Dozens of students from Taoyuan City’s Pingzhen Junior High School were rushed to hospitals after falling ill during a graduation trip to the Jianhushan resort area, sparking a suspected food poisoning investigation.
The incident began after approximately 600 teachers and students arrived at the Jianhushan Resort Hotel on April 14, 2026. According to reports, the group had eaten at a restaurant in Nantou during the day before checking into the hotel and dining there for dinner. Between 1:00 a.m. And 2:00 a.m. On April 15, several students began experiencing nausea and vomiting. By the morning of April 15, the number of affected students grew significantly.
While reports on the exact number of patients vary, some sources indicate 59 students were treated, while hotel representatives stated that nearly 70 students sought medical attention. The students were distributed among two clinics in Gukeng Township and the National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKU) Douliu Branch. Dr. He Zongxian, Director of the NCKU Douliu Branch, confirmed that 40 students arrived at the emergency room presenting symptoms of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, with a few experiencing diarrhea. The preliminary diagnosis for most students was gastroenteritis.
The Yunlin County Health Bureau was proactively notified by the hotel and has since collected food samples and specimens for testing. Results from these tests are expected to be available in approximately two weeks.
The dinner menu provided by the hotel consisted of table-style dishes, including garlic pork, “concubine” abalone salad, preserved mustard greens with pork belly, pearl meatballs, pepper chicken thighs, red bean mochi, fried pork chops, steamed fish fillets with scallions, stir-fried garden vegetables, Gukeng bamboo shoot chicken soup, seasonal fruit, and steamed rice.
Chen Guansi, an associate director of the Jianhushan food and beverage department, noted that while most students recovered enough to continue their activities in the park, a modest number remained in the hotel lobby to rest. The school group was scheduled to depart for Taoyuan at 2:00 p.m. On April 15.
The Taoyuan City Education Bureau has launched an emergency response mechanism, with school officials and medical staff monitoring the students during their return trip. The bureau stated that if the investigation confirms the illness was caused by hygiene failures at the vendor, they will seek legal penalties and assist the school in pursuing compensation based on their contract.
This incident underscores the critical importance of food safety and rigorous hygiene oversight during large-scale student excursions, where a single contaminated meal can impact hundreds of minors.
