Changhua County Government has proposed the “Qingshui Forest and Happy Southeast Cape” project, with “Qingshui Boy Scot Campsite” as its core base, resulting with the subsidization of NT$200 million from the “Cross-zone Highlight Project,” Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communication. A press conference was held in the morning of 15th at the Coffee Gallery at 6F of Changhua County Government Building. In the future, the county government will construct a happy camping site that “suits people from 0 to 99 years old; from individual to groups; from dawn to dusk, during which people can explore, get close to nature, and wander deliberately in order to search for their own DNA.” It simply aims to flip over the tourism of southern Changhua. On this occasion, Changhua exceled among 16 towns and cities to win the NT$200 million subsidy primarily due to its ideal location of “Qingshui Forest and Happy Southeast Cape.” With a huge hinterland of 10 hectares, it is just 5km from the Changhua HSR Station and 3.5km from TRA Shetou Station and Tianzhong Station. In addition, Changhua County Government has invested NT$200 million to build hot spring facilities on 1 hectare of land beside this site. Moreover, the most complete boy scout campsite and training ground is preserved in this zone. Surrounded by the scenic spots as Baquashan National Scenic Area with easy access paths and ecological education center. Completed with local featured resources and industries, such as the sock industry in Shetou, and guava planting, with exciting featured activities like “Quashan Bug Season,” “Tianzhong Marathon,” “Shetou Socks Festival,” “Eagle Flies around Baqua,” and more. With all these attention seeking appeals, no wonder it has earned the subsidization from the Tourism Bureau! In addition to constructing a comfortable and considerable campsite, the county government will also plan to build a parent-child recreation zone, forest adventure zone, and garden lodging zone, and more for the enjoyment of visitors. Together with the hot spring zone in this site, it makes flipping over southern Changhua tourism more than a slogan. At present, the county government has signed the MOU with Tri-mountain National Scenic Area. In the future, both parties will exchange and collaborate the natural ecological and sightseeing resources along the Baqua Mountain range. The project is scheduled to be complete in 2018. It welcomes the private sector to join this project in order to construct a happy and eye-catching “Qingshui Forest.” Source: Changhua County Government website

On the 22nd, Changhua County Government held the 2015 Changhua Tourism Development Forum at CK LEE Garden. Changhua County Magistrate Wei Ming-ku attended the function and the County Government invited experts from the industry, public sector and academia to exchange their opinions and foster a tourism policy that is endowed with the unique cultural traits of Changhua. Changhua is a cultural metropolis and experiential tourism has become an important trend in tourism development; in the future, the tourism policy must be adjusted to focus on local culture and in-depth experiential traveling. He expressed gratitude to the scholars, experts and industry operators to come under one roof and contribute their thoughts for the benefit of Changhua, it is hoped that Changhua will become a significant player in Taiwan’s tourism development within the next decade. The tourism development forum provides a platform for experts from the industry, government and academia to pool their wisdom for the benefit of Changhua’s tourism development and provide an important reference for the County Government’s cultural tourism development strategy in order to develop tourism featuring Changhua’s unique cultural characteristics and protect Taiwan’s exclusive local culture. The County Government is now actively promoting the development of Lukang National Historic Scenic Area, it is hoped that the project will receive support from the central government and various parties. In conjunction with the effective utilization of central government resources, the intension is to launch Changhua’s tourism industry internationally and attract global travelers to visit Changhua, thereby generating the county’s overall tourism development. The number of international visitors to Taiwan is reaching the ten million mark. However, the flood of cheap Chinese travel groups and despicable one-stop operation by tour operators have prevented the public in Taiwan from reaping the profits brought by ten million visitors. Instead, they have crowded out the citizens’ travel space and quality. On the other hand, Kyoto has been repeatedly selected as the top traveling destination in the world, defeating renowned international cities such as Paris, London and New York; therefore, it is evident that urban experiential traveling with cultural undertone has become one of the most important tourism development trends. News contact:（886-4-7532762） Source: Changhua County Government Websites

Changhua County Magistrate Wei Ming-ku strives to promote county infrastructure by planning high quality traffic and parking environment. On the 11th, he led a team of City Hall staff and Town Mayor of Lukang Huang Chen-yan and Buxin Township Mayor Chang Cheng-yu to Japan, where they visited Kyoto City Hall and local municipalities. They also inspected Kyoto’s traffic and parking planning in the hopes of borrowing their experience to improve Changhua’s traffic and parking management in the future. Since his inauguration, County Magistrate Wei has strived to build the “Three Traverse and Three Longitudinal” “Three Rails and Three Bridges” road network. Furthermore, he has also advocated the creation of parking spaces to resolve the problem of inconvenient parking in the city, hoping to generate thriving developments in the region. During the visit, the Kyoto City Hall has provided concise briefing and guided inspection tour, and Country Magistrate instructed relevant departments to heed the successful experience in Japan and formulate a comprehensive promotional project in order to progressively solve the issue of traffic and parking in Changhua County. Kyoto is an ancient Japanese capital and one of the most popular cities in the world. Just like Changhua, it also has narrow streets. However, through Japan’s convenient public transport and parking management, the vehicle and pedestrian traffic is still relatively smooth. Together with the ancient capital ambiance created through the tidy, orderly street landscape, Kyoto is able to attract tourists from all over the world. In order to improve the problem of insufficient parking and long-term occupation of parking space in the county, the County Government Department of Public Works has conducted the revision of “Changhua County Public Parking Autonomous Regulation”. In the future, various district offices will reexamine the condition of roadside parking, where the fee collection technique will be applied to eliminate the problem of long-term parking space occupation and increase the turnover rate of parking spaces, thereby satisfying the parking needs of the surrounding business activities. In addition, the County Government has also proactively promoted public transport to minimize the use of private vehicles on the road, in turn restoring order to the city traffic. In the future, while vying for the creation of Lukang National Historic Area, County Magistrate Wei also instructed the Department of Public Works to consider solving Lukang’s traffic situation a priority by reducing chaotic pedestrian and vehicle traffic and the common problem of peddlers. The aim is to create a people-oriented public transport system and tourism environment in order to enhance the quality of tourism and attract tourists. The development experience of Kyoto is a lesson from which the Changhua administrative team can learn from. News contact:（886-4-7531721） Source: Changhua County Government Websites

When the phoenix flowers bloom and Auld Lang Syne is sung, it is the time to hold graduation ceremonies. Many students are graduating from schools to begin new lives like blooming phoenix flowers. With blooming flowers that look like flames, with the height of about 20m, phoenix tree is regarded as one of the most beautiful and colorful trees in the world. Blooming in May, June, and July every year, it is also the time for holding graduation ceremonies at schools in Taiwan. Therefore, phoenix flower is regarded as the symbol of graduation in Taiwan. After the blooming of yellow flowers on golden-trumpet trees and white flowers on Tung blossom trees, the weather becomes hot in the summer. Then, comes the season for the blooming of phoenix flowers. In this year, the phoenix flowers flourish vividly in schools and parks throughout Changhua. Accompanying with red flowers and green leaves, the azure sky is exceptionally gorgeous. Lively and vivid, the red flowers paved the paths red when they fall. Decorated with different flowers in different seasons, Changhua is magnificent. Lusun Road is located at the junction of Xizhou, Tianzhong, and Ershui in Changhua County, connecting to the Dazhong Community and Chenggong Community. Along the road, 2km long, phoenix trees greet the visitors on both sides. When the summer comes, red flowers bloom all over the trees, dying the sky red. The fallen petals pave the road with a red carpet. With sunlight sieving through the red flowers and green leaves, it becomes a lost horizon, tranquil and remote. Introduced in the media in recent years, it attracts thousands of visitors during the blooming season. Wandering under the trees with blooming phoenix flowers, it is pleasant to enjoy the scenes of the dancing paddy rice fields on both sides. Pacing on the red carpet paved with fallen petals of the phoenix flowers, the breeze caresses your faces, leading you to the realm of tranquility. It is nice to enjoy the leisure of early summer in a rural village in Changhua. Welcome to enjoy the magnificence of Changhua County. The gorgeous views will be all yours. Suggested resorts: 1. Lusun Road, Xizhou 2. Buddha Scenic Area, Eight Trigram Mountains, Changhua 3. Fenyuan, the lychee lovers’ paradise ●Delonix regia Delonix regia is also called as shadow tree, phoenix tree, phoenix flower, golden phoenix, flame phoenix, jacaranda, red jacaranda, fire tree, red flaming jacaranda, flame tree, tropical sen yan, and more, belonging to Leguminosea delonix. With fiery red or orange flowers with green compound leaves, phoenix tree is regarded as one of the most colorful trees in the world. With broad and hanging canopy, it has dense leaves that capture the wind. In the tropical zones, it provides shades during the hot summer. In Taiwan, people believe the blooming phoenix flowers utter the word “farewell” in summer. As it blooms during May, June, and July every year when students graduate from schools. Therefore, it symbolizes graduation and parting.

From 8:30am to 6:30pm every Saturday and Sunday from May 30 to July 12, 2015, The “Weekend Innovation College at Jinshanjiao, Changhua” will be held at 345, Xinggong Road, Tianzhong in Changhua County. Taught by instructors from the businesses and industries, it aims to cultivate owners with the abilities to operate distinctive businesses. The seminars are opened to all businesses owners and workers in Changhua that are interested in operating innovative businesses and industries. Tuition is free. With limited vacancies, first come, first served. Course time: 8:30am – 6:30pm, Saturday and Sunday, May 30 to July 12, 2015 Place: No. 345, Xinggong Road, Tianzhong, Changhua County Source: Changhua County Government Websites Contacts: Miss Liu and Miss Hsu, 886-2-77192111 ext. 227 and 262

Changhua County Government decided to hold the rite of tossing the divination blocks on 14 in Fuhai Temple, Wanggong, Fangyuan Township, to pray for the divine answer and blessings. Deputy Magistrate Chou Chih-chung, acting on behalf of Magistrate Wei Ming-ku, prayed to Matsu and requested her decision of the dates for holding this ceremony. Conveyed from the “divine answer,” the deity chose to sponsor the Wonggong Fireworks Festival on July 18 and 19 (the 3rd and 4th day in the 6th lunar month). Welcome all visitors to attend the festival, taste the fresh oyster, and enjoy the firework and concerts there in these two days. For centuries, Wanggong, Fangyuang Township in Changhua County has been a busy fishing port. Due to the regular ebbs and flows in the near sea, the oysters grown there are fresh and tasty, earning the fame of “pearl oyster.” In recent years, integrating its local natural resources, temple culture, regional history, and fishing village charm, Wonggong has transformed into a tourist spot and leisure center. Each year, before holding the Wonggong Firework Festival, the sponsors would toss the divination blocks to request the divine answer and the deity’s blessings, with the hope of holding this event perfectly. Praying to the deity, the worshippers also expect the deity to bless the place and people, bringing them mild weather and plenty of rainfall. This event attracts thousands of young people to come as well, injecting energy and life force to this tranquil fishing port. Sponsoring Wonggong Firework Festival, it brings more charm to Changhua. In this year, the major appeals of this event are prayer carnival, ocean concerts, local delicacies stalls, and firework display. All are welcome to enjoy the sea, the seafood, and lively music. News contact: Mr. Hong, Fishery Section, Agriculture Department, Changhua County Government. Tel.: 886-4-7531675 Source: Changhua County Government Websites

On the morning of the 8th, Changhua County Government held a press conference on the “Changhua Elderly and Happiness Card” in the courtyard of the office building. This card was specifically designed for the elderly and disabled people for the convenience of transportation and daily life. The conference was hosted by Wei Ming-ku, the Magistrate of Changhua County and attended by many honorable guests. Magistrate Lin expressed that all the Changhua residents 65 years old or above and people holding disability cards (medical documents proving disability) are eligible to apply. Please apply at your local District Offices with the following items ready: your name chop, 2 2-inch photos, and photocopy of your ID card or Household Registration Card, Disability Card or related evidence. Magistrate Lin invites all residents to work together in order to make Changhua a happy and friendly city that provides care and concern to elderly and disabled people. Magistrate Wei continued that collaborating with the EasyCard, Changhua County Government issued the “Elderly and Happiness Card” for the convenience of the people at 65 or older. He invited all the people eligible for application to apply at the nearest District Offices, with the following items ready: name chop, 2 2-inch photos, and photocopy of your ID card or Household Registration Card. At present, the “Elderly and Happiness Card” provides the subsidization of NT$300 per month for every older people. For the mid and low income elderly people, the subsidization will be NT$500 per month; low income elderly people, NT$800. In the coming year, it is expected to increase the subsidization to NT$1000 per person per month if the budget allows so that the older people in Changhua can travel around free to enjoy the happy life in the city. There were 172,244 people that were aged 65 or above. Since November 1, 2008, Changhua County Government had launched the benefit of “free bus ride for the disabled and elderly people.” By the end of March 2015, 75,602 people had been applied to claim this benefit. Now, the County Government has launched the “Elderly and Happiness Card” to achieve the goal of “All round care for the happiness of all.” For the people at the age of 65 or above and disabled people, if their applications are granted, they can enjoy the subsidization of NT$300 per month. For the mid and low income elderly and disabled people, the subsidization will be NT$500 per month; low income elderly and disabled people, NT$800. In addition to using the money in the “Elderly and Happiness Card” for riding on buses, holders can also use their cards as e-Purses to purchase any items at the stories in the four major convenience store chains, where they can also put money in them. This card is also valid in EasyCard stores, renting YouBike, and riding on Taipei MTR at 60% discount without the trouble of showing the user’s ID. Welcome all the elderly and disabled people in Changhua to apply. For the Sunshine e-Travel cardholders that have been using their cards for 5 years or more are eligible to exchange for this new card for free. If there is any question regarding the application of this card, welcome to inquire at the websites of the Applications, Elderly Welfare Section, Department of Social Welfare, Changhua County Government or call your local district offices. Since his inauguration, Magistrate Wei has been working towards the goals of “All-round care for the happiness of all.” Providing diverse and all-round welfare services to the elderly people, he works ceaselessly to integrate all possible resources through cooperation between various government departments and sections, and collaboration with private sectors. In the future, the Department of Social Welfare, Changhua County Government will work towards the goal of “elderly friendly” as its core mission. Now, there are about 170 thousand elderly people, to whom multiple welfare services, such as economic security, care and concern, recreational, elderly protection, and more are provided. In addition, the operation of the Elderly College, Elderly University, and more to encourage the elderly people learn more and learn happier, achieving the goal of life-long learning. The government regards planning and implementing better welfares for the elderly people its mission. It is eager to forge an elderly friendly city for the care, concern, and happiness for all. News contact: Miss Guo, Elderly Welfare Section, Department of Social Welfare, Changhua County Government (886-4-7532360) Source: Changhua County Government Websites

Since the operation of the 7 YouBike kiosks in Lukang in December 17 last year, all the 18 kiosks, which are located at Changhua Tourist Center, Lukang District Office, Lukang Folk Arts Museum, Lejin Elementary School, the First Parking Tower, Lukang Book Arts Center, Osmanthus Artist Village, Ludong Elementary School, Fuxin First Parking Lot, Lukang Senior High School, Lukang Senior Police Station, Lukang Town Library, Lukang Stadium (Labor’s Community College), Lukang Dingcuo Park, Lukang Christian Hospital, Lukang Wenwu Temple, Fuxing and Sanmin Road Junction (Gentleman Alley), and Wenkai Elementary School (Tianhou Temple Parking Lot), were put into service on April 2. Providing 450 bicycles for rental, it helps solve the problems of traffic jam, insufficient parking, and energy exhaustion. In addition, it offers visitors an alternative way to travel around Lukang. In accordance with the transportation policy of the County Government to build up a low-carbon city, until now 31 YouBike kiosks have been installed in Changhua, 19 in Yuanlin, and 18 in Lukang. With the total of 68 kiosks, it provides 1,650 YouBikes for rental. Changhua official YouBike Website: http://chcg.youbike.com.tw/ Changhua YouBike Service Center: 886-4-7531155 News contact: Mr. Ke, Executive Officer, Planning and Development Section, Department of City and Tourism, Changhua County Government. Tel: 886-4-7532765 Source: Changhua County Government Websites

All 12 Matsu temples in Changhua are going to sponsor one of the major folk activities “Matsu of Changhua patrol around the territory to bless the people ceremony 2015” collaboratively. Dianan Temple at Beidou held the “throwing the divinity blocks ceremony” on January 30 to choose a suitable date for sponsoring the rite. In the ceremony, Chen Zai, the Chair of the Committee Board of Dianan Temple and the host of the incense furnace of 2015, tossed the divinity blocks, acting for the 12 Matsu temples. Supervised by Chou Chih-chung, Deputy Magistrate of Changhua County acting on behalf of Magistrate Wei Ming-ku, Chen Zai tossed the divinity blocks and requested for Matsu’s divine answer. As a result, the goddess replied that October 4 (Sunday) (the 22nd day of the 8th lunar month) would be the best date for the commencement of “Matsu of Changhua patrol around the territory to bless the people ceremony 2015”. The worshippers should meet on September 29, in front of Dianan Temple five days in advance, and install the heavenly platform at night on September 30. In addition, the rite of gratitude should be held on the heavenly platform on October 3. Deputy Magistrate Chou expressed that according to Matsu’s divine answer conveyed through the tossing of the divination blocks, the “Matsu of Changhua patrol around the territory to bless the people ceremony” this year should be held on October 4, 2015 (the 22nd day of the 8th lunar month). He would like to invite all the people and visitors to participate in it. Sponsoring this ritual, he hoped the goddess could bring peace, health, and well-being to the people in Changhua. At last, he expected the rite to be a successful one. This year, 2015, “Matsu of Changhua patrols around the territory to bless the people ceremony” is approaching its eighth anniversary. According to the decision of the Matsu Patrol Around the Territory Committee, Dianan Temple will be the host—the chair worshipper this year. According to local customs, it should invite Changhua County Government and the esquires in Beidou, and 11 other temples, including, Hexing Temple of Beitou, Renhe Temple of Erlin, Putian Temple of Fangyuan, Fuhai Temple of Wanggong, Taiwan Husheng Temple of Lukang, Fuan Temple of Shengang, Nanyao Temple of Changhua, Baozang Temple of Fenyuan, Funing Temple of Yuanlin, Qiaotou Tianmen Temple of Shetou, and Qiande Temple of Tianzhong to ask Matsu for an appropriate date for holding this ceremony. With the proceeding of this ritual, they hope Matsu can bring us mild weather and sufficient rainfall; peace and well-being; prosperity without disasters; happiness in different seasons and happiness to all Changhua people. Matsu of Changhua patrol around the territory to bless the people ceremony 2015: September 29, 2015 – October 10, 2015 Gathering of the 12 Matsu Statues: September 29, 2015 Installation of the Heavenly Platform: September 30, 2015 Commencement Party: October 3, 2015 Matsu Patrol: October 4, 2015 – October 9, 2015 Matsu Return: October 10, 2015 Source: Changhua County Government Websites Contact: Mr. Wang, Arts Promotion Section, Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Changhua County Government. Tel: 886-4-7250057 ext. 1861

In promoting the beauty of Changhua’s coast and to advocate the concept of environmental conservation, the Changhua County Government is organizing the “Changhua Creative Coastal Tour Itinerary Planning Contest” from now till October 31, 2014, with the grand prize as high as NT$20,000. All college students and independent creators in the county are invited to assemble teams and participate in the contest. The event is divided into two stages; the preliminary round is held from now till October 31; the final round is scheduled for December 12 and the winning design unveiling will be held on December 19. The Top three creations and five excellent works will be selected, where contestants will be able to introduce the abundant coastal resources of Changhua (production, life, ecology) through their personal journeys and films, so as to generate diverse values for Changhua’s coast. The coast of Changhua features mudflats that attract countless birds to spend their winter here. At the same time, the area was also used as sea farms by the ancestors of the local community, and the heritage and lifestyle of the traditional fishing village is continued on today. In order to share the concept of “touching mini journey” with travelers, the Changhua County Government has captured the magnificence and characteristics of Changhua’s coast, as well as the area’s thriving “production, life and ecology” in the form of creative itineraries and micro films to evoke a touching sentiment and resonance among the public. The objective of the program is also to raise people’s awareness toward environmental conservation. Courtesy of the Changhua Creative Coastal Tour Itinerary Planning Contest website