The 20th annual “Taiwan Cultural Festival” (Passport to Taiwan, hereinafter referred to as Taiwan Tour) kicked off on Sunday in Manhattan’s Union Square, attracting residents and tourists from the greater New York area, including many Taiwanese students studying in New York. Many Taiwanese Americans seized this opportunity to savor the taste of their homeland and introduce Taiwan’s rich and diverse culture to friends and family.
This event is one of the largest Asian American events in New York, featuring a wide range of activities including stage performances, food stalls, tourism promotion, community introductions, creative products, and traditional crafts, attracting tens of thousands of people every year. The organizers introduced familiar Taiwanese delicacies such as pearl milk tea, shaved ice, braised pork rice, and Taiwanese sausage, as well as several new brands focusing on Taiwan’s natural organic foods and handmade crafts.
At the Taiwan Tour event, people from various ethnic backgrounds in New York could be seen lining up together to enjoy Taiwanese cuisine, while students studying abroad expressed their longing for hometown flavors. Sandra, a Taiwanese graduate student studying in the United States, said she was most looking forward to tasting various Taiwanese snacks such as Taiwanese sausage with sticky rice, oyster omelettes, and meatballs. Natalie, another Taiwanese graduate student in the U.S., mentioned how happy she felt being able to reconnect with her homeland’s food and culture in New York. Thomas, a Westerner, attended the event with his Taiwanese wife, praising Taiwan’s excellence in technology, politics, and business, seeing it as a model for the U.S. to emulate.
One of the highlights of this year’s event was the presence of the Ma Zu deity from the Beigang Chao Tian Temple in Taiwan. Beigang Chao Tian Temple Chairman Cai Yongdeng, during an interview, noted the warm reception from Taiwanese expatriates and expressed how the event allows the world to learn about Taiwan and Ma Zu’s religious culture, spreading peace and joy.
To celebrate the U.S. Congress’s designation of the Taiwan-U.S. tradition week in 1999, the Taiwan Tour has been held since 2002, with a hiatus of three years due to the pandemic, making this year the 20th edition. Hsu Bocheng, the executive director of Taiwan Tour, expressed his hope to continue the event for another 20 years, aiming to raise awareness about Taiwan among mainstream audiences and showcase how Taiwanese Americans have realized their American dreams, emphasizing that everyone has the opportunity to become an essential part of society and the country.
2024 also marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of Tainan, Taiwan, symbolizing the city’s four centuries of connection with the world. Volunteer Tina Xiao explained that in 1624, the Dutch first landed in Taiwan, marking the beginning of detailed historical and documentary records. To commemorate this special year, the Tainan City Government collaborated with the Taiwan Tour, offering egg cakes shaped like prominent historical sites in Tainan such as Chihkan Tower, Anping Fort’s cannon tower, Eternal Golden Castle, Lin Department Store, and Rong Yuan Building. Tina Xiao mentioned that presenting her hometown in New York evoked a special emotional connection and resonance, welcoming New Yorkers to visit Tainan for sightseeing.
The co-organizer of Taiwan Tour, the Overseas Community Affairs Council of the Republic of China, invited the Ten Drum Art Percussion Group from Tainan to deliver an impressive drum performance. Additionally, there were performances by Taiwanese rap singer Da-Zhi, emerging singer Jilli Yeah, International Tango Championship winner Mandy Chou, the Staten Island New York Taiwanese Community Band, and the New York Community Song King Chung Wenchung, filling Union Square with the melodies of Taiwan.
New York State Assemblyman Ron Kim and State Senator Iwen Chu gave speeches at the event. Senator Chu presented commendations to Beigang Chao Tian Temple Chairman Cai Yongdeng, Taiwan Tour Executive Director Hsu Bocheng, and President Liao Sidun of the Greater New York Taiwanese Association, recognizing their contributions. Lee Guangzhang, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, also warmly interacted with Taiwanese businesses at the event venue.