Short Video Competition Reward Ceremony 第6屆 eye臺灣win兩岸

Two months ago, I came across a competition ''第6屆 eye臺灣win兩岸 短片徵選競賽'' organized by the Mainland Affairs Council, together with the Immigration Office and Cheers magazine. The main idea of the competition was to introduce your life in Taiwan in less than 3 minutes. I thought, "Why not join? There's nothing to lose!" So, I made a video, uploaded it to my channel, and joined the competition. 

More in my another post: HERE

Two weeks ago, the shortlisted list was released, and we were among the 25 selected. Shortly after, we received an email inviting us to the winners' ceremony held in Taipei.  

I don't have much experience making videos as I used to only write. So, being in the top 20 out of nearly 200 videos sounds great.

Only one thing made me feel it's a bit unfair, as the rules stated video has to be set to Public, but there were some Unlisted. I didn't check all of the videos, but I watched a few that sparked my interest or of those that I knew, for example video made by ''莎白Elizabeth''.  For those that don't know she is a famous YouTuber, originally from the USA. She made it into the shortlisted list which I felt is not fair since the video is hidden from people and only those opening the link from the website can see it but she wasn't disqualified. 

In the past, the competition was primarily for individuals from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. However, this year it was open to participants from any country. I wasn't the only non-Asian person to join, but I was the only white person at the award ceremony.

There were 20 winners in total, with 3 people chosen through online voting, and the rest selected by judges. We made it into the group of 8 people who received awards for excellent work. Two people were awarded for second and third place, and one lucky winner received 200,000 NTD.

Despite the cold front, the weather was great that day. We could even see Taipei 101. When I was here 6 years ago, half of the building was covered in clouds. 

For more travel and food-related content, feel free to check out my other posts, as well as my YouTube channel.

The winners list (https://storyintaiwan.cwg.tw/2023/winner)

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Taipei Travel: YangMingShan - Calla Lily Festival

It's our second visit to Yangmingshan, and this time we came to admire the blossoming Calla lilies. Last year, we visited a beautiful hydrangea farm in the area. Visiting on a weekday turned out to be a great idea as there were fewer people, making it easier to drive and find parking. On weekends and holidays, traffic is often controlled to manage the crowds.

Yang Ming Shan National Park (陽明山國家公園) 

Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園) is one of the nine national parks in Taiwan. It was established in 1985 and covers an area of 11,338 hectares. The park is known for its volcanic topography, primarily the Dagushan volcanic group. Within the park, you can find geothermal areas, hot springs, hiking trails, volcanoes, and a diverse range of plants and wildlife.

The highest peak in the park is Qixing Mountain, reaching a height of 1,120 meters. It is a typical cone-shaped volcano formed by the eruption of lava flows and volcanic debris.

The volcanic activity in Northern Taiwan is attributed to the subduction of the Philippine Sea plate under the Eurasian plate. The melting of the subducted plates in the hot region results in volcanic eruptions and the formation of volcanic landforms. This volcanic activity lasted for over 2 million years, forming more than 20 volcanoes. However, the activity ceased around 200,000 years ago.

The landscape of Yangmingshan showcases the remnants of post-volcanic activity, including cone-shaped and bell-shaped volcanoes, craters, crater lakes, dammed lakes, hot springs, and sulfur jet holes.

Hot springs in the area are formed by the underground supply of hot water, hydrostatic pressure, and deep fissures in rocks, allowing the water to reach the surface. Surface water seeps down and is heated by underground heat sources. Most of the heated water remains within the rocks, but some rises along the surface, forming hot springs.

Lava-dammed lakes are formed when water collects in a volcanic crater. Zhuzihu, located between Qixing Mountain and Datun Mountain, is an example of such a lake. However, the lake is currently dried up, and the area is used for flower cultivation.

The chemical properties and precipitation of volcanic rocks greatly influence the area, resulting in strongly acidic soil. The climate is also influenced by the strong northeast monsoon and micro-topography. There are approximately 1,300 species of vascular plants in Yangmingshan, with Zhuzihu being particularly renowned for its floral beauty.

See also: Hydrangeas Farm

    

   

Yangmingshan National Park experiences a subtropical climate zone, warm temperature climate zone, and a noticeable monsoon climate. The park is home to various species, including 30 mammals, 21 amphibians, 22 fishes, 53 reptiles, 122 birds, 168 butterflies, and numerous insects and invertebrates. Each season brings its own unique beauty to the area. In February and March, cherry blossoms and rhododendrons adorn the mountain slopes. In October, golden red maple trees and silver grass create a stunning display. During winter, snow can occasionally be seen on cold days, and the mesmerizing sight of seas of clouds can be observed.

Zhuzihu in Yangmingshan boasts 45 Calla lily farms, covering an area of over 13 hectares. Calla lilies are ornamental flowers, but it's important to note that they are toxic if ingested. These flowers typically grow to a height of 35-55cm and thrive in wet and humid environments, often found near ponds or riverbanks. While some farms may charge an entrance fee of 100-150 NTD, many places offer free parking and entrance. Visitorscan usually get up close to the flowers and even pick a few at some farms.

One notable feature within Yangmingshan National Park is Qixing Mountain (七星山), located in the Datun Volcano Group. It is the highest mountain in the city and the highest volcano in Taiwan. Qixing Mountain is situated in the center of Yangmingshan National Park and is one of the younger volcanoes in the area, with eruptions dating back 700,000 years. Due to post-eruption erosion, the mountain now features seven peaks. The mountain also exhibits faults across its southeast and northeast contours, with volcanic landforms such as hot springs and fumaroles.

   

   

The Datun Volcano Group is a collection of volcanoes in Northern Taiwan. It is the result of episodic volcanism that occurred between 2.8 to 0.2 million years ago. In 2005, there was a geothermal activity observed, and gas fumaroles were active in the area. Fumaroles are holes in the ground that emit steam and gases. It is also possible that magma chambers still exist beneath the surface of Northern Taiwan.

Overall, Yangmingshan National Park is a stunning destination with diverse natural landscapes, offering a variety of experiences throughout the year. From vibrant flower blooms to volcanic landforms, it is a true testament to Taiwan's remarkable natural beauty.

Calla Lilly Farms in front of Qixing Mountain

Address:

112台北市北投區核心區 陽明山國家公園竹子湖

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Taipei Travel: Exploring the Hydrangea Farm of Yang Ming Shan

Driving through Taipei... I don't like the crowd everywhere. In the end, the road took nearly an hour longer than it should have.

We came to Yang Ming Shan to see the beautiful hydrangea blossoms. We stopped at a farm near Zhuzhihu. The area was really crowded, and our parking space didn't seem very safe. I saw many people riding bikes and walking, but that must be really tiring because this park is huge. From a distance, the farm didn't seem very impressive, and I was considering not going inside. However, since we already paid for parking, it would be a waste not to go.

Yang Ming Shan National Park (陽明山國家公園) 

Yang Ming Shan National Park (陽明山國家公園) is one of the nine national parks in Taiwan. The park was established in 1985 and covers an area of 11,338 hectares. The area is known for its volcanic topography dominated by the Dagushan volcanic group. You can find geothermal and hot springs, hiking trails, volcanoes, interesting plants, and wildlife there.

The original name of Yangmingshan was Caoshan (Grass Mountain), referring to the tall silvergrass covering the slopes. Chiang Kai-shek renamed this place to Yangmingshan after his favorite philosopher, Yang-ming.

This national park ranges in elevation from 200 to 1200 meters, with different climate zones throughout. The park is divided into subtropical climate zones, warm temperate climate zones, and a monsoon climate, which is very obvious. Yangmingshan is home to various species, including 30 mammals, 21 amphibians, 22 fishes, 53 reptiles, 122 birds, 168 butterflies, and countless insects and invertebrates.

Every season brings a different type of beauty to this area. In February and March, cherry blossoms and rhododendrons cover the mountain slopes. October showcases the beauty of golden red maple trees and silver grass. In winter, you may even spot snow on cold days and observe seas of clouds.

Japanese influence can be seen throughout the park, such as the hot springs and various types of trees they planted. This area is very popular among Japanese tourists. Yang Ming Shan used to be a mining area due to its rich sulfur deposits. All mining operations are now shut down, but visitors can still explore the old mines.

Sulfur is the earliest discovered and widely used mineral in Taiwan. During the Dutch period, there was an annual record of 10,000 tons. There are 27 mining areas.

When Yangmingshan was a center of gold mining, many Han Chinese people moved to this area to cultivate tea trees. Nowadays, large-scale agriculture has been replaced by boutique-style agriculture with a focus on tourism.

This farm is not very big but really pretty and attracts many tourists. The parking fee nearby is quite expensive - 100 NTD, and we had to park under trees, near the mountain, in a narrow space... The entrance fee to the farm is about 150 NTD, but you can also exchange your ticket for a drink or a flower. I always bring home new flowers, but unfortunately, I only have space on my balcony and don't even have nice soil to plant them properly.

We also met other foreigners here. Mostly couples come here, and it seems like every woman wants her husband/boyfriend to come here to see the flowers. Poor men (including my husband) have to spend their day walking among the flowers.

See also: Yangmingshan Calla Lilly

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Taipei Zoo and night view of Taipei 101

Being in Taipei, I couldn't miss going to the zoo. The place is really huge, and the hot weather makes it difficult to walk around. It took over 2 hours to see everything at the zoo, and many of the animals we couldn't see because they were hiding from the heat.

The zoo has been in existence since 1914, but in the beginning, it was a private zoological garden owned by a Japanese citizen. Now, the total area is 165 hectares, with 90 hectares open to the public, making this zoo one of the largest in Asia. In 1914, the zoo was funded by Japanese citizens and called Maruyama Zoo. After World War II, the ownership of the zoo was passed to Taipei City.

Taipei Zoo displays animals from Taiwan, Australia, Africa, Asian tropical rainforests, deserts, temperate zones, and even domestic animals in the Children's Zoo. There is also an aviary with over 12,000 birds of over 130 species. Other exhibitions include the insectarium, amphibian and reptile house, penguin habitat, koala habitat, nocturnal animal display, and panda exhibition.

In 2008, the zoo received two pandas from China, and the Giant Panda House attracts a lot of visitors. The pandas are the most famous animals here. In 2013, the first panda cub in Taiwan was born.

  

When visiting Taipei, you will definitely want to see Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan. From 2004 to 2010, it was also the tallest building in the world. Inside, you will find a shopping mall with hundreds of fashionable stores, restaurants, and clubs. The building is also home to the fastest elevator in the world. On the 88th and 89th floors, you can observe the world's heaviest and largest wind damper.

The first day I came to Taiwan, I had the chance to see Taipei 101 at night from a restaurant nearby. Luckily, the weather wasn't cloudy or rainy. However, during the few weeks that we have stayed in Taipei, I have rarely seen a clear blue sky. I'm not a fan of the summer weather here with the heat and constant rain. Staying home has become quite boring.

We also climbed a hill to see the night view of Taipei. After the climb, I felt exhausted, but the view was worth it. There were a lot of people walking to those viewing spots. Personally, I wouldn't climb there a second time just to watch the city for a while, but it's a popular place for young people.

Picture source: https://goo.gl/images/PoUC2N

Address:

1. Taipei Zoo: 116台北市文山區新光路二段30號臺北市立動物園
2. Taipei 101: 110台北市信義區信義路五段7號89樓台北101觀景台
3. Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain): 110台北市信義區信義路五段150巷401弄31號象山

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The National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum is located in Taipei, Taiwan. There is no branch in Taibao (Chiayi). The museum is renowned for having one of the largest collections of ancient Chinese imperial artifacts and artworks in the world, with nearly 700,000 pieces in its permanent collection.

The majority of the collection was acquired by China's emperors. The museum's roots can be traced back to the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City in China. In 1925, the Palace Museum was established, and in 1933, to protect the valuable collection from the Japanese Army, many of the artifacts were moved to Shanghai.

Following the end of World War II in 1945, Chiang Kai-shek decided to evacuate the artworks to Taiwan. In 1948, the Beijing Palace Museum sent a significant portion of its collection to Taiwan, amounting to approximately 22% of their total collection.

The National Palace Museum in Taipei was officially opened in 1965, and it has undergone several expansions to accommodate its vast collection. Only a small percentage of the collection, around 1%, can be displayed at any given time, and the exhibitions are rotated every three months.

In 2020, the museum closed for a three-year renovation, during which time the entire collection was temporarily relocated to the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum. The Southern Branch, located in Taibao (Chiayi), was opened at the end of 2015 on a 70-hectare site. It aims to promote cultural equity between the north and south of Taiwan and features permanent and temporary exhibition sections that showcase art and culture from various Asian countries. The Southern Branch also houses a collection of treasures from the Qing Dynasty of China, with galleries dedicated to Buddhist art, textiles, ceramics, and special exhibitions on South Asian Jades.

Address:

1. Northern Branch: 111台北市士林區至善路二段221號國立故宮博物院
2. Southern Branch: 612嘉義縣太保市故宮大道888號國立故宮博物院南部院區

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