The Cultural Federation joins hands with Chiayi County to hold Taiwan Day in Poland to showcase Taiwanese folk customs and Tsou culture

Invited by the Cultural Federation, Chiayi County Mayor Weng Zhangliang led a county government team to participate in the "Taiwan Day" held in Manufaktura, Lodz, Poland yesterday. Chiayi County used the Ministry of Culture's "Top 100 Cultural Bases" as the main axis to bring traditional crafts, rural life and Alishan Tsou culture to Europe. It appeared together with Taiwanese folk culture such as Beiguan, Shenjiang and Zhentou invited by the organizer, launching a down-to-earth cultural diplomacy.

In response to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' "Taiwan Culture in Europe 2026" and "Taiwan Culture Year in Europe", the Cultural Federation and the Taipei Representative Office in Poland organized "Taiwan Day". The Centenary Xuan Society Taipei Gonglexuan and Lei Sheng Chuanyi Theater performed "Taiwan Formation". Four gods, including General Xie Fan and Feng Tonghuojiang, will accompany Beiguan gongs and drums on the streets of Europe, attracting Polish people to stop and experience the excitement and vitality of Taiwanese folk culture up close.

The county government stated that Rhodes was famous for its textile industry in the past. In recent years, it has shaped the city's new look through the regeneration of old industrial buildings, film and art development; the Manufaktura where the event is located is a cultural and commercial space transformed from a former textile factory. Taiwan's traditional formations and Chiayi local culture are staged here, presenting a blend of Eastern and Western cultures that spans region and history.

The county government said that this time it brought local culture to Poland and exhibited works such as "Farmer" and "Fu Lu Shou" from the flat pottery kiln, as well as traditional costumes, leather pants and leather hats of the Tsou people in Alishan. "Farmer" transforms the figure of rural labor into a cultural image, "Fu Lu Shou" presents Taiwanese folk belief's wishes for happiness, abundance and longevity; the Tsou ethnic costumes show the wisdom of living in symbiosis between the tribe and the mountains and forests through colors, totems and traditional animal skin clothing.

Weng Zhangliang said that in recent years, Taiwan and Poland have actively established friendly relations in various aspects. The heroes, formations and performance groups that came to Poland this time are all representative of Taiwanese folk culture, allowing European people to see the rich and diverse side of Taiwan's culture. He welcomes Adam Pustelnik, deputy mayor of Lodz City, to visit Taiwan and Chiayi in the future. He hopes that the two sides will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and Poland in more fields based on cultural exchanges.