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A Stage for Student Musicians: The NCCU Golden Melody AwardsPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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A Stage for Student Musicians: The NCCU Golden Melody Awards

A National Chengchi University Golden Melody Award is something many music-loving students aspire to, and generations of singers and songwriters first made their marks with one. 2021 will be the 38th year of the awards, giving them a longer history than the Ministry of Culture’s Golden Melody Awards. The works submitted by contestants are increasingly diverse in style, and there is a rich offering of seminars and performances during the awards period.

A Sweet Dream Come True: Huang Jie’s Pâtisserie of Love and IntuitionPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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A Sweet Dream Come True: Huang Jie’s Pâtisserie of Love and Intuition

He made his first crème brûlée when he was in fifth grade. At senior high school, he made apple pies to heal his broken heart when a relationship came to an end. At age 18 he put aside his studies to start his own business. He set up shop at the age of 21. At 24 he closed his flourishing enterprise and went to Taitung to become a volunteer. He is Huang Jie, pâtissier.

Life as a Vegetarian—My Values, My StoryPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Life as a Vegetarian—My Values, My Story

Whether for health reasons, out of compassion for animals, or as a dietary exer­cise to cleanse mind and body, a person’s journey to becoming vege­tarian helps them to develop their own unique philosophy on life.

Drawing the Mountains: Shen Enmin’s Quest for Self-KnowledgePhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Drawing the Mountains: Shen Enmin’s Quest for Self-Knowledge

Mountains are a treasure trove. For Shen Enmin, to go into the mountains is to dispel perplexities, to cast a fresh eye on himself, and to reevaluate his priorities.

Fine Dining Beyond Meat—Fashionable Vegetarian RestaurantsPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Fine Dining Beyond Meat—Fashionable Vegetarian Restaurants

These vegetarian restaurants don’t base their appeal on health or sustainability, but rather try to stimulate and dazzle the taste buds, so that patrons are bowled over by the deli­cious flavors of their fare.

A Utopian Vision for Nanjichang—Borough Chief Fang HeshengPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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A Utopian Vision for Nanjichang—Borough Chief Fang Hesheng

A passage in the Li Yun chapter of The Classic of Rites describes a time in which “people loved not just their own parents, nor just their own children. The aged were provided for until their death; the able-bodied had work; and the young, the opportunity to grow up. There was care for widows, widowers, orphans, childless elderly people, and people suffering from illness.”

Meeting New Demand for Vegetarian Foods—Taiwan’s Plant-Based Meat ExpertsPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Meeting New Demand for Vegetarian Foods—Taiwan’s Plant-Based Meat Experts

Beyond Meat, the American maker of meat substitutes, was established in 2009. Since then, Taiwan has seen the rise of a new kind of vegetarianism, one not limited to certain religious groups, but that also extends to people who adopt it for reasons related to health, the environment, or a love for animals.

Enabling Startup Dreams: The Startboard Incubator and AcceleratorPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Enabling Startup Dreams: The Startboard Incubator and Accelerator

Taiwanese brands and professionals want to go international. Foreign startup teams want to establish businesses in Taiwan. Unfortunately, starting a business in a foreign land can be challenging, with obstacles ranging from different languages, legal systems and cultures, to the availability of qualified staff. Each can be a headache for new entrepreneurs.

Taiwan’s Vegetarian Awakening—A Gathering TrendPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Taiwan’s Vegetarian Awakening—A Gathering Trend

This is a social movement without tensions and clamor. In place of accusations and criticism, you find mirth and a sense of duty. Instead of preaching and protesting, you get your message across through the watchwords “Health, Environment, and Sustain­ability.” This is the vegetarian movement, and it is a global trend.

A Rice Renaissance—The Refinement of Rice CulturePhotos - New Southbound Policy
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A Rice Renaissance—The Refinement of Rice Culture

The amount of rice eaten by Taiwanese has again hit a new low. It has fallen by nearly half from the level of 80-90 kilograms per person per year back in the 1960s and 1970s, and will soon be outstripped by the rising consumption of wheat.