CHIAYI, Taiwan—Shen Yun Performing Arts drew full houses on two consecutive nights at the Chiayi Performing Arts Center. The New York-based company’s vibrant revival of traditional Chinese culture resonated deeply with audiences. Even on the day of the performances, last-minute hopefuls arrived in search of tickets. To accommodate the surge in demand, organizers added extra seating—but those, too, were quickly claimed.
Mei-ling Huang, President of the Chiayi Chapter of the Global Federation of Chinese Business Women, praised Shen Yun for its otherworldly beauty.
This was Ms. Huang’s first time seeing Shen Yun, and as the curtain rose, Ms. Huang felt as if she had entered a celestial realm.
“It was as if I had become an immortal. I felt as though I had entered heaven and seen the Buddha,” said Ms. Huang, who is a firm believer in Buddhism.
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture, and let audiences around the world experience China before communism.
“Shen Yun truly exceeded my expectations and was unlike any performance I’ve seen before. It brought Chinese culture to life through dance drama, giving us a fresh perspective on history. It was truly something special,” Ms. Huang said.
Chairman: Bought The Highest-Priced Ticket To Support Shen Yun
Kun-ho Tu, chairman of an organization, enjoyed Shen Yun with his wife at the Chiayi Performing Arts Center on April 8, 2025. Chih-ta Chen/The Epoch Times
Kun-ho Tu, chairman of an educational and cultural organization, enjoyed Shen Yun with his wife on the April 8. In addition to praising the high quality of Shen Yun’s performance, Mr. Tu believes that Shen Yun should be promoted.
“I bought the highest-priced tickets to support them,” Mr. Tu shared.
Shen Yun does not come to Chiayi every season, and Mr. Tu shared that he jumped at the opportunity to attend this season.
“I’ve seen it several times, but I still really want to come back,” Mr. Tu said.
With his deep local connections, he added, “A lot of businesspeople came to watch, and I saw many good friends. The more prominent ones were all here, truly.”
Mr. Tu feels that buying the highest-priced ticket to see Shen Yun is totally worth it.
“It’s not about us enjoying it, but about paying a little extra, getting the best, and showing our support so they can keep growing,” he said.
Every year, Shen Yun puts on an all-new production. With his wife being a scriptwriter, Mr. Tu shared that she has been greatly influenced by Shen Yun.
“Honestly, I’ve always thought Shen Yun is really top-notch. The whole experience is just different, really high quality,” Mr. Tu said.
Shen Yun’s use of its digital backdrop is patented. The versatility of technology allows the set to change scenes in the blink of an eye, giving the stage endless possibilities.
“When the figures on screen disappear into the animated backdrop and then real performers emerge on stage—it’s seamless. And when they leap into the screen, it really looks like they’re flying. The technology is incredible. I was telling my wife, How do they even pull this off? It’s seriously impressive,” Mr. Tu said.
Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.
“Their movements are so well-trained—every performer is in great shape, every single one of them. Really impressive. A performance like this is something you have to see for yourself. It’s a chance to appreciate Chinese culture and take pride in our own heritage,” Mr. Tu said.
Reporting by Sheng-hua Sung and Chih-ta Chen.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
