Dongmen Shopping Center

It seems that you were really uncomfortable being inside DongMen. Granted, it is a dirty place. How do you feel knowing that people live in that environment, and children grow up there? What kind of reaction do you have when you see people living in a place like DongMen surrounded by the relative wealth of Hsinchu right outside? What do you think should be done, if anything? How do you think DongMen went from being an operational, thriving shopping center to its current state?

It kind of creeps me out to know that people live back inside that abandoned shopping mall. I think we take a lot of things for granted too. We all live in nice houses with hot water and food to eat when we want it but sometimes we forget about the people that don't have those luxuries. I think being in that environment for the few hours that we were there was enough to kind of make me thankful for what I have. I can't imagine what it would be like to be homeless. It must be very lonely, which is something I am not necessarily comfortable with. Our trip to dongmen didn't only involve homeless people though. Some of those houses were pretty crappy. Again, it just makes me thankful for what I have. As far as what we can do for them...nothing. I mean, I'm sure they are content with the way they are living because they have had so long to get used to it. I don't really think anything should be done. Its impossible to get everyone on the same level. Our society is a hierarchy where we have the high class, which is wealthy and then we have the lower class, which isn't as fortunate. That's just how it is. I'm sure some of the larger companies like SOGO, FE21, Windance, Carrefore and RT mart are the reason the shopping center isn't thriving anymore. How do we know that the shopping center used to be thriving? Honestly, I can't imagine that place being very successful. There are houses and every room is so tiny. The Dongmen shopping center is definitely an interesting place and I'm sure I will wander in there a few times.