Shalu Meiren Village Mural Village in Taichung recently became a super-popular IG check-in spot too. It's an attraction reachable by train and is very close to Shalu Train Station. The Meiren Village murals make visitors feel like they’ve stepped into a time tunnel and returned to a retro street from the 1950s.
Boomtown flashback time~ Let’s all go back to the 1950s – a time when our parents were kids. I think it’s a great idea to liven up old neighborhoods through murals. There are several mural alleys in Taichung worth visiting with your kids, such as the West District Anime Mural Alley, Nantun District Rainbow Village, and Shigang District Jiufang 3D Mural Village.
[Shalu Meiren Village]
Address: No. 1, Meixiu Lane, Zhongzheng Street, Shalu District, Taichung City
After getting off the train, just cross to the alley opposite the station to find the starting point of Meiren Village Mural Village. By car, enter from the alley opposite Guangtian Hospital and you’ll see Xiaoshiguang Noodles. Keep walking down the alley where you’ll see the sign for Meiren Village, and from there, you'll enter the mural alley. The area features retro murals, but keep in mind that this is still a residential neighborhood. Please be respectful—don’t talk loudly or litter while visiting.
Rickshaw Experience
Watching dramas set in the 1950s, I always saw the rich folks being chauffeured around in rickshaws.
As soon as you walk out of the alley, you’ll see a traditional candy store. Kids these days go to 7-11 or FamilyMart, but when I was young, we’d go to the candy store to buy sweets, cookies, and stationery.
Seeing this wall is so~ nostalgic. Back then, candy only cost 1 dollar per piece.
The market street murals also depict the vendors so vividly.
Gotcha!! Kids caught climbing the walls (haha)
Old-school candied hawthorn on a stick – not many people sell these anymore.
Roadside snack stalls
There are also food models for reference too?
Turn the corner and you’ll arrive at a bustling street with a movie theater, an ironhead shop (a local term for a barbershop), a canteen, and a teahouse.
The spinning red-white-blue light of the barbershop – anyone know why it’s those colors?
It’s the universal sign for a barber shop, used worldwide (those curious can Google it!)
Back in the day, movie posters were all hand-painted. I remember seeing them as a kid too – they really give off a vintage vibe now.
Seeing this sign reminds me of Banana Paradise, which also had a retro canteen. And!!! Baodao Times Village is another classic, though it’s a pity it’s closed now.
Teahouse... a place for drinking tea.
The old ice cream parlor is also super nostalgic~ Previously in Fengyuan Miaodongli, there was a place that sold bubble ice, just like the vibe of these ice parlors.
Look at the landlady? The little girl is painted so realistically. Local Shalu delicacies are also featured, like Yangtao Bo’s Notes – next time you’re in Shalu, you can try buying some to drink.
At the end of the alley is Uni-President’s Little Time Noodle Shop
You can interact with the mural wall for fun photos.
Here comes the food – time to eat noodles.
Let’s run and play volleyball together, the kids had a great time too.
And finally!!! Uni-President’s Pork Fried Noodles. When moms cooked instant noodles back in the day, it was usually this flavor. It’s the taste that accompanied many people’s late-night noodle sessions. It’s that flavor.
Lately, I’ve enjoyed finding free, no-admission attractions to take my kids to experience and have fun. Taking the kids on a retro trip is a great idea too. They’re full of curiosity about how things used to be, and it helps them learn about Taiwan’s earlier way of life.
And more. Taichung attractions | Shalu Meirenli Painted Village. It feels like stepping into a time tunnel and returning to a retro street from the 1950s (end)
[Authorized reprint by Milly Ho] Original source: [Taichung attractions | Shalu Meirenli Painted Village. It feels like stepping into a time tunnel and returning to a retro street from the 1950s]