As the cold of winter gradually fades and the warm spring sunshine arrives, the snow-white tung blossoms bloom amid the lush greenery and dance through the mountains and forests, adorning the earth with a fresh new look and exuding a romantic ambiance. The 2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival is themed “Tung Blossoms in Hakka Villages – Let’s Celebrate Together” and will be celebrated from now until May 11 in 13 counties, 63 townships, and districts. The “Tung Blossom Star,” a specially painted Taiwan Railways train jointly launched by the Council of Hakka Affairs and the Taiwan Railways Administration, has officially begun operation as of today.
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Schematic of the carriages of the 2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival’s “Tung Blossom Star” painted train. (Image source / 2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival official website)
The warm-up event for the 2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival will be held on April 4 at the Niuer Resort Art Village in Puli, Nantou. The main event and opening ceremony are scheduled for April 12 at the Shangri-La Amusement Park in Zaobiao, Miaoli, where they will be launched in grand style. At that time, the public can take the “Tung Blossom Star Painted Train,” not only supporting the environmental concept of energy conservation and carbon reduction but also enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way and experiencing rich Hakka culture while riding the train.
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The vibrant colors of the schematic design evoke a sense of childlike wonder among visitors. (Image source / 2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival official website)
The “Tung Blossom Star Painted Train” is designed around the concept of “Exploring Hakka Villages.” The first carriage features the main visual identity of the 2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival, using bright colors, a beautiful rainbow, fluttering tung blossoms, and adorable, innocent children to symbolize the festive atmosphere of the Tung Blossom Festival. The second carriage, “Savor Hakka Flavors, Enjoy Tung Blossom Delights,” uses a warm orange-red to depict the making of traditional Hakka sweets such as Lei Cha (pounded tea), dried persimmons, and Ciba (glutinous rice cakes). The third carriage, “Tung Blossom Festival Greets Guests,” showcases a deep blue-green hue, combining traditional Hakka blue shirts with six styles of Hakka cultural floral fabric patterns to present a fresh image of Hakka culture. The fourth carriage, “Tung Blossoms Flutter, Hakka Village Charm,” uses striking blue-purple tones to depict lively scenes of children playing, alongside iconic imagery from the Miaoli Hakka Cultural Park and the Liudui Hakka Cultural Park.
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The “Tung Blossom Star” painted train begins its journey today. (Image source / Council of Hakka Affairs)
The fifth carriage, painted in yellow-green tones, illustrates “Hand in Hand with Tung Blossoms, Enjoy the Fun,” showcasing the passionate vitality of the Hakka people and inviting the public to explore Hakka villages and enjoy the fragrant scent of tung blossoms carried by the breeze. The sixth carriage, “Under the Tung Blossoms, Reading Hakka Culture,” uses lovely pink to convey a touching scene of children listening to grandmothers teaching the Hakka language under poetic white tung blossoms. The seventh carriage, centered around “Celebrating Together, Living Happily in Hakka Villages,” draws inspiration from the “Tung Blossom Songs and Dance Creation Competition” and uses pink-purple hues to represent the innovative and diverse spirit of Hakka culture. The eighth carriage, “Discovering Hakka, Spirit Lives On,” uses a unique night-sky blue to capture the fleeting beauty of tung blossoms and the unforgettable sight of their snow-white petals dancing in the air amid a burst of colorful fireworks.
This year, to allow residents in southern Taiwan the opportunity to ride the “Tung Blossom Star” painted Taiwan Railways train during the Tung Blossom Festival, special service has been provided between Chiayi and Hsinchu, giving people across the country the chance to take the “Tung Blossom Star” to various tung blossom scenic spots and experience this floral feast. For detailed departure times and schedules of the “Tung Blossom Star” painted Taiwan Railways train, please check the official website of the 2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival.
● Tung Blossom Festival Fun Guide
Come to Miaoli to chew on wood carvings, play with dyeing fabrics, and admire tung blossoms with One Piece puppets
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