Written/Compiled and Reported by MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin
Recently, the yellow rubber duck in southern Taiwan has been all the rage, and now the 70-meter-long blue sperm whale appearing in Youth Park is also gaining immense popularity. It’s set to make its official debut tomorrow (the 5th). If you want to experience the sheer size and grandeur of the sperm whale in person, why not plan a one-day trip around Wanhua as well? Explore the historic Longshan Temple, the old street of Pecklehiao, the delicious food at Nanjing Airport Night Market, and the cute and playful giant whale — all combining for a unique Wanhua adventure.
The nearly 70-meter-long blue sperm whale is making its debut tomorrow!(Photo provided by Moleskine Editorial Department)
Pecklehiao Old Street — Discover the Film Location of “Monga”
Pecklehiao Old Street gained fame thanks to the movie “Monga.” During the Qing Dynasty, it served as a distribution hub for fir timber imported from Fuzhou to Taipei. The timber was all stripped of its bark here, which gave the area its name. To this day, Pecklehiao remains one of the more well-preserved historic districts in Taipei and is the only remaining Qing-era Han Chinese street in the Monga area. Most of the buildings are one-and-a-half to two stories high, and at the time, they were mainly used for book printing factories, inns, clinics, and rice mills.
[Info]
Address: No. 101, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Transportation: Take the MRT to Longshan Temple Station, and walk about 10 minutes from Exit 6
Vintage painted billboards on Pecklehiao Old Street exude a strong nostalgic vibe. (Photo provided by Moleskine Editorial Department)
Longshan Temple — A Renowned Second-Class Historic Site
Besides showcasing the artistry of Taiwanese temples, the enduring popularity of Wanhua’s Longshan Temple over the past 200 years is also due to its flourishing incense offerings. Since its completion in 1740, the temple has enshrined deities such as Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy), Mazu, and the God of Literature. The bronze dragon columns, traditional Chinese auspicious patterns, and the richly colored architecture create a magnificent and resplendent sight, holding an important place in Taiwan’s architectural history and renowned both domestically and internationally.
[Info]
Address: No. 211, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Transportation: Take the MRT to Longshan Temple Station, and walk about 5 minutes from Exit 1
The main hall of Longshan Temple enshrines Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. (Photo provided by Moleskine Editorial Department)
Youth Park — The Blue Sperm Whale Makes a Limited-Time Appearance
The fourth-largest park in Taipei City, Youth Park is close to Nanjing Airport Night Market. The park features a swimming pool, tennis courts, an open-air music stage, and lush green lawns that are a rare sight of greenery within the city.
One of the hottest topics recently is the arrival of a nearly 70-meter-long blue sperm whale in Youth Park. The “Paper Windmill Taiwan Animals and Insects Creative Exhibition,” set to open tomorrow (the 5th), will feature a “Sperm Whale Theme Pavilion” that is approximately 70 meters long, 15 meters wide, and 12 meters high — about the size of five basketball courts and four stories tall. This is a whale without any bones; the entire structure is inflatable and supported by blowers instead of internal beams or pillars.
This environmentally conscious-themed pavilion is designed so visitors walk through the whale’s mouth into an underwater world. Here, you can see red and blue coral reefs, as well as seaweed made from recycled plastic bags. Inside the whale’s belly is a sunken ship loaded with items like printers and sofas, offering an immersive experience inside a marine creature’s stomach to encourage reflection on environmental practices in daily life.
[Info]
Address: No. 199, Shuiyuan Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Transportation: Take bus routes 12, 205, 212, 223, 532, 630, 671, or 673, and get off at Youth Park Station.
The Paper Windmill sperm whale theme pavilion spans the area of five basketball courts and allows visitors to explore a fantastical underwater world inside the whale’s belly. (Photo provided by Paper Windmill Theater Troupe)
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