Participating in the Cyberfair project this time, I felt like a little explorer visiting so many places! We went to the historically rich Taliwu Cultural Park, and also visited the Dajia Mazu Temple and our local Funing Temple right here in Yuanlin.
Among all the places, what left the deepest impression on me was the Baishatun Mazu Temple (Gongtian Temple) in Miaoli. I used to see Mazu's palanquin, known as the "Pink Supercar," on TV a lot. I heard that its pilgrimage route is never fixed, which is super special! Visiting Gongtian Temple in person this time and seeing the exquisite temple architecture and devout believers gave me a much deeper understanding of the unique Baishatun Mazu culture. This is something you definitely cannot learn from a textbook!
Besides visiting these sites, we also challenged ourselves to conduct interviews. I am incredibly grateful to the shop owners who were willing to take time out of their busy schedules to be interviewed. Thank you for enthusiastically sharing local stories and generously letting us take photos to keep as precious records. These are the absolute best materials for our webpage!
Although working on the project and organizing all the information was really hard work, seeing our webpage successfully completed gives me a huge sense of accomplishment. I have gained so much from this entire experience!
To make our railway project content richer and more exciting for this Cyberfair, we didn't just sit in the classroom looking up boring data. Instead, we decided to visit every attraction in person! Every Wednesday after school was our most anticipated time. We gathered with our notebooks and cameras, jumped on the train with excitement, and officially began our "railway field trips."
Our first stop was the Taliwu Cultural Park in Dounan. Seeing how the old, abandoned railway warehouses had miraculously transformed into super cool picture book and comic book libraries really opened our eyes, and we quickly observed while taking serious notes. Next, we took the train to the Changhua Roundhouse. When we saw with our own eyes the giant old locomotives slowly turning on the circular turntable, the scene was absolutely awe-inspiring and incredibly cool! We couldn't help but snap photos non-stop, afraid of missing any wonderful moment, wanting to put all these amazing shots on our webpage.
Although walking all day for our project fieldwork made everyone's feet a bit sore, being able to personally collect so many precious materials made us feel incredibly fulfilled and happy. This competition experience made me deeply realize that stepping out of the textbook and going on-site to learn about Taiwan's railways and our local culture can be so much fun! This is definitely the most special and unforgettable lesson of my fifth-grade year.
Because of participating in this Cyberfair, we followed our project team to visit many famous attractions, including the artsy Taliwu Cultural Park and Chimei Museum, the historic Changhua Roundhouse, and the highly revered Dajia Mazu Temple, Baishatun Mazu Temple, and our local Funing Temple here in Yuanlin. For me, this competition is not just a casual sightseeing trip, but a brand-new personal challenge! I have always been passionate about natural science, and this Cyberfair project gave me the perfect opportunity to delve into the things I am usually curious about and share the knowledge I gathered with everyone through our webpage.
Among all the attractions we visited for our field research, the one that interested me the most and took the most of my research effort was definitely the National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS)! Every time I step into the museum, looking up at the giant dinosaur skeletons or examining the precise scientific exhibits, I deeply feel that science is actually very close to us. By carefully observing the rich exhibitions inside, I learned many mysteries about plant growth and insect ecology, which are precious details that cannot be learned from school textbooks. During the field trips for this project, I felt that I was no longer just an ordinary visitor, but a true "little scientist" observing and taking notes on-site, trying hard to piece together the wonderful puzzles of nature. This competition not only gave me incredibly rewarding experiences but also reaffirmed my love for exploring the world!
For our Cyberfair project this time, I packed my backpack, grabbed my notebook, and hopped on a train with my team to embark on a railway journey through time and space. The train took us from modern times back to historical scenes of the past.
Our first stop was the Taliwu Cultural Park in Dounan. The moment I walked out of the station, I was drawn to the small wooden cabins converted from old warehouses. This place used to be for storing goods, but now it has been transformed into a picture book library and a comic book library, filled with a rich literary atmosphere. I learned here that "Taliwu" is the old indigenous name for Dounan, which sounds very exotic. Seeing these old buildings given a new lease on life was deeply moving; it turns out that as long as old things are cherished, they can become incredibly cool!
Next, we took the train to the Changhua Roundhouse. When I saw with my own eyes the locomotives arranged like a fan around the circular turntable, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow! This is simply a hotel for trains!" Watching the heavy turntable slowly move to guide the locomotives in and out of the garage, I felt the hard work and wisdom of the railway workers of the past. This globally rare "living monument" allowed us to witness the glory of the steam locomotive era.
This train journey made me realize that history isn't just text in a textbook, but real, existing buildings and scents. Although I was very tired from all the walking, seeing these precious cultural heritages filled my notebook with reflections and my heart with a great sense of fulfillment. I hope that through our Cyberfair project, more people can discover the beauty of these railway attractions!
For our Cyberfair project this time, we specially organized a "Central Taiwan Railway Exploration Tour"!
Our first stop was the Changhua Roundhouse. Seeing so many precious old locomotives neatly arranged in a semicircle was like looking at a secret base for Transformers—it was absolutely amazing! This allowed me to witness the history of Taiwan's railways with my own eyes. Next, we took the train to the Taliwu Cultural Park in Dounan. Seeing how the abandoned old railway warehouses had been transformed into a cultural space for reading and learning, I felt that this idea of revitalizing old buildings was incredibly meaningful. Finally, we headed to Dajia Jenn Lann Temple to pay our respects to Mazu. The moment we stepped out of the station, we could feel the bustling crowds and the lively temple culture. We sincerely prayed to Mazu to keep everyone safe and to bless our project with success.
This railway journey not only allowed me to enjoy the beautiful scenery but also let me personally step into the attractions we are researching for our project. It turns out that taking a train isn't just about reaching a destination; the historical stories and religious culture along the way are the greatest rewards! Next time, I want to continue taking the train to uncover even more of Taiwan's railway stories.
To create our Cyberfair project, we embarked on a railway journey through central Taiwan. Our first stop was Changhua, where we visited the only roundhouse in Taiwan. Seeing this legendary "hotel for trains" with my own eyes and watching those giant old locomotives lined up side by side was absolutely mind-blowing! Even though the trains we ride today are mostly modern electric ones, this place still preserves the historical warmth of the steam locomotive era, making us feel profound respect for past railway technologies and the hard work of our predecessors.
Next, we followed the railway to explore Taiwan's most representative Mazu faith. The architecture of Dajia Jenn Lann Temple is incredibly majestic, and the crowds of worshippers made us feel the power of religion in bringing people together. In contrast, Baishatun Gongtian Temple has a touch of rustic mystery. Listening to the pilgrimage stories of "Mazu leading the way," it felt especially sacred in that quiet coastal town. Finally, we returned to our hometown of Yuanlin and stepped into Funing Temple, located in the bustling downtown area. Amazingly, the moment we stepped into this historic temple, our restless hearts from rushing through the itinerary instantly calmed down. I realized that whether it's the grand liveliness of Dajia, the easygoing nature of Baishatun, or the local intimacy of Funing Temple, these temples are not just beautiful ancient buildings; they are the most important spiritual pillars in people's lives.
The biggest surprise of this journey was the Taliwu Cultural Park in Dounan, Yunlin. I never expected that the abandoned old railway warehouses could undergo a magical renovation and transform into super fun picture book, comic book, and environmental education pavilions! Sitting in that old space filled with the scent of wood, reading a book, and watching trains occasionally speed by the window, I felt that this process of turning "abandonment" into "rebirth" was exactly the best reward of our project's field trip. By visiting these places in person, I finally discovered that there are so many touching stories hidden right along the railways!