To celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Changhua Confucius Temple, the Changhua County Government held a press conference this morning (June 9) in the courtyard of Changhua County Hall, hosted by County Mayor Wang Hui-Mei. She announced that the grand opening of the 2026 Changhua Poetry Festival and the 300th Anniversary Celebration of the Changhua Confucius Temple will take place on the afternoon of June 13 (Saturday). County Mayor Wang emphasized that the temple is not only a treasured cultural heritage site but also a living vessel of Changhua's 300 years of history and humanistic spirit. This year's Changhua Poetry Festival, themed “Symphony of Past and Present: A Poetry Party,” will weave together poetry, art, cultural heritage, education, lifestyle aesthetics, and digital technology. Through poetry recitals, musical performances, and dance presentations, the festival aims to bring culture into everyday life. A major highlight of the event is the launch of the Changhua Confucius Temple and Surrounding Cultural Attractions Digital Tour Guide App. Visitors who download the app between June 13 and June 30 and complete interactive challenges will be eligible to redeem special gifts, including an adorable animal-shaped hand towel and a literary-style backpack. The app integrates XR (Extended Reality) technology, connecting the temple with nearby cultural attractions through guided tours, tourism promotion, and interactive puzzle experiences. Users can explore historical stories and heritage sites directly through their mobile devices, creating a new smart cultural tourism experience. On June 13, poetry societies, schools, writers, musicians, and young performers will gather to present a cultural feast where chanting, music, dance, and verse intertwine in a dialogue across time. The “Poetry Challenge: Journey Through Verse” will feature creative checkpoints, including “Call Me the Poetry Master,” inviting participants to wander through the temple's historic spaces and discover the charm of poetry through playful interaction. Participants who complete all eight checkpoints will be entered into a prize draw featuring more than 900 prizes. In addition, the venue will host a “Poetry Market,” blending cultural creativity with lifestyle aesthetics. Another featured activity, “Confucian Wisdom 300: Journeying with the Classics” Analects Challenge, invites students to participate in an oral recitation relay of The Analects. Participants who successfully complete the required questions will receive certificates and commemorative gifts, including shoulder bags, picnic mats, 3D temple postcards, and banyan tree keychains. Each of them are designed with rich cultural symbolism. Professional guides will also lead the Changhua Confucius Temple Cultural Heritage Tour, offering visitors deeper insights into the temple's 300-year history and Confucian traditions. The festival will further feature the outdoor exhibition “Poetry in the Wind: Encountering Verse Along the Way” and “Three Centuries of Splendor: Artistic Sketches of the Confucius Temple,” showcasing 15 award-winning works from the temple sketch competition. Both exhibitions will run from June 13 to June 30, encouraging younger generations to embrace poetry, connect with cultural heritage, and experience the enduring vitality of Changhua's culture. The public is warmly invited to visit the Changhua Confucius Temple from June 13 onward to chant poetry, listen to verse, engage in interactive activities, enjoy performances, explore the market, and join guided tours. Celebrate together with Changhua and honor three centuries of cultural brilliance. For more details, please visit the Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau website at https://reurl.cc/V2Rx2y.
