Revisiting *You Are the Apple of My Eye* – A Field Search of the Changhua Film Locations

Text & Photography by Chi Binghui | Source: Sony Music, Star Ritz, Giddens Ko

In recent years, the wave of domestic films in Taiwan has repeatedly reached new heights. This summer vacation alone saw the release of several major domestic releases, all achieving impressive box office results. Among them, the film *You Are the Apple of My Eye*, directed by best-selling author Giddens Ko, created the most astonishing effect. The movie broke the 200 million NTD mark within just ten days of release – a first in the past decade – and can be considered another success story in sparking public discourse following *Cape No. 7*.

*You Are the Apple of My Eye* is based on a true story from Giddens Ko’s own high school days. Using his real name “Ko Chen-teng” as the protagonist, it follows the story of him and his four close friends who all fall for the school’s top student, “Shen Chia-yi”. The film weaves together moments of love, friendship, and student life — a bittersweet romance that ultimately goes unfulfilled, striking a deep chord with audiences. It evokes everyone’s memories of youth, recalling those wild things done with close friends and the sweet-and-sour memories of the past.

The story takes place in the simple town of Changhua during the characters’ innocent school days. Many scenes were filmed at Giddens Ko’s alma mater — the private Jingcheng High School. Other locations captured in the film include Changhua Railway Station, Bagua Mountain Giant Buddha, Ah Zhang Rice Balls, Zhonghua Overpass, Changhua Fish Market, and Yongle Street shopping district. The film’s box office success also helped promote tourism in Changhua indirectly. But beyond the filming spots, historic sites such as Lukang Old Street, Tianhou Temple, and Military Aircraft Park are also well worth visiting. So head to Changhua, and go back to the “starting point of it all”.

1. Jingcheng High School

Many viewers may wonder after watching the film: “Why are all of ‘Ko-teng’s’ friends so academically gifted?” In reality, Jingcheng High School in Changhua County is a private institution with both junior high and senior high departments. It uses an ability-based class system, with classes named Zhong (Loyalty), Xiao (Filial Piety), Ren (Benevolence), Ai (Love), Xin (Integrity), Yi (Righteousness), He (Harmony), and Ping (Peace) — in that order. The higher the class name in the sequence, the better the students’ academic performance. Therefore, in the film, “Ko-teng” was in the Xiao class, indicating he was a high achiever. Currently, Jingcheng High School has shifted to the more common numbering system used in typical schools: Class 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.