The only resident of the village saved it from demolition by picking up paint (10 photos)

In the late 40s, more than two million supporters of the Chinese National Party (Kuomintang) were forced to flee to Taiwan. The Taiwanese government built temporary housing, which became immigrants new home. Today, these settlements are almost gone, they were taken down a long time ago. But there is one abandoned village with amazing and very a rich history that continues to this day.





Approximately 10 years ago, there were no inhabitants left in this village. No one but an 87-year old man named Huang Yong-fu. The village was subject demolition and in its place were going to build several modern residential houses.

Juan was offered monetary compensation, but he refused to leave the only home he ever had in Taiwan. Instead of in order to pack his things and move to another place, he bought paints and brushes. And he began to paint the world around him.



The thought of leaving the house in which he had lived most of his life came as a shock to him.

“When I arrived here, there were 1200 families in the village, and we all sat and we talked like one big family,” says Juan. - But after everyone left or died, and I got lonely.” He had nowhere to go and have no one to talk to, and he turned to art to make it easier your pain.





Huang was born in China and fought in two wars. After defeat of the Chinese National Party, its supporters were forced run. He and 2 million other people ended up in Taiwan in these hastily built villages. And what was meant to be temporary decision, has become a home for many years for many people.



First, Juan drew a small bird on his house. The bird was followed by cats, people and other bright designs and patterns.



Rumors began to spread about the amazing artist, and somehow in a college student came to the village. He took some pictures and started fundraising campaign to save the village from certain destruction.



The news did not go unnoticed on the Internet. Juan was nicknamed "Rainbow grandfather", a fundraising began and tourists began to appear in the village, and every day there were more and more of them.



As a result, the government decided not to demolish the village, which has become unique landmark, and let Juan keep the only house which he knows.



Now the village is regularly visited by more than 1 million tourists a year. “The government promised me that they would keep this house and this village. I AM was so happy and grateful,” says Juan.



This is how brushes, paints and the determination of one person saved an entire village from destruction.



One can only imagine how this old man smiles when he sees the results of their work and the endless stream of people who came to it admire.