The Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters plans to organize the activity “Storytime with Grandfather Volcano” for the summer in 2022 to present the idea of harmony between man and volcanoes, and to reflect on how humans and nature can thrive together through stage shows.

Understanding Volcanism, a Closely-knit Symbiotic System

The Tatun Volcano Group has been scientifically determined to be dormant volcanoes. In addition to spectacular geological landscapes, the volcanoes also contain abundant resources such as geo-heat, hot springs, and sulfur. The mining of sulfur began hundreds of years ago. When Liu Ming-Chuan was sent to govern Taiwan in the Qing Dynasty, he established the Sulfur Commission to oversee the mining and trading of sulfur. Currently, sulfur mining remains can still be seen in the Liuhuanggu Sulfur Valley Geothermal Scenic Area.

In order for the general public to better understand the volcanic features of the Yangmingshan National Park, “Storytime with Grandfather Volcano” attempts to combine stage shows with environmental education for the first time to re-interpret the harmonious relationship between man and nature.

This summer, there will be eight showings at the Yangmingshan National Park Visitor Center. Four of the shows will be performed by a team of actors, and the other four will be performed by the volunteers of the Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters, who have trained to become leading actors.

CEO Xu Mei-Hui of Earth and You, who organized the overall show, stated that the Visitor Center plays the role of promoting ecological conservation and education. In order to enhance the services of the exhibition space, the company had multiple discussions with the Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters, brainstorming many creative ideas.

For the show “Storytime with Grandfather Volcano,” actors will play the roles of volcanoes, sulfur miners, Zhuzihu farmers, and geologists to present the eruption history of the Tatun Volcano Group, volcanism, sulfur mining, and development of Zhuzihu; in addition, the audience will be able to reflect on the co-existence between volcanoes and human agricultural activities. Xu Mei-Hui shared her experience organizing the event. She said the show talks about many topics from volcano eruptions to local produce, connecting the historical context of Xiaoyoukeng and Zhuzihu, and reminding the audience of our forefathers' intertwined history.

In addition to the main show, the display boards "Volcanoes Have Heartbeats" and "World Volcano Distribution" near the show venue at the Visitor Center also serve to better explain the volcanic geology and ecological environment to the public and promote the overall understanding of volcanoes.

The unique stage show presents scientific knowledge that is understandable for the general public, aiming to present the volcanic features of the Yangmingshan National Park in a way that is easy to understand. Tickets can be reserved beforehand or on-site. Each showing will last approximately 50 minutes, including the show and quizzes with prizes, aiming to educate people while having fun. For announcements on the show, please follow theFacebook fan page of the Yangmingshan National Park.