Taiwan’s First Rideable “Jimmy Liao Bus” to Launch in August, Taking You on a Tour of Yilan

▲ *Forget to Give You a Kiss* is a creation by Jimmy Liao inspired by his visit to the Echigo-Tsumari region, reflecting on the area’s scenery and cultural charm. The image shows an art installation designed by Jimmy Liao for the 2015 Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, themed around *Forget to Give You a Kiss*—not the design of the bus mentioned in this article. (Illustration / Provided by MOLES International)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Since 2013, Yilan City has successively launched Jimmy Liao Square and Jimmy Liao Railway Station, using artistic installations to showcase the healing world from Jimmy Liao’s picture books, which has successfully boosted local tourism. To attract more visitors, Yilan City Government has collaborated with the Jimmy Liao team to launch two Jimmy Liao-themed buses, inspired by the stories *Starry Starry Night* and *Forget to Give You a Kiss*. These buses are expected to hit the road in August.

▲ The Jimmy Liao art installations in front of Yilan Railway Station will soon be joined by actual rideable Jimmy Liao buses. (Illustration / Provided by Yilan County Government Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Division)

Back in 2014, a bus transformed into a Jimmy Liao-themed vehicle based on the story *The Moon Forgot* appeared on the streets of Taipei’s Xinyi District, but it was only an art installation for public viewing. The Jimmy Liao buses launched this time by Yilan City Government in collaboration with the Jimmy Liao team can be considered a first in Taiwan—they will not only operate on actual routes and transport passengers, but also feature Jimmy Liao picture book elements both inside and out. For example, the interior ceiling will be painted with a starry sky, while the exterior may display cute illustrations of small animals reading books. There may also be some scattered art installations inside the bus. Yilan City Government stated that design details are still being finalized.

Yilan City Government noted that the Jimmy Liao buses will be created by retrofitting medium-sized buses, with each bus accommodating approximately 21 to 23 passengers. The main route will cover Yilan’s old town area, starting from Yilan Bus Station, following a circular route through the old town, and ending at Yilan Riverside Park. Although the buses are scheduled to launch in August, they are still currently under tender, and details regarding design and operation remain to be confirmed.