As the gentle winter light ushered in the year’s end, Feather Light Hills at National Chung Cheng University (CCU) once again glowed with warmth and celebration. On December 21 (Sunday), the CCU Library, together with a diverse network of partners, presented “Winter Glow at CCU – Campus Music & Arts Market in Appreciation,” an outdoor festival combining music, reading, creative arts, and community charity. Students, faculty, alumni, and local residents gathered to welcome the most heartwarming festive moment of 2025.
This year’s event held particular significance. After Typhoon Danas caused widespread damage to the campus in July, CCU’s students, faculty, alumni, local businesses, and volunteers collaborated tirelessly to restore the grounds, allowing greenery and life to flourish anew. This event stood as CCU’s heartfelt gesture of gratitude for all who walked alongside the university through this period of renewal.
Among the event’s spotlight features was the first performance at CCU by the Takushoku University Koryo High School Wind Ensemble from Japan. The ensemble was also invited to appear in the parade of the Chiayi City International Band Festival, while their performance at CCU was presented as an exclusive “campus showcase.” Their bright, festive, and impeccably coordinated performance transformed Feather Light Hills into a stage reminiscent of a winter outdoor arts festival. Following the concert, representatives from the CCU Student Association presented flowers and took commemorative photos in accordance with international ceremonial tradition—symbolizing artistic friendship across borders.
In addition to the Japanese ensemble’s collaborative exchange with CCU student groups, the event also gathered several internationally recognized musicians who brought an exquisite winter music program. Soprano Mariya Taniguchi and trumpeter Professor Shigetaka Ide performed as a luminous soprano intertwined with warm trumpet tones. Pianist Yu-Chen Huang and Dr. Thomas L. McCoy from Michigan State University presented a double-piano Christmas performance; Dr. McCoy is affectionately known as the “Santa Claus Professor.” Furthermore, the Chang Gung Hospital Warriors Choir joined Mariya Taniguchi, where voices of resilience from cancer survivors merged with international artistry in one of the most emotionally powerful moments of the event.
The Winter Glow celebration also featured notable community cultural groups, including the Chian Tsui Philharmonic Choir, which brought heartfelt year-end blessings. The Fo Guang Shan Tsung-Lin Buddhist Institute – Humanistic Sounds Ensemble further enriched the event with meditative musical performances, guiding audiences toward gratitude and inner peace.
Student organizations from CCU ignited the festival with energy and creativity. Performing groups included the Rock Music Club, Martial Arts Club, “No Music” A Cappella Club, Feelings Guitar Club, and Fire Dance Arts Club. From rock and vocal harmonies to martial arts and fire dance, CCU students presented a colorful tapestry of youthful expression and artistic passion.
Nearly 40 booths gathered for this year’s arts, creative crafts, reading, and sustainability-themed market. Participating artists collaborating with the CCU Library offered interactive workshops featuring illustration, pressed-flower art, painting, patchwork crafts, and woodcraft. Liwen Campus Bookstore hosted its “Winter Book Sunlight Festival,” while a Second-hand Eco Flea Market encouraged circular living. The Library also invited artists and vendors to share their stories through micro-talk sessions during the event.
A starlight and firework-themed outdoor light installation—powered by low-energy solar lighting—was set up on the grasslands to create the signature “Winter Glow” ambiance. The installation became a social media hit immediately upon its soft launch. In the weeks leading up to the event, visitors flocked to take photos, making CCU Minxiong’s newest winter night-view destination. On the event day, the expansive lawn also hosted the “Finding Santa Claus Campus Quest.” As evening fell, solar Christmas lights illuminated, creating a uniquely festive winter atmosphere exclusive to CCU.
Along the art corridor above Feather Light Hills, the exhibition “After the Storm: Standing Strong Together, Building New Life” featured works by artists Luo Rulan and Yang Hui-Ling. Through eco jars and wood-fired ceramics, the exhibition conveyed themes of restoration and sustainability—paying tribute to every individual who contributed to the university’s post-typhoon recovery. Additionally, the “#244 Project Art Exhibition” at the CCU Library Art Gallery showcased artworks by rare-disease and socially disadvantaged creators, using art as a medium for healing and empathy.
In 2025, CCU weathered storms and stepped forward into a season of renewal. “Winter Glow at CCU – Campus Music & Arts Market in Appreciation,” organized by the CCU Library and coordinated by Rabbitilo Co-Creation Co., created one of Chiayi’s signature year-end events. Students, faculty, alumni, and community members gathered at Feather Light Hills for a heartfelt celebration filled with gratitude and hope. After the storm, the light rose again for everyone who walked alongside CCU.