Lighting the Tree of Hope at Huisun Experimental Forest Station: Exhibition Until March 2025
2024-12-23
興新聞張貼者
Unit秘書室
38
On the evening of December 20, the "Tree of Hope" lighting ceremony took place at Huisun Experimental Forest Station in Nantou. The event featured blessings through songs by the Tayal community’s “Alang Gluban Children’s Poetry Choir” and the “Meiyun Church.” National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) President Fuh-Jyh Jan led the guests in igniting a bonfire and illuminating a 12-meter-tall Christmas tree installation. The Tree of Hope will be lit daily from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM until March 2, 2025.
This marks the 16th consecutive year that Huisun Experimental Forest Station has hosted its Christmas lighting event. The theme for this year is “A Blessing from the Mountains and Forests,” featuring three main lighting zones inspired by the upcoming Year of the Snake. The main installation, “Hope Encircling,” is designed as a gift box, with a snake-shaped motif incorporating Indigenous and botanical elements through papercut designs. This symbolizes gratitude for the gifts of nature.
The secondary zone, “Guardians of the Mountain,” showcases pangolins, Formosan macaques, and Taiwan blue magpies—species found in Huisun Experimental Forest Station. These animals are depicted as guardians of the forest, preserving the natural balance by night, while the forest serves as a harmonious space for people and wildlife during the day. Meanwhile, the pathway to the Tree of Hope is transformed into “Cherry Blossom Lane,” where cherry trees are adorned with warm white lights, turning blessings from the forest into sparkling beacons.
Two interactive blessing zones were set up: the “Year of the Snake Fortune Stick Draw” and the “Wish Ribbon” area. Visitors can draw personalized fortunes from a large stick holder featuring snake-themed poetry. The wish ribbons, crafted from eco-friendly materials, allow guests to write their aspirations for 2025 and tie them to the wishing tree, symbolizing hopes for good fortune in the coming year.
A Warm Message of Hope
During his speech, NCHU President Fuh-Jyh Jan expressed that the lighting ceremony, held at the end of the year and before Christmas, aims to bring warmth during the winter season and inspire renewed hope for the year ahead. He extended gratitude to supporters of NCHU over the past year, highlighting their contributions to the university’s steady growth. Looking to the future, he wished everyone prosperity, health, and peace in the coming year.
A Collective Ceremony for New Beginnings
The lighting ceremony was led by President Jan, accompanied by university leaders, including Vice Presidents Chuan-Mu Chen and Ching-Piao Tsai, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean Chih-Feng Chen, and Forest Management Office Director Jyh-Horng Wu. Distinguished guests included NCHU Alumni Association Chairperson Chia-Yu Chung, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of the Interior, Nantou County Government, National Taiwan University, National Ilan University, National Chiayi University , and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. Together, they joined in blessings and lit the Tree of Hope, symbolizing aspirations for a bright year ahead.
Special Activities
Huisun Experimental Forest Station also launched a limited “Fortune Travel Package” featuring exclusive accommodations and a “Support the Forest” seedling giveaway activity. Visitors can receive native Taiwanese plants, including Murraya paniculata , Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Calocedrus formosana, Prunus campanulate, and Gardenia jasminoides, adding a therapeutic touch to their travel experience.
This marks the 16th consecutive year that Huisun Experimental Forest Station has hosted its Christmas lighting event. The theme for this year is “A Blessing from the Mountains and Forests,” featuring three main lighting zones inspired by the upcoming Year of the Snake. The main installation, “Hope Encircling,” is designed as a gift box, with a snake-shaped motif incorporating Indigenous and botanical elements through papercut designs. This symbolizes gratitude for the gifts of nature.
The secondary zone, “Guardians of the Mountain,” showcases pangolins, Formosan macaques, and Taiwan blue magpies—species found in Huisun Experimental Forest Station. These animals are depicted as guardians of the forest, preserving the natural balance by night, while the forest serves as a harmonious space for people and wildlife during the day. Meanwhile, the pathway to the Tree of Hope is transformed into “Cherry Blossom Lane,” where cherry trees are adorned with warm white lights, turning blessings from the forest into sparkling beacons.
Two interactive blessing zones were set up: the “Year of the Snake Fortune Stick Draw” and the “Wish Ribbon” area. Visitors can draw personalized fortunes from a large stick holder featuring snake-themed poetry. The wish ribbons, crafted from eco-friendly materials, allow guests to write their aspirations for 2025 and tie them to the wishing tree, symbolizing hopes for good fortune in the coming year.
A Warm Message of Hope
During his speech, NCHU President Fuh-Jyh Jan expressed that the lighting ceremony, held at the end of the year and before Christmas, aims to bring warmth during the winter season and inspire renewed hope for the year ahead. He extended gratitude to supporters of NCHU over the past year, highlighting their contributions to the university’s steady growth. Looking to the future, he wished everyone prosperity, health, and peace in the coming year.
A Collective Ceremony for New Beginnings
The lighting ceremony was led by President Jan, accompanied by university leaders, including Vice Presidents Chuan-Mu Chen and Ching-Piao Tsai, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean Chih-Feng Chen, and Forest Management Office Director Jyh-Horng Wu. Distinguished guests included NCHU Alumni Association Chairperson Chia-Yu Chung, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of the Interior, Nantou County Government, National Taiwan University, National Ilan University, National Chiayi University , and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. Together, they joined in blessings and lit the Tree of Hope, symbolizing aspirations for a bright year ahead.
Special Activities
Huisun Experimental Forest Station also launched a limited “Fortune Travel Package” featuring exclusive accommodations and a “Support the Forest” seedling giveaway activity. Visitors can receive native Taiwanese plants, including Murraya paniculata , Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Calocedrus formosana, Prunus campanulate, and Gardenia jasminoides, adding a therapeutic touch to their travel experience.
Lighting the Tree of Hope at Huisun Experimental Forest Station: Exhibition Until March 2025
Lighting the Tree of Hope at Huisun Experimental Forest Station: Exhibition Until March 2025
