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Inspired by Chiang Wei-shui, and having hosted over a thousand lectures in more than twenty years, Hungya Bookstore calls itself “the most active independent bookstore south of the Zhuoshui River.” From the authoritarian era to the digital age, the ten-ping shop is crammed with owner Yu Kuo-hsin’s ideals and persistence. The shelves are never swayed by commercial interests; here you can find the most complete collection of books and journals on Chiayi and Taiwanese history, literature, and philosophy. Yu believes that running a bookstore can transform a city’s cultural climate, link up and energize cultural activities, and present an intriguing local landscape. As the digital age arrives, the print market faces a severe trial and the future of brick-and-mortar bookstores looks grim; many survive only by adding food, drinks, and lifestyle goods. Hungya insists: “We have to keep selling books to embody the true function of a bookstore.” Inspired by Taiwanese democratic pioneer Chiang Wei-shui, Yu has held weekly cultural lectures every Wednesday since the store opened more than twenty years ago; to date there have been over 1,200 sessions. Ask who the biggest-name speaker has been and the answer is: Wu Nien-jen—on the day he spoke, the audience reportedly spilled out into the street. Photo credit: Chiayi City Government Tourism and News Department | Photographer: Marg