By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported and compiled by Li Meishe
Will the male and female protagonists of "Turn Left, Turn Right" — one going left, the other right — miss each other forever as two parallel lines, or will they meet after circling back? This unforgettable picture book story will be brought vividly to life before your eyes. Taiwan’s first Jimmy Liao-themed square is set to welcome every traveler in June at the Yilan Bus Station. Integrated with the “Lancheng Star” project, through urban renewal, the old railway dormitory area south of Yilan Railway Station has been transformed into a national highway bus transfer center. What was once an abandoned vacant lot has now become a bright, open recreational space, while also adding value in tourism, transportation, environmental protection, and historic preservation. With its multifunctional positioning, this space has blossomed into a new highlight of Lancheng.
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The heartwarming characters from Jimmy Liao’s picture books will come alive for every visitor. (Photo provided by Yilan County -)
The design team at Ink International imagined how people would interact with this space: family and friends reuniting or saying goodbye at the transfer station, travelers quietly waiting for their buses, tourists or residents relaxing and playing in the park. From this emerged the thematic concept of “Fleeting Moments of Scenery,” using artistic installations to present a series of frozen stories interwoven between people and the “Jimmy Liao Theme Park and Future Transfer Station.”
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The flying bus from "Starry Starry Night" will leap out of the real world, bringing a delightful visual surprise for visitors. (Photo provided by Yilan County -)
To echo the functionality of the space and express the theme of “Fleeting Moments of Scenery,” Ink International selected imagery from three picture books — "Starry Starry Night," "The Underground," and "Turn Left, Turn Right" — to craft concepts and narratives related to “travel” and “fragments of life’s scenery,” integrating them with the site. The iconic image of the flying bus from "Starry Starry Night" has been deconstructed and recreated through painting, relief sculpture, and three-dimensional installations, allowing the bus to carry the imagination of travel and joy as it soars into the sky. Each window frames a beautiful view. The deconstructed bus is split between two sections, mounted on opposite walls, with a three-dimensional flying elk and suitcase in the middle, blending seamlessly into the Jimmy Liao Theme Park and Future Transfer Station to form a continuously flowing painting. The trees and houses in the artwork correspond harmoniously with the actual landscape of the Jimmy Liao Theme Park and Future Transfer Station. Suitcases scattered among the trees and houses, inspired by "The Underground," carry metaphors of “small homes” and “a sense of home.” In the interplay between the illustrations and the physical space, empathy toward travelers is expressed.
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“Where there is shadow, there must be light” — the deeply moving Jimmy Liao picture book "Starry Starry Night." (Image provided by Ink International)
Will the male and female protagonists of "Turn Left, Turn Right" miss each other by taking different buses, or will they circle the path around the Jimmy Liao Theme Park and Future Transfer Station and meet again? The storyline of the picture book is embedded into the flow of the site, adding more humanistic imagination to the space. The boy and girl from "Starry Starry Night" wait together for the school bus, forming a deep bond and connection. Waiting for the bus can also be a time to accumulate feelings of happiness. At the Jimmy Liao Theme Park and Future Transfer Station, there’s no need to rush or feel bored — lingering and waiting can be leisurely and peaceful. Please note that the artistic installations are for viewing only. Feel free to take photos with them, but do not touch or hit the sculptures to avoid damage.
The future Yilan Transfer Station will shed its cold impression of concrete pillars. Travelers will no longer hurry in and out. The scenery will become richer and more vibrant, time will flow more slowly and leisurely, and people’s faces will wear more smiles.
● Read more: First-ever Soapbox Derby hits Taiwan — creative racers now being recruited
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