Lifelike beggar statue at Lanyang Museum earns NT$523,000 in donations

Lifelike beggar statue at Lanyang Museum earns NT$523,000 in donations

2026-08-27

For 16 years, visitors to the Lanyang Museum in Yilan have been greeted at the entrance by a wax statue of a beggar. The lifelike figure leans on a walking cane while a lute hangs from his back, his other hand clutching a cracked bowl. As they pass by, many people can’t resist reaching into their pockets to drop him some loose change. Over the years, the statue has generated over NT$500,000 in donations, all of which are donated to the county’s social relief fund.

An old man with white hair leans on a cane, a lute strapped to a back draped in tattered rags as he holds a cracked bowl in his outstretched hand. The sight naturally stirs empathy in anyone passing by.

A person drops a coin into his bowl, but something gives her a fright. The man is made of wax!

- It scared me!
- I thought he was speaking! I got scared!

This wax statue stands at the entrance to the Lanyang Museum in Yilan. Its extreme realism has drawn many people wanting to see it for themselves.

Ms. Chien
Visitor
I just got back from Japan. It’s because people are kind-hearted. And we Taiwanese are very kind.

Ms. Chen
Visitor
I saw it a few days ago on Threads. Lots of people leave coins here. I came to see if it was real. It’s really here! It’s also nice to give a little to charity.

The lifelike statue is part of a display depicting an early Yilan street scene. When it debuted with the opening of the museum in 2010, no one expected it to actually generate income.

Chen Pi-lin
Lanyang Museum director
After saving the collected funds each year, we donate it to charitable organizations through the county’s Social Affairs Department. As of last year, we had collected NT$523,000 over 15 years. That’s tens of thousands every year.

Every coin donated is an act of kindness. All funds are deposited into the Yilan County Government’s social assistance fund to help those in need.

#charity #LanyangMuseum #Yilan #beggar #waxstatue #lifelike #donation

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蘭陽博物館"乞丐雕像"太逼真民眾狂捐錢”15年賺逾50萬"

2026-08-27

宜蘭蘭陽博物館有一個乞丐人物蠟像，它拄著拐杖、揹著月琴，手裡還捧著破碗，站在入口長達16年時間。不少民眾經過都忍不住掏出零錢行善。假乞丐，意外吸引民眾的憐憫之心，十多年來收到的善心捐款，累積超過50萬元，館方表示公益基金將捐給縣府社會救助金專戶。

老先生滿頭白髮，拄著拐杖、揹著月琴、衣服殘破不堪，手上還捧著一個破碗，讓人看了不免產生同情心。

路過民眾忍不住投下手中硬幣，但仔細一看，這是個蠟像！

- 嚇到我了
-我還以為它在講話，我被嚇到

佇立在蘭陽博物館入口的乞丐人偶蠟像，擬真模樣吸引不少民眾來朝聖。

[[遊客簡小姐]]
“我從日本回來的，因為人有這種惻隱之心，我們台灣人很善良”

[[遊客陳小姐]]
“我前幾天看到threads上面，超多人來投錢，我就來看是不是真的，發現真的有，就是做點愛心也滿不錯的”

栩栩如生的乞丐人偶蠟像，重現早年宜蘭街頭的生活風貌，從2010年蘭陽博物館開幕就設立，沒想到竟然能賺錢。

[[蘭陽博物館館長陳碧琳]]
“它每年度經費我們都把它留下來之後，會捐給公益慈善團體，我們社會處那邊做一個統一的運用，去年15年，我們有了52萬3千元的經費，所以它每年度都會累積幾萬塊”

民眾投下的每一枚硬幣，都化成一份善意，善心款項將全數捐入宜蘭縣政府社會處社會救助金專戶，把愛心送到真正需要的人手中。

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A yo-yo flies into the air with the whip of a string, spinning as it lands perfectly again and again.

Taiwan’s very own Chang Hong-lun recently showcased his mastery in this year’s World Yo-Yo Contest, clinching silver in the Offstring Division. The chairman of the Taiwan Yo-Yo Association recalled the excitement.

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In this division, the yo-yo and string are detached. When it’s in the air, you have to stay extra focused on the yo-yo itself.

20-year-old Chang is a student of medical biotechnology at National Taiwan University. Beyond being an excellent student, he also excels at sports and performing. He started learning diabolo in fourth grade and once placed second in the Asian championships. After only three years in the world of yo-yo, he represented Taiwan at this year’s world contest in Japan, defeating competitors from over 10 countries to secure an impressive second-place finish.

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Chain restaurant makes specialty sauerkraut fish dumplings

Businesses are developing new flavors of frozen dumplings, with one suancai yu chain making a dumpling that packs the sour and spicy flavors of the popular hot pot. Hotels are also joining the trend, offering not only classic pork dumplings, but also two vegetarian varieties.

A waiter serves a piping hot dish of fish with pickles, or suancai yu, to the table. This popular sour and spicy dish was recently made into a dumpling.

After boiling in water for five minutes, the dumplings are ready to eat. Every bite has the complex sour and spicy flavors of this popular dish.

Member of public
Interested in fish dumpling
It’s pretty good, sour and spicy. It’s a fresh taste to have for a dumpling.

Member of public
Never had a fish dumpling
Usually dumplings have meat inside. I haven’t had a fish one before.

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Chang Tung-liang
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I think that dumplings are one of the essentials people keep in their freezer. We make about 200 bags a day.

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Member of public
Eats veg dumplings in summer
I really recommend these vegetable dumplings in the summer, especially if you usually eat a lot of meat and want something lighter.

Member of public
Likes chewy outside
I think the outside is chewier and doesn’t break as easily.

Chien Jo-ching
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Our hotel’s dumplings are a hidden delicacy. We turned this product into a frozen one. We sell over 10,000 bags a year.

The hotel chef even spilled the secret on the best way to cook dumplings: The key is adding salt to the boiling water first.

Restaurants and five-star hotels, are turning their signature dishes into delicious dumplings to enjoy at home, expanding their business opportunities.

#dumplings #hotel #suancaiyu #sauerkrautfish #vegetarian #fivestarhotel #chain #restaurant #frozen #takehome

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Lines of cars are parked on either side of this roadway, forcing pedestrians to walk out into the street. That’s the source of the problem.

This driver accidentally touched the center line while trying to give space for a pedestrian, resulting in a ticket.

Voice of driver (voice altered)
Shunxing Street is only about 10 meters wide, but both sides are packed with cars. There’s only around 5 or 6 meters of usable roadway. To avoid a pedestrian, I had to get close to the median line and the car behind me took a photo.

Shunxing Street in Taichung’s Beitun District isn’t that wide to begin with. But with cars parked on either side, it’s difficult to avoid crossing over into the middle.

Nearby resident
When it’s like this, even two cars passing each other is difficult. What are we pedestrians supposed to do?

Nearby resident
Since Dung-Guang Elementary is back there, there’s usually a lot of traffic on this road in the morning.

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Local borough warden
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The Taichung transportation bureau said it would look into improving the road to make sure that vehicles and pedestrians don’t have to compete for space.

#roadsafety #traffic #Taichung #trafficticket #unfair #pedestriansafety #roaddesign

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Fruit with salt is sweeter, helps body retain water

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Lin Li
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In the summer heat, lots of people like to eat watermelon to cool down. But one Japanese doctor recommended having a banana with salt to beat the heat.

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Member of public
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Fruit vendor
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We soak fruit in cold salt water. Mangoes are also salted. Basically, if a mango isn’t ripe, it’s eaten with salt, otherwise it’s sour. The salt enhances the flavor. Watermelon with salt is also pretty good.

Salt reduces sour and bitter flavors, making the fruit taste sweeter. Fruits that are sweet, tart, and have a high water content are especially good with a little salt.

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Member of public
Understands confusion
The tourist might have gotten confused, as both buildings are red, and they are in a similar style. They’re also very close to each other.

Both buildings date back to the Japanese colonial period, and feature ornate decorations that accentuates their grandeur. The Presidential Office Building was completed in 1919, and features red brick and white trim mimicking English Victorian architecture with baroque ornamentation. It’s very similar to the NTU Hospital Building, which was completed only two years later in 1921. To tourists unfamiliar with the area, they could easily be confused with each other.

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A cyclist starts tilting to the side before suddenly collapsing near the light rail tracks as a moving train approaches. A passerby runs to the rescue, signaling the train to stop, and helping the fallen cyclist.

- Call an ambulance
- Ok

The cyclist collapsed at Cianjhen Star Station just as a train was passing by. Light rail staff lept to action, bringing out an AED and teaming up with police to help. Finally, an ambulance arrived at the scene to take the cyclist to hospital.

Voice of passerby
Saw incident
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Tai Yu-long
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Members of the Rapid Transit Police Brigade were conducting a patrol when they found out that a cyclist had collapsed to the ground and sustained injuries at Cianjhen Star Station. Officers immediately approached to inspect the situation and dialed 119 for an ambulance and 110 for local police. They also made sure that the perimeter was safe and guided traffic around the scene to prevent a second incident.

Thanks to the quick action by the passerby, the light rail staff and medics, the cyclist slowly recovered consciousness and was able to speak with responders.

Member of public
Kaohsiung
I think it’s great to see so much courage on display. Nowadays, it’s rare to see people helping out others whenever there’s trouble. Usually most people run away now.

The cyclist ended up on the floor due to convulsions. Fortunately, kind hearted people nearby rushed to his aid, in a heartwarming scene that once again shows that Taiwan’s most beautiful landscape is the people.

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Strips of eel simmer to perfection in a giant wok before they’re dished out onto a bed of bean sprouts in a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

More eel bubbles in another wok of hot oil until the outside is crispy. There’s also decadent eel soup, all part of this lavish spread of eel-based delicacies.

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A sprinkling of sesame seeds is the perfect finishing touch for these sticky rice cakes with slices of eel. The meat can even be tossed into a salad.

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In Taiwan’s eel town, diners enjoyed creative cuisine featuring local produce sourced straight from local farms. While satisfying their tastebuds, they also helped to promote Kouhu’s signature seafood.

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