Taiwan is a beautiful island integrated with diversified cultures. Every lunar festival, birthday of Gods, temple ceremonies and aboriginal harvest celebration can fully reveal the beauty of local life. Youth Development Administration of Ministry of Education has collaborated with non-profit organizations and colleges to establish 55 youth travel spots with experience contents to match up respective unique local festivals, which is the best entry point to bring youth understanding local cultures.
The Chungyuan Festival can best reflect the folk custom in Taiwan. It is the time to give absolution for the sins of dead and compassion in granting salvation for the tormented souls in hell while respect for one’s ancestors is greatly emphasized and filial piety gets lots of attention. It is considered as one of the most splendid ceremonies in Taiwan. This year the culture and history youth travel spot at Keelung set the theme as “Appointment with God and Ghost”, bring participants walk through culture and history to learn the origin and evolution of Chungyuan festival. On top of water lantern, lantern parade, it will also visit scenery spots such as geological park at peace island in Keelung, Ocean watch harbor, and Haimen terrain that favor defense. This is a double baptism of both folk arts and nature landscapes to make acquaintance with precious culture heritage and nature resources in Keelung. The youth travel spot at Budai Township in Chiayi also takes the core activities of “night patrol of fire lantern”, “chasing the ghost with fire lantern” to visit various temples in Go-Zhuang-Tou, beach at Hao-Mei-Liao, big banyan tree, listen to the story at black forest, experience the industry at Budai, in order to experience the unique atmosphere in the area. The Mingshung reserved youth travel spot at Chiayi takes the street walking activity to depict the spirit of harmonization in a diversified emigrant society via Dashiyeh culture festival to worship the deceased spirit and reconcile ancestor’s conflict. Young participants can not only “re-learning” local major events but also can “re-discover” the uniqueness of Taiwan culture.。
August is also the season of celebration for aboriginal people. Hualien Mataiang youth travel spot leads the participants into the tribe, from hand-made rest house (the thatched house), collecting wild vegetables, and hosting the experiential harvest festival and singing and dancing in the evening, all the way till the fishing festival (palakaw) in the last day. Everything is carried out according to the way the tribes are held. The actual experience of the whole process is carried out, and led by the local elders, to further understand the connotation of the Mataiang tribe and learn the tribal ecological ethical wisdom. The "Tafalong-faholl Ilisen" activity at Hualien Taifalong’s youth travel spot, led by the tribal masters, began with the training of the most basic class, such as worship the spirit of ancestors, the blessing ceremony, the cultural heritage, the physical fitness competition, the singing dance and the old welcoming ceremony, all closely integrated with traditional belief. Participants can learn the meaning of the Harvest Festival to the Taifalong Amis tribe culture, and the power to cohere the clansman.
Experience the traditional ceremonial culture in Taiwan through youth travel spots not only can deep understanding Taiwan, but also can make friends with those who share like-mindedness. Want to know more about youth travel spots and experience exploration activities? Visit and register at youth travel experience and leaning website (http://youthtravel.tw).