Night Tour of Yilan's Craftsmanship & Culture: A "Qingming Riverside Scene" Under the Stars

By MOOK Travel Life Network, reported and compiled by Chen Guanxin

 

After a six-year hiatus, the National Center for Traditional Arts has once again opened its doors for nighttime park visits. The brand-new 2013 summer event, "Crafts & Culture 66 Nights—A Qingming Riverside Scene Under the Stars," runs from now until August 31. Throughout the entire summer vacation, in addition to the Thunderbolt series activities—3D theater, figurine exhibitions, and Cosplay parades—there will also be a “Night Market Street” featuring local snacks alongside the nighttime scenery of the Dongshan River. Each weekend will feature additional “Theme Nights,” with a lineup of exciting programs including Tafari Temple, Czech puppet theater, magical fire dancing, and indigenous vocal performances. The “Night Market Street” features retro stalls and period-style food stands, complemented by riverside lighting, grassland star lights, and bridge pier illuminations, creating a scene along the small bridges and flowing waters that evokes the bustling atmosphere of Zhang Zeduan’s “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.”

During the event, every Saturday night at the Crafts & Culture Center features a series of “Theme Nights.” On July 6 and 13, the “Original Voices Night” will showcase performances by the Aboriginal band Yuanxiong, who sing moving tunes by composing new melodies based on traditional indigenous music. On July 20, the “International Exchange Night” will feature a joint performance by the Czech “Classical Marionette Theater” from Eastern Europe and Taiwan’s “Jinfeifeng Puppet Theater,” where Western circus meets the Eastern “Lion Dance for Good Fortune”—an exciting blend to look forward to. On July 27 and August 17, the “Cosplay Party Night” will be heated up by performances from Unlimited Figure Theater’s Cosplay and TS Fire Dance, with special invitations for cosplay fans to join in the fun. On August 3, the “Nostalgic Ballads Night” will feature singer Wu Zhinyin from Little Liuqiu, performing touching nostalgic songs. On August 10, the “Rock Night” will see Tafari Temple Band bringing retro yet glamorous new Chinese music, including theme songs from “Empresses in the Palace” and other hits, with a rock twist on traditional music that defies conventional expectations. On August 24, the “Golden Melody Night” will feature Golden Melody Award winners Luo Sirong and the Lone Fur Band, presenting Hakka vocal music.

In addition, the Crafts & Culture Center has once again partnered with Thunderbolt International Multimedia to launch the 3D theater production “Fantan Festival,” featuring a newly created full storyline, screening at the Quyi Theater from July 1 to September 22. Dubbed the Taiwanese version of “The Avengers,” this “Fantan Festival” will bring together all the beloved characters from the Thunderbolt universe, with the latest look of the sword-wielding, saber-crazy Ye Xiachai making its first appearance in the show. During the event period, there will also be a “Thunderbolt Heroes Figurine Special Exhibition,” themed around the Thunderbolt puppet series, featuring dreamlike sets scaled 1:1 to the figurines, breaking away from traditional puppet exhibition formats to present a more refined atmosphere and bringing the virtual world closer to reality. Additionally, the “Thunderbolt Heroes Autograph Concert” will be held on July 28 and August 17, featuring performances of the theme song by Golden Melody singer Huang Shanliang and Thunderbolt talent Fengcailun. This series of events offers audiences a comprehensive Thunderbolt puppet experience.

 

To encourage the use of public transportation, from July 6 to August 25, passengers who take the direct Capital Bus or Kamalan Bus from Taipei to the Crafts & Culture Center will receive a discount coupon for park admission, enjoying a special rate of NT$100. For those who prefer traveling by water, discounted combo tickets for the Children’s Festival’s two park areas can be purchased at 7-ELEVEN IBon, allowing visitors to take the water bus from the Water Park.

 

During the event period, the National Center for Traditional Arts extends its opening hours until 9:00 PM daily and introduces “Starlight Tickets.” These tickets are valid for entry between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM, with half-price admission at NT$75. For more details, visit the official website: art.pcsc.com.tw.

 

 

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