A decade ago, Huang Yung-fu, then aged 86, faced a serious problem. He was the last resident that remained in his village. Therefore, the Taiwanese government was planning to demolish it, hoping to construct a modern apartment complex. Although the government offered him money to move into a different place, he couldn’t imagine leaving the only place that was home to him. That’s what inspired him to start painting, earning him the affectionate nickname “Rainbow Grandpa”.
Huang was born in China, and he fought in the Sino-Japanese War and World War II. After that, he even fought for the Nationalist Party over the communist government led by Mao Zedong. Following the loss of the Nationalists, 2 million people including Huang fled to Taiwan. In Taiwan, a makeshift village was put together in a hurry for the incoming members of the military and their families. Although this village was supposed to be a temporary solution, it eventually became their permanent home.
So, when Huang learned that his home will be demolished after 40 years, he couldn’t believe it. When he became the only resident of the village, he started painting to ease his sadness. He started by drawing a little bird on his bungalow and continued to fill the building walls with paintings, attracting lots of visitors. A local university student came across the village in 2010 and promised to help Huang, starting a fundraising campaign and a petition to protect it. This is how it became a famous tourist attraction. However, the best thing is that the Taiwanese government promised to protect the village, and Huang gets to keep living in his home. So, check out the pictures below and share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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