In a bid to restore a declining shopping district in Kaohsiung to its past glory, the city government has started a new program, helping a total of 10 new stores to open in this area in the first stage.

This is Jue Jiang Shopping Area in Yengchen District in Kaohsiung City.

To revive this dwindling area, the government has gathered many cultural and creative shops to open at this area.

From ice cream flavored French-style cake, Chinese opera-style stationary, to traditional hand-print bags, these merchandise are among the 10 shops that have been set up in the Jue Jiang area.

During the 50 to 60s, this area was known to be a foreign goods trading place.

Even with just a 3-ping storefront, it was able to bring in NT$100,000 every month.

But in the 70s as international trading was opened up, business at this old shopping district has been falling, with many shopfronts vacant.

Now in order to boost and support small and creative businesses, the Kaohsiung City Government has started a three-month, rent-free program to subsidize these shops to get this area going again, but according to many college students, this isnt enough.

They think that there should be more than just 10 shops to revive this place and boost business.

On this, the city government said that this is only the first stage, and there will be second and third stage coming up to get more stores and businesses injected into this area to attract more consumers.