Shovel Heroes Museum

In September 2025, torrential rains brought by a typhoon caused the Mataian landslide dam in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, to overflow, triggering violent mudslides that destroyed bridges and flooded towns such as Guangfu. Faced with the devastation of their homes, more than 500,000 volunteers from across Taiwan spontaneously flocked to the area, armed with shovels to help clear the mud. Dubbed “Shovel Superheroes,” they demonstrated the resilience of Taiwanese society, embodying the spirit of “One Island, One Destiny.”

Located in Warehouse No. 3 of the Taiwan Sugar Corporation’s Hualien Sugar Factory (approximately 80 ping), and features eight major sections. The exhibition showcases 375 shovels, 97 train tickets, and thousands of photographs and audiovisual recordings—all artifacts collected from the public—transforming genuine emotions into a compelling narrative space. By combining physical artifacts, immersive audiovisual experiences, and a digital museum, it creates a model exhibition hall that preserves Taiwan’s spirit of warmth and solidarity.

The exhibition weaves together the epic story of disaster relief through a fluid visitor journey: it begins with a 120-second audiovisual presentation reenacting the devastation of the Guangfu disaster; followed by a depiction of the public’s spontaneous online mobilization and passionate rallying; as visitors navigate through a tunnel with a muddy texture and an optical fiber installation featuring shovels, they witness volunteers wielding shovels to rescue their homes and bear the burden of grief, as well as the front lines where medical personnel and the Armed Forces fought side by side. As the muddy waters recede, the exhibition reflects on the enduring warmth of the human spirit, guiding the public to move forward with courage and to sustain the legacy of unity and altruism.