00:00These giant waves off Taitung's coast have long been a magnet for international surfers,
00:10and the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival draws visitors from all over too.
00:16It's a little harder to imagine coming to this remote county for work,
00:22but that's starting to change.
00:24Many people also want to be able to make Taitung's home as an island of Taitung.
00:31People like to Taitung because of working and living are at ease.
00:35Taitung's home is actually a place where they live, and live and live.
00:42They're not staying in a place to work.
00:45They like to enjoy their natural, and they can live and work.
00:51Taitong is working with the National Development Council to make it easier for digital nomads to set up here.
00:58That means stronger Wi-Fi, better transportation, and new incentives to attract remote workers.
01:07Some of these changes are happening in unexpected places, like this row of Japanese-era buildings from the 1930s.
01:15Once a teacher's dorm, this building's been transformed into a youth hostel designed for remote workers, blending local history with a new kind of travel.
01:35There's another spot that's drawing visitors and workers to an even more remote corner of Taitong.
01:42This is Changbing, a tiny town of around 6,500 people in the county's far north.
01:50And Eat Books is perhaps the most remote indie bookstore in all of Taiwan.
01:56It's a 90-minute drive to the two nearest big cities, Taitong and Hualien.
02:08About a dozen people are packed into this tiny space.
02:11They've come here to hear an author speak about his new book on politics.
02:16Events like this take place all the time, sometimes up to 10 a month, touching on everything from politics and culture to film and wellness.
02:26And the way the shop runs is pretty unusual.
02:29Volunteers from across Taiwan sign up to run it as acting manager, taking seven-day shifts in exchange for a place to stay.
02:38The shop has been running this way for six and a half years.
03:03And the chance to run an indie bookstore has become a real draw for people who want to experience life in a small town.
03:11When manager slots open up, they fill in an instant.
03:15Some people apply a year and a half in advance.
03:19And the volunteers come from all walks of life and all ages.
03:23Today, a 17-year-old high school student from northern Taiwan is in charge.
03:28She reads through the shop manager's log to pick up where the last one left off.
03:32The shop manager wants to enjoy the time.
03:36So he wants to enjoy the time and talk about what we need to do, and he wants to enjoy the time.
03:39He wants to enjoy the time.
03:41But there's more to the job than just enjoying yourself.
03:44When a typhoon hits, the manager also has to deal with the leaks.
03:48It's a real taste of small town life.
03:51So if you really want to experience the charm of Taitung,
04:19you might actually have to come and stay for a while.
04:24Taitung has become known as a quiet retreat for people looking to get away.
04:28But there are countless other reasons to come.
04:31Some visit as tourists or as digital nomads.
04:34Others come to create art.
04:37Many, myself included, end up calling Taitung a second home.
04:43Eason Chen, Hank Xu, Pichidong, and Andrew Ryan for Taiwan Plus.
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