The story behind Youth Park, Taiwan, Tirana

Rinia Park (Youth Park) is a public park in the centre of Tirana. Built in 1950, it covers an area of 29 hectares. Initially it was a pleasant family park where Tirana residents took their children and relax in the evenings or at weekends.

Later it took the name Taiwan after the complex to the side of the green area, which is like an island in the Park. There is another funny story behind this name. The construction of Taiwan complex finished just when the Albania's communist regime broke relations with China. 

At that time, Albania recognized the sovereignty of Taiwan and named the new structure in the middle of Tirana in their support. These are the rumors, one can not bet that this is the truth. The history of the park, continues in '90. After the collapse of the regime, illegal buildings sprang up all around the park, but during the city's clean-up in 2000, more than 130 buildings were demolished and the park was reseeded with grass.

The white terraced building complex on the western edge is decorated with fountains houses cafés, restaurants and a bowling and billiards centre in the basement. Named after an old nickname for the park, the entire centre is known as the Taiwan. Both names are used.

Youth park, or Taiwan is today a popular meeting place for people since the Taiwan complex has nice cafés and very good restaurants.

http://www.visit-tirana.com/things-to-do/nature/58/rinia-park