The 1997 Taiwanese Cultural Festival was designated as part of the official program of Canada’s Year of Asia Pacific. The Lan-Yang Taiwanese Opera and the Yin Qi Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Gordon Chin overwhelmed the Taiwanese community and other ethnic groups. Together with an exhibition of Taiwanese Canadian Artists, and Taiwanese Canadian Young People’s Talent Show, both held in the Asian Centre in UBC, the festival attracted about 5000 people.