The Austin Teochew Association and the Temple of Heaven council held a Spring Festival gala on the evening of April 21 in Austin, Texas. Xiao Yifang, Director of the Houston Economic and Cultural Office, and Wang Yingrong, Director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center, attended the event to offer congratulations. This marked Xiao Yifang’s first visit to the Austin Teochew Association, where she was warmly welcomed by Chairman Chen Taizhou, President Wu Changwu, Temple of Heaven Director Chen Dengmao, Secretary-General Xu Jianxiong, and other board members.
Under the gentle spring breeze and warm sunshine, Chairman Chen Taizhou and President Wu Changwu had been waiting at the temple gate for Xiao Yifang and her group. Inside, they had prepared tea and snacks, including homemade Teochew pastries and Taiwanese pineapple cakes made by Xu Jianxiong’s wife, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere. Xiao Yifang expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended by Chen Taizhou, Wu Changwu, and their Teochew compatriots. She listened attentively as the association’s members shared stories of the Teochew community’s journey and development in Austin since their arrival in the United States. She also invited everyone to visit Taiwan to experience its cuisine. It was mentioned that studying traditional Chinese characters and cultural values from Taiwan during their education in Vietnam had a profound impact on the first-generation Teochew immigrants in the U.S., leading them to prioritize the education of their children, resulting in successful second-generation individuals.
Following their visit to the Temple of Heaven to pay respects to the deified Mazu and pray for peace and prosperity, Xiao Yifang and her companions were led by Chairman Chen on a tour of the association’s facilities, the statue of Confucius, and the temple’s architecture. Modeled after the Temple of Heaven in Taiwan, the Austin Temple of Heaven exuded traditional Chinese cultural qualities, with its distinctively Chinese temple architecture, the statue of Confucius, and the zodiac-themed platform becoming local community attractions. With plans to establish a Chinese school and senior housing complex, the temple’s front courtyard even featured an archway bearing the inscription “propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor,” drawing the attention of Teochew compatriots from Taiwan.
The Teochew Association and Temple of Heaven Council’s Spring Festival gala was held at Pho Hoang restaurant that evening, with Xiao Yifang, Wang Yingrong, Chairman Chen Taizhou, President Wu Changwu, Director Chen Dengmao, Yen Shiguang, and other Austin council members in attendance, totaling over a hundred guests. The event was hosted by Xu Jianxiong and Vice President Huang Zhous, who is also the restaurant owner. In her speech, Xiao Yifang commended the unity and resilience displayed by the Teochew community in settling and thriving in the United States, acknowledging their hard work and perseverance. She expressed gratitude to the Austin Teochew Association for uniting Teochew compatriots in Austin and contributing to their community.
The gala featured a live band and singers performing Teochew and Vietnamese songs, culminating in a lively atmosphere with everyone singing together and participating in a raffle. Xiao Yifang was the lucky winner of a special prize, a bottle of Moutai liquor, amid cheers and laughter, wrapping up the event on a high note.