Korean Yeom Se-been, who was groped by her Korean manager. This time around, things could’ve gone a lot worse. Fortunately, it was just a scary encounter, and Chang has posted it online in hopes to raise awareness of the issue.

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