The Graffiti Community at Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Has Arrived – Surprises Are Hiding in the Alleys

Text and Photos byGui Xiao Sun

Colorful alleyway murals are becoming increasingly popular in Taiwan. Personally, I feel that these painted alleys can be a lovely little interlude during weekend city getaways – not something you need to go out of your way for, but rather a nice touch within a larger trip. In fact, aside from Taichung, other cities like Yunlin and Beigang have also seen a surge in such creative works recently. I could never frequently travel just for street art elsewhere, but if I happen to pass by one during a trip, I’d definitely want to capture these alleyway artworks.

I’ve always felt that these murals bring a lightness to your steps, drawing you back into those small lanes, lifting you away from the city and letting you rediscover the pure essence of residential life. If you’re still young, you might not understand the early living spaces in Taiwan, such as military dependents' villages. But through these paintings, you’ll see that they’re not just artwork – they reflect a deep passion for the community one calls home.

The 【Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Graffiti Community】 was jointly created in the summer of 2014 by Qiemei Culture, Xiaolu Cinema, and four illustrators. So, in this tiny alleyway, you’ll find various styles – perhaps representing Taichung’s bubble tea or adorable monsters and dinosaurs.

If you’ve been here or are wondering – is the 【Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Graffiti Community】 big? I’d say it’s really not. It’s roughly Y-shaped, with a total length of about 200 meters. And not every part of it is covered in art – often, the paintings are tucked away in corners you might easily overlook. Precisely because of this, it might be a treasure hunt you’d enjoy ^~^

First, you can head around to the back of 【Eslite Spectrum Green Park Boulevard】, entering through the rear alley. This spot happens to be a residents’ parking area. Ideally, you’d come by bike, on foot, or have found parking nearby, as driving here might make finding a spot a bit tricky.

Once you reach this open space, the biggest piece in the entire 【Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Graffiti Community】 is this adorable monster?! XD It’s the work of illustrator 【Wu Qi】. It’s about two stories tall, and I think it has the vibe of a Chinese New Year beast – but not the scary kind. Its feet seem to be stepping on waves or clouds, and the color scheme is dominated by yellow, blue, and red. Simple, yet captivating enough to make you pause and take another look. It’s a great piece of illustration.

From here, you can walk straight into the 【Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Graffiti Community】. There are many cute girls here holding bubble tea, pizza, and the like, looking like happy little chefs. The creator is 【Ri Chun】, and the overall vibe is so uplifting that it naturally puts you in a cheerful mood. I also feel that although the 【Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Graffiti Community】 isn’t very large, its artistic style makes it a great spot for taking photos with kids. Plus, it’s not far to walk, quiet, and convenient.

Is Taichung the birthplace of bubble tea? Or does the city simply have so much delicious food that it inspired the mural on this wall? The cute smiles and those round pearls really make you want to grab a cup from Chun Shui Tang right away XD

I always find this art style so gentle and warm. Taiwan has more and more talented illustrators, and their diverse styles often deeply move people. That’s why even a small illustration can express the emotions of the moment – something I truly admire. I don’t have that kind of skill myself; I can only follow the script XD

Here, the two people making pizza are wrapped around the window of this house. Somehow, the window no longer feels just like a window – it might be the most picturesque, story-filled, and most-photographed surface here.

Along the way, you’ll occasionally spot art pieces on roadside flower stands or concrete walls. You’ll have to search like you’re treasure hunting, and when you stumble upon them, you’ll feel a little thrill of discovery.

As you walk through the 【Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Graffiti Community】, you’ll see red Spring Festival couplets, window grilles, and wooden doors still in place. Have you seen these in the high-rises where you live?

Turn a corner, and a helmet is hidden in a narrow alley. Take another turn, and that adorable little monster is tucked next to a bunch of potted plants. This spot is also at one end of the 【Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Graffiti Community】. So don’t walk too fast or miss anything – you never know what beautiful scenery you might overlook.

I’ve always loved houses with history, even older than me. I think those who often read my writings about old buildings might notice that I prefer them over the skyscrapers in Taichung’s 7th Redevelopment Zone. Maybe they need constant repairs, or maybe they don’t have amazing interiors, but if I had an old house like this, I think I’d lose myself in its scenery every night. Staring out the window, daydreaming, or basking in the sun like a puppy in the afternoon (why do I feel like an old person XD).

No heavy doors, no rows of locks keeping people apart. Outside the door, there are pet birds being raised, and you can hear their chirps – even if you can’t understand them. Maybe many of these homes aren’t bustling anymore, but to busy urbanites, this scene is incredibly simple and peaceful.

Turning out of this area, you’ll reach Eslite Spectrum Green Park Boulevard. Along the red wall, there are also two series of artworks with a playful and humorous style, created by illustrator 【Hard Candy】. There’s a Piranha Plant from Mario, ice cream, and the expressions on the characters’ faces look oddly startled XD

The other side is also adorable – it features dinosaurs. Not huge ones, but quite a variety. The highlight? There’s even a red snake on the telephone pole. A little scary, but also fun. I imagine boys and girls would react very differently to this scene XD

The pink dinosaur next to the motorcycle – why does its nose remind me of Zhu? And its gaze is so mischievous, making you want to pinch it XD These dinosaurs are by 【HOM】. In the alley, there are also residents’ motorcycles, telephone poles, plants, and miscellaneous items. Do these elements blended into the 【Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Graffiti Community】 make residents smile whenever they see them? Maybe one day, these murals will expand even further – not just with ideas from professional illustrators or the people living in the 【Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Graffiti Community】.

Whether you come from the back alley parking lot or enter directly from the right side facing 【Eslite Spectrum Green Park Boulevard】, this place is small – you don’t need to go out of your way for it. You can visit while exploring Taichung on a holiday, or just happen upon it while strolling around 【Eslite Spectrum Green Park Boulevard】 in the sun. Remember, all the murals are located within a living community, so keep quiet, don’t leave trash – just take away your own beautiful memories.

After finishing our visit to the 【Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Graffiti Community】, we continued on to Eslite Spectrum, where we happened to catch an event by mas vivo. On the first floor, there were illustrated patterns in front of the escalator, along with a huge roll of paper tape, and black-and-white illustrations in the middle of the escalator. We immediately followed the crowd upstairs to check it out.

It turned out that an illustrator was holding a signing session that day, and the crowd was so packed we couldn’t even get close. Actually, many Eslite stores carry man vivo products – they collaborate with many well-known Taiwanese illustrators to turn illustrations into products like paper tape and scented balms. I think many people are already familiar with them. Fans can swing by Eslite Spectrum, as there’s a dedicated counter on the second floor XD

There are so many mural alleys. Many people say they often don’t know what the hype is about when they visit in person. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend traveling across Taiwan just for one alley. A mural alley tells the story of a community, and since we often just pass through, why not turn it into a little stop – a brief afternoon or half-hour attraction? That’s enough.

If you’re going to Yunlin, there are plenty of even better attractions, like the Yunlin Story House, HeTong Hall, and Huzi Cottage Salon. You can weave in a visit to a graffiti village along the way. If you’re specifically visiting Taichung, the One Piece attraction is just a side note, but nearby you shouldn’t miss the snacks at the Fifth Market or spots like Xing Wu Temple.

Travel is a process. Sometimes, it’s about accumulating perspectives on life and experience in planning. With more experience, you’ll get better at knowing what arrangements suit you best ^~^


【Zhongming 13th Neighborhood Graffiti Community】: Behind Eslite Spectrum Green Park Boulevard
Green Circle Life Art Festival ＼ More Info:http://greenripples-artfestival.tumblr.com/post/88560521245/neighborhood-graffiti-13
Xiaolu Cinema:https://www.facebook.com/petitdeer

 

Author of this article:[Enjoy life, don’t be bored. Gui Xiaosun]