A Grand Lunar New Year Offering: 8 Cultural Feasts from Pingtung County Government

As the Lunar New Year approaches, Pingtung County Government, in a spirit of joy and blessing, has rolled out a series of cultural feasts. Whether you are a hometown traveler returning for the holidays or a visitor to the sunny south, you are all welcome to come to this beautiful place called Pingtung and greet the brand-new year.

1. 2016 "The God of Wealth Comes to Play" Lunar New Year Special Exhibition: From now until May 1, the Pingtung Traditional Opera Story House (No. 58, Jianji Road, Chaozhou Township) is hosting the 2016 "The God of Wealth Comes to Play" Lunar New Year special exhibition. The exhibition venue carries forward the traditional ideal that "a gentleman loves wealth but pursues it in the proper way," offers an in-depth introduction to folk customs and inherited crafts, and enshrines the God of Wealth's palanquin inside the hall so that visitors can "touch the treasure basin, welcome the God of Wealth, and duck under the palanquin." There is also a "block-popping challenge" where you can take home auspicious gifts. Under the blessing of the God of Wealth, every visitor who comes to Chaozhou will enjoy soaring wealth and a house full of fortune in the new year!

2. 2016 "Auspicious Monkey Year Spring Couplet Giveaway": Pingtung County Government has invited local master calligraphers such as Zhang Liangguang, Su Yongkun, Zhuang Zheyan, Li Minghuang, Cai Wuxun, Cai Qingxing, Guo Ruixiang, and Du Dianwu to brush their strokes on site and give away spring couplets. This not only lets everyone appreciate the beauty of the art of calligraphy, but also wishes the public a happy Lunar New Year and a peaceful home with a bountiful year. This series consists of three sessions in total, in order: January 30 (Saturday) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in front of the General's House (No. 106, Qingdao Street, Pingtung City), and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the plaza behind the Pingtung Art Museum (No. 74, Zhongzheng Road, Pingtung City); and January 31 (Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Pingtung Railway Station concourse (No. 62, Gongyong Road, Pingtung City).

3. "Gongs and Drums Resound as We Watch Opera": Welcome the Lunar New Year at year's end with lively gongs, drums, and opera! On January 31 (Sunday) from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., the national-level performance troupe Taiwan Bangzi Opera Company will perform for free on the outdoor plaza of the Pingtung Performing Arts Hall (No. 4-17, Minsheng Road, Pingtung City), with programs including a showcase of selected opera scenes, tongue twisters and demonstrations of opera body movement, and face-changing stunts. Everyone is welcome to take part in this splendid opera feast!

4. 2016 "Jade Monkey Soars in Auspicious Celebration of the Lantern Festival": Pingtung County Government is holding the 2016 "Jade Monkey Soars in Auspicious Celebration of the Lantern Festival" blessing lantern-lighting event at the Victory Cultural and Creative Park. Around Qingdao Street in Pingtung City, "one alley, one ethnic group" displays lanterns painted together by adults and children of Pingtung's Indigenous, Minnan, Hakka, new resident, and mainlander communities, along with a main lantern designed by artists representing the sweet potato, deeply rooted in the land and endlessly renewing life. The whole lantern festival highlights Pingtung's characteristic of "diverse ethnic groups living together in harmony and shared prosperity." On February 2 (Tuesday) at 5 p.m., the county magistrate will personally preside over the lantern-lighting ceremony, and the lantern festival will run until February 29. In this new Lunar New Year of the Monkey, come to Akau to admire the lanterns!

5. "Great Gathering of Wealth and Good Fortune Performance": Pingtung County Government and Chaozhou Township Office will hold the "Great Gathering of Wealth and Good Fortune Performance" on the third day of the Lunar New Year (February 10 on the solar calendar) from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the plaza of the Traditional Opera Story House, inviting traditional procession troupes and Taiwanese opera troupes such as Tianyi Opera Troupe, Yingyi Opera Troupe, Shenxian Opera Troupe, Akau Hand Puppet Troupe, and Hsinchu Taichu Xuanqing Temple to compete in turn with wonderful performances, along with the experience of wearing giant deity figures (the Big Child and Second Child). On that day, dignitaries and guests will personally play the God of Wealth and hand out small lucky gifts on site, bringing everyone a surge of good fortune!

6. "Victory Lunar New Year Market": Pingtung Victory Cultural and Creative Park will hold a three-day Lunar New Year market from the fifth to the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, from afternoon to evening (February 12 to 14 on the solar calendar), bringing together Pingtung's quality cultural and creative lifestyle stalls, along with performances in turn by strong contestants from the "Most Beautiful Voices of Pingtung" countywide singing competition. Everyone is welcome to come around Qingdao Street in Pingtung City to admire the lantern festival, browse the market, taste delicious food, and watch performances.

7. "Joyful Drumming to Celebrate the New Year": On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year (February 13 on the solar calendar) at 4:30 p.m., the outdoor plaza of the Pingtung Performing Arts Hall (No. 4-17, Minsheng Road, Pingtung City) will be bustling with excitement as the Southern Taiwan Taiko Center presents famous pieces adapted from Japanese songs and reinterpreted, such as JUMP, Deep Sea Raging Tide, Taiko Niban, Vigor, Wind, Bang Bang, and Prelude, with a taiko experience activity on site as well. It is very suitable for the whole family to join together and spend a delightful Lunar New Year time.

8. "Wanluan Jiapoulang Makatao Night Ritual": On the 15th day of the first lunar month (February 22 on the solar calendar), the Xiangu Temple in Xincuo Village, Wanluan Township, will hold the Jiapoulang Makatao Night Ritual. In addition to the hand-holding circle song and dance drama already listed as intangible cultural heritage of Pingtung County, local tribal members will hold a rare bridge-building ritual to return to the ancestral temple. This is one of the Cultural Affairs Department's "Pingtung Makatao Cultural Revival Series Activities," and it also brings the county government's Lunar New Year series to a close with a full stop of distinctive ethnic cultural significance.