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The 2025 Nantou Bamboo Festival has been fully upgraded, offering participants an immersive experience that engages all six senses. The festival features world-class bamboo art installations, a grand bamboo feast for thousands, French afternoon tea crafted by a three-Michelin-star chef using bamboo shoots, bamboo forest ecological experiences, singing bowl for sound healing (頌缽音療), tea tasting, and a vibrant marketplace showcasing local cultural and creative products, along with agricultural specialties. The festival's opening on the 15th was a resounding success, drawing in massive crowds. b

During the opening ceremony, County Mayor Hsu Shu-Hua, together with the attendees, kicked off the event by spinning traditional bamboo dragonflies high into the air. Following this, she unveiled the large steaming pot of bamboo tube rice, releasing a rich and enticing aroma of rice, meat, and bamboo shoots. County Mayor Hsu, joined by guests such as Wang Yi-Ching, Deputy Director of the Nantou Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, County Councilor Chen Yu-Lin, and Lin Chih-Hung, Chairperson of Lugu Township Council, tasked the rice and were delighted by its irresistible flavor.

 County Mayor Hsu shared her delightful experience of sampling the aromatic bamboo tube rice and winter bamboo shoot soup, describing them as exceptionally delicious. She extended her heartfelt thanks to the residents and volunteers of the XiaoBanTian (小半天) community in Lugu, home to Taiwan's sole and largest bamboo shoot auction market. She commended their dedication and collaborative efforts in innovating a variety of new products derived from local bamboo resources. The event, spanning two consecutive weekends from today through February 23rd, offers a four-day celebration filled with vibrant and engaging activities. Mayor Hsu also expressed her gratitude to council members and the Nantou branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency for their generous support and subsidies, which have been pivotal to the county government. With enthusiasm, she warmly invited individuals from across Taiwan to come and partake in this exceptional event.

The "Nantou Bamboo Festival" is held by the Nantou County Government at XiaoBanTian Shima Park (石馬公園) and the Ancient Battlefield Bamboo Forest (古戰場竹林) in Lugu Township. It blends local bamboo cuisine, culture, and lifestyle with creative innovations, presenting a wide array of themed activities. These engaging activities offer tourists a chance to deeply explore the versatile and dynamic nature of bamboo in all its forms. Highlights include immersive experiences like Thousands People Bamboo Tube Rice DIY and Golden Bamboo Shoot Bun DIY, bustling markets such as the Young Farmers Market, Bamboo Craft Market, and Bamboo Shoot Food Market, as well as unique sessions like Singing Bowl for Sound Healing. Visitors can also learn through environmentally conscious Bamboo Forest Ecological Tours or savor the elegance of Bamboo Forest Tea Ceremonies.

Last year, the Nantou Bamboo Festival made its debut, showcasing the exceptional bamboo art installation, "Dendrocalamopsis bicicatricata: Building Dreams," created in collaboration with the talented artist Feng Cheng-Tsung (范承宗). The installation earned the prestigious Platinum Award at the French Design Awards, bringing global recognition to Nantou and firmly placing it on the international stage. Building on this success, this year's festival features three world-class bamboo art masters, who craft monumental installations that exemplify the limitless creative possibilities of bamboo craftsmanship.

The bamboo art designer Feng Cheng-Tsung (范承宗) presents the "Little Bamboo House Project: Zongzi (小竹屋計畫：粽子)," a serene and natural resting space constructed with bamboo materials. This installation invites visitors to pause amidst the bamboo forest and enjoy a moment of tranquility. Internationally acclaimed artist Yu Wen-Fu (游文富) from Zhushan, Nantou, draws inspiration from the once-thriving bamboo industry of Zhushan. His creation, the giant installation "Basket of Bamboo Dreams (竹夢提籃)," serves as a repository of local cultural memory, aiming to revitalize appreciation for traditional bamboo craftsmanship. Concurrently, Lin Ching-Ke (林靖格), a frequent figure on international stages and an expert in blending bamboo artistry with Eastern aesthetics, unveils "The Forest’s Attire (森林的衣裳)," a suspended bamboo art piece displayed within the bamboo forest. This masterpiece allows visitors to appreciate the beauty of bamboo art while experiencing the diverse aspects of bamboo culture.