Taiwan Instagram hot spot Rainbow Village and how its creator nearly lost it all
- Rainbow Village, famous for its murals, has featured in Lonely Planet’s Secret Marvels of the World, and lists of the most Instagrammable places in Taiwan
- Huang Yung-fu, 97, originally from Hong Kong, is the man behind the murals, and a mascot for the site – and was nearly a victim of his fame
It is a Monday morning during low season, but flocks of tourists wielding selfie sticks and cameras have arrived at Rainbow Village in Taichung, Taiwan. They move through the village snapping away, drawn to the bright, colourful murals that adorn its houses and walkways. One couple has even come dressed in a wedding gown and tuxedo.
Initially a local gem, Rainbow Village shot to fame after being featured in popular guidebooks such as Lonely Planet’s Secret Marvels of the World, and lists of the most Instagrammable places in Taiwan.
Huang Yung-fu, 97, is the creative brain behind the murals. He sits by a donation box and rainbow-themed merchandise stall.
“I am Rainbow Grandpa and the only one in this world,” says Huang, who has become a mascot for the site and, nearly, a victim of his fame.
Originally from Hong Kong, Huang can now recall his past only in snippets – “learning martial arts and lion dancing as a kid”, “living in Sai Wan Ho”, “joining the army at 17” and “flying the F-86 Sabre jet” – and constantly repeats himself in conversations. He was a member of the nationalist Kuomintang army during the Chinese civil war and fled to Taiwan along with other troops after its defeat in 1949.
