Gala celebrates Hakka festival

Tuesday marked an important festival for the Hakka people in China. An evening gala featuring traditional Hakka songs and dances was broadcast live on Tuesday night. Taking place in Taoyuan Gymnasium in Taiwan, the gala was co-sponsored by Fujian province and Taiwan island.

Tuesday marked an important festival for the Hakka people in China. An evening gala featuring traditional Hakka songs and dances was broadcast live on Tuesday night. Taking place in Taoyuan Gymnasium in Taiwan, the gala was co-sponsored by Fujian province and Taiwan island.

The gala, titled" Song of the Hakka" kicked off with a grand ceremony worshipping the heavens. It was presided over by hosts from Fujian and Taiwan.

Top artists and troupes from both sides of the Taiwan Straits shared the stage.

The Taoyuan Gymnasium was fully packed with some ten-thousand spectators, the majority of whom were Hakka.

WU Chin-Yang, Mayor of Taoyuan County, said, "Taoyuan is one of the counties that have the biggest Hakka population in Taiwan. Many Taoyuan residents have their roots in Fujian province."

In the last act, the gala came to its climax with the performance of Taiwan pop band "May Day."

The event was broadcast live by two Fujian TV stations and three Taiwan stations. Directors have expressed their hope of presenting the show to all the Hakka people in the world, which amount to around 65 million.