What I Like Best
about Taichung
To me, Taichung is more than just a
beautiful city in the middle of Taiwan’s west coast. It is my hometown. It is a
great place to live or visit because the fine weather encourages people to
enjoy the outdoors. There are outdoor activities all year round. My favorites
are the street theater shows and the yearly Taichung Jazz Festival. Come take a
walk with me and I’ll show you around town.
During the Lunar New Year in Taichung, many
people decide to go out, see the sights, and enjoy the street theater. A favorite
route is up Wu-Chuan West Road toward the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts.
Most stores are closed and the streets are deserted because of the holiday.
Listen and you will hear beautiful voices attracting you to a small crowd. Two
young men are there on the sidewalk singing and playing their guitars with
gusto. They are the first of many street performers you will run into before
you reach the museum. These are performances with Taichung characteristics. For
people who like music, it is a great way for the city to bring the arts to the
people, and this is just the beginning!
In addition to the variety of musical
performances you will witness on the streets, our city boasts of the Taichung
Jazz Festival as well. It is a special annual feature presentation of Taichung
City. Every October since 2002, dozens of jazz musicians audition for the event’s
sponsors and do their thing on Wu-Chuan West Road. Originally it was a three
day festival but, due to its popularity, it was extended to a ten-day festival
in 2009! Various performers and musical combos are invited to take part in
these distinguished gatherings. Singers sing their hearts out and interact with
audiences’ passionate feedback. Listeners sit or stand and go with the flow of
the cool jazz sounds. They relax in the shady sun with their friends and family
enjoying local delicacies and world-famous Taichung bubble tea drinks. The Jazz
Festival has become a favorite program for music aficionados from all over Taiwan.
Many people look forward to being a part of it every October.
Street performances and the Taichung Jazz
Festival make my hometown so much fun to stroll through, but there is even more
to like about being here. Art flourishes everywhere you stop, look, and listen
around Taichung City. For instance, there is also the music at the Calligraphy
Greenway to enjoy. And while you’re at it, don’t miss the dramas and concerts
at Fulfillment Amphitheatre Station. Eventually, you may get around to visiting
our Museum of Fine Arts, too! The overflow of art and music make Taichung one
of the most enjoyable cities to visit in Taiwan, but the best part of Taichung
is being here day in and day out. There is no better place to live in Taiwan!
Edited
by D.B.T.
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