200 teddy bears take over Qiuhong Valley and Cao’wu Boulevard – Teddy Bear Festival comes in November

▲ This year’s Teddy Bear Taichung Lifestyle Festival showcases Taiwan’s diverse regional industries and cultural features through parent-and-child teddy bear designs. (Photo provided by the Taiwan Teddy Bear Association R.O.C., no unauthorized reproduction)

By reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Taipei reporting

The “Teddy Bear Taichung Lifestyle Festival,” which caused a nationwide craze for collecting 100 teddy bears last year, is returning this year on an even larger scale. Instead of individual character bears as in the previous year, the organizers have created 200 bears—featuring 100 distinct themes—presented as parent and child pairs, and they’ll be appearing on the streets of Taichung starting November 15.

Organizers say this year’s teddy bear exhibition is themed around “love,” hence the concept of parent-and-child teddy bears representing different regional industries and cultural characteristics across Taiwan. Compared to last year’s 173 cm-tall teddy bears, this year’s models are more approachable, with the large bears standing at 167 cm and the smaller ones at 125 cm—making it easier for visitors to take photos featuring both the bears and Taichung street scenes.

▲ This year’s teddy bears are shorter in height but more endearing. (Photo provided by the Taiwan Teddy Bear Association R.O.C., no unauthorized reproduction)

The newly designed teddy bears also incorporate high-tech elements this year. Organizers revealed that after the official opening, AR codes will be placed on the bases of 50 parent-and-child teddy bear installations. By downloading the dedicated app and scanning these codes, visitors can interact with 3D versions of the teddy bears. A “Bear Hunt” event will also be held, transforming the teddy bears from mere photo props and street decorations into interactive experiences.

Additionally, this year the organizers have set up the world’s only “Teddy Bear Hot Air Balloon” at the Civic Plaza next to Cao’wu Boulevard. While the balloon isn’t open for rides, it will ascend into the sky once the exhibition begins, becoming another highlight of the event.

▲ All 200 teddy bears have been designed and painted, each with its own unique charm, and will make their debut on the streets of Taichung starting November 15. (Photo provided by the Taiwan Teddy Bear Association R.O.C., no unauthorized reproduction)

Given that several teddy bears were damaged or had decorations removed by visitors during last year’s exhibition, the organizers have issued a call on the event’s Facebook page.They are asking the public not to pull at the bears’ accessories, to refrain from climbing or standing on the installation bases, and not to touch the artworks.They hope the public will show civic responsibility and help protect these one-of-a-kind and adorable installation artworks.

The “2014 Teddy Bear Taichung Lifestyle Festival” kicks off on November 15, with the exhibition period extended from 39 days last year to 58 days this year, running until January 11, 2015. The main display areas are Qiuhong Valley and Cao’wu Boulevard. For more details, visitthe “Teddy Bear Taichung Lifestyle Festival” official Facebook pagefor more information.

In particular, the organizers strongly urge the public not to remove the teddy bears or their accessories, not to climb or stand on the installation platforms, and not to touch the artworks. They hope everyone can work together to preserve these unique and lovely pieces of installation art.