Mayor addresses Wanhua's woes

As Mayor of Taipei, Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) sometimes finds himself playing the role of a salesman in promoting urban development. This appeared to be the case yesterday, when Ma visited the historic Wanhua (萬華) district, where he grew up, to try on a tailor-made suit, in a bid to boost the district's clothing businesses that have declined in recent years.

"As someone who grew up in Wanhua, I'm glad I can return here to have my new suits tailor-made," Ma told local residents in Hokkien, after putting on a blue-colored suit from a tailor's shop in the district.

Ma's decision to have his suits made in the district was triggered by a shop owner's complaints to the city government, detailing how his business was suffering after many of his ex-customers found a preference for shops in the city's Eastern District, city officials said.

The mayor also used the event to renew his promise to renovate the district, located in the southwest corner of Taipei.

"I want to ensure you that the business opportunities in this district will be restored, making it one of the city's commercial centers again," he added.

The Wanhua district, known also as Manka, meaning "the gathering of many boats," was the bustling hub of Taipei about 200 years ago.

But the combined effect of silt accumulation in the nearby Tamsui River, preventing shipping from directly reaching the district, along with various other factors, has robbed Manka of its power and popularity. The center of the city thus gradually shifted elsewhere.

The poor business at clothing shops in the district is just one symptom of its decline, said local residents. The rise of clothing wholesale businesses elsewhere in Taipei, such as shopping circles near the Sungshan train station, have threatened the survival of many shops in Wanhua.

"The shops near the Sungshan train station sell trendy clothes for youngsters, so the market is somehow diversified," said Hsieh Su-chen (謝素珍), a saleswoman at a clothes shop.

The lack of modern facilities in the district was another setback for business. "The lack of parking lots is one detrimental factor to our businesses, and so are messy shop signboards in the area," said Hsu Heng-lung (許恆龍), owner of another clothes shop.

Hsieh also said that the fact that many express trains nowadays do not stop in Wanhua has inconvenienced customers from the southern part of Taiwan seeking to conduct wholesale purchases in Wanhua.

"So many of them go shopping near the Sungshan train station instead," Hsu said.

Overall, the mayor's promise to help revive business in Wanhua drew mixed responses from clothes shop operators.

Hsieh said she was pessimistic about the urban renewal plan. "It's impossible [to revive the business for clothes shops here], because shops near Sungshan train station have established a strong reputation through better publicity," she said, shaking her head.

But Hsu said he's optimistic about the region's revival. "I have confidence in the renewal project," he said.