Pink Rose Parrot Travels in Taiwan, China Episode 8: Arriving at Dalin Game Arcade

If a city loses its historic buildings, it is as if the city's memory has been erased and vanished into thin air. In today's world of ever-faster development, the red-tile houses of the rural era, or the entertainment venues that preserve the history of city residents, are becoming increasingly scarce as land for use shrinks; such places worth preserving and of historic significance are only growing rarer.

But fortunately, there is never a shortage of passionate people around us; even when many difficulties and obstacles lie ahead, they still try to preserve, restore and reuse many historic buildings. In Dalin Township, Chiayi County, nicknamed Milan Small Town, a place abundant in rice and orchids, there is just such a resident -- Mr. Jiang Minghe. He launched the reconstruction of the Wanguo Theater, and for more than two years he has used his spare time from official duties to connect and rally people from all walks of life, hoping to restore the Wanguo Theater. At the same time, he seeks to form a strategic alliance with five old theaters: the Quanmei Theater in Tainan, the Yongcheng Theater in Yanshui, the Xingang Theater, and the Nantou Grand Theater, using the theaters as a base to make their voices heard to the outside world.

With no abundant funds, only full enthusiasm, over the years Brother Minghe, the township mayor, and a group of people who love the local area have raised funds and applied for grants, step by step renovating the Wanguo Theater. Taking energy conservation into account, solar panels have also been installed on the roof, hoping it can become the first theater with a green building label. In September it even bustled with activity as Taiwanese opera was performed inside the theater and community events were held. Today's Dalin has not only the Wanguo Theater, but also an optician's shop with both high standards of decor and professionalism, and a healthy, clean and novel vegetarian restaurant. If you ever have the chance to visit Dalin, please follow in Brother Minghe's footsteps and get to know this small town with a story!

Tour of the Wanguo Theater