Graduation Trips: A Tradition Dating Back to the Japanese Colonial Era
The Taiwanese fondness for travel can be traced back to the Japanese colonial period, when “school excursion trips” combined the concepts of outdoor education and graduation trips. Back then, most trips were to what the Japanese referred to as the “mainland” (Japan proper). For example, in March 1934, graduates of Taipei Industrial School (now National Taipei University of Technology) took the Asahi Maru ship to Japan on a school excursion trip, aimed at instilling in young students the notion that the colonial mother country was everything wonderful and progressive.
In 1940, Chang Mao-chih graduated from Zhàomén Public School in Xīnpǔ, Hsinchu. That year, her school excursion trip involved taking a big bus with teacher Endō to visit the Taipei Governor-General’s Office. It was her first time in Taipei, and everything felt fresh. When the teacher took her up to the rooftop of the Governor-General’s Office in an elevator for a bird’s-eye view of the city, the memory remains vivid to this day: “The Governor-General’s Office was so tall. It was the first time I’d stood so high up and looked down.”
Li Ching?, head of the “Lee Mei-shu Memorial Museum,” recalled that during the 1943 school excursion trip of Dōng Elementary School in Sānxiá, the two-day, one-night itinerary included visits to heritage sites such as the Fucheng Shrine, Confucius Temple, Chihkan Tower, and Yidejin Fortress. Students had to write reflection reports, and on the first day, they had to take an early train south from Yingge. But just riding the steam train thrilled everyone enormously.
As for graduation trips of the fourth and fifth generations, a trip around Taiwan, including a stop to see the Queen’s Head at Yehliu, was essential. Senior guide Hsiao Shih-chi, who has been protecting the Queen’s Head for forty years, said, “Whenever I tell students that the Queen is four thousand years old, yet still maintains such a figure—with her neck getting slimmer by the day, maybe she secretly went to Meidengfeng for a workout—students find it really fascinating!”
Taking Photos: Hold Your Breath
“When we visited Tainan, the hotel turned off the lights at seven in the evening due to air raid precautions—we had a curfew. I shared a large dormitory bed with nine classmates and barely slept a wink, chatting happily until dawn.” Recalling those days, Li Ching? finds endless amusement. “The most fun was taking our graduation trip photo in front of the shrine. When the teacher yelled ‘One, two, three—hold your breath!’ no one dared breathe because photos were expensive, and any movement would blur the image.”
As for the graduation trips of the fourth and fifth generations, a trip around Taiwan—including a stop to see the iconic Queen’s Head rock formation at Yehliu—was essential. Senior guide Xiao Shiqi, who has been guarding the Queen’s Head for 40 years, says, “Whenever I tell students the Queen is 4,000 years old and still has such a figure, with her neck getting slimmer day by day—maybe she snuck off to Meidengfeng for a slimming session—they find it really interesting!”
Sharing Rooms, Chatting Until Dawn
After Taiwan’s economic boom, many people traveled extensively with their parents from a young age, turning graduation trips into bonding sessions with classmates. Amusement parks became sacred grounds for middle school graduation trips. Huang Yü-chuan, marketing planner at Janfusun Fancyworld, noted that graduation trip groups make up 80% of their group business, accounting for over a third of park visitors.
Taipei County’s Kuang Jen High School recently held a graduation trip. Sun Yih-han from Class 3 Ping left sweet memories at the Janfusun Prince Hotel in Janfusun Land: “It was my first time playing wildly with classmates during the day and then sleeping four to a room at night. We chatted until we fell asleep. I could tell who snored or hogged the blanket—that was truly an unforgettable experience!” Current graduation trips also include educational activities. Liu Hsiang-hsiang from Class 3 Ai at Kuang Jen High School found the visit to the 921 Earthquake Museum the most memorable part: “I was shocked—how could Taiwan have such an unfortunate place? How could buildings go up in such areas...” That one graduation trip taught Liu Hsiang-hsiang to appreciate her blessings more.
Students Studying Abroad: Southeast Asia Is the Hottest Destination
Nowadays, university graduation trips mainly focus on Penghu, Kenting, and Eastern and Central Taiwan. Fang Chin-tang, deputy manager at Lion Travel, said, “University graduation trips must involve water activities. Students care about having fun that’s also affordable. In recent years, traveling abroad for graduation trips has become popular. Island resorts in Southeast Asia are especially trendy. Phuket in Thailand is a favorite among university students, and due to the influence of Korean dramas, more students are choosing Korea for their trips.”
No Matter How the Format Changes, Group Photos Remain a Staple
Group photos are an unchanging ritual of graduation trips, no matter how the format evolves. In the past, taking a graduation trip photo meant lining up for a big wooden-box camera. Now, everyone has a digital camera and mugs for the camera with random poses. But back in the Japanese colonial era, you couldn’t even breathe while being photographed.