i-dle member Shuhua has been named tourism ambassador for Taoyuan, Taiwan, for the second year in a row, returning to promote the city where she grew up. The appointment extends a partnership that began last year, when she first took on the role for her hometown.
According to K-POPIT, Shuhua recently filmed new tourism content around Taoyuan under the theme “Shuhua’s View.” Her stops included Taoyuan Halloween City, Jingfu Temple, a traditional temple, and the G11 Arts and Culture District Station, a subway station that has not yet opened.
The shoot drew a large crowd at Zhongli Night Market in Taoyuan, where fans and local residents gathered to see her. While filming there, Shuhua tried local street food, including stinky tofu and sweet potato balls, snacks that took her back to her childhood, and she also played a pinball game and tried other activities night markets are known for.
The Taoyuan City Tourism and Travel Bureau said the city’s promotional content has passed 30 million total impressions since Shuhua became ambassador. “Shuhua is an artist Taoyuan is proud of,” the bureau said. “Since Shuhua was appointed tourism ambassador, the total impressions of our promotional content have passed 30 million. The number of tourists has also grown steadily, showing Taoyuan’s potential for growth.”
Shuhua is one of five members of i-dle, alongside Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon and Yuqi. Her second year as ambassador keeps her hometown promotion running alongside her group work, and it gives Taoyuan a familiar face with an international audience as the city continues to push its night markets, temples and cultural districts to visitors.
Shuhua is also branching out as an actress. Last month, she attended the 31st Busan International Film Festival with “Happily Ever After,” her first film in a leading role. The movie was also invited to the 51st Toronto International Film Festival and the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.
Between the night markets of her hometown and the red carpets of international film festivals, Shuhua is building a career that now reaches well past the music stage, and her renewed Taoyuan role keeps that hometown connection at the centre of it.
