Travel, observe, think & write.

As a traveler, I explore how different cultures narrate the story of nature, studying and documenting these insights through newspaper columns and online publications.

By merging research and design, I translate these findings into fresh and impactful experiences using a cross-disciplinary, research-driven approach. I have collaborated with zoos and architects on case studies globally, bringing an international perspective to my work.

Travel & Write for the zoos.

I have a strong passion for conducting research at zoos, as I believe they serve as an excellent environment for studying design. When visiting the zoos, I don't just go to see the animals; I spend most of my time examining how zoos establish connections between nature and their guests; from the barriers to the descriptions of the animals on the interpretations, these mediums honestly show how zoos want their guests to view the nature, and I firmly believe that zoos accurately reflect the culture of the cities they belong to.

Explore the world and visit zoos globally.

Since university, I have visited as many zoos as possible to broaden my horizons, traveling globally alone from Northeastern Asia to Tropical Micronesia, from Scandinavia to Tenerife in North Africa. I have visited 100 zoos to enhance my design skills with comparative insights.

111 zoos in 24 countries on 4 continents.

  • Ahtari Zoo, Finland
    Antwerpen Zoo, Belgium
    Atlanta Zoo, US
    Basel Zoo, Switzerland
    Berlin Zoo, Germany
    Bioparc Fuengirola, Spain
    Brevard Zoo, US
    Bronx Zoo, US
    Budapest Zoo, Hungary
    Burgers' Zoo, Netherlands
    Butterfly Pavilion, US
    Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, US
    Central Park Zoo, US
    Chester Zoo, UK
    Denver Zoo, US
    Duisburg Zoo, Germany
    Frankfurt Zoo, Germany
    Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, US
    Hsinchu Zoo, Taiwan
    Jurong Bird Park, Singapore
    Koln Zoo, Germany
    Kobe Animal Kingdom, Japan
    Kobe Oji Zoo, Japan
    Kyoto City Zoo, Japan
    Leipzig Zoo, Germany
    London Zoo, UK
    Loro Park, Spain
    Miami Zoo, US
    Nowe Zoo Poznan, Poland
    Opole Zoo, Poland
    Paris Menagerie, France
    Paris Zoo, France
    Pata Zoo, Thailand
    Philadelphia Zoo, US
    Prague Zoo, Czech Republic
    Prospect Park Zoo, US
    Queens Zoo, US
    Seoul Grand Park Zoo, South Korea
    Shanghai Zoo, Mainland China
    Shou Shan Zoo, Taiwan
    Singapore Night Safari, Singapore
    Singapore River Safari, Singapore
    Singapore Zoo, Singapore
    Stare Zoo Poznan, Poland
    Suzhou Zoo, Mainland China
    Taipei Zoo, Taiwan
    Taiwan Insect Museum, Taiwan
    Tennoji Zoo, Japan
    Tiergarten Nuremberg, Germany
    Tierpark Hagenbeck, Germany
    Ueno Zoo, Japan
    Vienna Zoo, Austria
    Wangpi World, Taiwan
    Warsaw Zoo, Poland
    Whipsnade Zoo, UK
    Wroclaw Zoo, Poland
    Zagreb Zoo, Croatia
    Zurich Zoo, Switzerland

  • Adventure Aquarium, US
    Aquarium Berlin, Germany
    Aquarium Tropical, France
    atoa, Japan
    Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, US
    Coex Aquarium, South Korea
    COS Museum, US
    Daytona Aquarium & Rainforest Adventure, US
    Downtown Aquarium, US
    Fazi River Center, Taiwan
    Florida Aquarium, US
    Frost Science Museum, US
    Georgia Aquarium, US
    Kaiyukan, Japan
    Kyoto Aquarium, Japan
    National Aquarium Denmark, Denmark
    National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium, Taiwan
    New England Aquarium, US
    New York Aquarium, US
    NIFREL, Japan
    Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium, Japan
    Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Japan
    Penghu Aquarium, Taiwan
    Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, US
    Sealife London, UK
    Smart Aquarium Shizuoka, Japan
    Taipei Aquarium, Taiwan
    Tennessee Aquarium, US
    The Deep, UK
    Tropen-Aquarium Hagenbeck, Germany
    Xpark, Taiwan
    Yehliu Ocean World, Taiwan

  • Butterfly Encounter, US
    Butterfly Rainforest, US
    Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, US
    Choufeng Farm, Taiwan
    CosmoCaixa Barcelona, Spain
    Disney Animal Kingdom, US
    Green World Ecological Farm, Taiwan
    Kongni Clownfish Museum, Taiwan
    Lake Biwa Museum, Japan
    London Wetland Center, UK
    Marine Science Center, US
    National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, Taiwan
    National Science Museum, Taiwan
    Nishinomiya City Shellfish Museum, Japan
    Ocean Park, Hong Kong
    Orlando Science Center, US
    Pattaya Elephant Village, Thailand
    SeaWorld Orlando, US
    Tiger Park Pattaya, Thailand


New Book Published

Taiwan: A Global History

Co-authored with
The Elephants That Walked East: From Hamburg to the Empire of the Rising Sun
How did Hagenbeck’s revolution reach Japan’s first colony?

Buy this book

Featured Research-Based Design Projects:

BEFORE THE SIGHT

This project explores the potential of the mediums in aquariums. Beyond visual elements, can sound also serve as a bridge between humans and animals?

THE WORSHIP OF A FOREST

Redesigning a Japanese Shinto shrine without using cultural vocabularies.

ZOO BARRIERS EXHIBITION

In one of Poland’s oldest zoos, I witnessed the evolution of enclosures—prompting a reflection: Have these changes truly been for the animals, or have they been shaped by human morality?


Research-Based Writings

Monthly articles for
’Mandarin Daily News’

(2017 - Present)

Contributing monthly newspaper articles on zoos and history, exploring the cultural elements that reflect the relationship between humans and wildlife.

During an interview with Formosa Television in October 2022, I was given the title "The Zoo Observer" for pioneering this subject within the Sinophone community, in which we discussed the history of zoos and Carl Hagenbeck's impact on the industry.

Newspaper

Sharing how St. Augustine Alligator Farm prevented the damage of Hurricane Milton to Chinese readers in 2024.

TV Interview

Me in an interview with Formosa Television (FTV) about the history of zoos and Carl Hagenbeck in Oct 2022.

Speeches

Share my stories via speeches and give lectures about the history and design of zoos.

Online publications:

“NOT ONLY A ZOO”

Monthly newspaper column:

“Mandarin Daily News”