A Slower Pace for Digital Nomads: Taitung, Part 5 | TaiwanPlus News
What draws people to one of Taiwan’s most remote counties — and convinces some to stay? In the fifth and final episode of our series “Where’s the Taitung County Chief Taking Us?” Andrew Ryan explores how Taitung is becoming an unexpected destination for digital nomads, creatives, and independent thinkers seeking space, quiet and community. As more people rethink where — and how — they want to live and work, Taitung’s slower pace and dramatic landscapes are gaining attention. From coastal towns to mountain valleys, newcomers are finding room to focus, create and connect. The episode also visits one of Taiwan’s most remote independent bookstores — a place that reflects Taitung’s appeal: thoughtful, unhurried and deeply rooted in its surroundings. As Andrew’s journey comes to an end, the series asks a larger question: in a fast-moving world, what does it mean to slow down — and where can that lead? WATCH other episodes of Andrew Ryan’s journey through Taitung County in our series playlist for "Where’s the County Chief Taking Us?”https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu5MSnfNvpMb3ZFYxt5_eJfl9tPzPRywj&si=sNf234QSf4h5C1QN [Taiwan’s Mayors and County Chiefs] Taiwan is home to 13 county chiefs, six mayors of special municipalities (New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung) and three mayors of provincial cities. These elected officials serve a maximum four-year term, and can be re-elected for one additional term. The first episodes of the series aired prior to the local elections in 2022.
A Slower Pace for Digital Nomads: Where’s the Taitung County Chief Taking Us? Part 5
REPORTER:
These giant waves off Taitung’s coast have long been a magnet for international surfers. The annual hot air balloon festival draws visitors from all over too. It’s harder to imagine coming to this remote county for WORK. But that’s starting to change.
REPORTER:
Taitung is working with the National Development Council to make it easier for digital nomads to set up here. That means stronger Wi-Fi, better transportation, and new incentives to attract remote workers.
Some of these changes are happening in unexpected places – like this row of Japanese-era buildings from the 1930s.
Once a teachers’ dorm, this building’s been transformed into a youth hostel designed for remote workers, blending local history with a new kind of travel.
REPORTER:
There’s another spot that’s drawing visitors and workers to an even more remote corner of Taitung. This is Changbin, a tiny town of around 6,500 people in the county’s far north.
And this shop – Eat Books – is perhaps the most remote indie bookstore in all of Taiwan.
It's a 90-minute drive to the two nearest big cities – Taitung and Hualien.
REPORTER:
About a dozen people are packed into this tiny space. They’ve come to hear an author speak about his new book on politics.
Events like this take place all the time – sometimes up to ten a month – touching on everything from politics and culture to film and wellness.
And the way the shop runs is pretty unusual. Volunteers from across Taiwan sign up to run it as acting manager, taking seven-day shifts in exchange for a place to stay.
Kao Yao-wei (BOOKSTORE OWNER):
Each manager brings their own special energy.
They can really feel at ease here
and use the shop to express who they are.
That’s what makes the shop interesting.
Just today, a neighbor’s kid came in to read
and that interaction between neighbors and the bookstore
and the way they share it with people
gives the shop a real local feel.
REPORTER:
The shop has been running this way for six and a half years.
And the chance to run an indie bookstore has become a real draw for people who want to experience life in a small town.
When manager slots open up, they fill in an instant. Some people apply a year and a half in advance.
And the volunteers come from all walks of life and all ages.
Today, a 17-year-old high school student from northern Taiwan is in charge. She reads through the shop manager’s log to pick up where the last one left off.
Angela Kuo (VOLUNTEER MANAGER):
The manager wrote it
to remind everyone to enjoy their time here.
So it’s not just a list of what needs to be done.
It also tells us to slow down and enjoy ourselves.
REPORTER:
But there's more to the job than just enjoying yourself. When a typhoon hits, the manager also has to deal with the leaks. It’s a real taste of small-town life.
Kao Yao-wei (BOOKSTORE OWNER):
Sometimes, if you’re just visiting
you don’t realize that to really experience a place
you need a living room or shared space.
But in a small town like Changbin
you might need an entry point
and sometimes the bookstore can offer that.
That’s how we connect locals and newcomers.
It’s become a kind of community living room.
REPORTER:
So if you really want to experience the charm of Taitung, you might have to actually come and stay for a while.
REPORTER:
Taitung has become known as a quiet retreat for people looking to get away.
But there are countless other reasons to come. Some visit as tourists or digital nomads, others come to create art. And many, myself included, end up calling Taitung a second home.
Eason Chen, Hank Hsu, Pichi Chuang and Andrew Ryan for TaiwanPlus
