The world’s first Jimmy Liao-themed hotel — where characters leap off the pages with a “Hug of Love”

▲ Characters from Jimmy Liao’s picture book "Hug" leap into real life, sharing a hug by the hotel pool.

Reported and photographed by Chen Tzu-yin / Hualien

The Jimmy Liao-themed square and Children’s Festival that debuted at Yilan Railway Station late last month are not the only places in eastern Taiwan where characters from his picture books come to life. In collaboration with Jimmy Liao, a well-known hotel operator launched the world’s first hotel infused with Jimmy Liao’s style in Hualien City on the 5th. From the building’s entrance, lobby, and poolside to themed guest rooms and parking spaces, characters from Jimmy Liao’s picture book "Hug" stand before your eyes one by one. Stepping into the hotel feels like diving into a fairy tale crafted by Jimmy Liao.

“Dear friends, how long has it been since you last hugged someone?” This is what the red lion protagonist writes on the first page of Jimmy Liao’s book "Hug", which is also the central philosophy behind the collaboration between Hanpin Hotel Hualien and Jimmy Liao. Every character and animal that appears in the real-life installations serves as a reminder of the importance of “hugging”.A red lion and a little boy locked in an embrace at the hotel entrance, a pink pig hugging a little boy in the lobby, a rabbit embracing a baby dressed in a bunny suit by the pool, and a frog prince cuddling a shy little princess in the ecological pond — ten installations both inside and outside the hotel blend seamlessly into the public spaces, creating a warm atmosphere full of love.

  
▲ Left: The three-story installation artwork at the hotel entrance features the red lion and little boy from "Hug" in a tight embrace. Right: The pink pig hugging another little boy in the lobby is part of the extended story from the picture book.

 
▲ Left: The frog prince in the ecological pond tenderly embraces a shy little girl, waiting for her kiss. Right: The elephant in Jimmy Liao’s picture book is described as having a long trunk so people can hug it; another installation is designed as a seesaw for parent-child interaction.

Even more impressive is the massive installation mural in the hotel parking lot, known as “Hugging the Journey of Life”. It showcases classic characters from Jimmy Liao’s works over the past decade, including protagonists from "Turn Left, Turn Right", "The Lucky One", and "The Underground", all presented in this corridor of time. A tour guide from Hanpin Hotel explained that the mural was placed here because the parking lot is one of the busiest spots, symbolizing how places filled with comings and goings often hold something worth cherishing. And the “scenery of life” is what’s most memorable. The overall composition is bold and striking, complementing the color scheme of the hotel’s exterior wall.


▲ The giant mural in the hotel parking lot preserves classic characters from Jimmy Liao’s picture books over the past decade.

Chen Hui-tzu, General Manager of Hanpin Hotel Hualien, said: “Jimmy Liao’s works are full of vitality, emotional appeal, and vibrant colors. Everyone who sees them is deeply moved, which is why I believe he is our best choice. Moreover, his creative philosophy aligns closely with ours — emphasizing environmentalism, art, humanity, and even love for the Earth, which are values we consistently promote. Even though we may not have large-scale hardware highlights in the Hualien area, we hope to serve every guest with warmth and tenderness. This place feels like a second home for travelers, where you are always cared for. Therefore, the theme of ‘Hug’ from the picture book is the perfect fit.”

Regarding this collaboration, Jimmy Liao said: “This is truly extraordinary. Everyone worked together using creativity to transform something flat and relatively monotonous into something three-dimensional, allowing visitors to immerse themselves, get close, take photos, and even hug. This will be the most unique hotel, because it features Jimmy Liao’s works.”

Additionally, the seventh floor of the hotel houses 29 Jimmy Liao-themed rooms, which opened for guests on the inauguration day. The entire floor feels like a whimsical world from Jimmy Liao’s imagination, and the stories are also brought into the suites. The styles and color schemes vary, and many children were thrilled to stay for the first time in rooms filled with playful Jimmy Liao elements.


▲ The seventh floor of the hotel is the Jimmy Liao floor, where a sleeping red lion hugging someone greets you right as you exit the elevator.
 
▲ The family-themed room includes a small living area full of Jimmy Liao elements.

 
▲ Jimmy Liao suites in various room types feature different color scheme designs.

 
▲ All the furniture inside the Jimmy Liao rooms has been redesigned.


▲ Additionally, recently every day at 4:30 PM, the main character “Red Lion” appears to give hugs. Those who receive a hug from the Red Lion get a small card with a serial number. Once a thousand hugs are collected, the hotel will donate 100 loaves of bread to nearby disadvantaged groups. Let’s all collect hugs and do some good together.