Here come the bears！ A teddy bear exhibition featuring 100 teddy bears will debut in December — viewable in both Taichung and Taipei

▲The 2015 Happy Bear Carnival has returned to showcasing individual bears, but this year they will be presented in a “seated” pose. The photo shows the 2013 exhibition. (Photo／by Xiao Sun Design)

Reported by Cai Wenjun／Taipei

The “Happy Bear City Carnival,” made up of 100 teddy bears, will make its debut this December！Unlike previous years where the bears were stationed like street guardians around various corners of Taichung, the teddy bear exhibitionwill this year primarily take place in Taichung Park, and for the first time ever, it will also move to Taipei, debuting at the Shilin Official Residence from January 2016, allowing residents in northern Taiwan to experience the “bear charm” up close.

The Taiwan Teddy Bear Association stated that this Happy Bear City Carnival will have a total exhibition duration of 68 days, 10 days longer than in 2015. The teddy bear exhibition will kick off in Taichung, running from December 12 in Taichung Park until January 14, 2016, with special limited-time events during Christmas and New Year's.

▲In 2015, the Happy Bear Carnival’s first stop was primarily at Taichung Park. (Photo／by Reporter Huang Kexiang)

From January 16 next year to February 18, the army of 100 teddy bears will march northward to take up residence at Taipei’s Shilin Official Residence. Special events for Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day are also planned, though details are still being finalized.

In terms of teddy bear design, in addition to maintaining the approximately 170 cm life-sized scale, this year the bears will all be presented in a “seated” pose.The Taiwan Teddy Bear Association explained that actually, there are hearts on the palms and soles of the teddy bears’ feet, but in the past two years they appeared standing up, making them invisible to the public. This year, by sitting down, the design also allows for more creative possibilities.

%The 2015 design theme of “seated” bears is intended to allow the public to easily interact and take photos with the bears. (Photo／Provided by the Taiwan Teddy Bear Association)