On February 18th, the 8th Cross-Strait Spring Festival Temple Fair with the theme of “Hometown of Panda, Splendid Sichuan” was launched in Nantou County Expo Center, Taiwan Province. The temple fair was co-hosted by the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development (CFFPD), the China Culture Friendship Association and Sichuan Provincial Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. CPAFFC Vice President Xie Yuan and CFFPD Secretary General Jia Ling attended the opening ceremony.

At the opening ceremony, Vice President Xie Yuan conveyed cordial greetings and new year wishes of the mainland people. He said that during this traditional festival of family reunion and cohesion, we bring the most unique cultural products of Sichuan Province to Nantou and friends in Taiwan, closely linking Sichuan with Taiwan and Nantou. Although geographically far apart, the hearts of the people are connected. He said he was very concerned about and the heavy loss of lives and properties in the eastern part of Taiwan caused by the recent 6.5-magnitude earthquake in Hualien County, and expressed the compassion of the entire delegation. On behalf of the CFFPD, He donated NT$ 500,000 to the disaster-stricken area for emergency rescue and expressed hopes that the people in disaster-stricken areas would unite to tide over the crisis.

The temple fair brought together 16 kinds of authentic Sichuan snacks, 12 varieties of intangible cultural heritages, more than 80 photographs of natural and cultural scenery, over 100 kinds of Sichuan local specialties and products, as well as Zigong lantern exhibition, folk song and dance performances, Sichuan Opera show, acrobatic show, etc., to let the people from Taiwan taste, watch, understand and perceive Sichuan Province and celebrate the joyful Spring Festival with unique Sichuan flavor.

 The event will last five days till February 21st.