Shovel Heroes Return to Hualien! KING'S Team Trip Explores Nature, Culture, and Community Spirit

KING'S held a three-day, two-night employee trip to Hualien, Taiwan, from November 1 to 3, 2026. With "Nature + Culture" as the theme, employees and their families explored Hualien's mountains and coastline, enjoyed whale and dolphin watching, experienced Indigenous culture, and tasted local cuisine. On the final day, the team returned to Guangfu Township, where they had volunteered for disaster relief the previous year. It was a meaningful homecoming for the "Shovel Heroes" to revisit the community where they had worked together to support recovery efforts.

Discovering Hualien's Natural Beauty

The trip included a variety of outdoor experiences. The team joined a whale-watching tour with Turumoan and headed out into the Pacific Ocean. Although it was the beginning of the northeast monsoon season, the sea was surprisingly calm! Everyone was lucky enough to encounter three dolphin species, watching them leap out of the water and play freely in the waves.

From ATV rides along the lower reaches of Sanzhan Creek and enjoying its clear waters to admiring the Pacific Ocean at Qixingtan Beach, employees had the opportunity to take a break from work, relax, and reconnect with nature.

Dolphin Watching - Dolphins Leaping from the Sea	ATV Adventure Along Sanzhan Creek

Exploring Indigenous Culture and Local Life

In addition to Hualien's beautiful landscapes, the trip included a special visit to the Indigenous community where KING'S employee Ah-Sheng grew up. His family and community members guided the team through their mountain village, sharing local traditions, beautiful scenery, and warm hospitality.

This experience was more than sightseeing. It gave colleagues a chance to better understand Ah-Sheng's background and appreciate the rich cultural diversity of Taiwan's Indigenous peoples.

Shovel Heroes Return: Witnessing Taiwan's Spirit of Kindness and Solidarity

On the final day, the KING'S team returned to Guangfu Township in Hualien. During the first weekend after the disaster last year, KING'S employees voluntarily organized a trip to help clean up the affected area. What began with one vehicle of KING'S employees grew into three vehicles after friends from other companies joined the effort. Even before the term "Shovel Heroes" became widely known, the team was already helping with disaster recovery.

On the tour bus during the third day, Charles, General Manager of KING'S, shared his memories of that experience. He recalled how severe the damage had been. Compared with what they saw at the memorial museum during this visit, the actual disaster scene had felt a hundred times more shocking. At the time, Charles believed recovery might take two to three years. Surprisingly, thanks to the collective efforts of volunteers from across Taiwan, the community made remarkable progress in just over a month.

▲ KING'S Volunteer Disaster Relief in Guangfu, Hualien (2025). Click the photo to read last year's story.

Charles emphasized that "Contribution" is one of KING'S core team values. The company's vision also highlights "Creating Shared and Sustainable Success with Customers and Partners." This belief inspired the company to organize volunteer activities. Charles explained that volunteering should go beyond words. People need to participate personally to truly understand its meaning. As he recalled from last year's experience, "Although we were physically exhausted, we felt deeply fulfilled and happy."

Returning to Guangfu was not only about remembering their volunteer experience. It was also an opportunity to see how the community had recovered and to help colleagues who could not participate last year connect with the story firsthand.

From Employee Travel to Company Culture: Making Sustainability Part of Everyday Life

For KING'S, employee trips are more than a company benefit. They help strengthen teamwork and bring corporate values to life. From exploring marine ecosystems and learning about Indigenous cultures to revisiting a community where the team once volunteered, every experience added meaning to the journey. KING'S believes that through personal participation, "Contribution" can become a shared team value, creating a positive cycle of kindness and lasting impact.

With cool weather, calm seas, and delicious local food throughout the three days, employees jokingly said, "Everything goes smoothly when KING'S is around!" The journey left everyone with wonderful memories.

Green Solution, Machine Soulmate