The Mushroom Train has many carriages — the Jiji Line’s steaming locomotive and plenty of hot air balloons. Free rides on Saturdays.

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

 

The Many-Carriage Train Festival has entered its seventh year, inviting different cartoon characters as event guests every year to accompany everyone in fun along the Jiji Line. This year, the currently most popular mobile app game from Japan, “Mushroom Cultivation Laboratory,” brought its adorable mushrooms to the Jiji Line. The mushrooms hopped onto the train carriages of the Taiwan Railways Jiji Line. The author of Mushroom Cultivation Laboratory, Kawai Shingo, also came all the way from Japan and rode the TRA Mushroom Carriages with the mushrooms. Many passengers were surprised to encounter the author in person and called themselves lucky.

The first steam locomotive, DT668, arrived on the Jiji Line yesterday (14th) to a warm welcome. The train was fully occupied by people from all over Taiwan who came to enjoy the experience of riding a steam train. Even though the weather was hot and the carriages weren’t air-conditioned, with occasional puffs of train smoke drifting in, both adults and children found the rare experience enjoyable. During the nearly one-month-long Many-Carriage Train Festival, visitors can apply for free rides by booking through local accommodations during the event period. The DT668 steam locomotive taking on this important task is known as the “King of Steam Locomotives” — the most powerful steam engine in Taiwanese history — a dream item for train enthusiasts and a truly rare fresh experience.

Themed Exhibition — The Jiji Line Lego Fantasy Park is a series of exhibits created using Lego bricks, featuring characteristic trains from various countries, classic stations that blend art and history, and a miniature Nantou tourism map assembled from scaled-down versions of local attractions. There is also an interactive area where visitors can create their own works, giving both children and adults a new perspective and a feel for the magical charm of Lego. Meanwhile, Nantou is holding its first-ever super-popular hot air balloon experience in Taiwan. People can ride for free through a lottery system — simply donate receipts totaling over NT$1,000 spent during the event period to exchange for a raffle ticket. One winner brings two people on a ride. The hot air balloon lottery event will make its first debut at Jiji Elementary School next Saturday. During the event period, there will be balloon inflation performances before each Saturday’s launch. Those who don’t get to ride can still come and see the balloons up close.

Additionally, food lovers shouldn’t miss the limited-time railway bento boxes specially made for the train festival, prepared with fresh ingredients from Nantou and available for purchase at Jiji Station. Collect mushroom stamps at the various train stations along the Jiji Line to exchange for limited-edition miniature Lego Jiji Line station models — each week features a different design. Every Friday during the event, a 399 Nantou One-Day Value Tour is offered, led by experienced Jiji Line guides to take you deep into popular attractions, including farming or pottery experiences. Various townships also host numerous local specialty events and farmers' markets during the train festival, especially the Shueili Water Play Festival, which is cool and refreshing. Official event website: travel.nantou.gov.tw/2013doodoo.