About Ruanqiao Community

Ruanqiao is located on County Road 122 in Zhudong Township, Hsinchu County. It is the most remote village in Zhudong Township. Its name comes from the fact that the bridge built in the early days when people traveled from the Zhudong mountain area to Hengshan was made of rattan and wood. Because it was soft to walk on, it was called "Ruanqiao" (soft bridge). Mr. Wu Zunxian, who works at the Hsinchu Science Park Wastewater Treatment Plant, is the son-in-law of Ruanqiao. After accompanying his wife to visit her parents' home, he felt that Ruanqiao could be different from other neighborhoods. So he had the idea of painting pictures to improve the environment of the villagers' houses. Although it was not accepted at first, after 4 years, young villagers were moved by his idea and took the initiative to participate in the environmental improvement. It has gradually become a consensus in the whole village.

Introduction to Ruanqiao Painted Village

Ruanqiao Painted Village, also known as the hidden Rainbow Village, uses Hakka culture as its creative theme. Bold colors and meticulous paintings are used on the walls of houses, courtyard fences, and roadside utility poles. It also tells stories by combining social issues such as "smartphone addicts", "NEETs", "helicopter parents", "money economy", "otaku culture", "aging population" and "brat". Among them, the "Thousand-Person Fantasy Painted House" in the community is the most popular photo spot in Ruanqiao Painted Village. The owner, Mr. Fan Yurong, is the father-in-law of Wu Zunxian. Wu Zunxian, who is not formally trained in painting, paints very realistic paintings. After the community was renovated, with his father-in-law's consent, he spent a year painting 1,000 people on the exterior wall of his house, which attracted many tourists.

Ruanqiao Painted Village - Surrounding Tourist Attractions

Ruanqiao Painted Village is currently maintained and managed by the Ruanqiao Community Association. Nearby are the smallest hydroelectric power plant in Taiwan - Ruanqiao Shuili Power Plant, Xishuikeng (a type of irrigation pond), and traditional mud-brick pig sheds. You may want to stop and take some photos on the way up the mountain.