Tainan (Taiwan News) — The 2024 Creative Expo Taiwan opened on Monday (Aug. 26) in Tainan, showcasing the nation's vibrant history.

The annual event with this year's theme "A Hundred Faces of Formosa," was held at ICC Tainan for the first time and features a diverse array of exhibitions, performances, and interactive experiences.

At Monday's opening ceremony, dancers transformed into various fruits to celebrate Taiwan's reputation as a "fruit kingdom." This year also marks the first time in the expo's history that a commercial exhibition and cultural curation have been combined in the same exhibition area, with the number of commercial booths reaching a record high.

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) attended the opening ceremony and praised the expo for its innovative use of technology, such as AI, to explore Taiwan's past and future.

Hsiao said the expo's promotional video "A-min (阿明) Sees Tainan" reminded her of her childhood growing up in Tainan. She said the city has undergone many changes while also remaining the same in many ways, with many cherished memories and a history unique to Tainan's culture.

Hsiao explained that this year marks the 400th anniversary of Tainan. From 1624 to the present day, Tainan has experienced much sorrow, suffering, and oppression, but also progress, the pursuit of dreams, and warmth.

Regardless of when they arrived, everyone who has participated in Tainan's story of connecting with the world has contributed to shaping Tainan's rich culture, according to Hsiao.

Hsiao said that she had taken the time to visit other exhibition areas earlier on Monday and was particularly drawn to the super cute "Alley Cat," the expo's mascot. The cat-loving vice president was all smiles, noting that the cat also had a qilin tail, a fact she only learned upon seeing it in person.

Hsiao said that she was particularly impressed by the expo's use of artificial intelligence to create immersive experiences for visitors. “Technology allowed people to connect with the past in a new and meaningful way.”

Hsiao explained that the expo's industrial benefits have been growing each year, with a continuous increase in the number of those participating. “Now, whenever people mention the Creative Expo Taiwan, it is seen as a benchmark for Taiwan's creative and cultural soft power.”

Hsiao expressed her hope that all visitors would enjoy the commercial exhibition while also experiencing the depth of Taiwan's culture and finding a spiritual connection within the exhibition.

The expo is set to run through Sept. 1.