[Family Travel]Earthquake Preparedness Trip: Wufeng 921 Earthquake Education Park

Recalling that night of the 921 earthquake, our baby Wen was living on the 15th floor of a high-rise building. The fan at home was knocked over, and the elevator tracks were twisted due to the quake. For two weeks afterward, we had to climb 15 flights of stairs. I’m sure many of you have unforgettable memories of that night just like I do. Fortunately, in Wufeng, Taichung, there’s an Earthquake Education Park that preserves the uplifted terrain of the Chelungpu Fault at the Guangfu Junior High School sports field, allowing everyone to witness the power of the fault firsthand. Come explore it with Wen from the Bobowin family!

Shooting location: Wufeng 921 Earthquake Education Park, Taichung
Address of Wufeng 921 Earthquake Education Park: No. 46, Zhongzheng Road, Kengkou Li, Wufeng District, Taichung City
Ticket price for Wufeng 921 Earthquake Education Park: NT$50 for regular admission, NT$30 for concession
Opening hours of Wufeng 921 Earthquake Education Park: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–17:00, closed on Mondays
Reservation phone number for Wufeng 921 Earthquake Education Park: (04) 2339 0906With recent earthquakes occurring frequently, it reminded me to dig out some old winter photos and give this place a proper introduction. Memories of the 921 earthquake are gradually fading for many, but every event leaves a trace. The Wufeng 921 Earthquake Education Park recreates the real situation at the time of the quake and also educates the next generation about correct earthquake knowledge. The photo below shows the former Guangfu Junior High School playground at the earthquake education park. The Wufeng 921 Earthquake Education Park has five major exhibition halls. The Reconstruction Record Hall is the only one that’s free to enter, so you can start there and get a feel for it before deciding whether to buy tickets to visit the other four. Currently, the “10th Anniversary Special Exhibition of 921” is being held, featuring five major themes: I. The Shocking 921, II. Policies and Legislation, III. Resettlement, IV. Reconstruction, and V. Reflection and Change. Many old buildings in Wufeng and other parts of Taiwan were damaged during the earthquake. The special exhibition displays reconstructed models. Little Fu Bao was drooling non-stop at the time—how time flies, he’s now running around on his own and showing his own preferences. Climbing to the rooftop of the Reconstruction Record Hall, you’ll see the Chelungpu Fault Preservation Hall right ahead. It’s built along the Chelungpu Fault and preserves the real records of the fault. You simply must check it out. Since the Chelungpu Fault runs through Guangfu Junior High School, the school has been relocated, but the campus buildings are still fully preserved as standard teaching materials for earthquake education. The architecture of the earthquake education park is very distinctive. Around the large playground, the exhibition halls are arranged in sequence: the “Chelungpu Fault Preservation Hall,” the “Earthquake Engineering Education Hall” that witnessed the 921 earthquake, the “Image Hall” that lets you feel the earthquake’s impact, and the “Disaster Prevention Education Hall” that focuses on preparedness. After buying tickets at the ticket center (regular admission NT$50, concession NT$30), we prepared to enter the “Chelungpu Fault Preservation Hall.” Mom Fu was explaining the global distribution of faults, which are closely related to earthquakes. It’s truly the best example of earthquake preparedness education starting from the grassroots level. In addition to static displays, there are many interactive facilities that require hands-on participation—perfect for hyperactive little Ah Di. He pulled on the rope below over ten times alone, making it a great choice for burning off energy. On the right side of the hall is an exhibit of the Chelungpu Fault. The Guangfu Junior High School playground was split by the fault and uplifted several meters, creating two distinct levels. Walking through the damaged classrooms, we arrived at the “Earthquake Engineering Education Hall” that witnessed the 921 earthquake. Seeing the scene below, we’re really grateful the earthquake happened in the middle of the night—but the consequences could have been unimaginable. Truly, Taiwan was blessed. The Chelungpu Fault Preservation Hall was Ah Di’s playground, but the “Earthquake Engineering Education Hall” is where science-whiz little Sister shines. She insists on trying out every facility and digging into how everything works. Did you see that? Even little Fu Bao is giving it a try, imitating the actions seriously. It seems he has the potential to be a scientist in the future. Little Fu Bao leads the way to the “Image Hall” where you can feel the earthquake’s impact. Even before reaching the Image Hall, the surrounding buildings were impressive enough. The Image Hall features a 3D Earth Theater and an Earthquake Experience Theater. The windows of the Image Hall are designed like picture frames, and the scenes outside appear like frames of a movie unfolding before your eyes. Finally, there’s the “Disaster Prevention Education Hall” that focuses on preparedness. The visit is themed around Journey to the West, incorporating disaster prevention concepts into the story’s characters. The most memorable part for me was the Spider Cave, which resembles the base of the SVA Foodie Group—those in the group will know what I mean. The key point is that many animals can sense slight tremors better than humans, so observing the behavior of small animals around you might also provide early warning signs.
Postscript: Earthquakes are truly terrifying. Taiwan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and people have become somewhat accustomed to it, which can lead to complacency. The right earthquake preparedness concepts can help you handle crises more safely. Take your whole family on a trip to the Wufeng 921 Earthquake Education Park for an insightful journey in earthquake preparedness.
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