On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, participants in the New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program visited the Kuo Yuan Ye Museum of Cake and Pastry, beginning their cultural experience by making pineapple cakes by hand. Under the instructor’s guidance, participants mixed, shaped, and baked their own pastries. For many, making one of Taiwan’s most familiar treats themselves was a fresh and enjoyable experience. Doing so during the Mid-Autumn Festival also made it easier to connect food with the traditions and meanings of the holiday.

Beyond the pastry-making activity, the museum’s displays on traditional customs, life-cycle rituals, and clothing also introduced participants to the multiple cultural influences that have shaped Taiwan. A variety of traditional costumes were available for visitors to try on, many of them reflecting historical elements from Han Chinese and broader Chinese cultural traditions. Participants enthusiastically changed into different outfits and took photos together, and for many, it was their first time wearing this type of traditional clothing. Through food, festivals, clothing, and ritual, the visit offered a glimpse of how Taiwanese culture has developed through the long-term interaction of different historical experiences and cultural traditions.

One participant shared that they had originally been most excited about making pineapple cakes, but trying on the traditional costumes unexpectedly became one of the most memorable parts of the visit. For the participants, experiencing culture through food, clothing, and photography made it feel more immediate, enjoyable, and easier to remember than simply reading about it.