The 17th Taiwan-Japan Tourism Summit was held in Miaoli. To welcome the Japanese delegation, the Miaoli County Government arranged a visit to the painted rice paddy featuring the words “Taiwan-Japan Friendship in Miaoli” in Yuanli Township. By showcasing local features, the large-scale rural landscape artwork highlights the deep friendship between Taiwan and Japan, becoming one of the event’s major attractions and leaving a lasting impression on the visiting guests.
According to the Miaoli County Government, during the 16th Taiwan-Japan Tourism Summit held in Tottori Prefecture last year, the Summit announced that Miaoli would be the host of the next event. This year, the county chose to welcome the guests with a painted rice paddy rich in local culture and sentiment, symbolizing the growth and deepening of Taiwan-Japan friendship on the fertile land of Miaoli. The project was planned with the assistance of the Yuanli Township Farmers’ Association. Different varieties and colors of rice seedlings were planted in March, which gradually formed the intended patterns and imagery as they grew, attracting widespread attention.
Following the site visit, the Japanese guests praised Miaoli’s creative integration of agricultural landscape with international exchange. They noted that the project not only demonstrates the region’s natural beauty and cultural heritage but also strengthens the bonds of friendship between Taiwan and Japan. Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin stated that the painted rice paddy symbolizes the county’s commitment to Taiwan-Japan relations, expressed hope that the summit would promote subsequent tourism cooperation, and invited both domestic and international travelers to visit Miaoli during the peak viewing season to experience the unique charm of Miaoli’s mountains, coastline, and rural communities.
