National Day Gala in Banqiao Highlights Taiwan's Diverse Culture to the World

The 115th National Day Gala was grandly held at the Banqiao First Stadium in New Taipei City, under the theme "Taiwan on the Global Stage: Gathered as One." Spanning several hours, the grand celebration not only marked the 115th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China, but also served as a visual and auditory feast intertwining Taiwan's diverse culture with an international perspective. As New Taipei City's largest sports facility, Banqiao First Stadium features seating capacity for tens of thousands of spectators and advanced stage technology, making it the ideal venue for the gala. From the opening national anthem to the closing fireworks, the entire program was presented with high-standard stage design, sound effects, and lighting, allowing the audience to experience both the solemnity and joy of the National Day in an enthusiastic atmosphere.

The gala featured a rich and varied program combining traditional music, modern dance, indigenous folk performance arrays, and cross-over collaborative performances, presenting a collision and fusion of different generations, ethnic groups, and cultures. A traditional Chinese orchestra played classic repertoires on instruments such as the erhu, guzheng, and pipa, followed by a youthful street dance troupe responding with rhythmic movements, creating a visual effect that intertwined ancient and modern elements. Furthermore, an indigenous dance troupe brought a rich indigenous cultural atmosphere with traditional steps and drumbeats, engaging in an impromptu collaborative performance with an international Latin dance troupe to showcase cross-cultural interaction. These cross-over performances not only allowed the audience to appreciate the charm of diverse arts, but also highlighted the openness and inclusiveness of Taiwanese culture.

The theme "Taiwan on the Global Stage: Gathered as One" aims to emphasize Taiwan's presence on the international stage and its cultural confidence. In recent years, Taiwan has utilized "soft power," making culture, technology, and creative industries its primary tools for external promotion. The National Day Gala is a concrete manifestation of this soft power: utilizing stage arts to convey Taiwan's diverse identity, demonstrating to the international community that Taiwan is not only a representative of economic strength, but also a model of cultural creativity and social diversity. Through the joint performances of different ethnic groups within the program, the gala conveyed the social value of "diversity and inclusion," further consolidating domestic public identity regarding Taiwan's multiculturalism.

Banqiao, the host location of this gala, is also an important cultural and economic center in New Taipei City. Historically a hub for commerce and trade, Banqiao has in recent years attracted domestic and international tourists through multicultural festivals and art exhibitions. The successful hosting of the gala not only raised Banqiao's visibility on Taiwan's cultural map, but also brought dual benefits of tourism and commerce to the local area. While enjoying the performances, spectators were also able to experience Banqiao's night markets, dining, and shopping, further stimulating local economic development. More importantly, the gala provided a platform for Banqiao's young artists to showcase their talents, sparking further momentum for the development of local creative industries.

On political and social levels, the 115th National Day Gala was not only a review of the history of the Republic of China, but also an affirmation of Taiwan's democracy and national identity. Since the 1990s, Taiwan's National Day celebrations have transitioned from mere military parades toward expressions of multiculturalism.