Hualien's Summer Fun: 'One Piece' Thousand Sunny Ship Sails into Liyu Lake

Hualien County in Taiwan is set to transform into an anime adventure hub this summer with a "ONE PIECE" themed event at Liyu Lake. The "2026 Hualien FUN Summer" festival, running from July 11 to August 16, will feature a 15-meter wide Thousand Sunny ship replica, allowing visitors to take photos and immerse themselves in the world of the popular anime.

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The county government and international IP cooperation hope to integrate the adventurous spirit of "ONE PIECE" into Hualien's magnificent mountain and sea scenery, bringing tourists a refreshing tourism experience.

Six iconic "ONE PIECE" characters – Luffy, Nami, Chopper, Sanji, Zoro, and Usopp – will also make appearances as large inflatable figures. The Hualien County Government's Tourism Department collaborated with the global IP to integrate the spirit of adventure into the region's natural landscapes, aiming to offer a unique experience for tourists and anime fans.

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Obtaining the international IP authorization for "ONE PIECE" involved lengthy communication and coordination, and the process was not easy. The county government team is very excited about successfully obtaining the authorization.

Securing the international IP license was a lengthy and challenging process, according to Tourism Department Director Yu Ming-hsun. He highlighted the Thousand Sunny ship as a major attraction, noting it is designed to be the largest of its kind in Taiwan and will be open for public boarding. Safety considerations were integrated into the design to ensure visitors can safely enjoy the Straw Hat Pirates' charm.

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One of the biggest highlights of the event is the newly designed Thousand Sunny, which is not only 15 meters wide, potentially becoming the largest Thousand Sunny display facility in Taiwan, but also planned to allow visitors to board and take photos.

The 3D character figures, approved by the licensor, will be strategically placed across various Hualien attractions. An interactive "Treasure Hunt" game, involving stamp collection and point accumulation, will guide visitors to explore Hualien. Completing the game offers rewards and aims to encourage a deeper discovery of the county's beauty through an engaging, educational approach. The county hopes this collaboration will inject new energy and buzz into Hualien's tourism, similar to how "ONE PIECE" aided in the recovery and tourism promotion efforts after the Kumamoto earthquake in Japan.

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The 3D character figures have been produced with large inflatable designs after being approved by the Japanese side. In the future, the characters will be distributed in multiple locations in Hualien, paired with a "Treasure Hunt" interactive game.