Hilarious and heartwarming: Taiwan’s only two “Mahjong Walls” are in Shanhua, Tainan — and the story behind them is touching

▲ Taiwan has no shortage of painted villages, but have you ever seen a “Mahjong Wall painted village”? (Photo / netizen)aka_emanuelProvided, please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Taiwan has no shortage of painted villages, but have you ever seen a “Mahjong Wall painted village”? In Hucuoliao, Shanhua, Tainan, there are two walls made up of 40,000 mahjong tiles — a unique sight in all of Taiwan. Unlike most painted villages that hire external artists, the origin of this mahjong wall village is rooted in a touching story of filial piety.

▲ Ms. Lee gathered 40,000 mahjong tiles online to create the Mahjong Wall. (Photo / netizen)amour628Provided, please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Hucuoliao in Shanhua, Tainan, is an otherwise little-known small village. The Mahjong Wall painted village was originally the dream of Ms. Li Fan, who wanted to bring joy to her mother. Because her mother couldn’t travel far, she thought of transforming the village into a place where her mom could comfortably take strolls. She hoped visitors would feel that the village wasn’t just ordinary, but also full of artistic charm. Among her creative ideas, the most innovative was gathering 40,000 mahjong tiles to build the Mahjong Wall. This creative expression of filial piety earned her the “Wall City Filial Piety Award” from the Hongdao Elderly Welfare Foundation this year.

▲ One side is inscribed with “East, South, West, North, Big Four Joys,” symbolizing “living comfortably.” (Photo / netizen)yooooo529Provided, please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

One of the two mahjong walls is inscribed with “East, South, West, North, Big Four Joys,” symbolizing “living comfortably.” The other side is inscribed with “Kong Sang Kai Hua” (a winning mahjong hand). Breaking away from flat painting styles, the walls are built by stacking over 40,000 individual mahjong tiles, creating a striking three-dimensional effect. Even non-mahjong fans will find these walls memorable.

▲ The other side of the Mahjong Wall is inscribed with “Kong Sang Kai Hua.” (Photo / netizen)wendy612592Provided, please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

After seeing the Mahjong Wall, you can also check out the “Sequins Wall,” where countless small sequins are hung on nails, covering an entire wall. The gold and silver sequins sparkle in the sunlight and dance in the wind, creating a stunning visual that showcases the creator’s dedication and creativity.

In addition, the painted walls are another highlight. With Japanese ukiyo-e style waves, train engines, Totoro, Snow White, and more, every corner is photo-worthy. Currently, 27 households in Hucuoliao have been decorated with these murals.

Address: Hucuoliao, Shanhua District, Tainan City (Hujia Li Painted Village)
Set navigation to “Yangming Elementary School, Shanhua, Tainan”