On the edge of Taipei City, Taiwan lies Beitou District- surrounded by nature, home to Yangmingshan National Park and Thermal Valley. The area is typically viewed as a resort destination for both tourists and locals because of its hot springs. Subsequently, the local economy is powered by tourism with several public markets; convenience and general stores; and small parks scattered throughout the district.
I spent the majority of my formative childhood years along with middle school here. Growing up on the edge of Taipei City in Beitou District left me with unfulfilling memories of city life. Don’t get me wrong, I love the feeling of being “downtown” in Xinyi District with its glamour and glitz; basking in the busyness of Wanhua District in its multitude of shopping streets; and admiring the beautiful neon lights of Shilin Districts’ night market. However, the area in Beitou where I lived possessed none of these traits. The back of my house faced the lush green trees of the Yangmingshan Mountain and the front overlooked what used to be rice paddies, now repurposed into an apartment community. I remember a farmer’s market, a small shopping area, and the Metro station that was a 10-minute walk away, our connection with the rest of the city. The streets were often empty, with few cars and mopeds passing through the large lanes. The district has its quiet charm- an escape from the hectic city life. But as I grew, many of my neighbourhood friends moved away to the city for work and education. My home was slowly losing its former occupants.
My trips into the “city” always cast dizzy spells on me as I craned my neck and spun around to try and take in all of the sights, sounds, and sensation from the bustling crowds. It was exciting to explore new places with friends and family, but the myriad of images the city presented often overwhelmed me. I felt like a “鄉下人”, a country bumpkin, despite living in a presumed “city” due to my more-remote location. But because of my distance and unfamiliarity from these central areas, I am able to view all the components that make up the city from a distance- the public transportation systems; the twisting alleyways hidden within the bigger grid configuration of the city; and the movement of people flowing between the different districts. From these moments I began to think about how the social and spatial aspects of the city interacted with each other. When does one decide the city life is too much for them? And what draws them away from the city eventually? The ever changing dynamics and fluctuating population of Beitou District reveal that as people’s social and economic statuses change, so do their ideal living spaces. As I continue to grow, I think about how I will fit into the ever-changing spaces I once knew.
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