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Rainbow Village. Photo by Zairon.

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village is a former military ex-residential community in Nantun District, Taichung, Taiwan. There were plans to redevelop it at one point, so many of the residents moved out, leaving only 11 homes to be demolished.

Huang Yung-Fu, a former soldier born in Taishan county, Guangdong province in 1924, created the area’s artwork. Huang, the eldest of four brothers and two sisters, showed early signs of artistic talent.

To save houses in his settlement, now known as Rainbow Village, he began painting them. His vibrant artwork, which includes birds, animals, and people, has spread over the remaining houses in the village, which once housed 1,200 people. Moving from house to house, he soon established an oasis of color in a world of black and white.

This is without a doubt one of the most colorful neighborhoods in Taiwan, if not the world, and it’s all thanks to one elderly man who wanted to bring more joy and happiness into people’s lives.

1. How Rainbow Village all began

Rainbow Village was founded solely by an elderly war veteran. His real name is Huang Yung Fu, but everyone calls him Rainbow Grandpa these days.

Born in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong in 1924, he joined the army at the age of 15 to fight against the Japanese during the Second Sino-Japanese War.  When the Communists won, Huang and two million other Kuomintang soldiers and their families fled to Taiwan.

He continued to work as a security guard after his honorable discharge from the army at the age of 55. “He has won rave reviews,” according to a sign at Rainbow Village.

Huang was 86 years old when he received a letter ordering him to leave his home because it was being demolished. But this was his only true home, and he didn’t want to leave. Instead, he began painting.

He started by painting a bird on the wall of his bedroom, and then he just kept going, painting the outside walls of his house and the abandoned houses around it. He recreated the simple figures of animals and people that his father had taught him to draw as a child because he hadn’t painted since childhood.

2. From nearly homeless to internationally famous

Rainbow Village. Photo by Zairon. Wikimedia

A student from the local university happened to pass by while he was painting and asked what he was doing. She was moved by his story and shared it with her classmates and professors. More students became aware of his work. They organized a campaign to have the buildings saved and designated as a cultural area.

They were successful in petitioning Taichung’s mayor to protect the paintings as valuable cultural property. Rainbow Grandpa was permitted to remain in his home.

His celebrity grew quickly as a result of photos that were widely shared on websites and social media. Rainbow Village is now a popular attraction in Taiwan for both domestic and international tourists. It has over one million visitors per year!

3. Rainbow Grandpa is the village’s sole survivor

Rainbow Grandpa’s village had 1,200 residents when he moved there. But, over time, all of those people died or moved away, leaving him as the sole survivor. By 2010, all but 11 of the 1,200 homes had been purchased by real estate developers and demolished to make way for high-rise apartments. That is why the government ordered him to leave so that developers could bulldoze what remained.

But, as you already know, that was not the case. Rainbow Grandpa decided to take matters into his own hands and picked up a paintbrush. He was able to save the last 11 structures, including his own home, by painting them.

4. The art of Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village. Photo by Lordcolus. Wikimedia

I’ve read complaints that the paintings are childish, in addition to complaints that Rainbow Village is too small. Yes, they are, and that is part of their allure. Rainbow Grandpa is an untrained artist. He never received any formal education beyond what his father taught him as a young boy growing up in China.

When he decided to save what remained of his village, he painted the same things he had learned as a child, because that was all he knew. Full of pleasant memories. Some scenes on his walls show him and his brothers and sisters as children. Others depict animals, children, and young lovers, as he admires their joy and innocence.

5. Vegan food at Rainbow Village

Taiwan is one of the most vegan-friendly countries in the world, and Taichung is full of excellent vegan restaurants. Rainbow Village, unfortunately, is not one of them. Of course, it’s not really a foodie destination in the first place. There is a snack area with rainbow popsicles and tea eggs, but other than drinks, there are no vegan options.

6. Best time to visit Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village. Photo by Fcuk1203. Wikimedia

Rainbow Village has become well-known, so I recommend arriving as early as possible to avoid the crowds.  If possible, visit on a weekday. The venue is small and can become quite crowded. Rainbow Village is free to enter.

7. Rainbow Village tours at their finest

Rainbow Village is part of Taichung tour. It could also be included in a fully customized tour of Taichung led by an English, Spanish, or French-speaking local, or a private tour led by a driver. 

8. What you can expect to see

Rainbow “village” consists of only a few houses and a half-dozen small, interconnected buildings. You could easily see it all in 10-15 minutes, but with photos and a snack or drink, you’ll most likely spend an hour there. There are a few food stalls near the entrance and in the back, and an inside café serves coffee in art-covered to-go cups.

There are also two souvenir shops where you can purchase hats, fans, umbrellas, and other items featuring Huang’s artwork. Huang’s grandson is said to run the stores. While the village is free to visit, donations are reportedly accepted. 

9. You can expect to meet Rainbow Grandpa

Rainbow Grandpa. Photo by Chinuan12623.

Rainbow Grandpa waits in the souvenir shop for visitors who want to take selfies with him whenever he is in good health and physically able. He still gets up at 4 a.m. every day to spend three hours touching up or creating new paintings.

Even though he is in his 90s, this affable gentleman demonstrates tenacity and strength in what he has done and how he has protected and promoted Rainbow Village in Taichung. 

10. Rainbow Village provides free open space for children to play

Rainbow Village isn’t really a village because there are only a few houses there. There is a sand-filled playground and a hopscotch, providing additional entertainment for children and the young-at-heart.

As there is an open-space public car park at Rainbow Village, make sure your children are within sight.