Chiayi city, home to some 270,000 people, is in the southwest of Taiwan, roughly sandwiched between better-known Tainan in the north, and Kaohsiung in the south. Until CNN reported a train accident in Chiayi in March 2003, few people had even heard of the city, unless they'd travelled to one of the major tourist attractions in the area, Alishan (Mt Ali).

Walking through Chiayi is a bit like walking into the past. Chinese-style houses, one-storey with red doors marking the main entrance, are still common. There aren't many ... (more)