By MOOK Scenic Spots / Reported by Chen Wenlin
Today, painted villages in Taiwan are growing in number, with each place becoming a hotspot for photos. Now, the “Meirenli Painted Village” in Shalu, Taichung, abandons the typical theme of cartoon and comic stars found in other painted villages and instead adopts a retro 1950s Taiwanese theme. With funding secured from the municipal government, the village has transformed its alleys and lanes with classic-style murals. These include scenes like a cheongsam tailor shop, the Black Cat Hotel, and rickshaws — even recreating the old Taiwan of fifty years ago. It’s like stepping into a time tunnel. Its nostalgic, retro style makes it a unique and must-visit photo spot.
Meirenli Painted Village offers a unique experience with its nostalgic, retro style that makes you feel as if you’ve traveled back to old Taiwan in the 1950s (Photo provided by Micchan Chen)
Cleverly painted on red brick walls, an old grocery store scene comes vividly to life (Photo provided by Micchan Chen)
Unlike typical painted villages, Meirenli depicts scenes of old Taiwan. Along the way, you’ll see old-fashioned convenience stores, vintage public telephones, and even schoolchildren playing hide-and-seek hidden in the murals. There's also a strikingly realistic “Little Time Noodle Shop,” along with a pharmacy and a movie theater. Though it lacks famous anime characters, its strong retro Taiwanese vibe is still highly appealing.
The lifelike Little Time Noodle Shop also brings back memories for many (Photo provided by Micchan Chen)
The advertisements for the pharmacy and the movie theater also exude a rich old-Taiwan retro flavor (Photo provided by Micchan Chen)
Classic minced pork noodles are a taste familiar to many (Photo provided by Micchan Chen)
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