Rainbow Village (Caihongjuan) is a former military dependents' village in Nantun District, west of central Taichung. Its houses, lanes and even the ground are painted with animals, people, zodiac figures and bright patterns by Huang Yung-fu, a retired soldier known as Rainbow Grandpa. He painted them when the village was due for demolition, and the site was later preserved as a cultural area. Admission is free. Walk the narrow lanes, read the information board on the village's origins, and look out for artists handing out postcards.
From military housing to a protected village
Rainbow Village began as one of the housing settlements Taiwan built for Nationalist soldiers and their families, many of them men who had followed Chiang Kai-shek to the island. The houses were put up quickly with cheap materials. As the soldiers moved out over the decades, many of these villages emptied and fell into disrepair.
When a developer bought the land in Nantun District, the plan was to pull down the old houses and build modern blocks. Most residents accepted compensation or new housing. Huang Yung-fu, a retired soldier who had also worked as a security guard, stayed on and began painting the houses that remained.
Word of the painted houses spread. University students who found the place petitioned the authorities, visitors began to arrive in growing numbers, and the city withdrew its demolition notice. The village was designated a cultural area. Huang, who taught himself to paint, greeted visitors for years. He died in January 2024 at the age of 101.
What the murals show
The paintings are childlike and bold. Animals are the most common subject, including birds and the twelve animals of the zodiac, alongside cartoon-like people, airplanes, manga characters and abstract patterns in many colours. Huang painted not only the walls but also the ground, so doorsteps and footpaths are part of the artwork and it continues out toward the surrounding park.
The lanes are narrow and the village is compact. There is more than one entrance and exit, so you do not have to walk back the way you came. An information board introduces the village and its painter, and it is worth reading before you start looking at the walls.
The village has changed over time. Parts were demolished by the landowner and replaced with modern buildings, and some original walls have since been painted over or redone with work by local pupils and painters. School groups and invited artists continue to add to the site.
Getting there and planning the visit
The address is Lane 56, Chun'an Road, Nantun District. It sits west of the city centre and is a short drive, under ten minutes, from Taichung High Speed Rail Station. A bus runs from the centre, and taxis and rented scooters also work. From the high-speed rail station you can take a bus to the village.
There is little else to see in the immediate area, so most people pair it with other stops. Shared half-day tours commonly combine it with the Gaomei Wetlands and Miyahara.
On site there are restrooms, a restaurant, and both paid and free street parking. The entrance, restroom and parking lot are wheelchair accessible. On busy days the lanes fill with people posing for photos, which is the main reason to come early or on a weekday.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is there an entry fee for Rainbow Village?
No. Admission is free.
How long do you need at Rainbow Village?
The village is small and most people finish in 30 to 60 minutes. A quick walk-through can take as little as 15 to 30 minutes.
How do you get to Rainbow Village from central Taichung?
A bus runs there from the centre, and taxis and rented scooters also work. It is under a ten-minute drive from Taichung High Speed Rail Station, and buses run from that station to the village.
Which day is Rainbow Village closed?
It is closed on Mondays and open the rest of the week.
Who painted Rainbow Village?
Huang Yung-fu, a retired soldier known as Rainbow Grandpa, painted it to save the village from demolition. He died in January 2024 at the age of 101.
