Taiwan: Ilha Formosa
2007 Taiwanese Cultural Festival

Taiwan , first populated by Austronesian peoples, was discovered by the Portuguese in 1544 and gave it a name "Ilha Formosa" – the beautiful island. Followed by Dutch colonization in the 17 th century, Spanish brief settlement in the North, Rule of Qing Dynasty in China for more than 200 years and Japanese Colonization for 50 years, the evolution of culture in Taiwan has made Taiwan one of the most diverse, colouful and dynamic countries in Asia.

The festival is aimed to connect the past with creativities of today. Performing arts connecting the East and the West, new generation of chefs redefining the culinary art, and fine arts of Taiwan exploring the depth of the island's top contemporary artists are some of the programs that would no doubt be refreshing and entertaining. Another component of the festival is to highlight how Taiwanese Hakka culture has transformed…

In the past twenty years, Taiwan has unleashed herself, from the binds of traditions and customs, as well as constraints of perceptions and beliefs, and successfully transformed its culture into a dynamic and vibrant one. Come and let Taiwan: Ilha Formosa surprises you!