Navigating Wellness in Taitung: A Conversation with Ching-Ling Yao on Cultivating Resilience in a Slow Economy
Taitung, a county in Taiwan, is a glorious little coastal paradise facing the Pacific Ocean. With a population of less than 100,000 people, it is just the right place to find peace. This is where wellness and health play huge roles in its every day living and where travellers would end up staying. Today’s interview leads us directly to a leader who takes health seriously. Music Press Asia speaks to Taitung mayor Ching-Ling Yao. Interview below.
Taitung, a county in Taiwan, is a glorious little coastal paradise facing the Pacific Ocean. With a population of less than 100,000 people, it is just the right place to find peace. This is where wellness and health play huge roles in its every day living and where travellers would end up staying. Today’s interview leads us directly to a leader who takes health seriously. Music Press Asia speaks to Taitung mayor Ching-Ling Yao. Interview below.
- In the spirit of Taitung, beauty of its people, and geography, how has Taitung evolved economically over the last few years? We are curious how Taitung has come to embrace the slow economy. How did this idea come about and why it’s even more important than ever after the pandemic?
我一向覺得，愈國際化的時代，發展要愈在地。如何持續保有臺東這份真善美的特質，並且「有理念、有風格」的「販售」臺東的真善美，成為既能帶動地方發展，同時兼具永續發展與居民的生活品質，讓世代共享臺東「慢」的價值所能帶來的榮景，我們研擬出的縣政方案核心，就是「慢經濟」。
I have always felt that the more internationalized our times become, the more our local features need to be developed. How to maintain Taitung’s true, inherent beauty while marketing it correctly is a question of how to promote the county’s development in a sustainable way, ensuring the quality of life of its residents and allowing all involved to share in the prosperity generated by the slow-living culture. As a result, our policy is dedicated to promoting the slow economy.
「慢」是用心經營的緩慢，以時間慢慢淬鍊出有質感的生活，讓這片土地上的人能夠從身心靈獲得滿足，找到真正的幸福，是一種專屬於臺東的生活態度。但是慢，並不代表政府單位就可以停滯無作為，而是以有效率的快思維，凸顯臺東慢的價值，也能創造實際的經濟產值。
Being “slow” takes a conscious effort. People have to spend time to refine their quality of life. We want people to obtain satisfaction in the body, mind, and spirit to find true happiness. This is an attitude about life particular to Taitung. But being slow doesn’t mean the government can just sit idly aside and do nothing; we have to think fast and efficiently about how to highlight Taitung’s slow value and turn that into economic value.
我們觀察到，當人們享受過經濟發展所帶來的豐沛物質資源後，反而開始回過頭，尋找心靈與精神上的滿足與平靜，嚮往在純淨山水、原始自然景觀，以及深厚地方文化底蘊的淨土中，追求自我實現。尤其近年全球受疫情、戰爭、氣候災害等因素影響，當生活及生命皆變得不可預測、益加艱難時，更吸引了更多人產生返璞歸真和追求身心靈平衡的祈願。
We have seen that once people have gotten material wealth through economic development, they start to look back in pursuit of psychological and spiritual satisfaction and balance.
“They desire to embark on a search of self-realization within the natural beauty of untouched mountains, pure bodies of water, and rich, untainted culture.” — Ching-Ling Yao, Mayor of Taitung, Taiwan.
This has become especially true with the epidemics, war, and climate change-related disasters in recent years, which have made life increasingly difficult. The return to our simple nature and the pursuit of balance among the body, mind, and spirit have thus become an aspiration shared by many people.
而臺東的慢活氣息與自然景致，無疑成為一扇通往身心靈療癒之窗。因此，我們於2021年底開辦了「自然醒慢活祭」這個臺東專屬的心靈美學品牌，希望能讓大家「慢」下來，在如此快速變化的時代中放慢自己、感受內心，讓「慢」不只改變生活，更從身體、心理到精神層面都獲得更大滿足，透過計畫，去突顯臺東這份獨有且珍貴的慢活特質。
Taitung’s slow-living atmosphere and natural setting are a clear doorway to physical, psychological, and spiritual healing. This is why we launched the Taitung Spirit Festival in 2021, Taitung County’s exclusive brand of spiritual aesthetic.
It is aimed at helping people slow down in this age of rapid change to feel what is going on inside, change their lives, and obtain greater satisfaction in these three components of the human being. As such, we have worked to highlight the features of unique, precious Taitung.
- Taitung Spirit Festival is attracting a large crowd of people worldwide in their quest to seek and achieve wellness, health and a peaceful place to rest before they get back to their busy lives. Why do you think they have chosen Taitung and what is the true reason they are returning?
我們常笑稱「不要輕易來臺東，因為臺東的土會黏人」，這正是形容大家願意一來再來的現象。
We often jokingly tell people to be careful when they come because the soil is quite “sticky.” That is, people keep coming back.
臺東過去因地形及地理位置限制，緩慢了開發的腳步，卻也幸運保留多數的純淨景觀，縣境內的海岸線、縱谷、南迴、離島都各具風情。我們擁有全長176公里，全臺灣最綿長的海岸線，蔚藍且一望無際的太平洋年年吸引著旅人的目光，也有秋收時期金黃的縱谷稻穗、原始山林綠意與溫泉地熱、離島海底生態資源……等，不只天然景致，多元的原住民族文化，更深化臺東人文底蘊，讓臺東因此與眾不同。
Due to its location and topography, Taitung has developed slowly compared with the rest of the island, allowing for the preservation of numerous pure, natural sights. The coast, the East Rift Valley, the southern part of the county, and the outlying islands each boast unique kinds of scenery. Our coastal highway is 176 kilometers long, the longest of any locale in Taiwan, running alongside the boundless blue Pacific, the scenery attracting countless tourists each year.
In the fall, the East Rift Valley turns gold with the ripening of the rice, and then there is the lush greenery of untouched forests, the warmth of hot springs, the underwater ecology on the outlying islands, and more. Tucked within this natural radiance is a great variety of Indigenous culture, all working together to make Taitung completely different from any place you have ever been.
這處在過去彷彿被遺忘的土地，現今正靜靜的向世人展現著遺世獨立的美好。慢慢的散發出光芒，吸引著「忙、茫、盲」的現代人，提供一處可以大口呼吸、輕鬆生活的所在。
This once seemingly forgotten bit of land is now showing the world its incomparable beauty. Its glow is a magnet for people who have become too busy and completely lost in the cares of the modern world. Here, they may truly breathe and take life easy.
在不破壞天然資源為核心發展觀光的前提下，我們規劃多元的活動，橫跨陸、海、空，與不同類型的族群對接，讓他們被臺東黏住，達成一來再來的願景。「自然醒慢活祭」同樣是其一，正是我們運用上述臺東的地理特質與區域景致特色，針對所有想尋求健康、身心平衡和寧靜的旅人們所打造的內容，一個展現臺東「靈氣」，並結合自然、人文、療癒力的專屬活動。
While holding to the principle of preserving natural resources, we have coordinated all types of events that take place on land, in the air, and in the water, bringing together all kinds of different people. While here, they find it hard to pull themselves away, which is why they invariably come back. The Taitung Spirit Festival is one such event, for which we make use of the abovementioned regional features. Aimed at all who pursue health, mental and physical balance, and tranquility, the festival is a representation of Taitung’s spiritual energy that incorporates nature, culture, and the power to heal.
從2021年主題「Pause for Yourself.」，到2023年「Embrace Who you are.」，這個年輕卻獨樹一格的療癒性活動已成為全臺知名的身心靈休閒美學品牌。
From the themes of “Pause for Yourself” in 2021 to “Embrace Who You Are” in 2023, this young yet singular event of healing has become a brand of physical, psychological, and spiritual aesthetic and recreation known throughout Taiwan.
三年總計吸引3萬多人次參與、超過40個社區加入療癒產業培力計畫、串聯1百多家地方產業、發掘並連結近百位在地師資、並有超過2百位全國及國際專業人士加入師資群。
Since its inauguration, it has seen over 30,000 attendees, more than 40 communities have gotten involved in the related therapy industry empowerment program, over 100 local businesses have become connected, and nearly 100 local instructors and over 200 instructors from other parts of Taiwan and abroad who are experts in their fields have participated.
- Wellness isn’t something we can achieve in a short time. But there are always things to learn when we travel to a new place. What would you say is uniquely Taitung when it comes to how its local community member embrace wellness? If you can point to one thing we can all about its people and their wellness practices and routines, what would that be?
大自然就是我們的療癒導師。
Nature is our therapist here.
臺東特有的自然場域與「靈氣」，吸引了非常多喜愛身心靈的人士停留，甚至從旅人身份轉變為「東漂」新移民。他們依循自然生息、接納日月天地給予的能量，並用尊重土地的方式展開與臺東的對話。
The unique natural environment and spiritual aura of Taitung attract many seekers of physical, psychological, and spiritual wellness. Some of them only plan to visit but end up living here. They live by the cycle of nature and soak in the energy it radiates here while respectfully engaging in dialogue with the land.
透過與自然的連結來療癒自己，也用這樣的概念落實在瑜珈教學、香草種植、精油調製、芳療按摩、靜心冥想、伸展舞蹈、音樂創作、花藝園藝、健康飲食……等各式領域，形成了另一種慢生活的展現，也逐漸影響了在地氣息和氛圍，讓更多臺東潛在身心靈愛好者依循著同樣的生活步調，並在實踐中發現家鄉的美麗與靈性。
People find healing by connecting with nature. This concept is brought into the areas of yoga, the growing of herbs, the manufacture of essence oils, aromatherapy, meditation, dancing that focuses on stretching, musical creation, gardening, healthy eating, etc. This manifestation of slow living is gradually influencing the local atmosphere, causing more locals with the potential for becoming ardent pursuers of physical, psychological, and spiritual wellness to follow such a lifestyle and, while doing that, discover the beauty and spirituality of their home.
- What will Taitung’s 2024 Wellness Calendar look like?
我們在過去曾推出以海洋、星空、溫泉為主題的療癒遊程，內容涵蓋許多結合自然的療癒活動，如SUP瑜珈、瀑布淨化、溫泉水療等，也有音樂類的手碟瑜珈、頌缽音療、銅鑼浴，更有藝術文化類的戲劇療癒、園藝治療、靈性舞會等多元的體驗活動。
We have launched therapeutic journeys based on the ocean, the night sky, and hot springs in the past with content including activities that are linked to nature, such as SUP yoga, “waterfall purification,” and hot spring therapy. We have also held music-based activities – hang drum yoga, singing bowl music therapy, and gong baths – and art-based ones – theater therapy, horticultural therapy, and “spirit dance parties.”
2024年「自然醒慢活祭」將以「Be a light unto yourself.」做號召，持續在自然場域中推出療癒體驗、工作坊、音樂節等活動，每個月都會有相關的內容，請容我們賣個關子，更多資訊可以關注自然醒慢活祭官方網站（Taitung Spirit Festival)
For the 2024 theme, “Be a Light unto Yourself,” we will continue with therapeutic experiences, workshops, and music festivals among nature each month. I want to keep you in suspense for now, but you can stay informed on what is coming up on the festival website. Click here.
作為全臺灣第一個公辦的身心靈美學品牌，期待「自然醒慢活祭」在未來能成為更全方位的心靈指南。藉由引進更多專業人士和專業知識、結合地方創生力量，來活化在地人才庫、打造產業的媒合平台，並持續策辦與大地共好之獨特體驗，運用觀光上的天然優勢，擴充慢活城市內涵，吸引人們前來放鬆。
For Taiwan’s first government-organized brand of spiritual aesthetic, we look forward to the festival becoming a more comprehensive spiritual indicator.
By bringing in more professionals and integrating more related knowledge and local creativity, we look to enrich the local pool of talent and make the festival an industry platform as we continue to offer unique experiences with the land that benefit both us and it.
With our wealth of natural tourism resources, we will expand on what it means to live slowly in Taitung as we attract people to come and relax.
- Taitung has many beautiful places to visit. But if you get to choose one, where would you go and how would you enjoy the place?
如果真的只能選一個，我想會是「杉原灣海水浴場」，阿美族人稱之為FUDAFUDAK，意思是閃閃發光的地方。原住民傳統的日常採集、祭典等都和此處息息相關。
If I had only one choice, I would have to go with Shanyuan Beach. The local Amis call it Fudafudak, which means “place that radiates with light.” Their traditional activities of gathering and ceremonies often take place here.
“A glorious paradise of unmatched well-being.” — Monica Tong, founder of Music Press Asia.
它位在臺東綿長海岸線的中段，距離市區只要30分鐘左右的車程。半月形的海灣和長達1.5公里的沙灘坡度平緩、沙質細緻親人、海水澄澈而無暗潮，還有完整的珊瑚礁群落，十分適合戲水。也是「自然醒慢活祭」多次選擇舉辦療癒活動的場域之一。
The beach is in the middle of Taitung’s coast, about 30 minutes by car from downtown. The half-moon-shaped bay boasts a 1.5-km-long beach with a gentle grade, fine sand, crystal-clear water, no dangerous currents, and a beautiful array of coral, so it is a perfect place to enjoy the ocean. It is also one of the places the Taitung Spirit Festival has been held.
希望每個來到這裡的旅客，都能在柔軟的沙灘上踩著自在的步伐，感受海風輕拂，細細聆聽每一道海潮的拍打頻率，讓太平洋的浪花與你相伴，一起沉浸在臺東的美好，享受海洋所帶來的平靜和療癒。
I want everyone who comes here to be able to walk along this beach, free and easy in the soft sand, to feel the gentle kiss of the breeze and hear the gentle crash of the waves. May they immerse themselves in the wonder of Taitung while basking in the serenity and healing power of the ocean.
Read more: Experience Wellness at Taitung Spirit Festival 2023
CONTENT PARTNERSHIP Taitung County
