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Customer Reviews
Desserts are more than a delight for the taste buds—
they are stories born from the East Longitudinal Valley.
From souvenirs carried home by travelers
to afternoon tea enjoyed by local friends,
each creation by The Town Studio
holds the smiles and memories of those who taste it.
What The Town Studio treasures most isn’t just a single “It’s delicious,”
but the stories that unfold from every dessert shared:
a guest bringing heartfelt gifts to a wedding,
a traveler stumbling upon our little shop in Yuli,
someone tasting Yōkan and recalling childhood memories.
These moments and emotions are the reasons we keep moving forward.
Press Features
Stories from our hometown are gradually being seen by more people.
Through the lens of social media,
we glimpse the quiet dedication behind each day’s work—
a connection between dessert, land, and culture.
These features are more than publicity; they are affirmations—
reminders that our mission to “tell the stories of the valley through sweets”
is truly seen, understood, and cherished.
A New Shopping Experience in Southern Hualien｜Spend at Store A, Receive a Gift from Store B
For the first time, the Hualien Shopping Festival launched its Yuli Local Collaboration Campaign in the southern region, connecting ten unique Yuli-based shops for a limited-time cross-store reward program. From August 16 to September 14, customers who spend a designated amount at any participating store can receive gifts provided by partner shops—including tea bags, dried lemons, daylily flowers, amber sugar candies, discount coupons, and more. The initiative encourages visitors to explore the diverse charm of southern Hualien, while purchases over NT$100 can also enter the festival’s lucky draw.
Desserts as a Tribute to the Land and Its People｜The Town Studio
symbolizing “the first fertile fields touched by the sunrise along Provincial Highway 9.” Its signature mizuyōkan (soft water jelly dessert) highlights local agricultural produce, blending tradition and creativity to craft wagashi that embody the spirit of Yuli. Every bite is a heartfelt tribute to the landscape, the people, and the stories of the East Longitudinal Valley...
Passing On Local Stories Through the Craft of Dessert Making
In addition to weekly lucky draws for purchases over NT$100, the 2024 Hualien Shopping Festival partnered with local stores to host “Craftsman Experience Workshops” during summer, offering hands-on learning opportunities for students aged 18–30. On August 15, the ninth session took place in Yuli Township—one of Taiwan’s best-preserved centers of wagashi culture—where participants joined The Town Studio to learn chadō (tea ceremony), wagashi-making, product storytelling, and tableside service skills. Through this experience, students discovered how craftsmanship and hospitality carry the warmth of local culture...
Media Familiarization Tour Explores the Slow-Travel Charm of Hualien–Taitung
This press tour spanned across Chishang, Yuli, Ruisui, and Hualien, featuring cycling routes along the Guanshan–Chishang Bikeway, trails near the Batongguan Historic Path, and the Yuli–Ruisui and Qixingtan scenic areas. The program also highlighted signature local experiences—such as the Wagashi DIY Workshop by The Town Studio, where participants experienced Yuli’s craftsmanship and the essence of slow living through Japanese-style sweets.
Ride the Sightseeing Train to Yuli｜Chase Daylily Blossoms and Taste Local Flavors
In August, the Hualien–Taitung Valley transforms into a dreamscape of gold and green. Board the Scenic Train to experience the Shanlan EMU500’s valley lunch and the Haifeng’s dessert afternoon, where panoramic windows frame the endless rhythm of mountains and rivers. Then continue to Chike Mountain’s sea of daylilies and the aromatic streets of Yuli—a full sensory journey blending taste, scenery, and sound. The Town Studio, a young dessert brand from Yuli, uses local ingredients from southern Hualien to craft specialty Japanese-style confections—including Namagashi, Yōkan, and delicate seasonal sweets inspired by the valley’s landscape.
Hualien｜The Town Studio & J Café Circular Creative Space — Local Charm Meets Artful Coffee Culture
During a recent gathering, we visited two distinctive cafés and dessert shops in southern Hualien. To our surprise, both The Town Studio in Yuli and J Café Circular Creative Space in Fuli offered experiences full of creativity and local flair. They invite visitors to sit down, unwind, and enjoy a taste of the valley’s slow rhythm.
Hualien Tea Wins Multiple Awards at the 2025 Great Taste Awards
In the processed food category, The Town Studio impressed judges with its Honey Black Tea Popcorn, earning a Two-Star Award for blending innovative flavors with the depth of traditional Taiwanese tea. Other local brands such as Yumeiken (Kumotsuru Mochi) also received recognition, winning a One-Star Award for their Red Bean Yōkan crafted from local ingredients and fine technique. Meanwhile, Fuli Farmers’ Association’s “Queen Rice of Fuli,” focused on promoting regional rice culture, was also listed, further elevating Hualien’s agricultural reputation on the international stage.
Travel Recommendations｜7 Sightseeing Trains for Elegant Journeys Across Taiwan
The Shanlan EMU500 glides gracefully through the Hualien–Taitung Valley, between the Central and Coastal Mountain Ranges—often praised as Taiwan’s most poetic railway route. Its yellow-green exterior symbolizes the vitality of the valley, while the deep green interior and panoramic windows reveal the shifting interplay of light and landscape. The desserts onboard are crafted by The Town Studio, with plating inspired by the natural beauty of Hualien’s signature serpentine stone.
Hualien Branch, Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, MOA Launches Support Stations to Help Youth Return Home and Revitalize Local Communities
The southern regional hub, The Town Studio, emphasizes experiential economy and deep connections with local culture. Located in Yuli Township, the brand underwent spatial and branding upgrades through the Rural Boutique Program under Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau. The initiative successfully revitalized local communities and encouraged young people to return home. Its founder, Chen Ming-Chung, has also been recognized for his outstanding contributions to rural innovation.
Hualien County Local Revitalization Program｜Gin Happy & The Town Studio Awarded NT$1 Million Grant — Showcasing Innovation from Indigenous Roots
Founded by Hualien native Chen Ming-Chung, The Town Studio is located at No. 65, Zhongxiao Rd., Yuli Township, Hualien County. Specializing in Japanese-style Wagashi, the brand integrates local agricultural products and cultural imagery to create desserts that reflect the soul of Hualien. Its product line includes Yōkan, Namagashi, and Dorayaki, representing the brand’s concept: “Tasting Sweets, Discovering Local Stories.”
Hualien Startup Base Team Visits Tainan and Meinong — Learning from Cross-Regional Revitalization Projects
During the visit, Chen Ming-Chung, founder of The Town Studio, shared how deeply inspired he was by other regions’ revitalization efforts. He reflected on the diverse possibilities and values of local innovation, expressing hope to foster cross-sector collaboration and resource integration in Yuli—continuing to expand the positive impact of local revitalization and becoming a driving force for sustainable regional change.
“2024 East of Taiwan Market Fair”｜70 Local Brands Bring the Chill Lifestyle of Eastern Taiwan to Huashan Creative Park
The event featured four East of Taiwan Product Showcases and two Live Streaming Sessions, allowing both on-site visitors and online audiences to enjoy exclusive offers. Weekend workshops also invited participants to experience handmade culture, including a Daylily-shaped Wagashi Workshop led by The Town Studio from Yuli—inviting everyone to mold the golden blossoms of Eastern Taiwan with their own hands.
A Two-Day Journey Through Hualien｜Yuli Wagashi Café, Matai’an Firefly River Tour, and Local Culture Exploration
When asked why he chose to open a Japanese wagashi café in Yuli, founder A-Chung laughed, “Yuli is already famous for its noodles and stinky tofu—no need for another one!” He went on to explain that during the Japanese colonial period, Hualien was a key settlement in the “Kaizan Fuban” (frontier development) policy, and Yuli—then known as Pushiko—still retains many traces of that era’s history and culture...
Sweet Summer Treats｜Four Dessert Shops in Hualien to Cool Off with Local Flavors
The event featured four East of Taiwan Product Showcases and two Live Streaming Sessions, allowing both on-site visitors and online audiences to enjoy exclusive offers. Weekend workshops also invited participants to experience handmade culture, including a Daylily-shaped Wagashi Workshop led by The Town Studio from Yuli—inviting everyone to mold the golden blossoms of Eastern Taiwan with their own hands.
Leisurely Journey Through the Valley｜Exploring The Town Studio and the Mountains & Sea of Hualien–Taitung
Located between Shoufeng in Hualien and northern Pingtung, The Town Studio is the only Japanese-style dessert shop in the region. With over 14 years of pastry experience, the team not only offers exquisite desserts but also serves as an information hub sharing Yuli’s history, culture, and natural beauty. Here, visitors don’t just taste sweetness—they experience the heartfelt stories and warmth of Yuli...
Inspiring Youth to Chase Their Dreams｜Scholarship Ceremony for Students in Southern Hualien
The event also invited Chen Ming-Chung, a former recipient of the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families’ scholarship program, to share his story of perseverance and independence. Known as the founder of The Town Studio and the designer of Yuli’s local mascot “Bear Yuli,” Chen grew up in Yuli’s Nagara area under difficult circumstances. As a child, he once had to collect discarded seafood from the market to survive. Yet, through long-term support from the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, he found the courage to pursue his passion for art—and eventually transformed that creativity into the heart of Yuli’s sweetest brand...
Five Key Axes of Regional Design Transformation
Last year’s Huatung Valley Brand Highlight Project brought a fresh wave of creativity to thirteen distinctive local businesses, including The Town Studio, Guozi Hero Farm Creation, Songluo Wild Shop, and Muri Grapefruit Station. Through collaboration with professional designers, the project reimagined packaging, branding, and visual identity, while also carrying out interior space renovations and workshops to shape each brand’s unique storytelling and design concept...
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