By MOOK Travel Life Network / Reported by Li Xinyi
The “2012 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival” kicks off today and runs through May 20. This Taiwanese tourism festival, which has attracted 6.48 million visitors, generated NT$23.1 billion in total revenue, and achieved a satisfaction rate of 97.98% since its 99th edition, will this year hold a record-breaking 2,468 events across 13 counties and cities, including 20 medium to large-scale cultural and artistic performances nationwide. In addition, now is the perfect time to enjoy the tung blossoms. The Council of Hakka Affairs has launched a smartphone app (APP) for the “Hakka Tung Blossom Festival,” where volunteers report bloom conditions in real time. This year also introduces a new “Tung Blossom Catching” game, allowing visitors to enjoy the flowers and win cash prizes of up to NT$30,000.
The Hakka Tung Blossom Festival officially begins, with over 2,000 related events being held this year – the highest number ever. (Photo / MOOK Travel Life Network, Li Xinyi)
Last year, the Council of Hakka Affairs released a smartphone app (APP) for the “Hakka Tung Blossom Festival,” allowing visitors to stay updated on tung blossom viewing conditions across various locations. This year, they’ve added a “virtual reality” mobile app called the “Tung Blossom Catching Game.” Simply visit any of the 101 tung blossom scenic spots, open the “Hakka Tung Blossom Festival” app, go to the “Tung Blossom Points King” event page, and use your phone’s augmented reality feature to catch tung blossoms. The one who catches the most wins the title of Tung Blossom Points King. The event runs from today until May 30, with the top three winners receiving NT$30,000, NT$20,000, and NT$10,000 respectively.
The “Hakka Tung Blossom Festival” APP reports bloom conditions in real time across various locations, making it a great helper for blossom viewing. (Photo / MOOK Travel Life Network, Li Xinyi)
To help the public get closer to Hakka cultural creativity and boost participation, the Council of Hakka Affairs has specially organized the “Stamp the Tung Blossom Seal” game this year. From now until May 30, visitors who collect three different tung blossom stamps at participating merchants and restaurants during the festival can tear them off and mail them back to the event team to enter a lucky draw for prizes such as a New iPad and a Sony Cyber-shot 16-megapixel camera.
Additionally, the Council of Hakka Affairs is now distributing free Tung Blossom guidebooks at RT-Mart, Taiwan Railway stations, Taipei Metro, Taipei Transfer Station, Tung Blossom merchant and restaurant locations, and more. These booklets contain nearly 200 types of discounts and offers. On April 25, they will also be available at FamilyMart convenience stores in the Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli regions. Alternatively, you can download the “Hakka Tung Blossom Festival” app or visit the Tung Blossom-themed website to print out the “Guidebook” and still enjoy the same discounts.
Tung Blossom Themed Pavilion Website: tung.hakka.gov.tw
Tung Blossom Tree Concerts
|
Organizer |
Event Name |
Date / Location |
|---|---|---|
|
Council of Hakka Affairs |
“2012 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival” Opening Ceremony |
April 28, 2012 (Saturday) Shangri-La Amusement Park, Zaobiao Township, Miaoli County 10:40–11:00 Heaven Worship Ceremony 14:00–16:00 Main Stage |
|
If Kids Theater |
Flower La Bipopo Children’s Rhymes |
April 28, 2012 (Saturday) 15:00 Outdoor Plaza, Tung Blossom Park, Tucheng District, New Taipei City |
|
United National Orchestra |
Nostalgic Dreams
|
April 29, 2012 (Sunday) 14:00 Dongshi Hakka Cultural Park, Taichung City |
|
Xie Yuwei Band |
2012 Tongxiang Jazz Concert |
April 29, 2012 (Sun) 14:00 Hakka Waterfront Park, Jianshan Township, Hualien |
|
Joint Federation of Performing Arts and Service Workers’ Unions of the Republic of China |
Hakka Pop Music Concert |
April 29, 2012 (Sun) 14:00–17:00 Shengxing Station, Sanyi Township, Miaoli County |
|
Silk String Space Jazz Band |
“When Spring Comes, the Tonghua Blossom Appears; The Hakka Enter the Peach Blossom Spring” Concert |
May 4, 2012 (Fri) 19:30 Taoyuan County Hakka Cultural Museum |
|
Le Liang Youth String Orchestra |
Le Liang Tong Music Gathering |
May 5, 2012 (Sat) 14:00 Lakeshore Garden Restaurant, Longtan Township, Taoyuan County |
|
Taiwan Hakka New Music Creation Association |
Tonghua Music Festival |
May 5, 2012 (Sat) 16:00–18:00 Square in front of Nanzhuang Visitor Service Center, Miaoli County |
|
Huifeng Dance Studio |
Flower Dance in the Hakka Village |
May 5, 2012 (Sat) 14:00–15:30 Square in front of Sanyi Wooden Sculpture Museum, Miaoli County |
|
Red Tile Ethnic Dance Troupe |
Tung Blossoms in Bloom |
May 6, 2012 (Sun) 15:30 Square in front of Nanzhuang Visitor Center, Miaoli County |
|
Meijiang Dance Troupe |
Uncle San and Auntie Po Appreciate Tung Blossoms |
May 6, 2012 (Sun) 14:30 Hsinchu County Neiwan Train Station Square |
|
Nine Songs Children's Theater Troupe |
"The Child Who Wanted to Fly" Hakka Version |
101/5/12 (Sat) 15:30 Hsinchu County Shishan Visitor Center |
|
Evergreen Symphony Orchestra |
Tung Blossom Hakka Concert |
101/5/13 (Sun) 14:30 Hsinchu County Government Performing Arts Center |
|
Golden Hakka Music Ensemble |
Tung Blossom Tree Concert |
101/5/13 (Sun) 15:00 Taoyuan County Hakka Cultural Museum |
|
Shifang Music Ensemble |
Percussion Garden |
101/5/20 (Sun) 14:00 Hsinchu County Neiwan Train Station Square |
● Read more: Bike riding and enjoying tung blossoms – Head to New Taipei’s Hakka homeland on 5/12
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