20 Lion Dance Troupes Take to the Streets in Celebration of Beitou Park’s Centennial as the “Lion’s Den”

Tourism Center / Taipei Report

Beitou Park is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and coincidentally, local master artisan Hong Lai-wang is also turning 100. The Taiwan Lion Head Wang Folk Arts Development Association has organized “Beitou’s Grand Centennial Celebration,” featuring a series of exciting events, an exhibition of handcrafted lion heads and related cultural artifacts, lion dance performances, and a parade of 20 lion dance troupes. Beitou was historically known as the “Lion’s Den,” a hub for lion dance culture.

%Prostitutes? On August 3, 20 lion troupes will participate in the street parade. (Photo / Provided by Taipei City Tourism Bureau)

Since June 17, 1913, when the “Beitou Hot Spring Public Bathhouse” (the predecessor of the Beitou Hot Spring Museum) and “Beitou Park” were completed, the site has now reached its centennial. The Taipei City Government’s Department of Information and Tourism has partnered with the Taiwan Lion Head Wang Folk Arts Development Association to host “Beitou’s Grand Centennial Celebration” from August 3 over four consecutive weeks. The event combines local Beitou culture with exquisite lion dance, drumming, and martial arts performances to mark this rare and significant milestone.

The Taiwan Lion Head Wang Folk Arts Development Association held a press conference on the 29th to invite local residents, featuring impressive drum team and dragon and lion dance performances that wowed the audience. Deputy Director Qiu Pengxin of the Department of Information and Tourism said that lion dance troupes are a traditional part of temple events, and Beitou was once known as the “Lion’s Den,” a center for lion dance art. To celebrate the park’s centennial, August in Beitou will be even more “lion-hearted and artful.”

%The energetic drum team performance amazed the onlookers. (Photo / Provided by Taipei City Tourism Bureau)

The event will run from August 3 to 25, with works by the national treasure artisan displayed at Jingfeng Building in Xinbeitou, showcasing handcrafted lion heads and related cultural items. Throughout August, every Saturday and Sunday from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, lion dance performances will be held in Beitou Park, bringing folk art celebrations to the park stage. On August 3, nearly 20 lion dance troupes and the Beitou Sports Association’s Martial Arts Committee will be invited for a grand parade starting at 3:00 PM from Beitou MRT Station, performing lion dances, drumming, and flag dancing along the route to Xinbeitou MRT Station and Beitou Park. The park will also feature a drum team to welcome the parade.