Trains with Loads of Cars, Not Just Pretty Conductors — “Mushrooms” Join the Fun Too

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

With summer vacation underway, the “Nantou Train Festival,” now in its seventh year, will be held from July 14 to August 11. Themed “Travel with Building Blocks,” the event will showcase a series of building block creations that combine railway culture with Nantou tourism. A promotional press conference was held today in the Taipei Railway Station hall, where Nantou County Acting Magistrate Chen Chih-ching used building blocks to symbolically open the Jiji Line, marking the official start of the train festival. The popular “Mushroom” characters from Japan’s mobile app game “Mushroom Garden Laboratory” will also make their first appearance at a Taiwanese festival. The cute Mushroom family will take over Taiwan Railways carriages and accompany passengers on a journey along the Jiji Line.


▲ Photo of popular conductor candidates (from left) Hu Ya, Ting Ting, BeBe, and the Mushrooms. (Photo provided by Nantou County Government Tourism Department)

The Nantou Train Festival offers the chance to stay overnight and ride Nantou’s national treasure-level steam trains for free. There will also be themed exhibition halls showcasing “Travel with Building Blocks” across Nantou, as well as popular nationwide hot air balloon rides. Elements that have captivated Taiwan since last year — including the “Building Block Exhibition” and “Mushroom Garden Laboratory” — will also be part of the festival. The event continues its most popular perk: free rides on Nantou’s steam trains for those staying at local licensed accommodations. Simply apply through your accommodation provider to reserve a spot on the steam train. Non-guests can exchange a NT$500 unified invoice for a standby ticket on-site. Free tethered hot air balloon experiences are also available in Nantou.

Now in its second year, the popularity contest for conductor has attracted three contestants: BeBe, the mixed-race beauty from the Guo Guang Gang; Ting Ting, the sunny young girl from the Brother Elephants; and defending champion Hu Ya, the queen of exhibition events. These three goddesses, with their stunning looks and great figures, showed off their talents and pulled out all the stops to win votes. Ting Ting performed an energetic cheerleading dance, Hu Ya entertained with the adorable and funny Gwiyomi song, and BeBe showcased her comedic acting skills. All three demonstrated great charm and confidence in their bids for the role, showing their determination not to lose.


▲ Launch of the Building Block Jiji Line — the train festival kicks off. (Photo provided by Nantou County Government Tourism Department)

Additionally, the Japanese “Mushroom Garden Laboratory” Mushrooms, making their first appearance as guests on the Jiji Line, announced at the press conference that they will appear in Taiwan Railways carriages during the event. Fans of the Mushrooms shouldn’t miss the chance to take photos with them. To promote Nantou’s free hot air balloon rides, a real hot air balloon basket and heater were also set up at the event venue, giving visitors in Taipei Railway Station a taste of the experience.