Free shuttle bus for Mazu welcoming ceremony at the Flower Carpet Festival — one direct trip to the destination

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

Taiwan’s annual central Taiwan travel highlight — the Xinshe Flower Sea series of events — will take place from November 17 to December 16, daily from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at the Second Farm of the Seedling Farm in Xinshe District. In its second year, the Taichung International Flower Carpet Festival, integrated with the flower sea event, covers an exhibition area of approximately 1.9 hectares. This year, themed “Colorful Flower Carpet,” it also incorporates imagery of the Dajia Mazu in Taichung. In addition to the Dual Flower Carpet Area composed of the Happiness Flower Carpet and the Butterfly Flower Carpet — designed with motifs such as hands holding a heart, bubble tea, and the purple crow butterfly — the entrance of the Flower Carpet Area is adorned with floral decorations, including a nearly 5-meter-tall Q-version of Mazu, alongside Q-versions of Qianliyan and Shunfeng’er to welcome visitors. Moreover, during event weekends, three free shuttle bus routes are scheduled, departing respectively from Fengyuan Railway Station, Dongshi Riverside Park, and the Taiyuan Road Parking Lot in Beitun District, taking visitors directly to the Flower Sea Area, all available free of charge.

The 2012 Taichung International Flower Carpet Festival exhibition area features two indoor pavilions themed around dancing lady orchids (Phalaenopsis), low-carbon green living, and painted windmills, as well as a windmill flower carpet zone. Additionally, there are 18 themed areas in total, including Wetland Scenery, Mysterious Oasis, Railway Journey, Cherry Blossom Wish Tree, and Green Energy Fireflies. Among them, the Railway Journey uses homophonic associations with station names such as Zhuifen, Chenggong, and Duzu, simulating large train tickets like “Zhuifen Success” and “Duzu Success.” The Cherry Blossom Wish Tree offers wish cards shaped like Taichung’s city flower — the mountain cherry blossom — which visitors can take to write down their wishes and hang on the tree, allowing tens of thousands of prayer cards to naturally form the blooming sight of cherry blossoms. The Green Energy Fireflies feature solar-powered firefly green sculptures with flashlights installed at the tails, using solar energy to create the visual effect of twinkling firefly lights.

In addition, during event weekends, three free shuttle buses depart from central Taichung, starting respectively from Fengyuan Railway Station, Dongshi Riverside Park, and the Taiyuan Road Parking Lot in Beitun District. The outbound service runs from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the return service from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, taking passengers directly from the shuttle stops to the Flower Sea Area. Furthermore, this year also offers a sightseeing shuttle bus that departs from the Flower Sea Shuttle Station, making stops along the way at Cherry Blossom Forest, Xiezhoong Street (Mushroom Street) 7-11, Mushroom God Restaurant, Zhongxingling, Malipu Leisure Agriculture Area, the Administrative Area of the Seedling Farm under the Council of Agriculture, Xinshe High School, Xinshe Community Health Center, and Xinshe District Office. The service hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. On weekdays, you can take bus routes 31, 91, 270, 271, 276, 277, 6583, 6587, 6588, or 6589 and get off at Zhongxingling Station, then walk about 30 minutes to reach the venue. For more details, please visit the official event website: flowersea.dig.tw.

● Read more: Taiwan’s Keukenhof — Xinshe Flower Sea kicks off on November 17

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