Ironically, as a person who has not tried a single cigarette, my hometown shapes like a tobacco pipe. Taichung City, Taiwan, raised me until I went abroad to study for high school in the US, and it has shaped me as a person. Taichung City can be divided into a metropolitan section, where I grew, and a rural section. Distinctively, the city's metro area is developed and still progressing, yet the rural area is evolving and requires improvements. For example, the urban section is divided by a grid of roads and streets to form blocks, whereas the road network of the rural area is in disarray. Moreover, districts in the urban section have a variety of styles.
My home is located in the Xitun District, and the road network is exceptionally well organized. As the most rapidly growing district of the city, people in their 30s and college graduates with excellent ambition flock to the most prosperous community in central Taiwan. To attract even more immigrants, the Taichung City Government and multiple construction companies cooperate to create a theme of neoclassical architecture in the district owing to Taiwanese people's admiration for the western culture. Living in the center of Taichung City's neoclassical architectural area, I see a massive gray checkboard lying in front of me. The artificial parks represent the black and white blocks in the checkboard grid. On the other hand, Neoclassical buildings resemble chess pieces as their positions are calculated. Their appearances are incredibly similar to actual chess pieces.
Cultures from all over the globe have influenced Taiwan, and they are reflected in the cities of Taiwan. For example, The Taichung City Hall and Taichung City Council were built by the Japanese during the Japanese colonization before WW2. Decades later, they relocated to a pair of buildings designed by a Swiss architect next to my home. As a result, Taichung City has a highly diverse culture inherited from Japanese colonization and western culture.
I spent most of my time in the urban section because even though Taichung City is relatively small compared to all the major cities globally, it has most of its features while attracting me with its style. Landmarks of Taichung City are located next to one another. For instance, Department stores, cinemas, the National Taichung Theater, the Taichung City Hall, and the Taichung City Council are all walking distance from my home. Taichung City is a walking-friendly city where I can spend an entire day exploring Taichung by merely walking. Recently, artificial parks have been established in every corner of the town, making the atmosphere green and healthy. Therefore, as youngsters are attracted to Taichung City by its rapid development and job opportunities, elders are drawn to the abundant and nutritious lifestyle. Although I have lived in various cities, such as Lugano, Boston, London, San Francisco, and Ithaca, Taichung City is the greatest.
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