Crowds Brave Rain for Taiwanese Street Food at New York Passport to Taiwan Festival

The 22nd Passport to Taiwan Festival was held today at Union Square in Manhattan. Despite the poor weather, the event attracted many citizens and tourists eager to learn about Taiwanese culture and taste local street food. Taiwanese communities and businesses from New York and New Jersey offered delicacies such as zongzi, ba-wan, sausage in sticky rice, oyster vermicelli, red bean cakes, and bubble tea. Attendees braved the rain with umbrellas, forming long lines to enjoy the food. Li Chih-chiang, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, stated that visitors could enjoy Taiwanese food and culture without traveling to Taiwan, and encouraged them to visit the Tourism Administration booth for travel information. The "Contemporary Music Ensemble" from Yilan performed in the rain, drawing applause from the audience. Zhang Yucheng, President of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in New York, introduced the "Mets Taiwan Day" scheduled for July 26, where attendees can watch star players like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto in a festive Taiwanese atmosphere. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the US, and the second week of May has been designated "Taiwanese American Heritage Week" since 1999. The festival has become an annual highlight in New York.