Miaoli Hakka Cultural Park set to open

•Publication Date：05/03/2012
•Source： Taiwan Today
•By Grace Kuo

A new park dedicated to Hakka culture will open May 12 in Miaoli, Taiwan, according to the Council for Hakka Affairs.

The park will help the Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center “promote the long-term conservation and development of Hakka culture by gathering and exhibiting relevant documents and artifacts, researching into Hakka history, and educating the public on Hakka traditions,” CHA Minister Huang Yu-cheng said May 2.

“It will also serve as a window for multicultural exchanges and dialogues in Taiwan and as a platform for interpreting and re-presenting Hakka culture,” he added.

The Hakka, who make up about one-fifth of the Han population in Taiwan, have a long history of periodic migration—hence the name Hakka, which literally means “guest people.” They can be found in large numbers in many parts of Southeast Asia and indeed throughout the world.

The center, a green building constructed with large amounts of glass on the outside to blend in with the local terrain, reflects “the Hakka tradition of respecting the gods, cherishing the land and protecting nature,” Huang said.

Built on an 11.2-hectare plot of land, the center includes exhibition halls that will help visitors gain a deeper understanding of Hakka traditions and culture, the CHA said.