A Monopoly game where you control property purchases and decide your fate and opportunities is an alternative way to travel and fulfill dreams. This year, this game became a real-life event in action. The “Pack Up and Go” team, composed of design students from Kunshan University of Science and Technology, split into five groups to take on a real-life version of Monopoly. Traveling along Taiwan’s crisscrossing railway lines, they completed an extraordinary journey across the island.
Themed around “Iron Rails Rite of Passage,” the members of the Pack Up and Go team drew inspiration from the beloved childhood game of Monopoly. Using its element of “randomness,” they explored the entire island of Taiwan. The game was played in pairs, using trains as their mode of transport and the entire island as their playground. Once underway, the route to the next station was determined by teammates on the other end of the phone rolling the dice. Over the 14-day journey, each member carried a thoughtfully designed railway loop-island map, passing through over two hundred small and large train stations across Taiwan to uncover the charm of Formosa. Though the next stop was unknown, the spirit of adventure was all the more real.
“Youth Adventure Taiwan” is an initiative launched by the Cabinet-level Youth Development Administration to help young people explore their homeland and traverse Taiwan. It establishes quality youth adventure destinations and develops emotional maps of adventure across the island. Since its launch, many creative teams have accomplished the seemingly impossible—such as the three-boat journey on the Puzi River in Chiayi featuring dragon boats, canoes, and motorized inflatable boats; the opening ceremony of the Atayal Hunter School with the firing of a starting gun; and the Taichung Mountain Training Adventure Spot—each sparking the travel dreams of young students.
Embarking on the adventure brought surprises at every step—from directly experiencing the heartfelt mutual support among Taiwanese people to discovering hidden culinary gems in alleyways and side streets... The Pack Up and Go team’s “Iron Rails Rite of Passage” themed adventure itinerary was selected for the second edition of the Youth Development Administration’s “Youth Adventure Taiwan: Finding Your Own Emotional Map” campaign. With the help of a grant from the program, they were able to complete this remarkable feat. The full journey record was exhibited for two months starting March 20 at the Songyuan Detached House in Hualien, sharing the experiences and emotions gained along the way with others who dream of adventuring across Taiwan.
To plan a unique travel itinerary and experience a different side of Taiwan, you can join the Youth Development Administration’s “Youth Mid-Term Adventure Program,” which offers travel subsidies. The program is mainly aimed at domestic youth aged 15–30. Alternatively, you can join an adventure itinerary organized by the program organizers. For registration details, visit the “Youth Adventure Taiwan” website.
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Further Reading: Try a Soy Sauce Ice Cream (provided by Tripass Attractions)
