To maintain the sustaining beauty of the ocean, the Changhua Aquaculture Association, Changhua Wild Bird Society, Changhua County Environmental Protection League, and Changhua Coastal Park Service Center co-sponsored “2019 Changhua Coastal Plastic Free Campaign and Joint Beach Cleanup.” In the morning of the 22nd, it was held in four districts simultaneously: the north district (Shengang and Xianxi), central district (Fuxing and Fangyuan), south district (Dacheng), and Changhua Coastal Industrial Park (Lukang and Xianxi). The terrain of the cleanup covered from the mouth of the Dadu River in the north to the mouth of the Jhoushui River in the south. It summoned about 300 civil groups with more than 6,000 people to join the beach cleanup. Mayor Wang, Huei-Mei of Changhua County, the sponsor of the cleanup President Lin, Chao-Sui of Taiwan Mirror Glass Enterprise Co., Ltd. (TMG), Director Yang, Chin-Fu of the Changhua Aquaculture Association, Counsel and Executive Secretary Chen, Yi-Tun of the Changhua Aquaculture Association, and more gathered at Taiwan Hanbao Yuan Wetland Ecological and Creative Cultural Park to cheer for people participating in the beach cleanup. Mayor Wang expressed her gratitude for the beach cleaners for their contribution. She also advocated people to reduce the use of straws, plastic bags, and pet bottles to minimize the harm done to the ocean. Mayor Wang said that the beach cleanup was conducted in four districts along the coast of Changhua. With the collaboration of the force from both the central and local governments, public and private sectors, there were about 6,300 people, both adults and children, coming to clean up Changhua’s coast. It was hoped that with the beach cleanup, it would educate more folks with the concept of reducing the use of plastic. She encouraged people to join and maintain the best conditions of the coast so that the sea will become friendlier to people. In each year, massive plastic waste, about 8 million tons, are washed onto the ocean. Mayor Wang would like to thank the volunteers for their participation in the beach cleanup. She feels glad that all participants joined their hands to take care of Changhua’s coastline. The government encourages groups and institutions to adopt the coastline. Up to now, about the total length of 36.9km of the Changhua coast has been adopted by 19 institutions. By the end of August in 2019, about 102 beach cleanups were held in Changhua, cleaning up about 111 metric tons of garbage. It is believed that by sponsoring beach cleanups, it can make the ocean cleaner, providing marine life with a better environment for their growth. At the same time, our living environment will become better as well. By educating the next generation, let us protect Taiwan’s coastline together. The sponsor of the cleanup President Lin, Chao-Sui of Taiwan Mirror Glass Enterprise Co., Ltd. pointed out that there has been plenty of garbage contaminating the island and bringing catastrophes to the ecology. Therefore, TMG has sponsored beach cleanups for many years. In the third lunar month this year, the beach cleanup mobilized 1,200 people, gaining the attention of the central government. Therefore, many government agencies joined the “2019 Changhua Coastal Plastic Free Campaign and Joint Beach Cleanup.” In this beach cleanup, there were more than 6,000 people to clean up Changhua’s coastline in four districts. It was the largest beach cleanup in the history of Taiwan. It is hoped that the beach cleanup can transform Changhua into the prettiest demonstration zone for coasts in towns and cities, townships, and villages in Taiwan. The beach cleanup is expected to become a role model and alert people living in Taiwan to value this piece of land more. Let each county and city clean up beaches. Let’s join our hands to clean up beaches in Taiwan. To avoid micro plastic entering the food chain and getting into human bodies through drinking water, in autumn every year, Changhua will hold a large-scale beach cleanup to allow people to understand how seriously humans have damaged nature. It also poses a question to people about where the marine garbage comes from, so that people will change their consumption habits and avoid using disposable products to protect the survival and safety of marine life.

Changhua is the hometown of small and medium enterprises, which are undergoing a transformation process in recent years, introducing tourism into the business. Now, there are 14 sightseeing factories in Changhua, ranking 3rd in Taiwan. The clustering phenomena also promotes the development of neighboring businesses, saturated with infinite trade opportunities. To connect with current trends of the era, the Ribbon Museum in Changhua is funded by the “Service Industry Innovative R&D Project” of the Ministry of Economic Affairs to develop an intelligent guided tour APP. With the development of the APP, it integrates the consumption off-line and experiences online, extending, innovating, and upgrading the services. In the morning on the 20th, the “Press Conference for the Ribbon Museum Sightseeing Factory Innovative Technology 2.0 – Smart Tour Guides APP” was held in the factory. Mayor Wang, Hui-Mei of Changhua County and President Wu, Shih-Chang of the Ribbon Museum also attended the conference. It is expected that with the development of the APP, visitors can obtain more information in the sightseeing factory, guided tour to sightseeing spots in the neighborhood, and travel information of traveling around Changhua. It adds much to the fun of visiting the Ribbon Museum as well as increases the number of visitors in the ribbon factory. At the same time, it will promote tourism in the neighboring sightseeing spots. The Ribbon Museum Innovating Technology 2.0 – smart tour guide APP is not only an eCommerce platform but also an AR game built into the APP. It allows visitors to search for textile pets in the factory and take pictures with them. It also includes guided tour functions, being innovative and practical. To fulfill his social responsibilities, President Wu will also market other scenic spots, sightseeing factories, and the Lukang business zone as extended functions of the APP. When visitors use the Ribbon Museum APP, they can obtain the information of the Ribbon Museum in addition to joining the scratch card game. Winners can enjoy the discounts of buying various items in the factory. The APP will help bring more visitors to the scenic spots nearby, creating more trade opportunities for Changhua in collaboration with other businesses. Established in 1988, originally King Young Enterprise Co. Ltd. was an OEM ribbon factory. Later, it began to provide customers with the design and products of their innovation. Likewise, it became one of the important ribbon manufacturers in the world, winning the title “Ribbon King.” Then, it transformed into a sightseeing factory. With decades of R&D, it has designed thousands of ribbon styles. In the museum, there is a “library” that the President takes pride in it. Many colorful ribbons are hanging on the walls of the library, allowing visitors to wander along the hallway of imagination. In the museum, it also displays the all-in-one production process to inform visitors of the durability of traditional industries.

Changhua is the resort with three features – an operating historic monument, the Round House (Rail Station Hotel), and oyster picking trip on ox-drawn cart unique in Asia. These are intangible cultural heritages in Taiwan. “Husheng Temple” is the only glass temple in Taiwan worshipping Mazu, located in Taiwan Glass Gallery. To promote its tourism, Changhua County Government joined the team led by the Tourism Bureau, MTOC to form the Taiwan Galley in NATAS Holidays 2019. It was held in Singapore EXPO from August 2 - 4, 2019. On August 5, they joined the tourism promotion gala. In this year, Tourism Bureau, MTOC presented Taiwan Small Town Ramble. Lukang and Tianwei Township of Changhua were also chosen in the project. In the exhibition hall in Singapore, in addition to introducing Lukang and Tianwei, Changhua County Government also promoted the food, railway culture, historic monuments, coastal ecology, farms, and more with the theme of “Young Changhua – Light Travel in Changhua” to Singaporean people. With stage activities, the presenters interacted with people in the venue to deepen their understanding of Changhua in central Taiwan. NATAS Holidays 2019 was held at JW Marriot Singapore South Beach by National Association of Travel Agents Singapore. In presentations, the representatives of Department of City and Tourism introduced the refined handicraft in Lukang, historic monuments, national class artisans, deep-fried oysters, ghost shrimp, roasted wheat flour, steamed meat buns, phoenix Eye cakes and other relics and good foods to people there. The exciting activities held during the Dragon Boat Festival – the more exciting the later time at night, the largest trading center of Taiwan’s flowers, trees, and pot plants – Highway Garden at Tianwei Township were also introduced to the media and travel agents in the venue. They welcomed people to cycle among the flower seas and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of plants and tree in Tianwei Township. In NATAS Holidays 2019 held in Singapore, in addition to participating in the fair and presenting Changhua, the representatives also discussed with five major travel agents in Singapore to design tour packages to Taiwan with major appeals on Changhua’s scenic spots. Inviting more visitors to come to Taiwan, they also promoted the international visibility of Changhua.

Sponsoring Mazu Pilgrimage Procession creatively, it presents blessings to people when holding it with charity activities. From 2008 to 2018, the procession has been held for a decade. In this year, after many discussions, it is decided to change it into a cultural festival. The host temple will be responsible for holding the pilgrimage procession activities. Integrating resources from the private sector, the county government will present cultural, charity, industrial, and tourism activities. In the afternoon on the 3rd, Changhua County Government invited 12 Mazu temples: Wanggong Fuhai Temple, Lukang Taiwan Husheng Temple, Shenggang Fuan Temple, Changhua Nanyao Temple, Fenyuan Baozang Temple, Yuanlin Funing Temple, Shetou Fanqiaotou Tianmen Temple, Tianzhong Qiande Temple, Beidou Dianan Temple, Pitou Hexing Temple, Erlin Renhe Temple, and Fangyuan Putian Temple to decide the date. The director of the host temple Wanggong Fuhai Temple was responsible to pray to the deity for an ideal date. All the participants prayed to 12 Mazu statues and request the deity to choose the host for this year. Magistrate Wang, Hui-Mei of Changhua County represented the temple to toss the divination blocks. With 3 divine answers, Shenggang Fuan Temple was choses to be the host of the first Mazu Cultural Festival. The director of the host temple, Wang, Wan-Fa represented to toss the divination blocks, the deity decided the date of the festival to be from October 11 (Fri) (the 13th day of the 9th lunar month) to October 13 (Sun), for 3 days. According to the plan on October 11 (Day 1) the 12 Mazu statues from the temples will be gathered at the host temple and conduct the pilgrimage procession. On October 13 (Day 3), a blessing ceremony will be held to pray for peace, prosperity, abundant rain, and nice weather to the county. Magistrate Wang, Hui-Mei of Changhua County would like to invite Taiwan folks to participate in Changhua Mazu Cultural Festival from October 11 to 13. She also invites different sectors to donate for public charity to uphold Mazu’s compassion so that love will permeate in Changhua and Changhua folks will be much benefited.

The Changhua County Government is going to sponsor 7 marathons – “2019 Changhua Marathon Festival” integrating them with local features from October to December. The joint registration site in the official website will begin to accept registration on July 19, 2019 to facilitate runners who will sign up for a few marathons with one registration. For people interested in joining the “2019 Changhua Marathon Festival,” welcome to sign up on the joint registration site in the official website (https://bit.ly/2ShypLl). In a marathon, cheerleaders have indispensable roles, endeavoring to cheer up runners. To provide students in Changhua to develop their creativity and demonstrate their energy to cheer up runners, a “Cheerleaders’ Vote” will be held at the same time with the marathons. 7 local schools at the sites of the marathons are invited to arrange cheerleading dances and upload them to the official websites so that people in Taiwan can participate in the voting activity starting from August. There will be the most popular award, the best costume award, the best team spirit award and the most energetic award. Each person participating in the award will have the chance to win a CHAIRMAN treadmill and 361° sneakers, Running Biji, and road running packs developed and produced by local Changhua manufacturers. For further information, please visit the official website of “2019 Changhua Marathon Festival” (https://bit.ly/2XxlRVm).

Changhua County Government has endeavored to construct the Changhua Natural Ecology Education Center. Since the groundbreaking ceremony held on 2014, it has gone through three mayors that contributed to planning the project and raising funds. It is planned to be constructed at the west end of the Changhua Coastal Industrial Park – Shenkang Township – the “home of the fiddler crab.” Occupying the area of 68803.52m2, the groundbreaking ceremony of this newly built Changhua Natural Ecology Education Center was held on December 22, 2014. According to the plan, a green energy concept galley and surrounding facilities will be built. It is expected to become an exemplar of the symbiotic, coexistence and co-prosperity of the Changhua Coastal Industrial Park. This project is estimated to be completed at the end of July. In August and September, building use permit will be applied for and the receiving and hand-over process will be conducted. According to the plan, enterprise recruitment will be executed at the end of November. When the enterprise recruitment is successful, it will be operated in the manner of outsourcing. The Department of City and Tourism, Changhua County Government expressed that the first floor of the Changhua Natural Ecology Education Center is planned to be the ecology exhibition center. The second and third floors will be food and beverage zone and business space. The area of the 1F is about 1622m2; 2F about 225m2; 3F about 179m2. The total construction cost is NTD132 million, including the main structure, decoration, facilities, landscape, installation, miscellaneous works, and indirect constructions. By the end of June 30, the progress of the construction was 90%. At present, the last stage of the interior parts and facilities installation are on the way. It is expected that when the center is completed, it will be connected with other tourism resources in Changhua, boosting up the development of the seaside county – Changhua.

The 2019 Lukang Dragon Boat Festival activities series announced its beginning on a day of good fortune – in the morning on March 8 (the 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month, “the dragon raises its head”). Magistrate Wang Huei-mei of Changhua County tossed the divination blocks on behalf of Lukang Lung-shan Temple, accompanied by Director Tu Shu-mei of Changhua Sports and Dragon Boat Committee, and others. The Magistrate prayed to the Guanyin Bodhisattva and Dragon God before tossing the divination blocks. The date for holding the “Dragon God ceremony” was chosen by the deity. Tossing the divination blocks four times, the date May 11 (Saturday) (the 7th day of the 4th lunar month) was chosen for the “2019 Lukang Dragon Boat Festival – Dragon God Ceremony” and Dragon Boat Launching Ceremony. At the same time, the nighttime dragon boat race will be held again this year. In central Taiwan, Lukang is a place facilitated with the river paths suitable for huge dragon boat races. In this year, it will be the 42nd anniversary of the “Dragon God Ceremony”, which will announce the beginning of the “Lukang Dragon Boat Festival activities series”. To allow the dragon boat race to proceed smoothly, the “Dragon God” of Lukang Lung-shan Temple will be invited on a pilgrimage before the Dragon Boat Festival. The “Sea God” from Tianhou Temple will also be invited to the site of the dragon boat race to guard over it and bless the race to be held safely and perfectly. It is a special folk ceremony in Taiwan. On the day of the “Dragon God Ceremony”, the dragon boat and festival array will march along the street, accompanying the Dragon God in the pilgrim. In addition, the “Dragon God and Consecration Ceremony – The Launching of the Dragon Boat Festival and Blessing” will be held. It announces the coming of the Dragon Boat Festival. Lukang was originally named as Lu Zai Gang, which flourished from 1785 to the 1950s. During this period, merchant ships packed the port and trading companies were elsewhere in town, constituting a special humanistic landscape. Walking into Lukang, it is like traveling in time. With Lukang as the core, the tacit and explicit cultures surrounding the town, with the contributions of the local groups and organizations that help promote the Dragon Boat Festival activities, the glory of the historical past is revived, forging an international tourism attraction. Listed as one of the top 10 festival activities, “Lukang Dragon Boat Festival” is the largest Dragon Boat Festival ceremony with the longest history in Taiwan. In the activities, there is a series of exciting activities, such as “International Dragon Boat Race”, “traditional xiqu performances”, “Luban feast”, and more. There are also exciting activities that are to be held at Fuxing Barn Calligraphy Studio, Wenkai College Cross-cultural Sinology Center, Heqi Mansion, and other sightseeing factories as a part of the Dragon Boat Festival activities series. It is believed that “when the Dragon God descends, Changhua will be prosperous. Everything will be fortunate and Lukang will be very charming.” Magistrate Wang Huei-mei would like to invite people to visit Changhua to “watch the dragon boat, taste good food, travel around the historic monuments, and have fun with folklore.”

Changhua Depot is going to change the ties of the Roundhouse. During the construction, it will be closed from April 8, 2019 to May 7, 2019 temporarily for visitors’ safety. Apologies for the inconvenience during the construction. Contact Person: Mr. Chiu (04-7624438) Source: Changhua Depot, Taiwan Railways Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communication Letter Zhang-Ji-Zheng-Zi No.1080000652

Changhua County celebrated the 108th year of the establishment of the Republic of China (2019) with a flag raising ceremony at 8am at the Changhua County Government Square. Hosted by Changhua County Magistrate Hui-mei Wang, the ceremony was attended by delegates from various government agencies, communities and organizations. The county government invited fellow citizens to join the flag raising ceremony to salute the national flag in the company of the national anthem. Besides celebrating the 108th year of the establishment of the ROC, the ceremony also symbolizes national celebration and the joy of welcoming a brand new year.With the inauguration of the new administrative team, County Magistrate Wang and the county government will strive to Transform Changhua and Shape a Brighter Future, making Changhua a happier and more liveable city. According to the County Magistrate, Changhua is an agricultural hub with a thriving small and medium enterprise development, and the county also offers profound cultural heritage, therefore it is imperative to begin the transformation of the agriculture industry immediately. For the future of Changhua to succeed, elements such as a comprehensive transport system and globalization of local industries are urgent matters, as the influx of industries represents an increase in employment. Consequently, we have to market the beauty and greatness of Changhua globally in order to attract more people to visit the county and stimulate the local economy. In the future, the county government will endeavor to improve our agricultural competitiveness, innovation, and elevate our cultural heritage. Furthermore, we will create a sound educational, social welfare and health environment; by establishing an incorruptible government that is focused on serving the people, Changhua will be upgraded to a desirable metropolis.

Since the launching of Youbike in May 2014 in Changhua, the Kiosks (automatic service machines) have been upgraded continuously. In addition to the original “Bike Rental” (one-time bike rental with a credit card), “Members Log-in” (Log in/Application), “Failure Report”, and other services, from August 15, 2018 the new functions “Add value for Co-Branded Cards”, “Over-charge Refund”, “Extension of Student Ticket”, and more have been added. If people need to add value/refund/extension, they can obtain related services at a Youbike near you. Changhua County Government expressed that since the launching of Youbike in Changhua, it has won high acclaim from people. It not only cultivates a whole new commute culture in Changhua, becoming part of the daily needs for people going to school, work, and on business trips, but also has become an indispensable friend with a smiling face for visitors coming to Changhua old town. To promote the convenience of people when using Youbike, energy saving, carbon decreasing, alleviating traffic jams, and more, new functions will be added to the Kiosks starting from August 15. With the launching of these new functions, Changhua will be become a low-carbon and sustainable city. 1. “Add value for Co-Branded Cards”: A certain amount of money will be topped up to the e-ticket within the credit limit. This function is similar to the top up of value function of co-branded credit cards: a fixed value will be added automatically when people use credit cards at convenience stores without enough money in the cards. 2. “Over-charge Refund”: For fare issues, please call the customer service first. After the confirmation of your application and receiving the confirmation text messages, you can operate this function at a Youbike near you. If people want a refund, they can operate the function at a Kiosk with their credit cards after calling the customer service. Then, the amount will be refunded to your cards. 3. “Extension of Student Ticket”: Students can purchase a student ticket at a convenience store. Then, confirm and register your card at the e-ticket company, then they can extend the discount period at a Kiosk. Official website of Changhua Youbike: http://chcg.youbike.com.tw/ Changhua Youbike Service Center: (04) 7531155 Reminder: When riding a bike, please No Reverse Driving; No parallel parking; and follow transportation signs. Changhua County Government cares about you New contact: Ms. Lin, Department of City and Tourism, Changhua County Government (04-7532765)