World Candy Festival to kick off in Tainan

2005-01-13 / Taiwan News, Staff Reporter / By Hungfu Hsueh

With assistance from several government departments, including the Council of Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Education, the "Candy World 2005" festival will be launched on January 15 to February 28 at Hsiao Lung Cultural Preservation Site in Chiali Township, Tainan County.

In recent years, local governments across the nation have been joining a trend to organize cultural festivals as a means of attracting tourists and stimulating their local economies. One of the most successful examples is the Ilan Children's Folklore and Folk Game Festival which attracted 900 thousand visitors in 2002 and recorded ticket revenues of around NT$230 million.

The Tainan County Government came up with the idea of a candy festival in view of Tainan's status as a major agricultural production area, its vast sugar plantations, and its sugar industry.

The Candy World festival will be held at the site of the historically significant Hsiao Lung Sugar Plant which is located in the Chiali Township and is commonly known as the Chiali Sugar Plant.

The plant, established in 1906 and commissioned for production in 1909, was the first modern sugar factory set up by the Japanese in Taiwan. It was decommissioned in 1995, and the area was converted into a cultural park in 2003.

Su Huan-chi, Magistrate of Tainan County Government, said the sugar industry had once been the main economy activity and source of livelihood in the area. He expressed the hope that the candy festival would also greatly contribute to Tainan's economy.

"We hope our candy festival can attract children's attention, and that their parents will bring them to visit during the winter vacation," Su said.

According to the organizers, some NT$200 million has been invested in the festival, with the Council of Cultural Affairs providing assistance to the Tainan County Government in organizing the event.

CAA Chairman Chen Chih-nan said local cultural festivals are part of the "creative cultural industry" - a concept that had been promoted by the council over the last few years.

"Creative cultural industry plays a major role in helping to move this country's cultural industry to a higher and the CAA will do its best to support the local governments in holding such festivals," Chen said.

The candy festival will feature several candy-related design motifs in 11 exhibition showrooms, and will also introduce the historical and cultural aspects affiliated with candy. The daily program will also include musicals, theater performances and parades that include cartoon characters.

The 11 exhibition showrooms include the Taiwanese Candy Cultural Showroom, the International Candy Exhibition Hall, the Candy Fun House, the International Chocolate Exhibition Hall, a Kiddy Playground, a 3D ARC Animation Theater, the Science Fun House, the Taiwan Literary Hall of Salinity Region, the Yami Cultural Gallery, an Outdoor Carnival and the Southern Region Folklore Hall.

The festival organizers are collaborating with the Hello Kitty Theme Park in Japan and one exhibition showroom will be dedicated to the brand. A special "Hello Kitty" musical performance will also be presented during the Lunar New Year.

Source from http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/Society/2005/01/13/1105581870.htm