The Lanyang Old House New Life 2.0 Project is a local revitalization initiative launched by the Yilan County Government in 2019. The project initially began in Zhuangwei Township, where it focused on identifying and repurposing abandoned old houses with cultural significance. By attracting innovative talent, these spaces were transformed into entrepreneurial hubs. After achieving success in Zhuangwei and attracting many young people to return to their hometowns for business ventures, the project was expanded in 2022 to include other towns and villages across Yilan. The county government hopes this initiative will create more revitalized old houses that grow in harmony with their local communities. On November 20th, the "Nan'ao Island Incubator" in the area where Su'ao and Nan'ao meet (commonly known as Greater Nan'ao) held its grand opening. Yilan County Magistrate Lin Zi-miao attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, expressing hopes that this base would attract young people to return to their roots and start new businesses, injecting vitality into the local community’s economy, and serving as a successful example of the revitalization of old houses and youth entrepreneurship.
The Nan'ao Island Incubator is a proposal by Yi Mi Di Co. Ltd., which is led by Chen Chang-jiang. Chen, originally an engineer, returned to his wife’s hometown in 2010 to establish Nan'ao Natural Field, focusing on sustainable agriculture. As he grew older, Chen shifted his focus to supporting his son, Cai Shan, in managing his son’s self-media ventures.
After the family returned to Nan'ao, they transitioned from "single-issue farming" to "building sustainable lifestyles." To expand their skills and perspectives for rural living, Cai Shan worked on Australian farms and traveled around Taiwan to learn various skills related to sustainable agriculture, woodworking, masonry, collaborative building, and natural construction. During this time, Cai Shan discovered that many people were drawn to this lifestyle that incorporates community, environment, ecology, and sustainability. He began using the internet and multimedia tools to share the values of new rural living.
In 2016, Cai Shan integrated what he had learned and renovated four abandoned Taiwan Railway dormitories next to the Nan'ao train station, turning them into entrepreneurial bases for local photo-documentation and food and agriculture education. In 2023, under the name Yi Mi Di Co. Ltd., he joined the Lanyang Old House New Life 2.0 Project and was selected to further renovate five connected, abandoned Taiwan Railway dormitories, naming the space Nan'ao Island Incubator.
With the increasing number of young people moving to rural areas, there is still a scarcity of available spaces and resources. Cai Shan and his team hope to revitalize these idle spaces and create entrepreneurial and living spaces for returning youth, transforming them into a base for rural revitalization. Therefore, the space has been designed to include co-living spaces, basic kitchen and bath facilities, workshop classrooms, a DIY exchange room, a café, a recording and live-streaming studio, and a curated shop.
The team adopted a "cooperative contracting" approach, partnering with a contractor and inviting other young people to join in the construction, turning these ideas into reality. This method not only reduces renovation costs but also encourages broader community participation. Throughout the process, the team documented the work and uploaded it to the "Shan Xiao Ri Zi" (Mountain Little Days) channel on video platforms, providing a reference for other young people interested in moving to rural areas.
These collective efforts are making Nan'ao Island Incubator an important base for nurturing youth entrepreneurship and innovation in Nan'ao. The incubator will host various innovative workshops and exchange activities, offering young people more opportunities for development and mutual encouragement. The county government will continue to provide support, helping more young people return to their hometowns to start businesses, thus realizing the vision of rural revitalization and promoting Yilan as a vibrant hub for innovation.
The Lanyang Old House New Life 2.0 Project is not just about revitalizing old houses, but also about attracting talented young people back to Yilan to develop their careers, thus promoting the diversification of the local economy. Based on the rich experiences in Zhuangwei, Su'ao, Yilan, and Nan'ao, these entrepreneurial bases are gradually becoming important engines for rural revitalization, providing young people with opportunities to develop locally while also enhancing the vitality of the surrounding communities.