The Tanzhong Scarecrow Art Festival runs until January 2018 — a great parent-child destination to experience the countryside

By Sharelife / Sharing Life

Tanzhong is Taiwan’s rice granary, renowned for its Tainan No. 9 rice. To help the public appreciate the hard work of farming and cherish the rice painstakingly grown by farmers, Changhua County Government has held the “Scarecrow Art Festival” for three years in a row. This year’s theme, “Bears Love Tan’s Rice Fields,” features pink cosmos flower seas, DIY scarecrow activities, and displays of local agricultural products — making it perfect for family outings.

▲ Five little bears welcoming everyone at the site

Large straw installations and creatively shaped scarecrows stand amidst the flower sea, adding a strong rural vibe to the event. The venue also offers traditional children’s game challenges that not only enhance parent-child interaction but also allow today’s children, who rarely experience country fun, to connect with the land and understand the hardships of agriculture.

▲ An aerial view of the rice fields and blooming cosmos flowers — full of pastoral charm

▲ Straw scarecrows with lively, crafted limbs

In addition to displays of vintage and modern farming machinery and introductions to Changhua rice, visitors can also experience the rice milling process and feel the meaning behind the saying “Who knows that every single grain in the bowl is the fruit of so much hard work?” The rice we eat every day is the result of farmers’ hard labor, with each grain carrying their dedication — how can we easily waste food?

▲ Bicycles placed by the fields also play an essential role in creating the pastoral scene

▲ Scarecrows paired with real stoves look even more lifelike

To get to the “Bear Loves Tan’s Rice Fields” event held at Wanggaoliao in Dingtang Li, you can take the shuttle bus arranged by the organizers to travel between the venue and the high-speed rail station. Additionally, the Lincuo Interchange in Yuanlin City will connect to the Tanzhong High-Speed Rail Changhua Station, with completion scheduled for January next year. The route from Tanzhong High-Speed Rail Changhua Station to Ershui is also about to commence construction.

▲ Cosmos flower seas stretching over a dozen hectares

The event will continue until the end of January next year and will only be dismantled before the planting of the first rice crop.For those wanting to enjoy the playful charm of the rice fields, be sure to come and admire the over ten hectares of blooming cosmos flowers, take photos amid the fields, and create wonderful memories with your family.

Image source: Provided by Changhua County Government

This article is published with authorization from “Sharelife Sharing Life.”Original text available here