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The 2026 Asia-Pacific Traditional Arts Festival hosted by the National Center for Traditional Arts: The Land of Many Waters will continue until October 11. During the National Day, a number of cultural experience activities will be launched, including Thai water lanterns, transnational team performances and local preferential measures.
The Yilan Park of Chuanyi Center held a Thai water lantern experience event on National Day, and provided a limited number of 200 free water lanterns. (Courtesy of the National Center for Traditional Arts)
[Reporter Dong Baiting/Reporting from Taipei] The "2026 Asia-Pacific Traditional Arts Festival: Land of Many Waters" hosted by the National Center for Traditional Arts will be on display until October 11. On October 10, the National Day, a Thai Krathong cultural experience will be specially launched. 200 Krathongs will be available for the public to obtain for free. The quantity is limited and supplies last. The Yilan Campus of the Chuan Yi Center also invites visitors to gently push water lanterns carrying blessings and wishes into the water, and through the ceremony, they can experience the gentle power of different cultures using water to express their wishes.
(Photo by reporter Dong Boting) The Yilan Park of Chuanyi Center held a Thai water lantern experience event on National Day. (Courtesy of the National Center for Traditional Arts)
In addition to the Thai water lantern experience, the park also offers super attractions during the National Day. Anyone born on October 10th can enjoy free admission on National Day with a valid ID. During the Art Festival, residents of Yilan County are also free of charge with their IDs. New residents with residence IDs can enjoy a buy-one-get-one-free discount on ordinary tickets. Free "Cultural Roaming DIY" is planned on site every day to capture the crowds of tourists during the holidays.
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The Taiwanese team Jiutian Folk Art Troupe presented "Water Drawing (Hide the Car)", which used water lanterns and shocking drum sounds to present the pain, memorial and continuation of life in the history of floods. (Courtesy of the National Center for Traditional Arts)
In addition to praying for water lanterns, the well-known formation group "Jiutian Folk Art Troupe" will launch the formation theater "Pulling Water (Car Hiding)" from the afternoon of October 9th to 11th. The work is based on the national important folk custom "Kouhu Water Pulling (Car Hiding)", recalling the historical memory of the serious flood disaster in the Kouhu area in 1845. The Jiutian Folk Art Troupe transforms traditional folk rituals of mourning the dead and rescuing lonely souls into contemporary theater language. Through water lanterns, thrilling drum music and strong body movements, it presents the grief and tenacity of the ancestors after suffering disasters.
In addition, the festival invites multinational teams to bring a visual feast. Japan's Hamada Iwami Kagura Shrine, South Korea's Shin Enju Dance Troupe and Taiwan's Body Voice Theater will join hands in a street parade. The Japanese team also presents classic mythological plays "Ebisu" and "Orochi", and South Korea's Shin Enju Dance Troupe will join hands with the "South Coast Besshin Festival" Preservation Association to perform "Welcome". "Water" uses ritual music and dance to present the maritime faith of coastal fishing villages to pray for safe navigation, and to showcase Asia's diverse and rich water culture during the holidays. For details about the event, please visit the official website of the Asia Pacific Traditional Arts Festival (https://festival.ncfta.gov.tw/APTAF/zh-tw).
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