Award-winning farmer cultivates gorgeous new flower varieties

Award-winning farmer cultivates gorgeous new flower varieties

2026-08-25

Wu Cheng-yeh, a flower farmer in Taoyuan, was named one of Taiwan’s Top 100 young farmers in 2024, after years and years of hard work. Now he has further cemented his place in the world of flower farming by winning the highest honor in a nationwide agricultural contest. He uses high tech and smart agriculture to streamline farming and has bred gorgeous new varieties of poinsettias, Christmas kalanchoes, and hydrangeas. Let’s find out more.

Amidst a profusion of flowers, he meticulously prunes the branches. Meet Wu Cheng-yeh, a local flower farmer from Taoyuan, who recently beat out top talent from across Taiwan to take top honors in a nationwide agricultural competition this year.

Wu Cheng-yeh
Award-winning flower farmer
For us, who are engaged in agriculture, this is a huge affirmation. I hope to become a model for the flower industry.

Wu Cheng-yeh, 32, is dedicated to flower variety innovation and smart agriculture. He uses technological equipment to stabilize yields and reduce manual labor. Through the development of a systemized App for remote operation and real-time management, he has achieved water savings of 85%, pesticide savings of 70%, improved product yield rates and increased operational efficiency by more than 20%.

Wu Cheng-yeh
Award-winning flower farmer
Taiwan’s flower varieties actually rely entirely on imported seedlings; there aren’t any locally-bred varieties. We hope to play a role in cultivation to boost Taiwan’s flower varieties and to select and breed more varieties that are adapted to Taiwan’s climate.

Wu Cheng-yeh has bred new varieties of poinsettias, Christmas kalanchoes, and hydrangeas, earning nine plant variety rights. He aims to free Taiwan’s flower industry from its reliance on foreign seedlings—because variety independence is industry sovereignty.

Chen Kuan-i
Taoyuan Department of Agriculture
He not only utilized smart agriculture to improve overall production efficiency, but also invested in the research and development of new varieties and cultivation work, fully demonstrating the innovative strength of young farmers in Taoyuan.

Through continuous innovation and improvement, Wu Cheng-yeh, a young farmer, hopes to lead the flower industry to upgrade and achieve new milestones.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#Taiwanflowers #flowerfarmers #smartagriculture #Taiwantalents

十年磨一劍! 32歲花農吳承燁導入智慧農業翻轉產業

2026-08-25

十年磨一劍！曾獲113年百大青農的桃園花農吳承燁，致力智慧農業與花卉品種創新。今年參與農會主辦的「台灣農業達人選拔大賽」，憑藉創新經營管理，並導入智慧農業技術管理花卉，在全台17縣市優秀青農角逐中，奪得「全國農業達人冠軍」最高榮譽。

一片花團錦簇中，細心修剪花枝，他是桃園在地花農吳承燁，在今年的「台灣農業達人選拔大賽」中，與全台好手同台競技，奪得頭籌。

[[冠軍花農吳承燁]]
“對我們本身就是從事農業上面，就是算一個很大的一個肯定，那我覺得其實也是希望可以，成為就是我們花產業的一個典範”

今年32歲的吳承燁，致力於花卉品種創新以及智慧農業，運用科技設備穩定產量，降低人工勞動強度，透過開發系統APP遠端操作、即時管理，達到節水85%、省藥70%，良率提升及作業效率高20%以上。

[[冠軍花農吳承燁]]
“台灣的花卉品種，其實都是仰賴國外進口種苗，那沒有一個本土品種，我們就是希望可以扮演著育種的一個角色，去幫助我們台灣的花卉，去選育出更多適應我們台灣氣候的這些品種”

吳承燁選育聖誕紅，長壽花及繡球花等品種，拿到九項植物品種權，希望讓台灣花業，擺脫對國外種苗的依賴，因為"品種自主"就是"產業主權"。

[[桃園農業局長陳冠義]]
“他不僅運用了智慧農業，提升整體的這個生產效率，更投入了新品種的研發，還有育種的工作，充分展現我們桃園青農的創新實力”

透過不斷創新、不斷改良，青農吳承燁，希望引領花卉產業升級，再續新里程碑。

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AI deepfake scam steals voice and images of top Taiwanese farmer

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for centuries have used the plant astragalus. Now it is the subject of an AI deepfake scam. An online ad falsely claimed that one of Taiwan’s top farmers in Yunlin had created a concoction of black beans and astragalus to lower blood pressure, illegally using his voice and image. In fact, Yunlin County has seen many farmers’ voices and images illegally appropriated and used in advertising scams. Let’s find out more.

This social media video claims to be from a black bean farmer in Yunlin who has developed a black bean with astragalus blend. The video sounds very convincing, but it is actually a fraudulent advertisement. The voice and image being used in the scam is that of Chi Shen-chieh, one of Taiwan’s Top 100 young farmers.

Chi Shen-chieh
Top 100 young farmers
I myself am a victim. I grow soybeans, and one day a friend said to me: Have you invented a new product that can lower blood pressure and blood lipids, something like astragalus and black beans? I replied: There’s no such thing!

Images and audio were all used fraudulently, and many supporters were actually deceived into placing orders. In recent years, with the rapid development of AI, many local farmers’ associations and farmers in Yunlin County have seen their names stolen and published in ads on one-single-page landing websites that sell agricultural products of unknown origin.

Chi Shen-chieh
Top 100 young farmers
We’re in the AI era now, and making these kinds of things is even easier, so these kinds of phenomena will definitely pop up more and more, and more consumers will be scammed. Therefore, I think we really need to find a way to solve this problem.

To curb fraud, the Yunlin County Government has introduced an AI-based anti-fraud system, using AI to combat AI-powered scams.

Yang Chih-sheng
Yunlin County Police Bureau
By establishing a fraud prevention workflow that integrates AI-driven detection, risk analysis, police review, platform notification, and rapid takedown, we are shifting from a reactive model reliant on victim reports to proactively blocking fraudulent ads before the public ever sees them.

Since launching in June, the AI anti-fraud system detected over 400 high-risk ads and more than 100 suspicious fan pages through the end of July, successfully taking them down within 24 hours to stem the spread of digital fraud.

#AIdeepfakes #AIscams #YunlinCounty #Taiwanfarmers #Taiwanscams

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2026-08-25

Taiwan Ceramics Biennale opens with works from top global artists

The 2026 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale had its grand opening in the Yingge Ceramics Museum in New Taipei City. With a theme of “When Humans Meet the Earth,” it brings together 59 top artists from 21 countries, showcasing 85 extraordinary ceramic masterpieces. It’s not just an artistic event, but also a step forward for New Taipei City’s cultural diplomacy. Let’s find out more.

Visitors slow their pace and lean in closer to admire the ceramic art, unable to pull their eyes away from these truly unique pieces.

The biennial Taiwan Ceramics Biennale opened with grand spectacle at New Taipei City’s Yingge Ceramics Museum. Bringing together 59 top artists from 21 countries, it creates a profound dialogue on the theme "When Humans Meet the Earth" through 85 extraordinary ceramic masterpieces.

Daicho Tomohiro
Curator
We will explore themes such as “The Earth – Landscape,” “Cycle of Life – Life, Fertility and Death,” “The Spiritual World – Myths and Tales,” and “Artificial – Urbanism and Civilization” in four sections, reflecting on how humanity can unleash its rich imaginative power to create art when interacting with the earth.

Through hand-shaping clay and setting it in high temperatures in kilns, each piece exudes a unique appeal. The exhibition helps viewers to find calm and rediscover the earth, which is familiar yet overflowing with the marks of life.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei City Mayor
Now, people from all over the world are coming to Yingge and visiting our ceramics museum, so we feel very proud. New Taipei City continues to have friendly exchanges with the entire world and is constantly sharing with everyone through ceramic art.

Clay nourishes humanity in every corner of the world, but Yingge remains the heart and soul of Taiwanese ceramics. Through this exhibition and the exchanges it brings, Taiwan is visible once more in the international community.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Taiwanceramics # Taiwanceramicsbienalle #Yinggeceramics #ceramicsmuseum

2026-08-25

Fire spreads through famous temple on mountain near Taipei Zoo

On Monday, a fire quickly spread through Zhinan Temple in Taipei, a landmark religious site located on the mountain bordering Taipei Zoo. From the outside, the damage to the exterior may look severe, but, structurally, the building is in good shape, meaning the temple’s 60th anniversary likely won’t be its last.

The flames have spread across the main hall of the temple. Staff members are doing everything they can with fire extinguishers, but they’re no match for the roaring inferno.

As the fire continues to rage, first responders arrive at the scene. They get the hoses ready and douse the temple with water, trying to salvage as much of the historic building as they can. To find the cause of the fire, they use a drone with a thermal imaging camera; they’re doing everything they can to put out this fire.

The next morning, the main hall has been burnt to a crisp: tables, chairs, religious art figurines… so many items have been reduced to ashes. Compared to its impressive appearance in the past, in its current state the renowned temple must be a difficult image to stomach for worshippers.

On Aug. 24 at a little after 8 pm, Zhinan Temple’s fire alarm rang. The flames are believed to have started inside the Taipei temple’s main hall, and then the blaze quickly spread towards the building’s exterior. The temple is located in Wenshan District’s mountains, making it difficult to access water. Another problematic aspect is the building’s large amount of wood, which was a reason the flames spread so quickly. Not being put out until after midnight, the fire destroyed 1,500 square meters.

Yeh Chun-hsing
First responder
Because the structure was built with an immense amount of wood, and then the flames deeper inside continued to spread inwards. So that’s why there was a situation in which the flames multiplied so quickly.

Built in 1966, the 6-story Lingxiao Hall was celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The temple’s burnt hall is the first Jade Emperor hall in Taiwan to use modern building materials like reinforced concrete. It may appear as if Zhinan Temple’s highest hall on the mountain has been destroyed by the flames, but structurally the fire has caused little damage.

Hsu Mao-chin
Civil engineer
Only some pillars in the stairwell were affected, as well as a small amount of cracks in the cement finish, but this won’t affect the safety of our building’s structure.

Early in the morning Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an arrived at the site of Zhinan Temple, one of his city’s landmark temples. Chiang promised that the city government will set up a project in order to help the temple be restored and rebuilt. As for what caused the fire, an investigation is still on-going.

#Taipei #Maokong #temple #Zhinan #onfire #elfuego #fire #ChiangWan-an

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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2026-08-25

President Lai visits flood-stricken areas in Southern Taiwan

2026-08-25

Public picks up slack from cancelled Presidential Office gift box orders

Budget cuts from opposition party politicians have left the Presidential Office so cash-strapped that it ended up cancelling an order of 15,000 gift boxes that would’ve been full of tasty Mid-Autumn Festival treats. The cancelation was devastating news to the 37 sheltered workshops that were set to benefit from this big order. But, where there’s a will there’s a way, as members of the public have stepped up by placing gift box orders with disadvantaged groups.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival occurring on Sept. 25 this year, many people and companies are gearing up for the holiday by buying gift boxes with mooncakes and other tasty treats.

A company famed for its biscuit gift boxes, Yu Jan Shin, recently received an apologetic message from a client. It said “We are deeply sorry to inform you that our company has decided to cancel its original order with you to instead place an order with a sheltered workshop.” It turns out, that the Presidential Office had originally ordered 15,000 Mid-Autumn Festival gift boxes made by 37 sheltered workshops in Taiwan. However, this big order was ultimately cancelled due to the Presidential Office’s state affairs budget being slashed. That’s why everyday citizens and companies have stepped in to pick up the gift box orders from disadvantaged groups instead of regular shops.

Member of public
Upset at budget cut
The budget shouldn’t have been cut. To be honest, life is really quite difficult for disadvantaged groups; and then when you cancel orders you had placed with regular businesses, then that makes things difficult for them as well.

Member of public
Wouldn’t change plans
I wouldn’t cancel my order, because say if I were to first place an order with a store, then I wouldn’t go ahead and cancel my original order.

Member of public
Would change plans
Let the politicians play politics. At the end of the day, disadvantaged groups need support. I would cancel my original order. If I needed to place an order this year, then I would buy directly from disadvantaged groups.

Yu Jan Shin publicly voiced support for people who had cancelled orders with them, saying that they are fully behind people who have switched to sheltered workshops to help disadvantaged groups. The Presidential Office’s original order would’ve accounted for around half of these disadvantaged groups’ sales, meaning these groups wouldn’t have been able to offset this suddenly cancelled order.

Yan Chiu-wen
St. Coletta Catholic Training Center for Special Needs
In all honesty, after the Presidential Office cancelled their order, it truly gave us a lot of pressure when it comes to this year’s operations. Each order recognizes and is an important show of support for people with mental or physical disabilities.

Sheltered workshops employ disabled people who want to work but would struggle to find gainful employment. The cancelled order from the Presidential Office may’ve been a temporary blow, yet all these sudden orders from everyday people show that society wants to support disadvantaged groups.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#charity #shelteredworkshop #budget #budgetcuts #PresidentialOffice

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Thousands of lights illuminate Keelung’s Ghost Month nights

Bright lights and dazzling fireworks lit up the night sky in Keelung on Monday evening, to mark the start of one of the most famous Ghost Month events in Taiwan. The festivities kicked off with the lighting of the main altar at Zhongzheng Park, which elicited gasps of awe from worshippers. Over the next few days, parades will take to the streets, mass offerings will be held and water lanterns will be set off at sea, that is if the weather permits.

The countdown reaches zero, marking the start of one of Keelung’s most important Ghost Month festival rituals: the lighting of the main altar.

Thousands of lanterns lit up Zhongzheng Park with a festive glow on Monday evening, as fireworks sparkled in the night sky.

The festival is in its 172nd edition. The light ceremony symbolizes the linking of the world of the living and the dead. Wandering spirits are given this grand welcome to help themselves to offerings, as well as bring good weather and peace to Taiwan.

Before the illumination ceremony, worshippers were treated to spectacular performances. Also in attendance were Mayor George Hsieh and other city officials, who joined this year’s hosts in a purification ritual before switching the display on.

George Hsieh
Keelung Mayor
Everyone involved has put their heart into this, to preserve and pass down Taiwan’s and Keelung’s most important Ghost Month festival, now in its 172nd year.

The grand light-up ceremony went ahead without a hitch, but with a typhoon approaching Taiwan, other events such as parades, the water lanterns ceremony or the mass offering rite could be affected. For now, everything is set to proceed as planned.

Liu Wei-hsun
Liu-Tang-Du clan association
We’re sure Laoda Gong will protect us, so that everything goes ahead smoothly. We shouldn’t worry too much, there’s no need. We’ll ramp up safety measures and everything should be fine.

Chiang Ting-mei
Keelung Culture and Tourism Bureau
We’ll have the parade move a little faster, so that it can be all over a little quicker. If the waves are too big, we’ll burn the lanterns on shore, instead of setting them on the sea, to prevent any accidents.

The bright lights coming from the festive altar light up Keelung’s evening now, keeping the tradition alive for its 172nd year, and attracting hordes of tourists undeterred by the weather.

#culture #festival #tradition #keelung #festive #ritual

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2026-08-25

Bowling ball driller serves niche market nonstop for 30 years

Bowling is more than just a sport—there’s also significant expertise behind the ball itself! There’s a pro shop in Taoyuan that specializes in selling bowling balls and providing precise drilling services. The owner has worked nonstop for 30 years, drilling custom holes based on each customer’s hand shape and bowling style to improve their game. Now he’s passing his knowledge along to the next generation to keep the art alive.

Lin Yen-jung measures a customer’s hand circumference and finger span before drilling holes to create a fully customized bowling ball. Once a bowling coach, Lin went to the US to earn a professional ball drilling license. By this point, he’s amassed over 30 years of experience.

Lin Yen-jung
Bowling ball driller
The build and hand shape of people in Asia is entirely different than in the West. We make specific adjustments tailored to the hand shape of each individual customer.

- This one is from Japan’s ABS Mercury series. It has a built-in core. It’s the world’s first ball with an shifting centerofgravity.

Alongside drilling services, the shop also sells imported bowling balls. Every ball’s material, core, weight, and surface finish are meticulously engineered. The materials vary in hardness to increase friction. Those with a core can accelerate spin, while those without need flat weight blocks. Weights range from 6 to 16 pounds. This pro shop in Taoyuan has been around for over 30 years. The owner’s three children are all expert bowlers who also know how to drill.

Lin Han-yu
Lin Yen-jung’s son
Having a steady job to put food on the table and give me financial stability allows me to keep supporting this sport while also working.

Lin Han-wei
Lin Yen-jung’s son
Ever since we were little, whenever my dad got too busy, he’d call me or my brother to come help. So naturally, all three of us picked up the skill.

The sport of bowling has drastically shrunk from its peak in the 1980s when there were over 600 bowling alleys, to fewer than 50 today. But thanks to the internet and word-of-mouth recommendations, business is booming for the Lin family.

Lin Yen-jung
Bowling ball driller
We used this ebb and period of decline to refine our techniques, ensuring that customers stay with us because of our service and expertise while also continuing to find new clients.

Now, Lin is preparing to retire and hand the reins over to his children. The family will remain a staple in the bowling community, while also hoping to bring more people into the sport.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#bowling #bowlingballdriller #Taoyuan #familybusiness #sports #craftsmanship

2026-08-25