The Highway Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) joined forces with the Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center (THCDC), Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) to organize the touring exhibition OPEN Highway—hag` suiˇ iun zon`, opening officially from July 3 in building 17 of the Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park (No. 144, Zhonghua Rd., Hualien City, Hualien County).
THCDC Director Ho Chin-liang said that the touring exhibition OPEN Highway relies on interagency cooperation to bring together under one roof cultural artifacts and documents belonging to the Highway Bureau and collected items of THCDC and other agencies. After successful conclusion of the exhibition at Taipei’s Taiwan Highway Museum, it will go on to tour Hualien this year from July 3 to August 31. In addition to showcasing relief art of the Jinlong Express and Jinma Express, as well as highway artifacts from over 7 decades, this exhibition additionally relates stories from Hakka communities in Hualien, so that people can learn more about the development and unique memories of Hakka people and the highway. What are you waiting for? Hit the road and visit Provincial Highway 9.
Iconic highway items and old photographs are on display at the exhibition, conjuring many visitors’ memories of what life looked like in bygone times. These include old highway mileposts, ticket markers, traditional tickets of transport going to Provincial Highways 3 and 9 in the early days, “Bus Full” signs, and more. The exhibition also features around a dozen highway items that have never been on show before: old signs from Taiwan Motor Transport, drawing tools of handmade road signs, seal embossers for driving licenses, and old government announcements for drivers, bringing back precious reminiscences of the highway. What’s more, the exhibition documents the fastest road restoration after the earthquake in Hualien on April 3 of this year, educating the public on disaster response and relief and teaching them about the thought process and actions of frontline road workers.
This series of touring exhibitions have sections dedicated to introducing many Hakka scenic sights on Provincial Highway 9, such as the Principals’ Dream Factory in Fenglin, the Hualien Tourism Sugar Factory in Guangfu, the Zhutian Yimin Temple in Fuli, the Sietian Temple in Yuli, the tobacco barn in Ruisui, and the Memorial of Yoshino Immigrant Village in Ji’an. Visitors can take advantage of the Hualien Post-Earthquake Travel Incentive Program of the Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications and Hualien City Government’s 2024 Sustainable Hualien Tour Reward Program! More beautiful sceneries, culture, and local stories are waiting for you in Hualien! Don’t miss on this chance and come for a ride at Provincial Highway 9!
