Located in the mountains of Miaoli, the beautiful town of Sanyi is known throughout Taiwan for its natural beauty and aboriginal Hakka culture. Sanyi, however, is also famous for another reason. As Taiwan’s biggest woodcarving center, it is home to one of Taiwan’s most popular art festivals.
The Sanyi Woodcarving Festival has been held each year since 1990. It attracts countless woodcarvers and art lovers from around the world. Those who are interested in the art of woodcarving will find not only unique Taiwanese art products, but also a rich cultural experience that encompasses traditional Hakka lifestyle.
The festival showcases a collection of incredible wooden sculptures made by aboriginal artists inTaiwan. Artists from the international woodcarving community also come to Taiwan to show off their woodcarving skills. One of the highlights of the festival is the eight-day carving competition. Visitors can watch master woodcarvers, some with 30 to 40 years of carving experience, compete against each other to create realistic works of art.
In addition to viewing the wonderful works of wooden art on display, visitors can also enjoy traditional Hakkanese food, cultural performances, do-it-yourself woodcarving activities, and educational games that are designed by storekeepers for the festival.
From flowers, insects, and giant leaves to household wooden items and abstract art, visitors will have no problem finding the perfect wooden treasure for their art collection in the tiny town of Sanyi.
For more information about this intriguing festival in Taiwan, visit Taiwan Festivals. This year, the festival opens on September 28, 2013 and ends on October 10th, 2013.
Photo credit: http:// www.flickr.com/ photos/64526892@N00/2343219106/in/photolist-4z4Bpq-4RtNUT-63tjqH-63xAzo
Canadian expat Carrie Kellenberger has kept a home base with her husband in Asia since 2003. A prolific traveler, Carrie has funded her travels primarily as a writer, editor, travel blogger and photographer, but she has also worked as an educator, voice over artist, model and nightclub singer. She draws upon her 15+ years of travel experience to write about travel-related issues and the countries she has visited on her award-winning web site, My Several Worlds.
Her photography and travel articles have appeared in both print and online publications around the world, including Travel and Leisure Asia, Unearthing Asia and Hip Compass Escapes.
