The 101st teddy bear unveiled – The “I Love Taichung” interactive bear steals the show

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Taichung Teddy Bear Carnival has taken Taiwan by storm, and the 101st hidden-edition teddy bear has finally made its debut on Cingdao Boulevard. This teddy bear, representing the spirit of Taichung, is the first “interactive” bear since the exhibition opened. Visitors can rotate the four dice in the teddy bear’s hands to freely create word combinations. The organizers have also specially built a giant 200-centimeter-wide platform to make it more convenient for tourists to take photos with the teddy bear.

▲The 101st hidden-edition teddy bear makes its appearance at the 2013 Taichung Teddy Bear Carnival. (Photo / Courtesy of2013 Taichung Happy Teddy Bear Carnival Facebook Photo By Shang Tzu Tsai)

The 101st hidden-edition teddy bear wears a cowboy hat, a white shirt representing the autumn-hued Qiu Hong Valley and pearl milk tea — iconic images of Taichung — paired with a bright red scarf and overalls, making it adorable. Most notably, the teddy bear holds four dice printed with the characters 我 (I), 台 (Tai), 中 (Chung), 熊 (Bear), as well as “heart” and “like” icons, allowing the public to freely combine phrases such as “I Love Taichung” or “Bear Loves Taichung.”

Since its opening, the Taichung Teddy Bear Exhibition has attracted over 2 million visitors. As some teddy bears displayed during the exhibition period — including the “Hot Pot Bear,” “Angel Bear,” and “Guard Bear” — were damaged, the organizers kindly remind visitors to gently rotate the dice when interacting with the newly unveiled teddy bear. Please avoid shaking it forcefully to prevent any harm to the bear.

The organizers noted that the teddy bear exhibition will run until January 5, 2014. On December 29, a grand finale event titled “Taichung City Amusement Park Bear HAPPY” will be held on Cingdao Boulevard, featuring over 30 tourist factories and specialty stalls. Visitors can enjoy DIY experiences, and there will also be buy-one-get-one-free promotions and on-the-spot discounts for purchases over NT$100.

▲The Taichung Teddy Bear Carnival is held at Qiu Hong Valley, Cingdao Boulevard, and Civic Square. (Photo /Courtesy of Gui Xiao Sun)