The New Wave of People Keeping a Dying Town Alive | Gen Taiwan

Located on the eastern edge of Taiwan, Changbin township is the perfect escape from the hustle of Taipei city. But with a population of over 7,000 and 23 percent above the age of 65, Changbin township is facing a population crisis. In a bid to attract young Taiwanese to stay in Changbin, the town had a recent makeover. #sponsored
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[@guve25]

As a person who've worked for two Taiwanese companies, Taiwan will always have a special place in my heart. Both demographically and economically, Taiwan is similar to Singapore, but with an extra vista to enjoy on the rural areas.

[@jamesyue1348]

taiwan is similar to singapore ? HAHAHAHAHAAHHA wow wow *clap clap*

[@MolonLabe-1776]

@@jamesyue1348 You are right. Not similar. Taiwan is way better than Singapore.

[@NA-rh7iy]

@@MolonLabe-1776 everything is better than Singappore

[@gabrieltan06]

hahaha that's a lame comparison

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@johnchiu]

Thanks for showing love to Taiwan🇹🇼!

[@kovy689]

Free Taiwan!

[@Pr0d3gi]

china*

[@ericlee9051]

Taiwan 🇹🇼 number one

[@UmQasaann]

China* 🇨🇳

[@UmQasaann]

I agree Taiwan, China is beautiful 🇨🇳

[@tecpaocelotl]

Taiwan is a country!

[@unboxedcharacter]

This Vice News for ya 😂😂

[@northland7885]

No crap? Its the Republic of China. Everyone who has any intrest of Chinas history after 1911 knows that.

[@Pr0d3gi]

in china

[@super-kami-guru]

@@Pr0d3gilmfao no.

[@shreksburgers]

saying that won't change the situation. and most people don't care about it beyond memes or jokes. geographically it was its own country, but it's ruled by the losing side of the Chinese Civil War. so in theory it's Chinese, just a second China. the original natives have been vastly reduced in population or otherwise mostly slaughtered.

[@eksbocks9438]

Every dying town has the same factors in common. There's no economic center. And there's no opportunity for people to actually grow up. Usually in cities, there's a factory or big company that people work at. And their paycheck trickles down to the other aspects of the economy. (Restaurants, stores, etc).

[@liamwilcox641]

this is why world governments need to invest in and promote remote work and education. if people are able to get their degree and make a living from home, then they won't have to leave. they will also live somewhere with a lower cost of living, which will alleviate the economic pressure of having kids and make it easier to start families, which will combat population collapse.

[@RickyR115]

Very interesting and respectable way of living in Taiwan, please do more from there!

[@DrummerAndyTaiwan]

It’s cool to see my country on Vice

[@detsub1942]

Totally agree with Carey! Reviving old town is NOT about adding a bunch of art works or artificial things that has very little connection with local culture. Tourists just come, take a photo, and forgot about it. Too bad TW government just do not understand it… and seems to have very little improvement over last 2 decades.

[@muchasganas5616]

In our country we call it development aggression when aborigine and local culture get erased to give way to the capital's template of what economic development is. Aggressive developments that erase the charm of the town or literally displacing indigenous people are what we are facing. And these stuff have go signal from our national government. I really think they should listen first to those who live in the towns itself

[@BunToomo]

Complaining is fine, but do you have a realistic solution? At the end of the day, a solution is not a viable one unless it is economically sound.

[@detsub1942]

@@BunToomo Work with the local residents / business owner and develop a solution together (and has to make sense economically too) seems like a good start. I think Japan is doing really well in this area. Can learn from their experience. They spend a lot of effort on preserving local culture > Tourists love to visit and spend money there. It’s a positive loop. Just my opinion tho… I don’t know when it comes to execution what are the problems or obstacles they are facing so things are the way it is today. Would love to hear if anyone has any insight on this!

[@franciebelcher4594]

Such sweet ppl! I hope, so much, that these new ppl have a long and wonderful life in thier new town

[@TempleGuitars]

I loved every second of this, and now I'm sad it's over.

[@33Jenesis]

A plan C for my old age is to move to Taiwan’s eastern seashore for a few years. It is rustic and less populated. However a car or a moped is a must to get around.

[@aniwee17]

Unless you have a residency permit or a Taiwanese passport, it will be literally impossible. Taiwan is not Thailand. There is no retirement visa for foreigner.

[@33Jenesis]

@aniwee17 I was born there and still have residency and passport.

[@TD-yj8ch]

I just wish all the @sshole American English tutors would leave.

[@kristintrisha2616]

Would love to visit, looks peaceful. Hoping the essence of the locals remains.

[@johnhickersantilan4295]

I would love to live this kind of place so peaceful and quiet 😊

[@alekxu]

Interesting coverage. Worth noting that the aboriginals of Taiwan had been struggling to preserve their identities. This is why they might seem cautionary to the newcomers, who are predominantly Hans. For them, losing identity is the death of the town. Economic viability is the means, not ends.

[@eksbocks9438]

And some of the visitors don't respect their space either.

[@johnsutphin9400]

this isn't coverage it's a paid advertisement, as shown at the start of the video smh

[@thymeegraze3382]

Bro, in china there is only Chinese . One china policy 😂

[@Kingofthehill84]

Who's Han?

[@bctvanw]

Taiwanese president is a mix of Hakka and Paiwan. However, she is classified as Hakka by Taiwan’s system. The number of Taiwanese who have aboriginal bloodline is higher than what statistics show.

[@BaronVonFiend]

Really beautiful video :) Reminds me of Globe Trekker in a way, from PBS. I really would love to visit these places, and be a very small contribution to their lives. This video alone has inspired me to travel, something that was wholly repressed from the pandemic.

[@chadc7500]

Thank you VICE for another feature on Taiwan ❤

[@tsenam7751]

Would love to live in Taiwan 🇹🇼

[@xSavedSoulx]

Taiwan is a country

[@baha3alshamari152]

Even the government of Taiwan doesn't consider Taiwan as country 😂😂😂

[@super-kami-guru]

@@baha3alshamari152wat?

[@jackmilk6944]

​@@baha3alshamari152don't bother explain. These attention seekers are just provoking to get reactions from commenters. They don't even know the definition between Republic of China and People's Republic of China

[@MolonLabe-1776]

a BEAUTIFUL country. That's why it is called Formosa.

[@kzm-cb5mr]

@@super-kami-guru The government that rules Taiwan is officially called Republic of China, Taiwan was a mere province for them, which is no different from how mainland China treats Taiwan.

[@swooshes897]

Even though the problems Changbin is facing, It is very evident that this towns has so many potential. I believe if they could attract investors that are mindful of the town's nature and environment, it could provide great opportunities to the people there- They just need to set boundaries so that they won't ruin the place. A place with so many people that care about it, I'm sure they'll find a way to keep thing right- I hope i can visit it someday.

[@laurie113]

I wish you all the Best of LUCK! ❤️🇨🇦

[@justicewillprevail1106]

I've lived in US since I was 9 years old. I'm now 48 years of age. I'd love to be able to go to Taiwan one day when my children are grown. perhaps to retire there. It seems like a very peaceful living to me.

[@paulinetsai8640]

Thank you, VICE News❤

[@earthmeetsmoon]

What I don't understand is, if there are jobs but the housing is too expensive, why doesn't the government provide subsidized housing instead of scrapping the old and gentrify? Gentrification does not seem to be a solution.

[@bctvanw]

It’s dirt cheep in Taitung.

[@jayzee4097]

An apartment is likely around $200 a month, but jobs that pay enough are hard to come by. Mind you, this town is also really close to places like Dulan and the city of Taitung that does have a fairly decent tourist economy, but the east coast is so undeveloped that the roads would make commuting a pain, and the train stations are way more sporadic.

[@Jombozeus]

Subsidized housing rare ever works as intended and creates market distortions to make supply even more constrained. The only success stories of subsidized housing are where there were a ton of housing to begin with (post ww2 cities such as Vienna) or where the government has decided to own nearly all real estate by matter of policy (Singapore).

[@quaintleaf1208]

so interesting! thank you for sharing!

[@theWZZA]

Peace and freedom to the people of Taiwan ☮🗽

[@msh104utube]

Great video!

[@Sjalabais]

This is much the same all over the world. You'd think remote work and different approaches to wealth made rural living more attractive, but many rural communities struggle just like them.

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

Yeah, because remote work doesn't exist. You'll get one, maybe two days homeoffice. Enough for a little more comfort but nowhere near enough to make a move to the countryside viable. I say that as someone who quit over that exact offer and moved to the countryside anyways (NOT in Taiwan).

[@johndo2967]

個人以前在台東縣，當了兩年的英語代理老師。目前，個人已經退休，所以不需要擔心當地有什麼工作機會。但是因為個人不會煮飯做菜，所以擔心住在那麼偏遠的地方，能不能好好的過活。不知道當地的外食餐廳和店面多不多？ 它實在是太偏遠了，離台東市和花蓮市都十分遙遠。

[@awake_at_the_wheel7644]

I'm unable to find the restaurant on Google Maps (the 'magic healing in conscious restaurant'). Can anyone help?

[@vansonthewall8]

Search for "Little Witch by the Sea" in Taitung, Taiwan

[@wpxboston]

Please indicate it’s an ad

[@enshongmiranda]

Putting on makeup on a community and its history isn't going to revitalize a place. I think offering free or really cheap housing and fast internet would be better. People will want to live there, can find jobs with work from home arrangements, and they can eventually start their own dream businesses based on what that community lacks and they think they can offer.

[@cheavinho3237]

thanks for showing love to taiwan sir❤

[@ohinkyfarm8972]

Giving me Hometown Cha cha cha vibes.

[@nsonnson]

May I know name of the soundtrack 14:12 onwards?

[@cz2301]

VICE, where are the English subtitles/captions for the deaf community please?

[@misterlianghui]

The fact that we get free videos from VICE News on KZbin is priceless, keeping the education and knowledge alive 🙏🙏🙏

[@Trgn]

Dont know why other youths choose to struggle with living cost and buying ugly expensive houses in cities like Taipei, while they can just live in beautiful town like these.

[@maryandherpurpletea341]

Taiwan Number 1 ❤❤🇹🇼❤❤

[@wendyshoowaiching4161]

For good economy tourism. Lots of delicious restaurants is needed and outdoor cultural activities and all types of hotels and tourist bus facilities packages. Outdoor beach seats and cover

[@Nopinotnoir]

I have to say the subtitles were hard to understand and sounded very unnatural. Instead of translating literally, a bit of editing would have helped.

[@meegz149]

Taiwanese Chinese sounds a lot different than mainland Chinese. I wonder if they have a hard time understand eachother.

[@aniwee17]

It is similar to British English vs. American English.

[@KesareHuang-rq8pr]

As Taiwanese,we don’t have any difficulties to understand each other ,just different accents,and we speak more softly and slowly

[@willylin8046]

Also some terms are different, but understanding each other isn't a problem.

[@simpleplan2528]

請問這個地方的中文名字是什麼？

[@larrypan6811]

台東長濱…很平靜美好的地方

[@alvindurochermtl]

For a second I thought this video was about Hong Kong

[@Tim_L_RSA]

❤ you 🇹🇼

[@greghao]

Taiwan number one 🇹🇼 🇹🇼 🇹🇼

[@wendyshoowaiching4161]

Plan 100,000 population (25,000 household @ 4 in 1 Family). Put factories and many more busineses. Put financial family planning in place to support economy. The beach ground is not even. Need to flatten for public walks

[@somethingcleverhere]

Who exactly is the sponsor of this? Was it the town rejuvination fund, leading them showcase a couple of new businesses, and then Vice News finding a local activist? It's struck me an informative light advertisement with pieces of a more substantive analysis that don't quite meld, and nothing quite driven home. There's some framework: the aging population and lack of industries, some promo a few businesses whose outlook is mostly unknown, some references to bigger issues (the style of the development program, indigenous people's concerns) and some barely scratched (part -time work economy in Taiwan). Which is not to say a 14-minute piece is going to cover anything or everything in all it's nuance, but this feels both constrained by sponsorship and uncommitted.

[@Jombozeus]

I'm guessing Vice probably has very little presence in Taiwan and just a few people working part time. It's potentially an interesting story but executed by a skeleton crew, copy pasting the mother company's style, but to mediocre results. I see this parallel in many industries.

[@jadeitewu]

I don't think a production needs to be laser-focused on bringing home specific points, or forcing a 'call-to-action' from the audience?

[@yeoweehuathuat8926]

Government must create job in tis type of area ,online ,tourist

[@YengeAniket]

Love You Brother ❤️ Keep Going No Matter What Happens I Am Always With You. Can You Help The 3D Print General Please Help Him I Beg You.And If You Help him or Not doesn't matter I Am Always With You ❤️.

[@moozillamoo2109]

Keeping dying towns alive... It's an laudable effort, but futile.

[@javi8896]

i will go to asia one day

[@zlpatriot11]

It's on my bucket list too🙂

[@HiAdrian]

Same!

[@aspiring...]

Please save and go you will not be disappointed. I have been to 5 Asian countries and lived in one. No regrets 😊

[@Owl-of-Minerva]

Let me guess? The poor and foreigners. The affordability attracts artists, and a vibrant, young community sprouts. It impresses investors, attracts developers, forcing the original residents out.

[@somethingcleverhere]

Not really. Without any influx (and it would be other Taiwanese, not foreigners) the town will die with as the old residents die. If a young, vibrant community sprouts (which is also doubtful), then that'd be an issue, but even that pronouncement is premature and doesn't solve the lack of sustaing economy. I'd bet a chunk of the town would like to have the dilemma you suppose.

[@Jombozeus]

I have not seen this happen in Taiwan yet. I think the geography and demographics is not conducive to this type of gentrification. Can't put my finger on it but seems correct. I'd have to think about it harder and maybe research some facts but if you're just looking for a surface level response from a Taiwanese, this is my guess.

[@miahconnell23]

@@Jombozeus I’m feeling concordance with your thoughts. I visited two or three places that had a young-artist or young-creative vibe, and I wanted to be in those places full-time. But, my job was in New Taipei City. Needing to earn made me go back to work, and also my visa was tied to specific employment. Almost everyone I knew and met had to be at work often.

[@errgo2713]

Towns suffering economic decline like this, and there are dozens like this in Taiwan, first need to decide what its own unique identity is. If it has the most potential for tourism, service sector, agriculture, etc. and rally its local development around that first. This presupposes a clean municipal politics, free of crony parasites that plague Taiwan (agriculture union, pigeon racers...). Actual *bottom-up development* based on its identity instead of reliance on external private wealth or copy-paste shopping mall gentrification is what produces a thriving local culture, and that local cultural activity is then the attractant for steady tourism and migrants as a result.

[@kovy689]

Free Taiwan!

[@bossywossy111]

I read this as "a new wave of people keep dying in town". Assumed it was about covid was going to scroll past...

[@eddenoy321]

Hans down the best film I have Taiwan's most boring places

[@jayzee4097]

The problem is that places like Waiao, which are much closer to Taipei, are fairly anti-progress, so it's really difficult for bars to open, restaurants to get a foothold, and the type of development that's necessary to make a tourist economy work.

[@gabrielhuang8]

Tourist economy is not the way to revitalize a town, just brings people that come take advantage of the resources. Learn about local, and get more creative. Bars and restaurants are everywhere in Taipei already…

[@Ryanjelly22]

Lol, how did the government think a cool Amis name meaning "Wide Expanse" was worse than a generic boring name like "Golden Boulevard"?

[@RM360CR]

If you have continues waves of people than your town is not dying why does very everything today has to be corrupted on how you word things....?

[@activatekruger446]

I'm afraid Taiwan may fall victim to a special chinese military operation :(

[@KingKong-ws6zx]

​@@teandjelloNo one will miss you when you exit this world.

[@T0asty-]

​@@teandjelloI bet you'd love some little Chinese boots on your neck. Easier for you to lick. :)

[@jukio02]

China is not stupid, they aren't going to attack Taiwan. They will continue with peaceful reunification until it happens. There's tons of Chinese agents in Taiwan right now, just like there were in Hong Kong. Peaceful reunification will come quickly without you even noticing.

[@KingKong-ws6zx]

@mariovictor294 "pocking"

[@KingKong-ws6zx]

@mariovictor294 You're welcome, and stand with Taiwan 🇹🇼

[@HettesKvek]

Taiwan #1!

[@teandjello]

Bout to pull up

[@uhhuh2811]

💪💪💪👍

[@thoughtfulsapien1235]

That one lady that owns a bar is quite annoying, all she does is complain about change. It’s like she wants to live in the past. The others were great 👍

[@Pangcah88]

She is aboriginal. Perhaps you don't know the history of how Taiwanese aboriginals have been pushed to the margins for centuries. The east coast is one of the few places left.

[@MolonLabe-1776]

Your ignorance is at a top level. Not a thoughtful Sapien.

[@cz2301]

English subs?

[@joannabusinessaccount7293]

Any other industry other than food?

[@LeviAvans]

You know I like the content you guys make, but when I'm working and just want to listen to a video, and it's not dubbed over it gets really hard to follow.

[@vansonthewall8]

Well I prefer listening to the original with subtitles, rather than dubbed

[@ericyu423]

Seem like a very boring place, the only thing that is attractive there is the cheap real estate price.....I grew up in taipei..if you go far from city center...it already look like this..the ONLY difference is that there are less people there.

[@MrmacCOD]

Invite Indian they will slove the issue

[@NewHandle_]

I hope these nice people in the video don't get killed in the invasion of Taiwan 2026

[@TD-yj8ch]

Don’t worry about us. Worry about yourselves and mind your own business.

[@MolonLabe-1776]

The invaders are more vulnerable and easily to get killed if you read the history a little bit.

[@cooliipie]

Looks like a very boring place.... Let it go

[@jungleesuman1330]

What's going on in Israel

[@jamesparker1071]

Berkshire Hathaway. Blackrock. Vanguard.

[@anthonyyoung6489]

7:35 so 20 years of higher education to open a bar???? Wait what???? Any idiot over the age of 18 can open a bar here in taitung.

[@TD-yj8ch]

Any idiot can be an English tutor as well.

[@MolonLabe-1776]

Using your analogy, your comment indicates that you received zero education and you are fatherless.

[@khujupuminaga]

Vice are not like before, go to iseral and pelestine conflict

[@prxject1]

Free Palestine 🇵🇸

[@NateVDZ]

Every city should have bicycle lanes!

[@johnsutphin9400]

nice shill

[@undefinedhuman7404]

t. buttblasted zhang

[@NihilRuina]

Taiwan!? Dont you mean.. CHYNA!?

[@NewHandle_]

No, they mean Taiwan.