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Taoyuan’s Daxi District—Where Tradition Is Up to DatePhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Taoyuan’s Daxi District—Where Tradition Is Up to Date

When people talk of Daxi, the first things that come to mind are dried tofu, marin­ated until it is dark and glossy, and beautiful, heavy rosewood furni­ture. However, these past few years the little town has been redefining itself with “Daxi studies,” exuding a new vitality and charm that are attracting travelers from all over.

PateRongan Art: A House of Light on Taiwan’s East CoastPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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PateRongan Art: A House of Light on Taiwan’s East Coast

For fiber artist Chen Shu-yen, weaving is ubiquitous. Using local materials and traditional techniques, she and her husband Tuwak Tuyaw, a bamboo and rattan artist of the Kavalan people, have created lamps by inserting light sources into traditional sanku fish traps. The lamps beautifully project light and shadows through the structure of the traps.

Multicultural Hengchun Peninsula—Cycling Provincial Highway 26Photos - New Southbound Policy
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Multicultural Hengchun Peninsula—Cycling Provincial Highway 26

Taiwan Provincial Highway 26 is a coastal road that circumnavigates the Hengchun Peninsula. Cycling along it, on one side you see the bright blue sky merging into the ocean, while on the other there are towering green mountain ridges. When you ride into small towns and wander around, it feels like opening an unread page in Taiwan’s history. Mul­tiple ethnic groups have interacted in this area, leaving behind precious historical relics and stories.

Elug Art Corner: Creating a Future for Indigenous CulturePhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Elug Art Corner: Creating a Future for Indigenous Culture

Founded by artist Dondon Hounwn, Elug Art Corner seeks to reinforce the cultural heritage of Hualien’s Dowmung Community by collecting tradi­tional ballads and myths. It also strives to carve out a future for the community by inviting visit­ing artists to engage with traditional tribal craftsmanship.

Contributions to the World—The 2020 Tang PrizesPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Contributions to the World—The 2020 Tang Prizes

The global spread of Covid-19 in 2020 has severely impacted global economic development and human security. However, in our currently tumultu­ous world, the announcement of the 4th Tang Prizes is encouraging news, especially as the Tang Prize in Rule of Law was for the first time awarded to three non-governmental organizations, based in Bangladesh, Lebanon, and Colombia.

Dancing All the Way Home—The Bulareyaung Dance CompanyPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Dancing All the Way Home—The Bulareyaung Dance Company

The following words appeared on the Facebook page of the Bulareyaung Dance Company, in the Paiwan language: “Returning home is a con­tinu­ation of a complete life, so Bulareyaung is opening the door.” This marked the opening of a rehearsal space following choreographer Bulareyaung Pagarlava’s return to Taitung to pursue his dreams.

Making Dreams Come True in a New Land—The Dream-Building Program for New Immigrants and Their ChildrenPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Making Dreams Come True in a New Land—The Dream-Building Program for New Immigrants and Their Children

Not all dreams are especially ambitious, but having the courage to make your dream a reality is a great accomplishment. Since it was launched by the National Immigration Agency in 2015, the “Dream-Building Program for New Immigrants and Their Children” has so far benefited more than 250 people.
Taiwan is a diverse, welcoming country, with a friendly atmosphere in which people from all over can grow up happily, confidently contribute to society, and shine with the light of wellbeing.

Labay Eyong: A Mother’s Woven PathPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Labay Eyong: A Mother’s Woven Path

In recent years, mothers in Taiwan have enthused about Su Mei’s Giving Birth to a Child: The Magical Cure for My Over-Sentimental Personality. The author describes trenchantly how motherhood transformed her from a tender-­hearted young culture vulture into a woman whose daily life requires her to take the bull by the horns.

Taiwan Panorama Forum From Our Villages to the World: Rediscovering Aboriginal Images and MusicPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Taiwan Panorama Forum From Our Villages to the World: Rediscovering Aboriginal Images and Music

Taiwan Panorama, the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, and National Chengchi University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies recently co-sponsored the second New Southbound Cultural Salon.

Distilling Taiwan’s Native Scent: Kuai Shan Fang’s Cypress OilsPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Distilling Taiwan’s Native Scent: Kuai Shan Fang’s Cypress Oils

Rachel Huang and Chris Li at Kuai Shan Fang started to exhibit their product abroad as soon as they had successfully distilled an essential oil from the endemic Taiwan hinoki, or Taiwan yellow cypress. Few can rival their enthusiasm.