Yunlin Kouhu: A Simple Fishing Village Transformed into a Colorful Art Town

▲ Installation artwork “Milkfish” from the Chenglong Wetlands International Art Festival. (Photo / fromthe 2013 ChengLong Wetlands International Environmental Art Project Facebook fan page; same applies to images below)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Traditional fishing village transformed into an art town! Yunlin County’s Kouhu Township was originally a traditional small fishing village where most residents farmed milkfish and processed mullet roe. In recent years, after the annual Chenglong Wetlands International Art Festival began in the Chenglong Wetlands within the village, it has gained widespread fame. Visitors flock here as if on a pilgrimage. With numerous large-scale installation artworks scattered throughout and old residential buildings revitalized through colorful paintings, the entire fishing village has taken on a brand-new look filled with artistic charm.

▲ Installation artworks “Food Footprints” (left) and “Dining Table” (right) from the Chenglong Wetlands International Art Festival.

Kouhu Township is coastal, and the fishing village contains several wetlands. Starting in 2010, the Guanshu Education Foundation invited both domestic and international artists and collaborated with local community members and students to select the Chenglong Wetlands to host the “Chenglong Wetlands International Environmental Art Festival.” Using natural materials such as driftwood, bamboo, and reeds, they created various installation artworks. Over the past three years, many pieces have been accumulated, enriching the landscape of the wetlands and the whole fishing village.

This year’s Chenglong Art Festival invited six artists to participate, using “on the dining table” as the creative theme. A German artist drew inspiration from Kouhu specialties to create the work “Milkfish”; a Dutch artist created “Food Footprints,” depicting small fish swimming together in search of food; and Taiwanese artist Kang Yachu used the imagery of dining tables and chairs dancing on water to craft the piece “Dining Table.”

▲ Residents worked together to paint and create a vibrant community center (left) and viewing platform (right).

In addition to the large installation artworks created by artists, the foundation also worked with local residents and students to use mosaic techniques, assembling colorful tiles on the interior walls of homes to build a community activity space called the “Community Center.” Many exterior walls of houses in the village were transformed through the painting and tile-pasting efforts of residents and children, completely renewing their appearance—stepping into the village feels like entering a colorful fairy-tale world.

▲ The interior of the Community Center features a mosaic style, assembled with colorful tiles.

Since the launch of the Chenglong Wetlands Art Festival, it has attracted many tourists. The county government also invited another art team to carry out environmental renovations, making this little art village even more complete. Visitors can admire a variety of installation artworks here, but since it is not a formal tourist attraction, it’s best to avoid disturbing residents’ daily lives while visiting.

▲ Installation artwork under the sunset.

For more information, please contactthe official website of the 2013 Chenglong Wetlands International Environmental Art Festival
Transportation Info: Take the Zhongshan Expressway to the Yunlin System Interchange, then transfer to Provincial Highway 78 (expressway), followed by Provincial Highway 17. Enter via County Road Yun144 to reach the destination.