Rainbow Village Taichung – Is it Worth Visiting in 2026? 

Ever since I saw the Rainbow Village Taichung on my social media feeds years ago, I have had it on my travel bucket list. 

A local community project by a so-called ‘Rainbow Grandpa’ filled with endless colourful murals and vibrant artwork? Count me in. 

I was sad to find out it closed due to vandalism a while back and had to be completely repainted. 

It has since reopened to the public, but I wasn’t sure what to expect on my visit. Would it be as good as before? Or would I be disappointed? 

There was only one way to find out. So, on my visit to Taichung, I hopped on a bus to see what this new vibrant village looked like nowadays.

Here is a complete guide on how to visit Taichung’s Rainbow Village and whether it’s worth visiting today.

What is the Rainbow Village Taichung?

Taichung’s Rainbow Village is a group of colourful houses on the city’s outskirts.

Each one has been painted with striking murals and street art. Even the floor is filled with vibrant patterns. 

It’s one of the top things to do in Taichung and pulls in hundreds of tourists every day as it provides a wonderful photo opportunity.

It also often goes viral on social media for this reason. But many don’t know the tragic yet uplifting story behind it.  

The story of Taichung’s Rainbow Village 

The brainchild of this colourful place is the late Huang Yung Fu, a retired army veteran. 

He decided to spend the rest of his days in a military veteran village along with others, but it came under a threat of closure. 

The government had plans to demolish his community, along with thousands of other homes.

So, Mr Huang took a stand and decided to paint the village in all different colours and patterns.

He worked tirelessly with his paint brushes, and the project caught the attention of local news channels and drew many visitors.

Eventually, the Rainbow Village became so famous that there was a public outcry to save it, and the government relented.

Mr Huang’s labour of colourful love ultimately saved the village from destruction!

He was a hero named ‘Rainbow Grandpa’ and could be seen early in the mornings painting his Rainbow Village until he died in 2024. 

Vandalism and Rebirth 

Unfortunately, the village was heavily vandalised in 2022, with many of the murals being painted over.

Mr Huang employed security to protect the rainbow village from vandals.

One day, the team was asked to leave temporarily by the government to ensure the buildings met safety regulations. 

The guardians didn’t take this too kindly and destroyed all of Rainbow Grandpa’s hard work by painting over the artwork.

The Rainbow Village had to close and be completely repainted. A project that took two years. It eventually reopened to the public in 2024. 

Unfortunately, Mr Huang wasn’t there to see it, as he had died earlier that year. It’s such a shame to think he passed in distress for his village.

Thankfully, his legacy now lives on with the brand-new Rainbow Village Taichung. It brings joy to hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors each day.  

Hopefully, his soul is now at peace knowing that it’s been restored to its former glory.

How to visit the Rainbow Village

Taichung’s Rainbow Village is a little out of the city centre and away from the main attractions. It’s around 10 kilometres west of Taichung Station. 

So, you’ll need to take a bus there, book a taxi, or drive with a rental car. 

As I was staying near Taichung Park, I took bus number 56 the whole way there in 50 minutes. It also stopped at Taichung Station.

But other local buses also go there from either Taichung Station or Taichung HSR Station. The stop is called ‘Rainbow Village ‘, so very easy.

You’ll know when you’ve arrived as the bus stops look like rainbows. It was so sweet. 

Make sure to buy an EasyCard from any convenience store to pay for public transportation in Taiwan. 

Why not book a guided tour?

If you’d rather take the hassle out of planning a visit, why not book a guided tour? Here are some recommended options:

Things to do in Taichung Rainbow Village

I really didn’t know what to expect when I arrived at Taichung Rainbow Village due to the recent renovations.

But I was pleasantly surprised that the village looked entirely back to normal, from what I could tell. 

After years of hard work repainting the houses, you’ll find fun and uplifting murals all over this area.

The Rainbow Village is quite small, and you can walk around the entire place in a few minutes.

But it’s a wonderful art project with lots to find inside. Here are all the things to do there.

1. Colourful playground & marketplace

As soon as you arrive at the Rainbow Village, you’ll walk through a vibrant playground area to get to the colourful houses.

This area is open all hours, and there is a delightful local market selling souvenirs, artwork, handicrafts and trinkets. 

I bought a lovely Kuromi glass figure here, but there were postcards and magnets I was tempted by as well. 

The playground has some slides and swings for little ones to play with if they need a distraction. 

You can also spend ages admiring the artwork on the floor and walls. I loved the dog and all the Chinese zodiac paintings. 

2. Take photos of the colourful houses

As you make your way inside the Rainbow Village, you’ll find a labyrinth of colourful houses.

There are enchanting murals around every corner, and even the floor has been painted in mesmerising patterns.

There are so many photo opportunities to find around here. Make sure to take your time to appreciate the artwork. 

It’s a small space, and so this village can get crowded very quickly. So, there may be queues for some of the photo zones. 

3. Meet the Rainbow Village Iron Man

One of the mysterious characters you can find at the village is the Rainbow Village Iron Man.

He walks around the area in colourful spandex and wears an Iron Man helmet, taking photos with visitors.

You can often see him with his guitar, playing songs and getting the crowds to join in! He keeps the vibes high. 

I was lucky enough to meet him on my visit, and he took these cool selfies of us. 

He took my phone to a corner of the village, and I had no idea what he was doing with it at first.

But then, he took this photo where he looks like he’s stomping on me! It was so cool. 

4. Get a Rainbow Village stamp

A fun thing to do on your travels through Taiwan is to collect ink stamps, and you can find one here. 

In the corner by the writing tables, you’ll find a station to get a Rainbow Village stamp. 

I loved collecting stamps through Taiwan, as you can find stations almost anywhere. Mostly at train stations, attractions, and shops. 

If you’re still planning your trip, remember to take a small notebook to start a collection. It makes a great souvenir to take home. 

5. Write a heartfelt message 

Another fun thing to do in Rainbow Village Taichung, is to write a heartfelt message. 

They have some colourful paper and pens on the writing desks in the central courtyard, where you can write down your thoughts.  

You can then hang up your positive message for all to read while they wander the village. 

Where to eat in Taichung’s Rainbow Village

There isn’t anywhere to sit down and eat at the Rainbow Village, only a drinks cart by the local market in the playground. 

I recommend walking for five minutes down the road to visit the colourful 7-Eleven.

It has been decorated in a rainbow of colours in keeping with the vibrant theme, and there are Open Chan Universe characters to greet you. 

I sat in the air-con here to decompress from the crowds with an iced coffee and a toastie. It was sublime.

Is the Rainbow Village in Taichung worth visiting? 

Most definitely, yes. I found this enchanting place not only colourful, but uplifting for the spirit too.

I was a little worried before my visit that Taichung’s Rainbow Village wouldn’t be what it once was due to the vandalism.

But I was pleased to see that Mr Huang’s village lives on and is utterly thriving. There’s colour, music, and positive vibes.

Of course, this place gets packed out every day, and there are coach loads of tourists that make a stop here. 

But don’t let that put you off. It’s a wonderful place that you cannot miss in Taiwan.

Entry fees & opening times

Amazingly, despite the renovation, it’s completely free to visit the Rainbow Village in Taichung. 

However, they do have some donation boxes dotted around the area for you to show your support and for the upkeep. 

This vibrant village is officially open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm. It’s completely closed on Mondays. 

When is the best time to visit? 

I recommend visiting the Rainbow Village as soon as it opens on a weekday. This is when it is least crowded.

The weekends will be packed with tourists, making it a hectic experience as it’s a small place. 

That being said, I arrived in the village around 8.45 am on a weekday and was shocked to find it was already open. 

There were two coaches full of visitors that were already inside. So, it was a little chaotic to get photos for a bit. 

As this place often goes viral on social media, crowds are definitely to be expected. It’s not a peaceful place by any means. 

How long do you need to visit

After seeing this amazing village online for years, I was quite surprised at how small the Rainbow Village Taichung was.

You can probably walk around this colourful maze of houses in just five minutes. 

However, I recommend spending around 30 minutes to one hour here. 

There are lots of photo opportunities to be found, and it’s lovely to soak in the vibes with live music from the Iron Man. 

Plus, if the village is crowded, you’ll need to queue to go inside and for photo areas.

My top tips

• There are free toilets right next to the Rainbow Village Taichung

• I would visit early in the morning on a weekday to avoid mass crowds, as tour buses stop by here. Weekends can be chaotic. 

• You should wear comfortable shoes as the ground is quite uneven and can be slippery when wet.

• It’s free entry, but I would bring some cash for a donation to help support the village, musicians and artists.

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