Taiwan's Tourism Train "Beep Beep Taiwan" Kicks Off Six-Month Journey to Boost Local Travel

A creatively repainted train aims to attract more visitors to Taiwan's scenic northeastern coast.

A specially designed commuter train, inspired by a successful Japanese tourism promotion campaign, has begun its six-month service to highlight the tourism potential of Taiwan's northeastern region. The train, repainted with a distinctive red livery and featuring artwork of popular Taiwanese products like orchids, tea, and pineapples, was launched at Shulin Station in New Taipei.

The creative design, originally known as "BiBiBiBi! Taiwan" during its run in Greater Tokyo last year, received an award from the Tokyo Outdoor Advertising Association. The decision to bring this award-winning concept to Taiwan was championed by the new Director-General of the Tourism Administration, Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀). She expressed her hope that the train's presence would encourage more Japanese visitors to explore Taiwan, particularly the Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area.

The service route connects destinations across Keelung, Greater Taipei, and Taoyuan, with a specific focus on the Yilan region. Taiwan Railway Corp. Chairman James Jeng (鄭光遠) announced that the train's operational period has been extended from the initial three months to a full six months. This extension is intended to provide a longer window for promoting tourism businesses in areas such as New Taipei's Ruifang and Gongliao districts, and Yilan County.

To further enhance the tourism appeal, the Northeast and Yilan Coast NationalScenic Area Headquarters is drawing attention to key attractions. These include the ongoing Fulong International Sand Sculpture Arts Festival, which runs until September 30, and various points of interest related to the historic mining town of Jiufen in New Taipei.