Compared to cities that look outward to the world, such as Taipei because it is in the throes of globalization or Kaohsiung because it is a port city, Taichung is like a mass of sprawling villages. It has therefore retained a human touch and an easygoing character. Loewy says, "Taipei is conservative, orderly, and rule-bound.
「台中是個適合居住的城市，」路威娓娓道來，相對於台北的全球化、高雄的港口特色，都是向外看的性格，台中則像是一個大型鄉村或是「多個鄉村的複合體」，仍保留了鄉村的人情味和悠閒。