5 Miniature Painted Elephants Tour Taiwan, Exhibition Runs Until August 25!

▲ Five baby elephants tour Taiwan to visit major attractions, as seen at Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. (Photo / Provided by Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, the same below)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Remember the "paper pandas" that made a flash appearance at the Taipei Yuanshan Flower Expo in 2014? This year, the world's largest Asian elephant conservation organization, ELEPHANT PARADE® ("Elephant Parade"), has come to Taiwan for its July exhibition, bringing along five hand-painted baby elephants specially designed for Taiwan by artists from Thailand and the Netherlands. These adorable elephants have toured 16 major scenic spots including Yangmingshan, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Anping Fort, Tainan Salt Fields, and the Formosa Boulevard Station of the Kaohsiung MRT. From north to south, the baby elephants have left their footprints and presence everywhere. From now until August 25th, you can see these lovely little elephants at all Shin Kong Mitsukoshi locations across Taiwan.

The 2016 ELEPHANT PARADE® exhibition in Taiwan will kick off with Baby Elephant May embarking on a journey across Taiwan, heralding the 【Summer Journey with Elephants】, which will run until August 25th. In July, a "Large Elephant Art Sculpture Exhibition" created by international celebrities, Taiwanese artists, and other cross-industry figures will also make its debut.

▲ When visiting Alishan in Chiayi, taking a photo with the Alishan Forest Railway train is a must.

▲ The baby elephants take in the beautiful scenery of Sun Moon Lake from above in Nantou.

The five baby elephants specially designed for Taiwan by foreign artists each carry different meanings: "I Love Mosha," representing the first time ELEPHANT PARADE® has come to Taiwan; "Tangled Roses," which believes that elephants are as beautiful as roses; "Hidden in the Greenery," symbolizing the hope of achieving dreams; "Dreamy Wings," drifting between fantasy and dreams; and "Graceful Flutter," reminding everyone to seize the moment.

Like ordinary travelers, these elephants from abroad have visited popular Taiwanese sites such as historic landmarks and natural wonders together. They've been seen at the majestic and classic Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the bustling Longshan Temple, the nostalgic Alishan Forest Railway, and the historic Anping Fort in Tainan that carries Taiwan’s past. Beyond showcasing the artistic concepts of their designers, these five baby elephants also serve to advocate for animal conservation. Through the concept of "Baby Elephants Touring Taiwan," they aim to share Taiwan’s most beautiful landscapes with the world.

▲ The baby elephants visit the Wapan Salt Fields in Jiānzǐjiǎo, Tainan, to admire the sunset.

▲ At this stop, we arrive at Anping Fort — the baby elephants lined up on the cannon barrels are absolutely adorable.

Originating in Europe, the elephant sculpture art exhibition "ELEPHANT PARADE®" began in 2007, inspired by a true story personally experienced by its founders, Marc and Mike Spits, in Thailand. They encountered a disabled baby elephant named Mosha, who had lost her right front leg to a landmine in Chiang Mai. To help Mosha and also to raise global awareness about the plight of the remaining 35,000 Asian elephants, the ELEPHANT PARADE® officially launched its worldwide touring exhibitions in 2007. Starting with its debut in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the exhibition has traveled to 16 international cities including London, Milan, Singapore, California, and Hong Kong. Over 1,000 artists from around the world have participated, creating more than 1,000 elephant art sculptures.