National Parks of Taiwan

Since 2018, Construction and Planning Agency, Ministry of the Interior, has published 10 children's picture books (Journey in Kenting, Baby Salmon's Wish, Chichi's Yushan Hike, Xiaoyoukeng Adventures, Pipi's Winter Travel, Shisa and Friend, Chin and Lan's Ocean Paradise, and Finding Sambar Deers on Qilai Mountain, The Guardian God of Dongsha, Being Homesick) which were widely acclaimed.

This year (2019), a theater for children called "Tian Tian’s Big Adventure", a play for children which tells a new story that includes the main characters in the 10 picture books, will be presented in 6 sessions around Taiwan free of charge. Parents and children are invited to come and watch the performance together. Interactions between the performers and audience during intermission are used to let adults and children think about the story and hold discussions, or brainstorm together to find answers and get involved in the performance. The play enables the audience to learn about the unique natural environment of various national parks, and presents the idea that humans can be a big help and protect the earth.

The main plot is about a boy called Tian Tian, who goes on an adventure to find 10 seeds of life because he wants to revive Chiu Chiu, a puppy that has passed away. Tian Tian travels to mountains and oceans to converse with the animals in various national parks. He learns ways to protect the environment, including leaving no trace in forests and reducing plastic use. Stories about indigenous warriors are also included in the plot to add interesting elements into the theater for children.

More than 30 characters will appear in the 6 acts in the children's theater, and the characters will be played by the members of the Chao Ling Drama Society led by Teacher Wang I-chih, a graduate of National Taichung University of Science and Technology. The roles are shared amongst all drama society members; some members even play up to three roles.Teacher Wang I-chih also solicited a band she knows for lyrics writing, song composition, and sound control. With every detail managed to the greatest extent, stage effects are presented exquisitely and splendidly.

The theater sessions of this year's tour: the first session is on June 25 (Tuesday) at 7:30 PM, in the auditorium of the Dadun Cultural Center, Taichung City; the second session is on June 29th (Saturday) at 2:30 PM, in the auditorium of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Nantou County; the third session is on July 2nd (Tuesday) at 7:30 PM, in the B1 Small Theater of Kaohsiung Main Public Library; the fourth session is on July 4 (Thursday) at 7:30 PM, in the Yuan Sheng Theater of the Tainan Municipal Cultural Center; the fifth session is on July15th (Monday) at 7:30 PM, in the performance hall of the Hakka Cultural Museum, Hualien County. The final session, marking a perfect ending for this year’s national park theater tour for children, will be performed on July 17 (Tuesday) at 7:00 PM, at the auditorium of the New Taipei City Library.