Kengkou murals create a new rural landscape

Under the scorching sun, farmers drive bullocks to cultivate their fields and the women crouch by the stream washing clothes; a few steps on, heavenly aromas waft by – it turns out to be herbal dumplings steaming in the kitchen! This is Kengkou in Luzhu District of Taoyuan City, where an array of murals depict traditional rural life from yesteryear.

By simply taking the MRT in the direction of Taoyuan Airport to Kengkou Station, you'll be greeted with stunning murals depicting rural life in sixties Taiwan. Kengkou once faced serious issues with population outflow, but Director of Kengkou Community Development Association, Xu Qing-he (徐慶和), turned all that around by implementing a brilliant initiative to paint the village with rural images. Kengkou has witnessed a resurgence of interest in recent years and residents now have a strong sense of identity with the community, which has not only been transformed into a popular destination for tourists but also more attractive for young people originally from the area. 

以下為中文對照

烈日下，農夫拉著牛車辛苦的耕種著，另一頭，婦女們正蹲在溪邊洗衣褲，再走幾步後，聞到陣陣飄來的香氣。原來是廚房裡的草仔粿蒸熟了。這裡是位於桃園市蘆竹區的坑口社區，而這些傳統的農村故事，就在坑口彩繪村的壁畫中。

搭乘桃園機場捷運，一路來到坑口站，看見巷弄中漆著六〇年代農村生活。坑口彩繪村原先面臨人口流失問題，在坑口社區發展協會理事長徐慶和一手規劃下，用壁畫記錄了農村景象。如今不但吸引觀光人潮，年輕人也更願意回到家鄉走走，居民對社區有了認同感，社區也因此活絡了起來。