Dalin Slow City Development Association

Dalin was originally a forest, formerly known as 'Dapulin'. From the preserved place names within the township such as Zhonglin, Dingyuanlin, Lintou, Linzaqian, and Lintouzi, one can imagine the lush scenery of the past. During the Qing Kangxi era, pioneering settlers discovered this fertile land, gradually forming a bustling street village here, which became a trading center for neighboring communities, known as 'Dapulin Street'. From the Japanese colonial period onwards, the development of Dalin Township has been closely linked with the 'Dalin Sugar Refinery'. In the early post-war period, due to the Dalin Sugar Refinery, local industrial and commercial development was greatly promoted. Merchants flocked to the town, which became incredibly prosperous, making it the wealthiest district in Chiayi, marking Dalin Township's most glorious era. This community is located in Dalin Township's busiest commercial district, adjacent to Dalin Railway Station. Its main area, primarily encompassing Zhongshan Road, Zhongzheng Road, and Heping Street in Dalin Township, largely consists of old buildings over 50 years old. In the 1970s and 1980s, it was the most prosperous area in Dalin Township. In recent years, due to outward migration, the population has gradually declined, with approximately 30,000 residents currently living in the town, which is also a very livable town. The members of the Chiayi County Dalin Slow City Association were co-founded by two local Dalin residents, Jiang Ming-he and Xu Kai-xing. The association was founded out of a recognition that Dalin Township was once the wealthiest place in Chiayi County, serving as the northern gateway to Chiayi County. Its history of reclamation dates back very early, with historical records from the Qing Kangxi era. Many early settlers crossed the sea from Fujian, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, and Guangdong. Due to Dalin's vast agricultural land and abundant irrigation water, it became an important granary in the Chianan Plain, with rice and orchids enjoying an excellent reputation for quality. The small town once boasted a military camp and a sugar refinery economy, experiencing a period of prosperity. After years of dormancy, in 2016, with the promotion of the township office, it passed 'International Slow City Certification', becoming the first town in western Taiwan to receive Slow City accreditation. In the past two years, more than hundreds of cultural small tours and local event linkages have also been carried out (Wanguo Theater, Tudigong Temple, Taicheng Traditional Chinese Medicine Cultural Museum, Jiyang Yanpai Street House, Zhuluoshan Dapulin, Shixin Vision, and surrounding tourist factories, etc.). By combining old buildings, cultural characteristics, experiential activities, and tourism, businesses throughout Dalin are connected, forming a small cluster. The Ministry of Culture's program to guide core creators and independent workers to settle in cultural and creative clusters has also been implemented, achieving many results. Dalin has a population of approximately 29,000, but an estimated over 200,000 tourist visits are made to Dalin annually. Many people travel here due to Dalin's unique cultural characteristics, aiming to deepen their understanding of local features and expand their knowledge.