Yu-Chiang, Hsu

Dalin Township, formerly known as “Dapu Lin,” is a beautiful town located on the Chiayi–Tainan Plain and serves as the northern gateway of Chiayi County. Dalin features a green-architecture railway station, interchanges on National Freeway No. 1 and No. 3, Dalin Station, as well as higher education institutions such as Nanhua University and Chung Jen Junior College, along with Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital. With convenient transportation, rich cultural resources, and well-developed living functions, Dalin was awarded international Cittaslow certification in 2016, becoming one of Taiwan’s four Cittaslow towns.

Dalin’s attractions include the century-old Wan Guo Cinema, Dalin Sugar Factory, Lao Yang Fang Cheng (Old Yang Square City) in Dapumei Industrial Park, Carol Instrument Tourism Factory, Joden Castle, Gaia Manor, and Olewu Dream Castle. In early spring each year, the Honghua (red) royal poinciana trees bloom at Minghua Wetland Park. In March, the golden shower trees along Chenjingliao form a 1.5-kilometer golden waterfall that attracts numerous visitors. In summer, the golden blooms of the rain tree create a stunning seasonal landscape, especially in front of the Japanese-era station master’s dormitory at Dalin Station. These seasonal changes consistently leave visitors in awe.

Dalin is also known for its local cuisine, including what is often called “Taiwan’s best stinky tofu,” chicken rice, fried oyster cakes, pork rib rice, and tofu pudding. Its high-quality agricultural products include orchids, rice, bamboo shoots, pineapples, oranges, and Murcott tangerines. Both ecological agriculture and precision machinery industries are steadily developing in the township.

At the same time, Dalin has long been home to many distinctive industries and rich traditional cultures. Through the mechanism of local revitalization, the township seeks to foster collaboration among various sectors, enabling them to integrate resources and support, achieve greater collective impact, and create new opportunities for industrial development in Dalin.

Currently, Dalin Township is facing a range of contemporary challenges, including low birth rates, elderly care, family support, and broader social welfare issues, as well as the transitional development of the township itself. Township Mayor Hsu Yu-Chiang is committed to the overall development of the municipality, promoting the construction of multiple public infrastructure projects, developing cultural and tourism industries, and implementing various social welfare policies to enhance residents’ quality of life. Under the vision of “Happy Dalin – Nice Future,” the township aims to shape its identity, improve the quality of life for its residents, advance urban development, and foster a stronger sense of happiness and well-being within the community.