2026 Daxi Grand Ceremony Kicks Off with Vibrancy! 32 Local She-Tou Unite to Carry Forward the Culture of Lord Guan through Beiguan Music

The '2026 Daxi Grand Ceremony' officially kicked off on the 18th with a grand performance in the Daxi Old Town area of Taoyuan. This event is not only the centerpiece of the birthday celebration for Lord Guan (Guan Sheng Di Jun), but also a crucial initiative to preserve precious local culture. Taoyuan Mayor Chang Shan-cheng emphasized that this celebration is an important intangible cultural asset for Taoyuan, sustained over the years through strong community cohesion that safeguards local memories. This year, the theme 'Festival Music' has been specially adopted, aiming to guide the public and tourists to deeply understand Daxi's rich cultural heritage through traditional Beiguan music and folk performance troupes.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that for many years, 'Daxi Grand Ceremony' has centered on 'Experience, Participation, and Revitalization' as its curatorial core. It not only preserves traditional festival culture but, through curated designs and joint participation from residents, local she-tou (community groups), and businesses, transforms the entire Daxi Old Town into a living cultural museum. Approximately 40 series events are planned during this year's festival, including cultural walking tours, folk experiences, special tours, educational outreach, and hands-on workshops, aiming to help the public explore Daxi's history and culture from diverse perspectives.

To transform the entire old town into a living cultural museum, the Taoyuan City Cultural Affairs Bureau has strictly adhered to the curatorial principles of 'Experience, Participation, and Revitalization' during this year's event period, collaborating with local residents and businesses to plan around 40 series events, offering the public diverse and multidimensional participation opportunities.

For the upcoming second week's 'Voices Never Cease Concert,' nine she-tou groups will collaborate with popular music teams in a cross-genre performance, directly breaking down auditory barriers between tradition and modernity. This performance will blend traditional Beiguan music, Western instruments, and contemporary music, presenting traditional arts in a fresh and innovative form.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau emphasized that this innovative initiative aims to attract younger generations to engage with traditional culture and deepen their understanding of the faith and local memories carried by the Lord Guan celebration. This elevates the Daxi Grand Ceremony beyond a single religious festival, transforming it into a vital platform for local cultural preservation and intergenerational transmission, ensuring that folk traditions remain connected to modern life.