Revitalizing traditional markets: Taichung City launches Taiwan's first-ever holiday market tour shuttle

The Taichung City Economic Development Bureau held the "Taichung Good Fun Food ‧ Parent-Child Fun Drawing" event on the 30th at the Taichung Cultural and Creative Industries Park, inviting featured stalls from public retail markets across the city to take part, with the public voting for the best famous stall food, and also launching a nationwide first-ever "Traditional Market Tour Holiday Shuttle," leading everyone to visit the Second, Third and Fifth Public Retail Markets, as well as well-known attractions such as the Taichung Literature Museum and the Taichung Prison, to enhance interaction between local residents and the markets.

The event attracted many people early in the morning, with Economic Development Bureau Chief Secretary Tsai Chen-chen, Legislator Huang Kuo-shu, City Councilor Chiang Chao-kuo, Wu Cheng-hsun, secretary of Councilor Chen Cheng-tien's service office, and Huang Hsiao Feng-e, chairwoman of the Third Market Self-Governance Association, among others, all present to join in the occasion.

The Economic Development Bureau also launched a nationwide first-ever "Traditional Market Tour Holiday Shuttle," with a total of 6 trips, kicking off in conjunction with this event. The shuttle route theme is "Old Market Good Food Time," passing through locations including the Taichung City Second, Third and Fifth Public Retail Markets, the Taichung Literature Museum, the Painted Animation Lane, and the Taichung Prison. The event is not only free, but participants can also receive market food vouchers; after tasting the snacks and filling out a questionnaire, they can join the market carnival lucky draw.

The Economic Development Bureau said the city government is actively revitalizing traditional markets in the old city area, and that as lifestyles change, traditional markets must be repositioned; in addition to helping markets launch marketing activities every year, the bureau also continues its efforts to give markets the power of innovation, hoping that markets will not only be places where local residents shop, but also become important venues for community life.