[pttwarrior]

City: Kaohsiung 高雄 가오슝 เกาสง

Source: http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201706300017.aspx

Cat-shaped mailbox promotes tourism in southern Taiwan's Kaohsiung



(CNA) A mailbox in the shape of an orange cat has become a popular new attraction in Kaohsiung City's Jiasian District after being introduced last year as the southern city's first motif mailbox.

The "cat messenger" mailbox was installed in a local alley last August, one year after the local community launched efforts to revive the area, including colorful paintings on walls, according to Jiasian Post Office.

The office said it participated in the local community's efforts and painted multiple cat motifs. It later decided to introduce a new mailbox in the shape of a cat, in an effort to celebrate "cat alley."

Prior to Typhoon Morakot, which battered Taiwan in August 2009, the alley housed many eateries and was frequented by numerous stray cats.

However, Jiasian was one of the areas hardest-hit by the typhoon and in its wake the number of tourists fell and the stray cats disappeared, the post office said.

The mailbox has become a big hit in the district since it was installed in August, drawing many tourists during holidays, it said. Some couples have even traveled great distances to have their wedding photos taken there, it added.

In addition to promoting tourism, the mailbox is part of an effort to encourage tourists to mail handwritten postcards or letters to their loved ones and friends, the office said. Nowadays, people seldom send handwritten letters due to the advent of the Internet and smartphones.

(By Cheng Che-fon and Elaine Hou)