By Lu Yixin, Vision Times
The U.S.-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, widely praised as the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music show touched down at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport on Dec. 28 (Taiwan time), officially launching its 2026 Asia tour. For the first time, Taiwan is serving as the opening stop of Shen Yun’s Asia tour. President Lai Ching-te sent a congratulatory message to welcome the company and wish the performances great success during its time on the self-ruling island.
Shen Yun arrived in Taiwan on the evening of Dec. 28, marking the company’s 18th visit to Taiwan. Large numbers of fans gathered at the airport to greet the artists, expressing their support and admiration in a warm and festive atmosphere. Several Taiwanese officials also extended special congratulations.
RELATED: Shen Yun Kicks Off 20th Anniversary Tour With Lavish Praise From US Officials
In his message, President Lai said he was pleased to learn that Shen Yun Performing Arts would tour Taiwan from Dec. 30, 2025, to Feb. 8, 2026, and expressed hope that this major cultural event would help build a creative performance platform, promote artistic exchange and learning, enrich humanistic and artistic cultivation, and contribute to the development of a peaceful and rational society.
‘This is culture without the Communist Party’
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
Shen Yun host Tang Yun said in an interview that 2025 marks Shen Yun’s 20th anniversary, and that Taiwan being the first stop of the Asia tour makes the occasion especially meaningful. Having last visited Taiwan three years ago, he said returning after several years was deeply moving.
To prepare for this season, Shen Yun spent more than six months in production. All programs are newly created. The tour has already launched in the United States and Europe, where it has received enthusiastic responses. Tang expressed confidence that Shen Yun’s Taiwan performances would be equally well received: “Because what Shen Yun presents is Chinese culture without the Communist Party.”
Reflecting on Shen Yun’s two-decade journey, Tang emphasized that the company has faced constant interference from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), yet has never abandoned its mission: “Over the past 20 years, it has not been easy for Shen Yun to establish itself and grow to its current scale.”
He added, “We are truly grateful for Taiwan’s long-standing support. Performing here always feels warm and familiar, like coming home.”
Tang further explained that Shen Yun presents “true Chinese culture,” a culture they believe is divinely inspired and fundamentally different from the CCP’s atheistic ideology. This, he said, is precisely why the CCP feels threatened: “When people see Shen Yun, they can truly understand what authentic Chinese culture is — a deep spiritual culture, not the image shaped by the Communist Party.”
A spiritual journey rarely seen on modern stages
Because Shen Yun’s dance dramas highlight the spiritual essence of traditional culture, many audience members report feeling a connection to the divine, as well as renewed hope and strength. Tang explained that Shen Yun believes traditional Chinese culture is a “divinely transmitted culture,” and that human beings were created by divine beings.
He noted that such traditions are gradually being lost in modern society, yet remain vitally important for all humanity. Presenting this culture on stage, he said, is something few — if any — other productions can achieve: “That’s why audiences feel a connection to the divine and a sense of hope,” said Tang. “This inspiration from the divine brings an exceptionally high level of beauty — something difficult to reach without spiritual enlightenment.”
Returning home: A lead dancer’s reflection
Taiwanese lead dancer Fan Hui-yi, who is returning to perform in her homeland for the first time with Shen Yun, said the experience is deeply meaningful: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to Asia and to my hometown. It’s truly very moving.”
She hopes this year’s performances will bring audiences even greater inspiration and positive energy.
Reflecting on Shen Yun’s 20-year journey, Fan described it as filled with ups and downs, but said these trials forged the company’s resilience and maturity. For her, Shen Yun is not merely a performing arts group, but a mission to preserve and pass on traditional Chinese culture and spiritual values: “It’s precisely this sense of mission that has allowed us to persevere through every test and reach where we are today.”
When asked about the anniversary season’s content, Fan declined to reveal details, but emphasized that all performers undergo intensive training for more than six months, continuously refining their skills and striving for breakthroughs: “We don’t stay where we are — we keep moving toward higher artistic levels. This year, audiences will definitely see something even better than last year.”
Fan also noted that many audience members experience a sense of spiritual renewal after watching Shen Yun, which she attributed to the performers’ emphasis on inner cultivation: “As inheritors of traditional culture, only by holding ourselves to strict standards can our inner strength grow, and only then can that strength truly be conveyed to the audience.”
Resounding acclaim across Taiwan
Dedicated to reviving nearly lost traditional Chinese culture, Shen Yun has built an outstanding reputation in Taiwan’s mainstream society over the years.
This year’s return has again drawn strong attention from Taiwan’s political circles. In addition to President Lai, more than 120 central and local government officials, including Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, sent congratulatory messages welcoming Shen Yun and wishing the performances success.
From now until Feb. 8, Shen Yun will debut 33 performances across Taipei, Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, Miaoli, Changhua, Chiayi, and Taichung, bringing an entirely new season’s program to audiences throughout Taiwan. For more information on upcoming shows and tickets, please visit Shen Yun’s official site here.
