To align with the Ershui International Water Running Festival and boost tourism in Changhua on an international scale, the Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Administration (hereinafter referred to as the Administration) under the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) partnered with the local township office to organize steam train trips. The first journey of the national treasure class “King DT-668” after the pandemic of COVID-19 was scheduled to take place in Changhua. In the morning, it transported nearly 300 visitors to Ershu to join the water running festival. Many railway enthusiasts gathered on platforms and along the railway line early in the morning, getting ready to capture photos of the rarely seen King DT-668 steam train.
The Ershui International Water Running Festival, initially a local event, has undergone an upgrade to become a distinctive international tourism activity. This year, it has drawn nearly a hundred international travelers from Hong Kong and Japan to join the steam train journey and the water running festival. Chou Ting-chang, the Deputy Director-General of the Tourism Administration of the MOTC, mentioned that the Tourism Administration had reached a milestone of hosting 5,000,000 international tourists visiting Taiwan. He also expressed his aspiration that more international travelers will be enticed to visit Taiwan through prominent international tourism activities.
Director of the Administration, Tsao Chung-yu, mentioned that, last year, the Tourism Administration had coordinated the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the opening of the sea line railway, specifically arranging the DT-668 steam train journey during the Ershui International Water Running Festival, which sparked enthusiastic responses from both domestic and international railway enthusiasts! "This year, people crowded along the railway from the departure station to Ershui to film and take photos. As they witnessed the steam train enveloped in white smoke passing through, many people experienced a resurgence of childhood memories, creating a truly touching moment. In fact, upon the launch of the steam train trip, all seats were immediately sold out, making it one of the highlights of the Ershui Water Running Festival.
The Administration also recommends travelers to plan a two-day trip in Changhua! Travelers can visit Babaozhen (Babao Drainage) to participate in the Ershui International Water Running Festival during the daytime. There, they can join water running activities, indulge in traditional local cuisine, chase and capture photos of passing trains on the Ershui Bikeway, attend the evening concert of the Ershui International Water Running Festival, enjoy tea in Songboling the next day, and participate in the six-sense tea experience activity for a relaxing and leisurely trip to Tri-Mountain.
