Introduction

The Lion Dance combines the essence of martial arts, dance, tricks, theater, art, and music.

Activities

1. Fantasy Lion Dance Art Workshop Participated in by Taishan township’s elementary school students under the instruction of 

professionals, this workshop teaches students how to make the head and body for a lion dance. They learn the traditional ties and paintings to create their own unique lions.

2. Lion Dance Creative Theater Workshop The artists of theater workshops will lead everyone to brainstorm and discuss the topic and performance. Get hands-on experience making the actual stage props and designing parts of the performance. This will bring to the lion dance a whole new style.

3. Birth of Xian-Ying-Zu-Shi Grand Parade The top three winning groups for the lion dance competition will provide exciting performances. Community teams/groups will participate in the parade with floats and members marching down the parade route.

4. Taishan International Lion Dance CompetitionTeams competing in the Lion Dance Competition and groups that have joined the parade gather to open the annual Taishan International Lion Dance Competition. Each team or group will do a short performance, which will be a pre-competition warm up as well as a way to ask the gods for peace and safety. Future opening rituals of the Taishan International Lion Dance Competition willbegin with such performances.

5. Taishan Special Arts and Cultural Evening Party Foreign and local performing art groups are invited to perform for the evening party, and a special performance from Lion King of the Night is arranged. The party will end with a showcase of fireworks, closing the Taishan Lion Dance Cultural Festival. 6. Lion Dance Carnival The carnival includes creative lion dance market, food and beverages, games of the lion king, and DIY paper lion puppets.

Purpose

1. From an International Perspective The Lion Dance Competition was held internationally for the first time in 2009 with invited teams from Hong Kong and Malaysia (who had the strongest teams). The teams took this opportunity to share their experiences and techniques. And in 2010, we hope to continue this activity and extend our invitation to five countries this time.

2. From a Cultural Perspective During the past three years of the Lion Dance Cultural Festival, Taishan has demonstrated its unique community features. In 2009 the community of Taishan created the Nine-Headed Lion, promoting the art of lion dance not only as a skill, but also as folk entertainment; this way, the people will get an understanding of the various lion dance art of various locations. In 2010, the making of lion dance art by hand was undertaken to encourage community participation. The spirit of Lion Dance is deeply rooted in Taishan, making Taishan the City of Lion Dance.

3. From a Local/Geographical Perspective The exciting Lion Dance Cultural Festival not only demonstrates Taishan Township’s unique features, it also brings together the people, giving them a proud reason to be part of the township. The event facilitates local participation and showcases its community development with Taishan’s treasure, the Lion Head.

4. From a Tourism Perspective Taishan utilizes the annual event to promote the city to visitors that had not already seen its wonderful natural environment. People who participate in the event will experience Taishan’s unique geography as well as its hospitable people.

Local Attractions

Third Level Historic Site─Ding Taishan Temple

Ding Taishan Temple is Taishan’s oldest temple, built in 1754 with 250 years or so of history; it was nationally listed as a third level historic site in 1985. The inner structures and engravings were results of a big remodeling project in 1932. The project was led by Zhang craftsman Chen Ying-Tsai and his apprentice Huang Kuei-Li. Chen’s representative work had been the Dalongdon Baoan Temple, a second level historic site. The temple’s beams are delicately and beautifully carved, worth a detailed visit. Taishan Temple is Southern style architecture, simple but solemn. The main temple is for Xianingzushi; east and west wings are for the Ksitigarbha, Avalokiteśvara(Guanyin), Mantra Lord Wen Chang, God of Wealth, and Fude (God of Earth), etc. Ding Taishan Temple is situated on the Linkou plateau with natural scenic beauty and a mountain trail that leads up to the top. Near the Fude temple is an observatory from which you can see Xinzhuagn, Taishan, and the Greater Taipei area.

Mingzhi Academy

Known as the first academy in northern Taiwan, Mingzhi Academy was founded in 1763 when Hu Chuo-Yu donated his house and expenses to build the academy. He felt that at that time Xinzhuang was already prosperous, but there was no school for local students to attend; therefore he decided to build a school. The next year, the school was officially named Mingzhi Academy, a name given by Hu, because in Chinese Mingzhi means that the goal of learning and studying is to become saintly and wise. With its rich history the Academy has seen many changes and had been rebuilt by the Taishan Township Office. Part of the Academy before remodeling was open for exhibition. To the left of the Academy is a xiziting (pavilion provided for burning paper in the act of respecting paper and words) named Jingwen Pavilion, which is one of the twenty xizitings left in Taiwan. Built with red bricks and laid with red tiles, the Academy is very simple. It is located by a major road in Taishan. In imagination one can go back to the day when the Academy was filled with the sound of students reading their lessons aloud.

Cixiu Park

Cixui Park is located besides Taishan Senior High School where the gravesite of former Vice President Chen Cheng once was. Mr. Chen Cheng’s grave had been moved to Fo Guang Shan Monastery, and therefore the space had been utilized as the local 

community’s resting area. The park welcomes you at the foot of the mountain with a path that leads up a total of 257 steps. Upon reaching the top of Taishan, one can have a very vast view of the world beneath. Walking up the steps, you are surrounded by abundant greenery at both sides; within the park is a missile with the KMT emblem and spiritual slogans carved into a large white stone, describing a time when wars were prevalent. There are four little kiosks provided as resting areas, located along the trail going up Taishan. We welcome you to visit Taishan and enjoy its beautiful scenery, breathe in fresh air and plant-produced phytoncides, feel the wind, and listen to the crickets. Climb up to the top and take in beautiful views of the Linkou basin.