T a i n a n F o r e i g n e r A s s i s t a n c e C e n t e r

A Night on Shennong Street

T A I N A N

National Palace Museum’s Exhibition

“New Waves of NPM, Tainan Traveling”

The Bird Watching Tours to Southern Taiwan

Searching My Sweet Shelters

Vol. 111

A NIGHT ON SHENNONG STREET

Translated by Chiny-Chun Lin

Shennong Street, also known as Beshi Street in the past, is considered to be one of the

best preserved historical streets within the 'Old Five Channels Cultural Zone' in Tainan.

The port of Old Five Channels, the lifelines of Tainan, provided pivotal trade routes and

canals with the outside world for Taiwan in Qing Dynasty (1683-1895) and Shennong

Street (Beshi Street), located in the heart of densely populated harbor district, was

recognized to be the most bustling street in the area. The width of Shennong Street is

estimated to be 4 meters. Buildings erected along both sides of the street still maintain

their Qing style architecture and the Japanese interior and facade design from an early

Japanese occupation (1895-1945) till this day. A complete overhaul of the buildings on

Shennong street proved to be difficult due to the complication caused by estate

ownership. Ergo most buildings are able to preserve their original characteristics and

present traces of historical

development of the 'Old

Five Channels' in Tainan.

The surrounding area of

Shennong Street (Beshi Street)

encompasses various

historical sites, shops and

shrines, in addition,

numerous traditional folk

activities have originated in

the vicinity. When strolling

through the street of

Shennong, the atmosphere of the surrounding compels visitors to feel as if they have just

entered into a cavern of time to catch a glance at Tainan's past splendor. At present,

Various traditional or modern arts and crafts shops, established along the street, have

formed an unique gallery for night visitors to stop by. The original pebble path of

Shennong street totaling hundreds meters long in length is laid with new stonework and

the passage is now decorated with gorgeous box lanterns along the side to illuminate

the night. By nightfall, the street is lit with glimmering lights emitted from shops and street

lanterns to contrast with long silhouettes cast by the buildings creating a dazzling scene

of chiaroscuro. If the night is still young, a nighttime stroll on Shennong street is highly

recommended for everyone visiting Tainan.

NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM

“NEW WAVES OF NPM, TAINAN TRAVELING” EXHIBITION

Translated by Heng-Jui Chang

Venue: Tainan Cultural and Creative Industries Park, No.16, Sec. 2, Beimen Rd., North

Dist., Tainan City

What might a meeting between Eastern art and Western viewpoint spark? National

Palace Museum’s interactive “New Waves of NPM, Tainan Traveling” multimedia

exhibition may have an answer. Held at the Tainan Cultural and Creative Industries Park,

the exhibition opens on October 5, and will last till November 27. It offers a refreshing

look not only at how Western artists and the younger generation in Taiwan reinterpret

the carefully preserved national treasures, but at how the two clash and dialogue with

each other. The confrontation between old and new, East and West, is sure to inspire

some of the richest, most original perspectives on the cherished artifacts.

The historic riches housed in the National Palace Museum (NPM) seldom leaves its base

in Waishuanghsi, Taipei. With the advance of technology, however, there has been

increasing demand for the NPM to become more versatile and creative. Heeding the

demand, the NPM has since 1998 created a complete digital archive of the rare books,

porcelains, jades, coins, paintings, bronzes, calligraphy, etc. of its collection. Keeping

track of the items through a computerized managing system, the digital archive

provides better hopes for sustainability in the preservation and exhibition of these

national treasures. The undertaking has inspired the curatorial team and many artists

working with new media. With the assistance of experts and through cutting-edge

technology, the program enlivens the collection with spry animations and interactive

installations. Bringing the story behind each item to the fore, the digital archive gives an

engaging new face to museum education and art appreciation.

The exhibition “New Waves of NPM, Tainan Traveling” brings NPM’s time-refined

collection across geographical barriers to people outside Taipei. The dialogue between

technology and aesthetics gives the age-old tales echoing inside the museum a

chance to travel beyond the museum walls. Residents in Tainan are invited to attend

this unique feast of classical culture, new technology, innovative concepts, and games

as NPM’s “New Waves” wash through Taiwan’s Ancient Capital.

THE BIRD WATCHING TOURS TO SOUTHERN TAIWAN

Translated by Chen-yu She

81 Black-faced Spoonbills, a type of migratory bird, have arrived in Tainan this late

September. The first wave of this endangered species have attracted bird watchers

and nature enthusiast to spend their Double-ten holiday (National day of Taiwan) in

Tainan.

According to the 2012 census, there are only 2963 black-faced spoonbills around the

world. The issue of this restricted population is so serious that the black-faced spoonbill

has been classified as the endangered species by IUCN in 2005. The spoonbill has been

listed as the protected species by many countries. Between October and April, over

50% of the black-faced spoonbill’s population migrates to the estuary of the Tsengwen

River in Tainan. However, spoonbill is not the only rare species to choose this wonderful

estuary as its wintering site. The unique landscape of shoals and lagoons with abundant

ecological resources make this estuary friendly to other migratory birds, for instance

Saunder’s Gull.

Starting this October, the 2013 Black-faced Spoonbill Conservation Festival, organised

by the Tainan Wildlife Conservation Society (TWCS), aims to incite the general public to

discover and love this endangered

species and promote the

ecological study of this area. The

TWCS welcomes everyone to join

the event, “2013 Cycling for Black-

faced Spoonbill,” which takes

place in Qigu Black-faced

Spoonbills Reserve on November 9th.

Other than conventional bird

watching event, the organiser

combines cycling, bird watching

and sightseeing to provide a new

experience of bird watching tour.

Location: Qigu Black-faced Spoonbills Reserve

Organisers: Tainan City Government, Tainan Wildlife Conservation Society

SEARCHING MY SWEET SHELTERS

Translated by Jeffery Kao

Location: Tsung-Yeh Arts and Cultural Center

01 Color Search Engine Artist / 陳怡潔

Equipment: Camera or cellphone

Description: Colors are everywhere. When they are used in arts, they usually have

different meanings or convey different types of feelings. Therefore, we tend to ignore

the message they send when they are applied on other things. The purpose of the

Color Search event is to help people look at the environment through colors again.

Rundown:

1. Introduce the style of the artist and the characteristics of different colors.

2. Form groups of 2-3. Each team picks one color, and shoots 20-30 photos of the

arts in Tsung-Yeh Arts and Cultural Center with the color on it.

3. Create a blog regarding the photography.

4. Share the photographs among students.

02 Club Sweet Artist / 黃建樺

Target: 30 people

Equipment: scissors, knifes, magazines, newspaper,

glue

Description: To create an image of sweetness in

Montage style from magazines and newspaper.

Rundown:

1. What is Montage?

2. Cut and collect images from magazines and

newspaper.

3. Put the pieces into an image of its own club

sweetness.

Tainan Foreigner Assistance Center

2F, 6, Sec.2, Younghua Rd, AnpingDist, Tainan

http://foreigner.tainan.gov.tw/en/

https://www.facebook.com/tainan.fac

06-299-1111 #8244