Turn left or right — meet at the Jimmy Liao-themed Square in Yilan

Reported by Hong Lingju / Special Feature

Yilan’s Dongshan River, Su’ao Cold Springs, and Luodong Night Market have always attracted many visitors, but “Next stop, Jimmy Square!” will become a new highlight of Lanyang. Taiwan’s first-ever Jimmy Liao-themed square is expected to officially open at the end of June this year at the Yilan Bus Station.It brings three classic picture books — *Starry Starry Night*, *The Underground City*, and *Turn Left, Turn Right* — to life, blending imagery and stories such as “travel” and “fragments of life’s scenery” with the space.This transforms the cold impression of the bus station’s concrete pillars, leaving every passerby with a lasting memory.

▲ Recreating a classic scene from *Turn Left, Turn Right*, where the male and female protagonists may miss or meet at Jimmy Square, leaving room for endless imagination. (Photo provided by JimmySpa)

Located behind Yilan Railway Station, the Yilan Bus Station serves as a transportation hub for intercity and local buses. In the renovation plan by Yilan County Government and the Construction Bureau, not only were historical buildings and old trees preserved, but the originally abandoned vacant lot was transformed into a bright and open recreational space. A themed park integrated with public art was also planned. In collaboration with Jimmy Liao’s design team, the landscapes and characters from the picture books come to life in this space.

The Jimmy-themed park, spanning a hundred ping, echoes fleeting memories in the minds of travelers, filled with strong imaginative elements. For example, suitcases scattered among trees and houses are inspired by *The Underground City*, symbolizing “tiny houses” and “home.” The flying bus scene from *Starry Starry Night* is deconstructed and presented through murals, reliefs, and three-dimensional installations, portraying the bus carrying the joy of travel as it soars into the sky. The male and female protagonists from *Turn Left, Turn Right* each have their preferred direction. Will they take different buses, miss each other, or meet? The storyline of the picture book is embedded in the layout of the square, waiting to be discovered.

% A mural of *Starry Starry Night* features vibrant skies, with large deer and suitcases on both walls. In the center stands a three-dimensional flying elk and suitcase. At the Jimmy-themed park and the future bus station site, they merge into an ever-flowing painting. (Photo provided by JimmySpa)

After leaving Jimmy Square, you can walk straight along Guangfu Road to explore the historic buildings and temples in Yilan’s Old Town for a cultural tour. Stop by the Yilan Governing Memorial Hall to enjoy the Japanese-style atmosphere; visit the century-old distillery to sip the fragrance of red yeast rice wine; pay a visit to the memorial garden of Yang Shifang, Yilan’s first successful imperial examination candidate, to honor his lifelong dedication to the hometown; and go to Bixia Temple to worship this temple dedicated to General Yue Fei. Walking through the key sites in the urban area takes about 5–6 hours. Finally, back at the train station, don’t miss local specialties such as beef tongue biscuits, preserved fruits, and duck meat — must-take delicacies of Lanyang.

Jimmy Square

Expected to officially open on June 28, 2013
Address: No. 1, Guangfu Road, Yilan City, next to Yilan Railway Station, located southward
Admission: Free

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〈Encounter〉 Theme song of the movie *Turn Left, Turn Right*