Taipei City Construction Management Office

A New Mural Brightens the Shezi Riverbank Ramp A fresh splash of color has arrived at the Shezi embankment! As part of the ongoing Taipei Embankment Story project, the riverside slope at Shezi has been transformed into a striking geometric mural that captures the spirit of daily life along the Keelung River. The mural’s centerpiece—a radiant orange concentric circle—symbolizes the rising sun, gradually blending into a soft blue sky. Through bold, minimal color blocks, the artwork tells a quiet yet powerful story of how Shezi residents live in harmony with the river.

According to the Taipei Hydraulic Engineering Office (Taipei HEO), the Shezi riverbank ramp serves as a key access point to the riverside park. For generations, locals have cultivated a deep connection with the Keelung River. Their way of life is steeped in wisdom drawn from living closely with nature, where the rhythm of the river flows through their everyday routines. This mural is designed to rekindle those memories—inviting the public to reconnect with the gentle moments they’ve shared with the river.

According to the River Engineering Section of the Taipei Hydraulic Engineering Office, this mural was designed by Creative Director Max. Inspired by The King Who Would Not Accept the Throne from Zhuangzi, the design centers around the passage: “At sunrise we begin our work; at sunset we rest, free and content beneath heaven and earth.” The artwork reflects the harmonious rhythm of life in Shezi, where humans and nature coexist. The mural uses layered geometric shapes to express the beauty of order in both nature and daily life. It begins with a vivid orange concentric circle symbolizing the sunrise, which gradually expands into a soft blue sky. Sunlight streams through the trees and flows along the river, painting a picture of ease, vitality, and balance along the riverside.

The background imagery centers on the natural harmony between earth and sky. A centuries-old banyan tree stands tall beside the tidal waters, together forming a richly diverse ecosystem. Life abounds in every corner of the mural; fish swim gracefully, mudskippers leap energetically, Formosan blue magpies flutter through the air, and elegant egrets stand still at the water’s edge. The mural brings Shezi’s vibrant ecology to life, inviting all who pass by to experience the dynamic spirit of the community.

The Taipei HEO continues to advance the Taipei Embankment Story initiative, turning riverside embankments into living canvases. By inviting artists with distinct creative voices, the project blends local landscapes with human stories, transforming the embankments into a collective storybook that connects the memories and emotions of Taipei’s residents. Located along Section 2 of Tonghe West Street (just north of Shezheng Road), this stretch of embankment reads like a hidden poem nestled in the city—waiting for passersby to pause and take it in.