Aroma of tea and sniff of history down Wistaria’s way in the heart of Taipei

By Nancy T. Lu

Walk down Wistaria Tea House’s Memory Lane. Do it either through the 30th anniversary exhibition “Remembering the Old Friends: Beautiful Flowers Blossom Once Again” or through the entirely new documentary “The Story of Wistaria Tea House.”

The men and women who have helped fill with their experiences the pages of the Wistaria’s colorful history spanning the last three decades and possibly longer are returning and gathering to relive nostalgic moments.

But there are also those who are just beginning to discover this cultural hub in Taipei and they are fascinated with the episodic accounts of artists, writers and intellectuals, generally unreluctant to reminisce their early pursuits of their creative ideals or dreams of freedom and democracy in surroundings filled often with the soothing aroma of brewed tea.


Chow Yu, the central figure in building and maintaining with the encouragement of friends this haunt of generations of intellectuals and idealists, remains very much around, writing beautiful calligraphy about tea culture and following up such exercise with teachings on the ancient “way of tea.”

Habitues of Wistaria, in fact, associate him with the special tea house, declared and recognized since 1997 as Taipei’s heritage building. His persona is in the fine tea poured and served at the place with a comfortable ambiance. This extends to the calligraphy on the wall, on the menu, and on the souvenir items on sale.


At one point the Wistaria Tea House was nearly closed down permanently for demolition. In fact, it was boarded up overnight, throwing out into the street the protesting artists and social critics. The campaign to protect it went into high gear. The official declaration of the property as historical and worthy of preservation for posterity in 1997 saved it in the nick of time.

Repair followed. This witness of constant political drama and upheaval over time found new life. In 2003 the Wistaria Cultural Association took over the running of the tea house.



The labyrinthine Wistaria Tea House on Xinsheng South Road in Taipei was the residence assigned to Chow De-wei, the father of Chow Yu, when he served as customs chief under the Finance Ministry in the 1950s.

Chow Yu, the youngest of five children in the family, grew up surrounded by scholars of western liberalism as well as emerging intellectuals from the National Taiwan University, all lured by the older Chow to this meeting venue for stimulating discussions and debates.

After the structure was damaged by typhoon in the 1960s, it underwent repair, acquiring a western-style façade. Not long after, the Chow family bought the property. The interior gave way to changes to accommodate activities like art shows and discussions.

In the 1970s, Chow Yu’s parents joined his siblings in the United States, entrusting the management of the Wistaria Tea House to him. And so an old house with flowering vines gained in popularity as hangout of a generation of then would-be artists and writers. It also became a seedbed of activism.













Some of writer Li Ao’s letters to Chow Yu during his five years spent as political detainee are now on display at the Wistaria Tea House. Sophie Lin, Chow Yu’s wife, has painstakingly sorted out Wistaria Tea House’s memorabilia and organized the ongoing exhibition to celebrate this Taipei landmark’s 30th anniversary milestone. She also brought out works created by artists like Yu Peng before they found fame. In 2009, Chow Yu invited his artist friends like Yu Peng, Cheng Tsai-tung and Chen Lai-hsing to return and present their new works in an exhibition.

Chow named the place Wistaria Tea House in 1981 and moved then to promote the “way of tea” based on ancient Taoist philosophy and on beliefs of modern Chinese literati.

Liu Sheng, director of the Wistaria Tea House documentary lasting about 50 minutes in length, admitted during the recent premiere showing at SPOT Taipei that the task of making the introductory film over a period of just a few months was daunting. There was so much to be said. The storytelling, he was told at the outset, must stand on the three legs of liberalism, leftist thinking and traditional Chinese art of tea with its age-old principles.


Wistaria Tea House holds different meanings for the men and women who have been lured to its embrace in their youth before treading the road to success and prominence. They have mostly struck up special friendships with Chow Yu. They now return, rediscovering it as a haven for the healing of the spirit in the jungle of city life.

Some artists with long years of association with Chow Yu candidly revealed that he gave them NT$3,000 out of his pocket when they were strapped for cash. Choreographer Lin Li-chen of Legend Lin Dance Theater recalled in the documentary film how Chow volunteered in 1978 to be the producer of her first dance production, “Don’t Forget Your Umbrella.” On seeing how the then pregnant Lin had to commute by bus on days of rehearsals, he urged her to take his offer of NT$3,000 as taxi fare. Lin was deeply touched by the gesture.





The calm atmosphere at the Wistaria Tea House attracts a clientele interested in simple but tasty dining and relaxing tea drinking. Music from Chinese instruments like the erhu lends itself to the serenity of the setting.

Years ago, imported classical western music played in the premises. Nowadays the more traditional Chinese airs have taken over. The Wistaria Tea House has produced a 30th anniversary souvenir music CD in collaboration with composer Zhou Chenglong.

Wang Xin Xin regularly fills the Wistaria Tea House with her exquisite nanquan performance for the appreciation of the traditional art lovers. Her ensemble of musicians rehearses upstairs every Monday and Thursday



The fragrance of tea at the Wistaria is spreading. Tea connoisseur Chow Yu has been taking the ancient art of tea beyond the boundaries of Taipei and Taiwan to win and warm the hearts of faraway friends, enticing them to sip the ceremonial culture of the old Chinese literati.



The Wistaria Tea House is located at No. 1, Lane 16, Xinsheng South Road, Sec. 3, Taipei.

Taiwan design creativity lights up the showcase at Eslite in run up to 2011 IDA Congress Taipei

By Nancy T. Lu

Taiwan’s selected outstanding product designs speak out to consumers through little scenarios at the O.H.L. (Office, Home, Life) space in basement 2 of Eslite Bookstore Dunnan in the run up to the 2011 International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress Taipei to focus on “Design at the Edges” this October. The Taiwan Design Center as IDA member will host the congress. It is organizing all related activities.

A coffee cup with a saucer (see photo on top) which can be set in circular motion has mirrors built in to reflect changing images. Characters on a spinning plate, for example, easily become passengers on the coaches of a train on the unique cup. Another cup design has a merry-go-round theme. The price per set: NT$2080.



Even imperfections like cracks on a wall can be turned around with aesthetically rewarding result. New stick-ons now available make it easy to introduce tree leaves and birds to beautify the otherwise annoying fissures on the wall. The price:NT$180.



A cute and practical gift suggestion takes the shape of an elephant earring holder named Little. Despite the smallness of the item as underscored by its given name, the bigness of the good wishes that the giver sends with the gift gets conveyed through the animal shape of choice. The price: NT$600.



Tea Shirt, which is about a play of words, is a shirt-shaped holder of tea leaves. The clip on one end can be used to attach a sweet message to a beloved. The price: NT$450.



Wake up in the morning to the melodious chirping of the birds. The bird alarm clock is designed even for decorative hanging in the bedroom. It also gives the time and date either in Japanese or in English on demand.



A designer in southern Taiwan says “Welcome to Tainan” with a tourism-oriented product series highlighting landmarks like Anping Old Fort, Eternal Golden Fort, Chihkan Tower, Former Tainan Meeting Hall, Museum of Meteorology, National Museum of Taiwanese Literature, Tainan Confucius Temple, and Old Tainan District Court. Open a paper cup and find what looks like a protective sachet. Go deeper and come upon a small bottle filled with auspicious objects to put in the sachet. The cup also has seedlings to grow as indoor plants.

Traditional crescent stones for communication with Taoist deities are, in fact, small erasers to readily put in a pocket. The so-called “buei” while offering a glimpse of culture in Taiwan becomes functional in the product design.

The ongoing exhibition is intended to cater particularly to the office crowd. The collection of product designs created by Taiwanese talents goes on view like art gallery displays. Consumers who fancy the original product ideas need only go to the gallery counter at the entrance to buy the items.

The 2011 IDA Congress Taipei will take place at the Taipei International Convention Center on October 24 to 26. The Taipei World Design Expo, the Young Designers Workshop and Design Tours will be the parallel events. The Taipei World Trade Center in the Xinyi District as well as in Nankang and the Songshan Tobacco Creative Design Park will be the venues.

Taipei Chinese Orchestra announces with Sunrise Records the release of 2nd CD under BIS label

By Nancy T. Lu
“Harmonious Breath,” the Taipei Chinese Orchestra’s second of four crossover collaborations earmarked for recording release under the BIS label, is now available in the market.

Chung Yiu-kwong (shown in right photo with designer Sophie Hong) as director of the orchestra keeps up the drive to go international and make far-reaching impact through the TCO’s new recording release featuring French saxophone player of renown Claude Delangle as soloist and Tianjin-born Shao En (shown below wearing new Sophie Hong outfit) as conductor.


“Sunshine on Taxkorgan for Soprano Saxophone and Chinese Orchestra” arranged by Chen Gang and orchestrated by Chung Yiu-kwong in the new release originally had violin music. Delangle listened closely to the original music as well as the erhu transcription. He, too, had to find the saxophone technique to replace the bowing of the string instrument.

Composer Chung Yiu-kwong treats the saxophone like a modern guanzi. Delangle seeks to have the saxophone pay tribute to a distant cousin, the guanzi. In fact, he studied the traditional phrasing of the instrument with Li Guoying, a master, during his working trip to Beijing in October last year.

Managing music in different ways, using old tools, has been Delangle’s preoccupation for some time now. With the saxophone, changing the mouth piece can turn it into a different instrument, according to Delangle.

The CD repertoire which was performed and taped at a concert at the Zhongshan Hall in Taipei with Shao En as conductor last December ranges in style from traditional to contemporary. Chung Yiu-kwong’s two original selections, “Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Chinese Orchestra No.1” and “Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Chinese Orchestra No.2” can be described as less like Chinese music. Delangle previously played the first piece with the Taipei orchestra at the National Center for Performing Arts in Beijing in October last year.

Also in the CD is Tian Lei-lei’s “Open Secret Concerto for Saxophone and Chinese Orchestra.” This piece was commissioned by the French Culture Ministry last year. Tian told Delangle that “the saxophone is the only Western wind instrument which with ease produces the glissandi that are almost indispensable in Chinese music.”

Another traditional piece in the recording is Peng Xiuwen’s arrangement of “River of Sorrow for Soprano Saxophone and Chinese Orchestra.”

Two more TCO CD albums to be launched in due time will highlight trombone artist Christian Lindberg and percussionist Evelyn Glennie respectively.

The amazing Pearl Lin (seen below with Chung Yiu-kwong) of Sunrise Records resurfaces after a year of complete absence due to health reason to celebrate another fruition of her years of hard work.












Lin, “superwoman” to those who know her, has spent years giving recording breaks to many of Taiwan’s very own musicians, including composers and performing artists. She dares to tread on new grounds, courageously financing projects with uncertain market acceptance. Because of her great love for Taiwan, she keeps coming up with new ways to help give exposure to local musicians, thereby finding her niche in promoting Taiwan’s talents for world appreciation.

Lin as the prime mover behind Sunrise Records deserves credit for bringing about TCO’s link-up with the Sweden-based BIS.

Not a few decision-makers behind international record labels are Lin’s business partners and even friends. Sunrise Records markets Telearc, Harmonia Mundi and Putumayo recordings, among others, in Taiwan.

With the growing interest in world music as a modern-day phenomenon, Lin sees no reason why the Taipei Chinese Orchestra with gifted and prolific composer Chung at the helm should continue to stay away from the international spotlight and remain contented with a limited local audience.

Sunrise Records is right now even keeping on the front burner negotiations for producing under another international music label a DVD complete with video for the TCO.

The TCO with Chung as baton-wielder will embark on a five-city European tour early next year. New looks for the orchestra members will shortly be introduced to lend freshness and style to the TCO. No less than top Taiwan designer Sophie Hong is to dress up the musicians in innovative Chinese attires.

Meanwhile exciting new programming to spring on TCO’s many fans will stay a priority of the orchestra. Creating new and changing music genres for the Chinese orchestra, in Chung’s thinking, will go a long way towards literally helping the TCO get noticed and go global.

Ju Percussion Group turns 25, looks forward to more years of upbeat drumming in Taiwan

By Nancy T. Lu
A quarter of a century of successful drumming in Taiwan and even overseas from time to time is without doubt quite a feat. Such track record, in fact, is inspiring the Ju Percussion Group led by founder and artistic director Ju Tzong-ching to look forward to another 25 years of percussive music-making.

The announcement of a plan to build and develop not just a permanent home but rather a cultural and educational center at the old Danshui Customs Wharf near the historic Fort San Domingo and Hobe Fort early this year marked the dawning of a new era for the group known for remarkable leadership in writing the history of contemporary percussion music in Taiwan. The Ju Percussion Group appears determined to continue to aim high in goal and accomplishment.

The Danshui site of historic importance dating back to the Qing Dynasty and the years of Japanese colonial rule will be transformed to fulfill functions like music creation and rehearsal, international exchange, musician training, promotion of percussion music education, as well as enhancement of the quality of life through tourism-oriented leisure programs. Existing structures with historical meaning at the location in New Taipei City will be preserved. But new facilities will be built, too.

For 25 years, the Ju Percussion Group has been performing, teaching, doing research on and promoting percussion music. The Danshui project has the objective of bringing it even closer to the life of the people. Percussion talents will be nurtured there. So will be the teachers. Percussion music education will be made more accessible. Music enjoyment will be encouraged as leisure activity of the general public. Such is the vision of Ju, also the incumbent president of the Taipei National University of the Arts and former artistic director of the National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center.

Two memorable concerts presented at the National Concert Hall in Taipei in January this year kicked off the Ju Percussion Group’s celebration of a 25-year milestone, even featuring First Lady Chou Mei-ching as surprise guest performer during the rendition of two encore pieces, “Love Story” and “Body Language.”


President Ma Ying-jeou’s wife seriously played the marimba number with the other professional musicians first before venturing to playfully work out rhythmic beats by striking and slapping herself with her bare hands as well as by stomping her feet from time to time. She prepared for the program for two months. The choreographed performance inevitably ended each time with thundering applause from the entertained audience.

Chou first caught the public eye as an amateur percussionist shaking a pair of maracas during the state visit of President Ma to Central American countries in June 2009. The Ju Percussion Group joined President Ma’s entourage on this trip.




Not long after Ju Tzong-ching’s return from music studies in Vienna in the 1980s, he founded his pioneering group of percussionists in Taiwan in January 1986. Over the years, they have successfully fanned percussion fever in different parts of the country. Concerts carefully planned and organized around the island every year have helped spread the fun, excitement and joy of percussion music. Repertoires have featured works by international composers. However, even selections by Taiwanese composers have been played, too. Hung Chien-hui has even been hired to work full-time, composing for Ju’s percussionists. The Ju Percussion Group has likewise done recordings of percussion music over the years. The first album was released in 1988.














The Ju Percussion Group first developed a curriculum in percussion education especially for children in 1992. Classes for kids, which have been started and continued in different places around Taiwan, have shown that music education, which is best begun at an early age, has received ever-growing parental approval. From time to time, performances by Ju Percussion 2, a younger group of percussionists, have been organized to appeal to children.

Ju’s ambitious BOT project at this point, however, is to promote and develop percussion culture in an almost one-hectare area of the Danshui Customs Wharf on the right bank of the Danshui River. When orchestrating the successful bidding for the right to build and operate this meaningful educational project with the support of his team, he bears in mind that there is room only for world-class standard in nurturing Taiwan’s future generations of percussionists.

Raising the almost NT$200 million financial outlay needed to realize the project will be a challenge. The influential and persuasive Ju, who has extensive art management experience, remains undaunted though. He proved himself to be both a dreamer and an achiever in the past. For now, the Ju Percussion Group through a foundation first formed in 1989 and now functioning with Liu Shu-kang at the helm is officially looking forward to the operation and the running of the project in New Taipei City over a 50-year period.

Ju Tzong-ching rounded up friends from the art and education circles to establish the Ju Percussion Group Foundation in the past. His professional connections will ensure his capability to surmount all obstacles and difficulties in this venture in New Taipei City governed by Chu Li-lun.

Meanwhile the talents who identify with the leading group of percussionists founded by Ju stay driven and motivated in organizing concert programs with creativity to stimulate public interest in percussion music and at the same time to promote cultural awareness in the community. The Vietnamese presence because of intermarriage and the Filipino existence due to Taiwanese dependence on foreign labor invited a closer look through their music-making on indigenous percussion instruments as well as through poetry-reading at concerts in May 2006. The legend of “Mulan” got retold in original percussion theater complete with colorful costumes and stage design in May 2010.

Taking percussion music to the world stage has slowly come about gradually for the Ju Percussion Group of Taiwan. The musicians have brought their exciting beats and rhythms to countries on different continents. Invitations to grace music festivals and even events like the Asian Games have put them in high profile.

The Ju Percussion Group Foundation’s hosting once every three years since 1993 of the Taiwan International Percussion Convention with world-class ensembles of percussionists in attendance has put in the limelight the level of professionalism of Taiwan’s musicians. The next such event will unfold on May 20 to 28 this year.

After a quarter of a century the Ju Percussion Group continues to go places. A first-time trip to the subcontinent of India is scheduled for April 2011.

The upbeat drumming activities show no sign of tapering off. In fact, new exciting chapters in the history of the Ju Percussion Group are being written.

Palace Museum to invite visitors to enjoy Kun opera "Peony Pavilion" every Wednesday

Kun opera (Kun Qu), a most refined traditional Chinese performing art form, will be a special highlight of“New Melody at the National Palace Museum” from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday from April 6 to June 22, announced the museum in Taipei. The Taipei Kun Qu Research and Study Society will field the featured opera talents.

The classic“Peony Pavilion”originally written by Tang Xian-zu in the 17th century has been selected as initial opera offering, promising to lure spectators into the dream romance defying life and death of Du Li-niang and Liu Meng-mei.

The cultural program will be launched in keeping with the flower theme of the Taipei International Flora Exposition to wind up on April 25 and, in particular, of the exhibition“Fragrance Fills the Courtyard: Chinese Flower Paintings Through the Ages” to run until May 31 at the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Flower paintings belonging to the museum, now on view, celebrate the changing seasons and auspicious metaphors about life.

“Peony Pavilion” has remained a masterpiece enjoying undying popular appeal for hundreds of years. Staged but not always in the original version, it, in fact, has adopted modifications or even crossover interpretations, however, always emerging as shining brilliantly like a gem in the world of Chinese theater and drama.

This time, episodes with the greatest audience appeal from the original opera – from Du Li-niang’s dream encounter with her scholar in the garden all the way to her resurrection and reunion with her lover Liu Meng-mei - will be staged for the free enjoyment of visitors at the National Palace Museum.

The museum will likewise organize lectures to promote better understanding and appreciation of paintings in its collection as well as the classic opera art form.

Alumna revisits University of Santo Tomas during 400th founding anniversary celebration

By Nancy T. Lu
A Tomasian does not forget. This one certainly remembers.

Memories of four formative years spent as a journalism student in the Manila campus of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas – particularly in the Faculty of Arts and Letters – returned in a flash on this particular Saturday in February picked for a revisit.

The Artlets alumni were gathering for a general homecoming in the Quadricentennial Square between the Main Building and the Miguel de Benavides Library on February 19. The area due to the transformation over the years was unfamiliar to this alumna, who spent the last 25 years practicing journalism in Taiwan. (The library building received substantial donation from the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation in Taiwan years ago when Ma Soo-lay, a Tomasian, was still an influential senior policy adviser to then President Lee Teng-hui in Taiwan. In fact, as a result of the donation, a professorial chair was created. A collection of replicas of treasures at the National Palace Museum was also turned over to UST.)

The much-publicized QuattroMondial, a bronze masterpiece created by sculptor Ramon Orlina in celebration of the 400th founding anniversary of UST this year, stood dominating the open-air site cordoned for the Artlets alumni homecoming.


Four figures on the work of art were described as representing four centuries of Excellence, Spirituality, Tradition and Erudition. Piolo Pascual, a very popular entertainment celebrity, was the model for the male student symbolizing Excellence. Charlene Gonzales, a beauty queen and psychology graduate from UST, lent her face to the female student suggesting Erudition. The Rev. Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P., rector of UST, provided the look of Spirituality and Monina Orlina, the sculptor’s daughter and an academician, gave her visage to the figure standing for Tradition.




The Artlets homecoming unfolded within view of the St. Raymund’s Building (more familiar to this UST graduate as the A.B./Commerce Building). The Faculty of Arts and Letters was housed in the beginning in the Main Building, an engineering feat of Fr. Roque Ruano, O.P. This first building in the UST campus facing Espana Street was said to be earthquake-resistant.

The UST campus started by the Spanish Dominican friars was originally in Intramuros or the Walled City. The Japanese occupation forces even used the Main Building as an internment camp during World War II, lending a grim note to the history of the campus with entrances also on Dapitan Street at the back and P. Noval and Arsenio H. Lacson (formerly Governor Forbes) Streets on the two other sides.

The stern-looking Fr. Tomas Martinez, O.P. was dean in the early years of the Faculty of Arts and Letters and the more approachable Fr. Florencio Testera, O.P. served as assistant dean. This reporter in the original Rey Datu-led staff of the Flame, the official publication of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, moved over to the Varsitarian, the university magazine, in the succeeding years, interviewing, among others, the ever-perspiring Fr. Jesus Merino, O.P. about the collection of artifacts of the Museum of Arts and Sciences gathering dust deep inside the Main Building. Bernardo Bernardo, who was the Varsitarian editor then, was also into stage acting. In fact, he went on to join Zeneida Amador and Repertory Philippines in a number of theater productions. He also acted in movies. Alfredo Marquez, who succeeded Bernardo Bernardo as Varsitarian editor, went on years later to work for the People's Journal.

Years ago, segregation of the sexes was a rule enforced in the use of the stairs at UST, a Catholic institution of learning. The female students, who had to negotiate the corridors of the Main Building, avoided Fr. Nestor Mata, O.P., the strict prefect of discipline, if they were wearing sleeveless dresses because violation of the acceptable dress code meant being reprimanded for indecency on the spot.

Bishop Miguel de Benavides, O.P. bequeathed the fund and his personal library collection, paving the way for the establishment of the University of Santo Tomas in 1611, His bronze statue in front of the Main Building was done in Paris in 1889 and first made its appearance in Intramuros in 1891. Statues representing the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity as well as Shakespeare, Dante, and St. Augustine, among others, were said to have been introduced on the building in the 1950s. Fine arts students over the years were often seen doing on-the-spot painting of the façade of the Main Building and the statues there.


The Arch of the Centuries near the gate on Espana Street (which easily got flooded during the rainy season to the chagrin of the students) was another favorite site of fine arts students. It was originally erected and remained at the entrance of the UST campus in Intramuros until 1941.

The Fountain of Knowledge to the left of the Arch of Centuries and the Fountain of Wisdom to the right were fondly remembered as bubbling attractions at the start of a tree-lined walk to the Main Building. One fine day, a bunch of giggling Artlets students (including this then undergraduate) decided to negotiate the partly shaded stretch barefoot or unshod, unmindful of the stares of passersby.

Memories of the Main Building also included Varsitarian meetings held in a ground floor office. Occasionally a staffer would hail the sorbetero or ice cream vendor to a corner window and coerce somebody to give everyone a “dirty ice cream” treat on a hot day. Pay day – meaning the day when allowances of Varsitarian staffers were released – was when everyone would turn up.

At “Artlets’ bash at full blast,” this writer picked up a copy of Rated A only to learn of the fairly recent demise of Professor Milagros Tanlayco and Professor Ophelia Alcantara-Dimalanta. Professor Tanlayco in her chattering style taught English and literature. She would arrive in class with diaphanous fabric softly trailing after her. As for Professor Dimalanta, she taught short story writing but was herself a poetess of renown.

There was one professor whom this Artlets graduate admired and tracked down many years later in Seattle, Washington. Professor Erlinda Rustia taught aesthetics and literary criticism. One quiz she gave required comparing the operatic singing of Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi.

Journalism subjects in those days were handled mostly by the late newspaperman Felix Bautista. He was also adviser to the staffers of the Flame and the Varsitarian. His lectures were peppered with interesting first-hand anecdotes. Julie Yap Daza, a Tomasian and a columnist presently connected with the Manila Bulletin, taught public relations. When press obligations kept her away, she sent over her husband, a PR practitioner.

Tuition in those days was less than 300 pesos per semester. A senior at the Faculty of Arts and Letters revealed that it has gone up to 30,000 pesos per semester. Inflation has indeed caught up with Philippine education. The more exclusive Catholic universities are reportedly even charging about 100,000 pesos per semester.

UST is planning to build new campuses in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and in General Santos City. South Cotabato.

Song legend Teresa Teng comes alive in Celebrity’s House at Taipei Flora Expo

By Nancy T. Lu

Teresa Teng is a name which fans memory of many popular Chinese love ballads. “The Moon Represents My Heart” can be cited as a classic example. Her rendition of this song in a sweet and caressing voice touches listeners and puts all in a romantic mood long after her passing.

The memory of this song legend whose 58th birth anniversary fell on January 29 this year makes a visit of the Celebrity’s House at the ongoing Taipei International Flora Exposition (Taipei Flora Expo) worthwhile. Nostalgia overwhelms a visitor as song after song plays inside in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese and English. Pictures and video presentations capture highlights from her lifetime with fond remembrance.

Red roses said to be Teresa Teng’s favorite flower greet those privileged to enter Celebrity’s House. Floral artist Lin Hui-lee was responsible for introducing preserved roses and transforming an area into a rose-covered setting.

Only a limited number of visitors are accommodated each day at Celebrity’s House. Special entrance tickets are distributed outside early every morning.






Roses on an interactive, multi-touch screen give way to an emerging Teresa Teng near the entrance. Teng’s life story is then told in phases complete with representative pictures.

The displayed memorabilia of the enduring song artist includes her clothes, her Louis Vuitton luggage, trophies, record albums over the years, personal jottings, letters and her signatures in Chinese, English and Japanese.


















A pop-up image of Teng dominates a stage with a microphone. Tourists are able to have souvenir pictures taken here.

Nearby, people queue to have their pictures taken as featured Celebrity's House cover personalities and to have even just briefly a taste of instant fame. Visitors can later go online and download files showing them as publication cover subjects.


The final moments of a visit are generally spent viewing a documentary of Teresa Teng mainly in concert. Long after every screening, the spectators linger – in fact, craving for more of Teresa Teng and her sweet and gentle but sad singing.


The Taipei International Flora Exposition at the Yuanshan Park Area, Fine Arts Park Area, Xinsheng Park Area and Dajia Riverside Park Area opened on November 6, 2010, and will run until April 25, 2011. The Celebrity’s House is at the Yuanshan Park Area.