By the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
As the cold of winter gradually fades and spring sunshine warms the land, the white tung blossoms bloom amid the greenery and dance through the mountains and forests, adorning the earth with a fresh new look and exuding a romantic ambiance. The “2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival,” themed “Tung Blossoms, Visitors, and Villages Celebrate Together,” will be held from now until May 11 across 13 counties and cities and 63 townships and districts. Meanwhile, the “Tung Blossom Star” painted Taiwan Railways train, jointly created by the Council of Hakka Affairs and the Taiwan Railways Administration, officially began operating as of today.
Diagram of the carriages of the “Tung Blossom Star” painted train launched for the 2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival. (Image source / 2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival official website)
The warm-up event for the “2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival” will be held on April 4 at the Niuer Resort Art Village in Puli, Nantou. The main event and opening ceremony are scheduled to take place on April 12 at the Shangri-La Amusement Park in Zaobridge, Miaoli, where they will kick off in full swing. At that time, the public can take the “Tung Blossom Star Painted Train,” not only supporting the environmental concept of energy conservation and carbon reduction but also enjoying the beautiful scenery with ease while riding the train and experiencing the rich Hakka culture.
The vibrant colors of the diagram evoke a sense of childlike wonder among visitors. (Image source / 2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival official website)
The “Tung Blossom Star Painted Train” adopts the design concept of “Exploring Hakka Villages.” The first carriage features the main visual of the “2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival,” using bright colors, a beautiful rainbow, tung blossoms fluttering in the sky, and cute, innocent children to symbolize the festive atmosphere of the celebration. The second carriage, “Savoring Hakka, Enjoying Tung Blossom Delights,” uses a warm orange-red to depict the making of traditional Hakka desserts such as Lei Cha (pounded tea), dried persimmons, and Ciba. The third carriage, “Flower Festival Welcoming Guests with Tung Blossoms,” uses a deep blue-green to combine the traditional Hakka blue shirt with six styles of Hakka cultural floral fabric, showcasing a new face of Hakka culture. The fourth carriage, “Tung Blossoms Fluttering, Hakka Village Charm,” uses a striking blue-purple to present classic images such as the Miaoli Hakka Cultural Park and the Liudui Hakka Cultural Park, with playful children in lively scenes.
The “Tung Blossom Star” painted train has officially begun operation. (Image source / Council of Hakka Affairs)
The fifth carriage uses yellow-green to depict “Hand in Hand with Tung Blossoms, Enjoying the Fun,” showcasing the passionate vitality of the Hakka people and inviting the public to step into Hakka villages and enjoy the fragrance of tung blossoms carried by the breeze. The sixth carriage, “Reading Hakka Under the Tung Blossom Tree,” uses a lovely pink to convey the touching scene of children listening to their grandmother teach the Hakka language under the poetic white tung blossoms. The seventh carriage, themed around “Celebrating Together with Tung Blossoms, Enjoying Life in Hakka Villages,” draws inspiration from the “Tung Blossom Song and Dance Creation Competition” and uses a pink-purple to showcase the innovative and diverse spirit of Hakka culture. The eighth carriage, “Exploring Hakka, Spirit of Tung Blossoms Endures,” uses a unique night-sky blue to capture the breathtaking moment of tung blossoms in dazzling fireworks, leaving an unforgettable impression of their elegant white dance.
This year, to give residents in southern Taiwan the opportunity to ride the “Tung Blossom Star” painted Taiwan Railways train during the Tung Blossom Festival, special service has been provided between Chiayi and Hsinchu, allowing people across the country to take the “Tung Blossom Star” to various tung blossom scenic spots and experience the feast of flowers. For detailed departure times and train numbers of the “Tung Blossom Star” painted Taiwan Railways train, please check the official website of the “2014 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival.”
● Tung Blossom Festival Fun Guide》》
Come to Miaoli to chew on wood crafts, play with dyeing fabrics, and enjoy tung blossoms with One Piece puppets
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