The city of Taichung on the Taiwan peninsula is stepping up its game with the development of multiple venues across different districts, namely in Houli, Fengyuan, Waipu and Shuinan.
The primary driver is the 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition, which was originally slated to be held in the new-built Houli Horse Ranch and Forest Park Area. When an endangered endemic leopard cat was discovered there, the Taichung City Council expanded the show to Fengyuan and Waipu.
Besides Houli, two other districts will also receive new large event venues. These are Fengyuan Huludun Park – which will house Taiwan’s longest waterside floral gallery – and Waipu Park Area.
The new venues will take on different future uses when the event concludes.
The Houli Horse Ranch and Forest Park Area will become Asia’s largest equestrian competition venue, Fengyuan Huludun Park will house a pastry museum, while Waipu Park Area will become an international agricultural innovation park.
Meanwhile, the 254ha Shuinan area is being transformed into a TWD60 billion (US$2 billion) “smart city” – featuring the Shuinan International Convention Exhibition Centre, green buildings, landscaping, automated waste collection system, rainwater recycling system and more – as a flagship project of Taichung’s Industry 4.0 initiative.
Sun Chung-Hsing, senior executive officer, Taichung City Government, said: “As what is now Taiwan’s second-largest city, Taichung is hoping to make our mark on the global map. One way we’re doing so is by increasing focus on developing our business events landscape, and the 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition will serve as a good platform to attract more international visitors to Taichung. With this show, we have begun constructing large facilities in Taichung to accompany the development in Shuinan.”
