Taitung has long been seen as Taiwan’s quiet edge — remote, rugged, and far from the island’s urban centers. But what if that distance is exactly its strength?br br In part one of our five-part series “Where’s the Taitung County Chief Taking Us?” Andrew Ryan travels to Taiwan’s southeastern coast to meet Taitung County Magistrate April Yao, an official with an ambitious vision: turning Taitung into Taiwan’s capital of calm.br br As a typhoon approaches, Andrew and the county chief take shelter in a minimalist tearoom, beginning their journey with a guided tea and meditation experience rooted in nature. From wild-grown forest tea to wellness festivals that blend sound, movement, and mindfulness, this episode explores how Taitung is embracing a “slow economy” — one that values balance, sustainability, and inner stillness.br br WATCH other episodes of Andrew Ryan’s journey through Chiayi County in our series playlist for "Where’s the County Chief Taking Us?” br [Taiwan’s Mayors and County Chiefs]br Taiwan is home to 13 county chiefs, six mayors of special municipalities (New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung) and three mayors of provincial cities. These elected officials serve a maximum four-year term and can be re-elected for one additional term. The first episodes of the series aired prior to the local elections in 2022.