Political Science Beauty Turns “Noble” — Ko Nian-xuan Shines at Food Expo in Million-Dollar Miao Costume

▲ The “Colorful Guizhou Pavilion” at the 2015 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition. Fu Yingchun (right), Director of Guizhou Tourism Bureau, warmly invited Li Xiu-yuan (left) to bring Ko Nian-xuan to visit Guizhou. (Photo provided by Tu Wei-li)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The Guizhou Tourism Bureau set up the “Colorful Guizhou Pavilion” at the “2015 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition,” showcasing traditional cuisine made on-site by Guizhou chefs. Ko Nian-xuan, a biracial beauty from National Chengchi University, was specially invited to host the event. She donned a festival costume worn by Miao girls, valued at over one million New Taiwan Dollars and adorned with silver jewelry weighing a total of five kilograms, making a dazzling appearance at the food exhibition.

Ko Nian-xuan was invited to co-host the event through the recommendation of “Guizhou Tourism Culture Ambassador” Li Xiu-yuan. She expressed her joy, saying, “I’m grateful to veteran TV travel show host Li Xiu-yuan for recommending me. She is my benefactor, and because she is a certified Guizhou tourism culture ambassador by the Guizhou Tourism Bureau, I had the opportunity to wear such a precious costume.”

▲ The “Colorful Guizhou Pavilion” at the 2015 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition (Photo by reporter Zhou Chen-geng)

Ko Nian-xuan also mentioned, “Sister Xiu-yuan recommended that I must try Guizhou’s Qingyan Pig’s Trotter. The trotters are tender, juicy, and soft after braising, then dipped in Guizhou’s specialty dried chili powder. It has the aroma of chili but isn’t too spicy—even I, who usually can’t handle spicy food, fell in love with Guizhou’s chili powder!”

She also loves the Guizhou snack “Piglet Cake,” made by kneading glutinous rice flour into an oval shape and stuffing it with magnolia slices, ground pork, and green onions. Once steamed, it becomes a delicious bite. The magnolia slices in the filling are a top-grade variety of bamboo shoots, and Guizhou has vast bamboo forests, so the bamboo shoots are naturally the most delicious.

2015 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition
Date: July 17–20
| Venue: Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1
Full Price: NT$200
Concessionary Ticket: NT$150 (for children aged 6–12, those between 120–150 cm tall, and seniors aged 65 and above)
Compassion Ticket: NT$100 (for individuals with a disability ID card and one accompanying person; tickets to be purchased separately)