Running low on budget? Kaohsiung's Houyi Commercial Circle removes 2,000 umbrellas from the sky

▲The colorful umbrella street can now also be seen in the south. (Photo/Netizentiehtiehprovided, please do not reproduce without permission to avoid infringement.)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Cultural creative landscapes can be found all over Taiwan, not only adding an artistic touch to open spaces but also creating unique spectacles. On the streets of Kaohsiung’s well-known Houyi Commercial District, colorful umbrellas are hung in the air from November to April each year, resembling the creative umbrella street in Águeda, Portugal, which is truly dazzling and attracts many out-of-town visitors coming to pay homage.

Up to 2,200 large umbrellas in various color schemes are all strung together with thin wires, floating up and down with the breeze and swaying in the air, prompting many passersby to take out their phones to capture this beautiful scene. The largest garment wholesale area in southern Taiwan, the “Houyi Commercial District,” unites the strength of local businesses and uses creative umbrellas to showcase the district.

▲The aerial landscape art sparks curiosity among visitors, who take photos together. (Photo/Netizendav_tsengprovided, please do not reproduce without permission to avoid infringement.)

▲The umbrellas are lined up, resembling an alternative rainbow. (Photo/Netizentedshlinprovided, please do not reproduce without permission to avoid infringement.)

Liu Chao-chih, chairman of the Houyi Commercial District Development Association, said that to avoid typhoons in summer, the umbrellas are taken down in April and freely donated to the Kaohsiung MRT Bureau, Taiwan Railways, and the police station to be used as charity umbrellas. As for whether the umbrellas will be hung again this November, Liu pointed out that due to unresolved funding issues, there are currently no plans to reinstall them. It may be quite difficult to see the umbrella street spectacle again.

▲The Houyi Commercial District umbrella street has sparked heated discussions among netizens both domestically and abroad, but it is still uncertain whether it will be held again at the end of the year due to funding issues. (Photo/Netizenflamebeginsprovided, please do not reproduce without permission to avoid infringement.)

Miss the umbrella street that hung for nearly six months? To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Houyi Commercial District plans to hold a“Street Closure BBQ”on September 10, continuing the spirit of the umbrella street by decorating the sky with national flags and inviting the public to enjoy a gathering under the full moon and experience the warmth of Taiwan’s largest garment wholesale district.

Houyi Commercial District
Address: Anning Street, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City