Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

The Deaflympics Culture Month kicked off with a spectacular performance of the “Legend of the White Snake” by the Ming Hwa Yuan Taiwanese Opera Company at the plaza outside the National Concert and Theater Hall in the evening of August 2.
The first show of the month-long Taipei Deaflympics Arts Month is a Taiwanese opera adaptation of the “Legend of the White Snake” – a well-known Chinese folk story about a white snake spirit who falls in love with a human male.
With the help of modern technology, the show features amazing stunts and astounding stage effects. In addition to making actors “fly” on stage with guided wires, the production also enlisted the help of several fire engines from the city’s Fire Department to stage the famous temple-flooding scene in the story.
Over 60,000 spectators attended the open-air performance on Sunday night, including Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin, Foreign Affairs Minister Francisco Ou, Council for Cultural Affairs Minister Hwang Pi-twan, and First Lady Christine Chow.
Mayor Hau pointed out that the Deaflympics will take place in Taipei between September 5 and September 15. The City expects the important sport competition to attract over 5,500 athletes and related personnel to the island. He hopes that the people on the island will demonstrate their warmth and friendliness when welcoming these foreign guests. The mayor is confident that there will be good performance by local athletes at the upcoming tournament.