The most touching travel experience: Winners of the “Discover Heartfelt Stays” first prize announced

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

 

The “Discover Heartfelt Stays” campaign, organized by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China, saw 300 remarkable submissions compete. Following online public voting and thorough assessment by experts, scholars, and mystery shoppers, the essay category was won by “The Vagabond of Ming Mountain in Xitou,” while the video category was topped by “Yunshan Shui? A Journey of Happiness,” which showcased the Yunshan Shui Xiaozhu Homestay.

The essay entry “The Vagabond of Ming Mountain in Xitou” stood out with its unique confessional style, conveying the warmth and comfort of the stay in a deeply moving way. This piece even caught the attention of Ming Shan Guesthouse, which hired the author as a full-time employee. Meanwhile, the video category winner, “Yunshan Shui? A Journey of Happiness,” was submitted by a Japanese traveler featuring Yunshan Shui Xiaozhu Homestay. The video begins with a young Japanese person’s historical pilgrimage, seamlessly integrating the charm and cuisine of Jiufen, the distinctive features of a century-old stone-wall guesthouse, and ending with a hint of a heartwarming love story that leaves viewers wanting more.

The “Discover Heartfelt Stays” campaign is the second wave of activities following the “Happy Stays? A Hundred Touching Moments” series, particularly the “Stay with Me, the Most Touching” operator competition. This time, however, the public were invited to submit their own entries, highlighting touching stays through videos and essays. The event ran from April 1 to August 15, receiving 258 essay entries and 42 video submissions, totaling 300 impressive works in friendly competition.