[Family Travel]Veterans’ Park, a Colorful Village Full of Stories

Here, what was once a dirty and dilapidated environment has been transformed through renovation and wall beautification, bringing new vitality and life to the old community with vibrant colors !

For the ordinary soldiers who were always ready to go to war, literally putting their bodies on the line, shouting “counterattack the mainland” as they headed to battle, not only were there no barracks provided, but there were also restrictions such as bans on marriage.

As a result, there is a very high population of elderly living alone in Fuxing Li, with some homes even left vacant after the owners passed away.
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Perhaps the painted area here can be explored in less than half an hour, but from the elderly and lonely figures of these veterans, countless untold stories spanning centuries are hidden ! What was supposed to be a hopeful time of passion and glory turned into a nearly forgotten and regrettable human tragedy.

When you come here, in addition to taking photos to admire the beauty of the community, take a moment to stop and truly listen — to the once-forgotten, heartrending stories that belong to this place...

Just a short 30-meter distance away, Xiaodong Road is actually very lively, but the moment you turn the corner, it's like stepping into a different time — the tranquil atmosphere is as if time has stopped, making you naturally soften your steps, afraid to disturb the elderly grandpas and grandmas who might be napping. At the entrance stands a welcoming “Uncle Soldier” mascot, allowing us to pay our highest respects to these soldiers who dedicated their lives to the nation !

Walking into the narrow, winding alleys, you’ll see nothing but camouflage patterns and brightly colored brick walls, perfectly matching the military-themed painting motif.

 

 

You’ll also occasionally find cute and playful little surprises !

In addition to camouflage designs, there are also landscape paintings, modern artworks, and adorable cartoon characters. The alleys, sometimes straight and sometimes winding, seem to have turned into an open-air gallery, often attracting photography-loving travelers eager to capture the scenery before them !

The national flag is infused with the vibrant “yellow element” and the “blue-green unity” symbolizing a politically neutral world peace ! Combined with sunflower motifs, it radiates even more positive energy into this old community !

When you come here, you’ll also ! And have you noticed, the person on it isn’t

This thousand-dollar bill is right in front of the main door of the old man’s house in the photo below. We happened to run into the white-haired Uncle Ya, who was throwing water with a bucket, while the two kids stared curiously !

Our Tainan trip was thrown off schedule by a typhoon, messing up many of the places we had originally wanted to visit. By the time the weather finally cleared and we could go outside, the trip was already over ! So we ended up extending our stay by an extra day just to properly stroll around and enjoy the sights at a leisurely pace !

While walking through the alleys, motorcycles still occasionally zoom by, so if you’re bringing children, safety should still be kept in mind at all times ! Panda ! I think it was probably meant to ease the homesickness of these veterans who came from China !

The weathered red wooden doors full of stories hold the shared memories of the veterans !

Tic-tac-toe, lovers under an umbrella, a sword piercing the heart, and little figures. Seeing this mural really brought back ! Mom, my childhood memories from elementary school days haha
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Further ahead, although there were broken branches and fallen leaves from the typhoon, it didn’t diminish the vibrancy that the colors brought to inject new life into the community !

That day, we also happened upon an exhibition of old photos from military dependents' villages. Dressed in vintage military uniforms, every photo captured a dashing figure — the passion and ambition of those times now only live on in these yellowing old photographs !

My brother was fascinated by this creative little mascot !

The creation below is just too hilarious !

After passing this old-photo memory wall, the other side reads “End of the Painted Area!” But actually, if you go beyond the Veterans Park and keep walking, you’ll discover another delightful surprise !

We really wanted to head straight to the super popular photography spots “Angel Wings” and the painting of “Chiang Kai-shek.” But the outdoor temperature that day was so high that the two kids were flushed and sweating, starting to feel anxious, so we had to turn back !

Coming here, you can not only feel the new look that color brings to the community, but also hope to bring more positive energy to the lives of these aging veterans who devoted their youth entirely to the nation !

This place holds the shared memories of the soldiers who came to Taiwan — a deeply moving experience that we, who grew up in modern times, simply cannot fully comprehend. Veterans Cultural Park: No. 423, Fuxing Road, Yongkang District, Tainan City
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