Objectives

Since 2002, this festival has been held for 8 years. In order to regain the prosperity the dyeing cloth street once had, the local government hopes to establish the brand and core values of Sanxia dye products through inheritance and rebuilding the indigo dye culture. This time, the local government hopes to invite artistic and creative talents to participate in activities that combine daily life and elements of fashion through design competition of indigo dye clothing and quality goods while keeping on prompting the international exchange of the Indigo Dye Culture. A series of activities are organized by working with local communities and schools. Participation of local people is expanded to exhibit the allures and charms of the dye street.

Introduction

Through design competition of indigo dye clothing and quality goods, the local government invites art and creativity talents to participate in creating art works combining daily life and elements of trend and keeps on prompting the international exchange of Indigo Dye Culture. A series of activities are held by working with local communities and schools. Participation of local people is expanded to exhibit the allures and charms of the dye street.

About the Activity

1. Indigo Dye Fashion Show & Opening Ceremony - Mayor of New Taipei City, head of Sanxian District, and Director of Bureau of Cultural Affairs are invited to attend the opening ceremony for opening up this series of wonderful activities. This year, the theme of Sanxia Indigo Dye Festival is "Fashion". Famous models or celebraties are invited to do cat walk to draw media's attention. By combining fashion with the industrial characteristics of indigo dye, the new vitalities of indigo dye are demonstrated.

2. Blue Fun Art Feast - In a time span of 2 days, one themed performance in the morning and one in the afternoon for a total of 4 performances including diverse programs of shows by local clubs, shows with exotic allures, shows of culture and art and pop dance, etc. are organized to embody the cultural characteristics of Indigo Dye Culture.

3. Indigo Dye DIY Area - A professional lecturer with several assistant lecturers are available to help the public do Indigo Dye DIY (participants pay for materials expenses).

4. Indigo Dye Creative Fair: Indigo Dye companies or companies from the relevant industries are invited to participate. While exhibiting and selling creative itemsand exquisite goods, business opportunities are created.

5. Cultural Train Exhibiting Area - Incorporating with New Taipei City government and other relevant units to do promotional activities, an activity of cultural exhibition train is held on Minchuan Street.

6. Indigo Dye Fashion Product Exhibition: To demonstrate the professionalism and the quality texture of indigo dye products, local famous indigo dye designers are invited to plan and arrange the activities that make indigo dye a part of daily life as well as art and also to promote the creativity development of indigo dye art.

Passing Through Checkpoints
Date: August 20, 2011 (Saturday) - August 21, 2011( Sunday)
Experience activities: 10:00 - 12:00, 13:00 - 17:00
Location: The surrounding area of Sanxia History Museum (18, Zhongshan Road, Sanxia District, New Taipei City)
How to participate: Obtain a Sanxia Indigo Dye Festival Tourist passport or a DM. One stamp is received from each checkpoint successfully passed. Every three stamps collected may exchange one free "Play with Indigo Dye - DIY Experience Ticket". 150 free tickets per day are available.

Indigo Dye DIY
Date: August 20, 2011 (Saturday) - August 21, 2011 ( Sunday)
Experience Activity: 10:00 - 12:00, 13:00 - 17:00 (40 minutes per activity, one hour for lunch break, 25 participants for each DIY activity.)
Location: The surrounding area of Sanxian History Museum (18, Zhongshan Road, Sanxia District, New Taipei City)
How to participate: Through Indigo Dye DIY activity, the participants not only experience the beauty of traditional art craftsmanship but also get to bring home the indigo dye product they create! Please register at the Magical Indigo Dye DIY service counter. 200 free tickets available daily (free dye materials and NT$100 for big handkerchief (60 X60 CM)).

Local Highlights

Sanxia Old Street, formerly known as Sanjiaoyong Street, has been the economic and business center since Qing Dynasty as it is located next to shipping pier. The old street was developed because of sea shipment but withered because of sea shipment, too. The history of ups and downs of the Old Street is significant in history and culture. With efforts of the local people and people in the culture field as well as the government, a project of rebuilding the Old Street is implemented and it has successfully kept the 200 meter-long "Sanxia Minquan Old Street". The arcades were built in western "Baroque Style", adorned with Japanese patterned drawings, and orchestrated with local allures. The three styles of western, Japanese and Taiwan are alive again with the rebuilding of the Old Street. The reborn old street is ready for a new chapter with the new face. However, the stories of the old street still continue to be etched on its red bricks and stone slab roads. The old street is the start point for many dye shops and many signs of these stores are still standing. The history and allure of the old street is being displayed to the world via these bricks and plants.

Sanxia Zushi Temple was built in the year of Emperor Qianlong to worship Qinshui Zushi in the main shrine and was the center of belief for Ansi settlers in the early days. Zushi Temple had been renovated for 3 times. In the 36th year of R.O.C., the then Sanxia Mayor, the local famous painter Professor Li Mei-Shu, gathered famous artisans all over Taiwan to renovate it with the traditional engineering methods. The carvings are the focus of its adornments. The exquisite stone carvings, stone pillars, wood carvings and copper sculptures were made with indigenous stones and woods in Taiwan, not only with a nostalgic sense but also integrated with new ideas. The engineering methods were combined with artistic styles of different schools. The exquisite hand-carved work is everywhere in the temple. Sanxia Zushi Temple is the pride of all Sanxia people; it is not only the center of the local belief, but also an art hall that represents traditional art. The artworks in the temple are more than dozens of years old and are of great artistic values and they still amaze people. Sanxia Zushi Temple has earned itself a reputation of "Hall of Civil Art Hall" and "Hall of Eastern Art".

The devlopment history and the rise and fall of Sanxia, in addition to being displayed in the old street and temples, are well kept by Sanxia History Museum which possesses great historic and artistic values itself. The History Museum was the administrative center in the period of Japanese occupation and it was used as the Sanxia Township Office after Taiwan Restoration. At that time, it was regarded "The most beautiful office building in Taiwan". Later, after the completion of the new township office, it was once deserted until the 88th year of R.O.C. when it was open to the public again as Sanxia History Museum. The museum is a red-brick, 2-story building that combines the styles of Japanese ruling period and Baroque style, displaying a sense of exotics in its elegance. The first floor of the museum is divided into various themed art exhibitions and art exchange exhibitions; the 2nd floor is used to exhibit the local history. The history of the local culture and customs are exhibited via the preservation of the historical information. Pay a visit to Sanxia History Museum, Sanxia Old Street and Sanxia Zushi Temple; and while getting to know Sanxia and appreciating its beauty, do no forget to cherish these important cultural assets.