Rural duck herding, hunting in the wild—watch the "foreigners" go crazy for Taiwan and compete to be the ultimate local.

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

 

The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and TLC, the Travel & Living Channel, have once again collaborated to produce the second season of their travel competition show, "Fan Tai Wan Da Tiao Zhan" (Crazy Taiwan Challenge). Twelve international contestants from seven different countries have traveled across the ocean to

Tourism Bureau Deputy Secretary-General Tsai Ming-ling stated that the new season delves deeper into Taiwan's diverse facets and brings the island’s unique culture onto the international stage through the show. Traditional puppet shows, as well as cultural experiences of indigenous tribes and Hakka communities, will all be featured. Moreover, domestic efforts to promote cycling tourism have been significant—with Taiwan boasting over 5,000 kilometers of bike paths. Statistics show that in 2011 alone, over 500 travelers from Hong Kong and Macau chose cycling trips. As such, cycling has also been incorporated into the show, with contestants pedaling along the blue-sea-and-white-cloud North Coast. In addition, the challenges feature a variety of transportation modes, such as riding the Kaohsiung MRT and exploring Tainan’s old streets by motorcycle. Popular youth subculture Cosplay is also blended with traditional puppetry, perfectly illustrating the fusion of Taiwan’s ancient and modern cultures.

 

Show host Janet also noted that this season cleverly weaves the most iconic local characteristics of Taiwan’s towns and villages into the competition format. It begins with an immersive experience in northern Taiwan’s temple worship culture, seeking good fortune at the start, then moves to Yilan where contestants are tasked with herding ducks and crafting scarecrows in the countryside. In Miaoli’s Hakka villages, participants test their musical ear with “A-Mei-Zai Ba-Yin” performances and even make their own Lei Cha tea. After an exciting rafting trip in Hualien, they join indigenous people on a hunting expedition, and later take to the skies in a romantic hot air balloon ride over Taitung. In the historical city of Tainan, there’s a feast of the island’s largest night market, along with charming old streets and classic architecture. Additionally, Janet shared some amusing anecdotes about living with the international contestants: “Some came to Taiwan for the first time and, upon hearing firecrackers, thought it was gunfire—they immediately dropped to the ground to take cover!”

The brand-new season, consisting of 13 episodes, will premiere on December 30 and air across Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries, as well as New Zealand and Australia—reaching a total of 136 million households to offer them the deepest possible experience

 

● Read more: The flagship store of Food Republic recreates a classic Taiwanese alley, serving Stephen Chow’s nostalgic “Lost Love” rice.

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