Hot air balloons and steam trains free to ride at Nantou Train Festival 7/14

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

 

The beloved summer event for both kids and adults—the 2013 Nantou Train Festival—will be held from July 14 to August 11. This year’s theme, “Travel with Building Blocks,” will showcase a series of railway culture and Nantou tourism-inspired block art pieces that are sure to amaze. The festival has also invited the adorable mushrooms from the “Mushroom Cultivation Lab” to appear on the Jiji Line through carriage paintings, joining passengers on their journey along the line. One of the highlights not to be missed is the free ride on the historic steam train DT668 when staying overnight in Nantou, a fan-favorite part of the festival every year. Additionally, this year’s event introduces a hot air balloon tethered flight experience for the first time—no extra charge required. During the event period, those who reach the weekly spending quota in Nantou can enter a weekly draw onsite, with each winner taking two people up for a ride.

The Train Festival is one of the most anticipated summer events, and this year it will be grandly held on the Jiji Line on July 14. The event will continue its popular free steam train ride offer for those staying overnight in Nantou’s licensed accommodations—just apply through your accommodation provider, as rides are allocated by reservation. A new highlight this year is the tethered hot air balloon ride experience. Simply present your accumulated Nantou receipts totaling NT$1,000 or more from any given week during the event period (and donate them), and you’ll be entered into a weekly draw. Sixty pairs (120 people) will win each week, with additional spots available depending on weather conditions.

 

Elements that have taken Taiwan by storm since last year, such as the “Block Exhibition” and the “Mushroom Cultivation Lab,” will also make an appearance at the Train Festival. The themed exhibition hall will use building blocks as the creative medium to construct trains, train stations, and iconic sights and festivals of Nantou. This year also sees the launch of a limited-edition set of five miniature Jiji Line block train stations. Visit three stations along the Jiji Line, collect mushroom stamps, and you could redeem a block station.

Other exciting activities include the much-anticipated second edition of the Steam Train’s Most Popular Conductor Voting Campaign, featuring candidates such as BeBe, the multiracial beauty from Guoguang Bang; sunny Tingting from Brother Elephants Young Girls; and defending champion Tiger Fang, the queen of exhibition booths. The public will vote for their dream travel companion, and the top vote-getter will serve as the steam train conductor during the event, interacting closely with passengers. The event will also feature a block art creativity competition with cash prizes, a photography contest capturing fleeting moments of trains, a children’s favorite sketching competition, and a Jiji Line day trip where participants can pick pineapples and try their hand at pottery. Official website: travel.nantou.gov.tw/2013doodoo.

 

 

● Read more: Summer Flight Dreams – A Guide to Hot Air Balloon Tours Across Taiwan

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