Yilan Happiness Shuttle: Ride with JiMi’s illustrated characters

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported

The design concept of the “Starry Night” bus is based on JiMi’s work "Starry Starry Night," which is dedicated to all children who struggle to communicate with the world. It is a story about growing up: a girl meets a silent boy, and neither of them is particularly happy. One day, they escape the city, trek over mountains, and arrive at a mountain cabin where the girl’s grandfather once lived. On a night in the mountains, they see the most beautiful starry sky. Back in the city, the girl falls ill, and the boy disappears... This is a story that is both simple and complex, describing two people who meet and then part ways.

The name “Miracle” comes from the illustrated book "Forget to Give You a Kiss," which says, “If you’re lucky enough to ride an empty tram, you’ll encounter a miracle.” It tells the story of a little tree who, after losing his parents, forgets many things: he forgets what his mother told him, forgets to water his father’s roses, forgets where the pudding dog by his side came from, and forgets that he is still a child. Eventually, when the tram he’s riding arrives at a family’s home, he suddenly remembers all those forgotten things. The little tree recalls those beautiful memories, and when the tram suddenly brakes, he recalls those moments that had been long lost.

The sightseeing bus route runs between the Yilan Transfer Station and Riverside Park, allowing visitors to park their vehicles in peripheral parking areas within the city and then transfer to the Starry Night and Miracle buses to explore Yilan City’s attractions, cuisine, and snacks. This reduces the impact on urban traffic. The route passes through the Happiness Transfer Station, the front of Yilan Railway Station, Yilan City Hall, Zhaoying Temple, Beimen, Yang Shifang Memorial Forest Park, Yilan Distillery, Crescent Plaza, Zhongshan Park, Youai Building, and Lanyang Monastery, among other locations.

To allow more interaction between the public and the Starry Night and Miracle buses, scheduled tour stops and times include: 9 AM–12 PM on September 4 at Diudiu Copper Square; 3 PM–6 PM on September 10 next to the McDonald’s at Crescent Plaza; a night performance at the Yilan Sports Park’s Starlight Music Festival on September 10; and 9 AM–12 PM on September 11 at the Yilan Cultural Center, giving the public opportunities for close-up photo opportunities.