TAINAN, TAIWAN -- The 2024 Paris Olympics concluded its competition on Aug. 11, while Taiwan continued to showcase its rich and diverse cultural heritage and natural landscapes to the international community. Beginning on Aug. 12, the Tainan City Government has initiated a week-long promotional campaign in major cities around the world, including Times Square in New York, CITADIUM CAUMARTIN in Paris, and Gangnam Station in Seoul. This campaign features stunning visuals that highlight traditional religious practices such as the Centipede Procession and the King Boat Ceremony, alongside cultural landmarks including the Confucius Temple, Hayashi Department Store, and the Fan-shaped Salt Fields, all aimed at showcasing Tainan's rich culture on an international platform. For the first time, two iconic door gods created by Pan Li-shui, a master painter recognized as a national treasure of Taiwan, are showcased on a large electronic billboard outside Gangnam Station in Seoul.

The year 2024 commemorates the 400th anniversary of Tainan, highlighting Taiwan‘s four centuries of international trade network since the Dutch established a trading post in present-day New York and constructed Fort Zeelandia in Tainan in 1624 during the Age of Discovery. These two cities serve as significant historical witnesses to this era. To celebrate this milestone, the Tainan City Government has organized a year-long cultural event that highlights eight different aspects of Tainan, including culture, urban development, health, and education. The event schedule features the Taiwan Lantern Festival in Tainan at the beginning of the year, along with the “Red Ball Tainan Project,” which has sparked enthusiasm across the country. These activities seek to reflect on Tainan’s historical progress while also exploring possibilities for sustainable urban development in the coming century.

This year, Taiwan had the opportunity to showcase its unique culture to the world at the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad. The Tainan delegation, including the Shiu-Kim Taiwanese Opera Troupe, Feng-Chung-Teng Spirit Guiding Group, and Hsieh Ming-yu & Pun Car Band, delivered performances that celebrated the rich diversity of Taiwan’s cultural heritage and embodied the essence of the slogan “Tainan, Where You Belong.” Following this event, the southern city of Tainan will host the 2024 Creative Expo Taiwan, themed “Lesson :D.” The event will feature 14 courses centered around the theme of Tainan, with major exhibitions at the 321 Art Alley Settlement, Blueprint Cultural and Creative Park, and Xizhuwei Hill Cultural and Creative Park.