The first place in Taiwan to receive international Cittaslow certification was Fenglin Township in Hualien County in 2014. This was followed in 2016 by Sanyi and Nanzhuang Townships in Miaoli County, and Dalin Township in Chiayi County. In light of the need to apply for international certification and promote the Cittaslow concept, the Cittaslow Taiwan Alliance was officially established in 2017.

In addition to the four townships already certified by the headquarters in Italy, Fenglin Township Mayor Hsiao Wen-lung, who served as the first chairperson of the Alliance, aimed to provide a platform for other towns and townships interested in joining the movement. As a result, Taichung City’s Heping District, Gukeng Township in Yunlin County, Majia and Jhutian Townships in Pingtung County, Yuli Township in Hualien County, Chihshang and Luye Townships in Taitung County, and Dongyin Township in Lienchiang County were invited to form a 12-member alliance.

In 2022, Sanyi Township Mayor Lü Ming-chung succeeded as the second chairperson of the Alliance. That same year, Jhutian Township in Pingtung County also officially received international Cittaslow certification, becoming Taiwan’s fifth certified Cittaslow.

To jointly promote ecological conservation, cultural preservation, and a healthy slow-living lifestyle among its members—and to build town environments that meet the seven dimensions and 72 criteria of international Cittaslow—the Alliance began organizing annual assemblies starting in 2020. The first assembly, hosted by Jhutian Township, introduced a new model of “slow” tourism, raising public awareness of slow living and attracting international visitors. The second assembly was held in Chihshang, Taitung in 2021, further expanding recognition of the Cittaslow concept. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Alliance successfully held its third and fourth assemblies in Sanyi and Nanzhuang in 2022 and 2023, respectively. During these events, the Vice President of Cittaslow International visited Taiwan to share South Korea’s experiences, sparking cross-national exchanges between Taiwan and Korea.

In 2024, Chihshang Township in Taitung County earned its international Cittaslow certification and hosted the fifth annual assembly of the Cittaslow Taiwan Alliance, with scholars from Korea and Thailand invited to participate, deepening regional exchange and enhancing Taiwan’s global visibility in the Cittaslow movement. Furthermore, Dongyin Township in Lienchiang County—with its unique military and marine ecological features—officially received international certification in June 2025, becoming Taiwan’s first offshore island Cittaslow. Nanhua University was also recognized as a “Friend of Cittaslow International,” underscoring Taiwan’s continued dedication and growing influence within the international Cittaslow network.