Discover "Richard Parker"！Seven Tigers Appear at Scenic Spots in Pingtung County

Tourism Center / Taipei Report

The ending of the globally successful film "Life of Pi" by Oscar-winning director Ang Lee leaves much to the imagination—where exactly did the tiger go after reaching land? In the movie, the tiger "Richard Parker," who spent 277 days with young Pi, walks straight into the bushes and disappears without looking back after coming ashore. Pi, who has just been rescued, can’t help but burst into tears, a scene that deeply touches many viewers. So where did the tiger really go after landing? Pingtung County Government has launched the "Fantastic Journey to Find Richard Parker" campaign, offering rewards such as cash bonuses and hotel vouchers, inviting everyone to play detective and follow Richard Parker’s trail for a chance to win prizes.


                       ▲ Pingtung County Government has specially launched the "Fantastic Journey to Find Richard Parker" campaign.

The picturesque cultural scenery of the Hengchun Peninsula has attracted many film crews and TV programs to shoot here in recent years. Director Ang Lee’s movie "Life of Pi" also revealed the lesser-known beauty of Kenting. By launching this “Find Richard Parker” campaign, the county government hopes to spark another wave of tourism and pilgrimage, following the success of the movie "Cape No. 7."

This time, the Tourism and Communications Department has collaborated with tourism operators on the Hengchun Peninsula to create the concept of "seven tigers" placed at seven different scenic spots across Pingtung. It is hoped that while visitors explore these locations, they will not only relive the film "Life of Pi" but also experience the stunning landscapes of the Hengchun Peninsula, understanding why director Ang Lee chose to film here.

The scene in "Life of Pi" where the tiger Richard Parker comes ashore was filmed at Baisha Bay on the Hengchun Peninsula. Building on the story of the film, the county government imagines that many years later, Pi has become "Old Pi." Old Pi hears that Richard Parker has appeared in various forms around the Hengchun Peninsula, including Baisha Bay in Kenting, Hengchun Bus Transfer Station, Folklore Museum, the Floating City Wall at Hengchun Junior High School, the King of the Sky Challenge, Nanwan, and the Iron Horse Station of the Kenting Police Station—seven specific locations. On his 80th birthday, he makes a wish and offers a generous reward, hoping adventurers can help him find his old companion, "Richard Parker."

From now until August 30, the Tourism and Communications Department has designed seven tigers in different shapes. Each tiger varies in posture and material and is placed at the seven aforementioned scenic spots. Adventurers can visit each spot using the map, take photos with the tigers, and then use a free collage app on their smartphones to combine five or seven photos into one. After uploading the collage photo to the campaign website (http://fv38.com/75982) and successfully obtaining a serial number, participants can not only receive a beautifully crafted souvenir (limited to 3,000, while supplies last), but also enter the lucky draw.

The lucky draw is divided into two stages. The first phase, "Catch 5 Tigers to Win 5-Star Accommodation," allows participants who upload five tiger photos to enter a draw for 5-star hotel vouchers, specialty homestay vouchers, and the second edition of Pingtung’s selected gift pineapple cakes (30 winners). The second phase, "Capture All 7 Tigers to Win NT$70,000," allows those who collect and upload all seven tiger photos by August 30 to enter a draw for a cash prize of NT$20,000 or NT$10,000, as well as specialty homestay vouchers.