TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Where cheers once echoed over concrete terraces, quiet conversations about leafy greens and the weather now drift across Zhongshan Soccer Stadium.
Completed in 1989, the stadium entered a new chapter in 2007 when it was chosen as one of the exhibition sites for the Taipei International Flower Exhibition. After the expo concluded, the stadium could not return to its original function.
“That’s when we began thinking about how to reactivate the space,” Lu Chiou-hung (呂丘鴻), chief of the Agricultural Development Division at the Taipei Department of Economic Development, told Taiwan News. The stands were ultimately converted into a rooftop garden, allowing residents to experience the joy of growing plants.
The stadium’s stepped seating layout proved well-suited for cultivation. Instead of traditional soil fields, individual plastic planters were arranged across the terraces.
Today, roughly 500 people tend 1,400 planters. They grow crops of their choice, adapting to seasonal rhythms.
On weekends, the terraces fill with families, young couples, retirees, and university students. Even on weekdays, gardeners stop by to check on their crops.
Seasonal competitions, from watermelons to strawberries, add a playful twist. Leafy greens remain the most common choice, Lu noted, thanks to their fast growth and ease of harvest.
Some gardeners venture further. Over the years, rare crops have included flatland peaches, cherries, and blueberries — unusual sights against the city skyline.
“Harvesting gives people a real sense of accomplishment,” Lu said. “For children especially, planting lets them experience where food comes from.”
Beyond production, the space has become a place for emotional restoration. Lu said tending the plants can be surprisingly soothing.
“Watching something grow, seeing new life unfold, and finally harvesting it — it’s a kind of stress relief you do not get from exercise or entertainment.”
Participants echo that sentiment. One woman tending her plants summed up the experience simply: “It's a joyful experience. Sometimes my children come along, sometimes my husband joins too.”
The garden also attracts unexpected visitors, Lu shared. Once thought of as a pastime for retirees, it now draws young professionals, students, and multi-generational families.
Transforming the venue had not been an easy task, facing both public skepticism and the practical challenges of an aging structure. Some residents questioned why the stadium was not restored as a sports venue.
Lu acknowledged the debate but pointed to historical usage patterns. Sporting events were few and attendance was limited, while concerts dominated the schedule in later years.
During the flower expo period, alternative outdoor sports venues were identified to meet public demand. With the surrounding area rezoned as a convention and exhibition district, returning the stadium to its original use no longer aligned with long-term city planning.
The structure itself also presented challenges. Built in 1989, the stadium faces typical aging issues: cracks, waterproofing concerns, and occasional leaks.
“Concrete buildings of this age inevitably have wear,” Lu said. “We need ongoing maintenance and repairs. Growing on a structure is different from growing directly in the ground.”
Maintenance teams monitor the site, guide inexperienced gardeners, and step in when plots are neglected. For many participants, this support lowers the barrier to entry, allowing even those with no prior farming experience to grow vegetables and fruit.
“The space is being fully activated now,” Lu said. “It has become an important recreational area for residents.”
On one terrace, a mother and child tended their planter together. Nearby, a fellow gardener offered advice about small bugs that had taken up residence on one of their plants.
Nearly 40 years after its completion, Zhongshan Soccer Stadium no longer measures success in ticket sales or crowd size. Its vitality is counted in seedlings, harvest baskets, and the quiet satisfaction of residents who return week after week.
