Flying back in time: Meteor Garden Fangirling

(National Chung Cheng University, Minxiong Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan)

Its been 17 years since the Taiwanese drama, Meteor Garden was aired and dubbed in the Philippines. I still remember when I was in grade school, I always went home early so that I won't missed an episode. Before Korean Drama was been popular, this drama series was every so-called Millineals today was so obsessed that even Meteor Garden merchandises were sold in the local market like notebooks with pictures of Shan Cai and the F4 (Flower Four), ball pens, bags and many more.

Its been one of my dream to go to the famous Ying De University (National Chung Cheng University) is where the Flower Four and Shan Cai studied and most of the scene was shot. As a child, the love story of Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si was carved in my mind that will not fade by time.

How did I get there? I GOOGLEd it. Hahaha! Just kidding! I booked a chartered tour to Alishan Scenic Area and its also included from the tour package. I only have one hour to stroll the whole university that's why I have limited time in visiting the area. CCU was one of the prestigious University in Taiwan and its wide enough to enable to explore it in just an hour. If you wanted, you can also ride a bus from Chiayi, visit this page for more info; http://ewww.ccu.edu.tw/about/getting-to-ccu.php.

So here are some of the sites that I had visited that I thought was featured in Meteor Garden Drama.

My first mission was to find the famous locker of San Chai, where she received her first F4 Red card that turns her life from invisible to miserable University student.

(screenshot from the drama)

From the parking lot, we had passed by some of the familiar area. (Actually I felt every part of the University was familiar even though it was my first time to go there)

(This is where Hua Ze Lei, Shan Chai and Qing He practised basketball so that they will not be expelled in the University because of Dao Ming Si)

We had also passed the CCU Track and Field.

Back on my mission, when I was still researching about the shooting spots of the MG, I read that the famous locker was in the basement of the library. So we decided to first look for the entrance of the basement.

This is the back of the Library. (We thought that this is the entrance and ended up going to the terrace and find no doors open. Haha!)

So we walked around, and entered the lobby of the library. Yes! You have to blend in. Don't make them notice that you are not a student. Haha! I felt like I wanted to go back to school again. Ugh!

At the right side of the lobby, you will find a stair that will lead you to the basement. Then turn to the left, and tannnaaaan! THE LOCKER!!! The inner Shan Cai in me was so overjoyed I nearly burst to tears. Hoho

Locker 150. (I'm so scared to open it, I might received a Red Card. Hahaha )

Bonus! You will also find this orange door near the locker for some instagramable photos. You're welcome.

Second mission is finding this scene:

This is where Dao Ming Si bullies Shan Cai and Hua Zi Lei defended her. (The feels! I'm kilig! Hahahaha). When you were in the front of the library you will see this:

Yup! That was the fountain and in the back was the library where we came from. Then on my front you will find their Auditorium.

So this is it guys! The CCU Auditorium. (Invinsible Asi and Lei for me. Poor me.)

Next mission: The rooftop where Shan Cai and Hua Ze Lei met and became friends.

Base on the picture it is near the fountain and those red buildings, so I guess it was here in CCU Administrative Building.

I really wanted to enter the third floor of the Admin building to get my ultimate wish to meet my first childhood crush Hua Ze Lei! But it needs some sort of card to swipe into the door before entering it. Grrr!

Me figuring out how to enter the building. Looking for some open doors. Haha!

Yes! I even looked at the rear side of the building. No luck for me.

Getting closer to my dreams! Haha

So near yet so far feeling. I'm in front of it and I can't enter. I felt defeated after so many attempt to enter the building. Maybe next time when I'll enroll myself in the University (in my dreams).

My frustrated pose because of my failed mission. Huhu!

As I roamed around I keep looking on the trees and pathways that resemble this scene in the drama:

So here is some of my compilation photos that looks like this.

And when we were about to leave the University, I found this:

Its kind of upslope road just like in the picture of Shan Cai with her motorbike.

There were still lot to explore in the Ying De University. But because of my limited time that's where my Meteor garden fangirling ends, an hour of pure childhood memories, where I'd unlocked one of my bucketlist. I know in my heart and soul I will be forever a F4 fanatic!

Bonus pictures:

This where Shan Cai parked her motorbiked.

Common classrooms.

This is CCU Gymnasium that consist of 3 buildings. Amazing!

Thank you for reading my first ever published blog! =)

Special thanks to my bestfriend Sunshine Kim for the screenshots of the scenes and for my Ate Liezl for accompanying me and taking my photos. Love you both! :-*

#MeteorGarden #YingDeUniversity #SanCai #DaoMingSi #F4