Recycled Mineral Water Bottles in Guest Rooms Turned into Taiwan’s Tallest Christmas Tree

By Liu Jiawen, compiled and reported

As Christmas approaches, the beautiful Christmas trees standing on the streets have become a favorite photo spot for the public. In response to energy conservation and carbon reduction, hotel operators in Hualien spent a year recycling used mineral water bottles from guest rooms, totaling tens of thousands, to create Taiwan’s first eco-friendly Christmas tree standing four stories tall. This fully embodies the spirit of environmental protection through waste reuse and has captured the attention of many visitors.

The body of this eco-friendly Christmas tree is composed of tens of thousands of recycled plastic bottles, making every guest who has stayed at the hotel a contributor to the tree. At night, the Christmas tree lights up with blue LED lights, creating quite a spectacle. Lin Paul, General Manager of Ideal Grand, stated that the eco-friendly Christmas tree is just the beginning. Next year, they plan to hold the first national eco-friendly Christmas tree competition to continue efforts in promoting energy conservation, carbon reduction, and resource recycling.

On the tree-lighting ceremony day, children with disabilities from the Liming Vocational Training Center were also invited to Hualien Ideal Grand to experience the festive Christmas atmosphere. Next year, the operator will also collaborate with the sheltered workshop of Liming Vocational Training Center, where the hotel’s pastry chefs will regularly teach the children how to make pastries, improving their skills, the quality of the pastries, and expanding sales channels. To celebrate the season, the operator is also offering a special promotion: buy one room at the regular price and get one free on regular days. Guests staying between Christmas (12/24) and New Year’s Day (1/1) can enjoy the specially launched Christmas and New Year Seafood & Meat Dinner, as well as participate in activities such as the Santa Claus park parade, carol singing, and New Year’s Eve parties.