(Minghui.org) On May 9, 2026, joyful chants of “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is good!” resonated throughout Taipei’s 228 Peace Park.
Many Taipei residents and international visitors gathered at the park’s open-air music plaza to celebrate an early World Falun Dafa Day, which is observed annually on May 13. The crowd enjoyed lively music and dance performances, watched exercise demonstrations, and joined Falun Gong practitioners in a warm, uplifting celebration.
228 Peace Park is situated in close proximity to major government institutions, such as the Presidential Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it also serves as one of the primary venues for the city's music festivals.
May 9 coincided with Mother's Day weekend, and—blessed with pleasant, cool weather—the park drew a large crowd of residents and visitors who gathered before the bandstand to join in the Falun Dafa Day celebration. The event featured performances by the Tian Guo Marching Band, a waist drum troupe, and classical Chinese dancers, with the open-air seating area filled nearly to capacity.
On May 9, 2026, Falun Gong practitioners from Taipei and the surrounding areas held a performance event at 228 Peace Park to celebrate Falun Dafa Day.
A Celebration That Spans Continents
Falun Gong practitioners in Taiwan have gathered annually since 2000 with their families and friends, in major cities across Taiwan, to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. Yet, these celebrations represent only a small part of the grand global festivities—over 100 million Falun Gong practitioners in more than 100 countries join together to commemorate this day, celebrating Falun Gong’s public introduction in 1992.
On May 13, 1992, Mr. Li Hongzhi conducted the inaugural Falun Gong lecture and qigong exercise class in Changchun, China. The practice, centered on the moral principles of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance,” quickly spread throughout China and around the world. Countless practitioners from diverse backgrounds have greatly benefited, both physically and mentally, through their practice of Falun Gong.
The annual May 13 World Falun Dafa Day has become an opportunity for them to celebrate their faith and express gratitude to Mr. Li Hongzhi, and this day also coincides with Mr. Li Hongzhi’s birthday.
Friends and Family of Falun Gong Practitioners Join Celebrations, Experiencing “Powerful Positive Energy”
Mr. Chen, an engineer, has many friends who practice Falun Gong. Upon learning of the event, he brought his son and niece to 228 Peace Memorial Park to celebrate. They participated in the entire event, watching the performances, while the children happily remarked, “We had a great time!” When the practitioners demonstrated the exercises, they watched from up close. Mr. Chen noted, “With so many practitioners around me, I feel a desire to understand them better and get to know them more deeply.”
Mr. Chen has many friends who practice Falun Gong. On May 9, 2026, he took his son and niece to 228 Peace Memorial Park to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day.
Mr. Chen remarked that he felt a “powerful positive energy” emanating from the drum and dance performances—an energy he described as both “awe-inspiring and righteous.” He also sensed the presence of the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance throughout the venue. Mr. Chen added that friends who practice Falun Gong often share their cultivation insights with him, their dedication to cultivating their minds, and their continuously striving for self-improvement in their daily lives, which has deeply impressed him.
People Offer Holiday Greetings: “The Whole World Needs Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance”
Mr. Chen, a retired Taiwanese businessman living in Tamsui, New Taipei City, often sees people practicing exercises near his home. He said that in 1996, he had also seen Falun Gong practitioners in Shanghai. “It was snowing, and they were sitting in meditation in the square—it was truly impressive, truly impressive. It was freezing cold, yet they were all sitting there meditating.”
He mentioned that before his retirement, he had seen Falun Gong in mainland China and Southeast Asian countries, and felt that practicing Falun Gong was very beneficial to one’s health. He said, “I strongly support Falun Gong.” “The whole world needs Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.” As World Falun Dafa Day approaches, Mr. Chen expressed, “I wish all practitioners, as well as Master (Li Hongzhi), health and happiness.”
Ms. Zhang, a woman in her fifties from mainland China has lived in Taiwan for over twenty years, and previously worked at a department store. She met a friend who practices Falun Gong, so she joined her at 228 Memorial Park to celebrate Falun Dafa Day. She mentioned that she has a strong interest in health and wellness, and seeing how well her friend’s health had improved through practicing Falun Gong, it sparked her own interest in the practice.
She recalled that her friend initially struggled to find the event venue, but Ms. Zhang, guided by the music from the performance, was able to locate the open-air music plaza. Standing behind the bandstand, she watched the show with rapt attention, taking a particular interest in the waist drum troupe. Her friend even invited her to join in and play the waist drums.
Ms. Zhang expressed her admiration for the sincerity and kindness embodied by Falun Dafa, emphasized the importance of freedom of belief, and—right there on the spot—announced her withdrawal from both the Young Pioneers and the Communist Youth League.
Another young male tourist from mainland China who was watching the festivities remarked, “I feel both curious and excited, because I don’t normally have the opportunity to encounter [Falun Gong practitioners’ activities]; I can only see them when I visit Taiwan or other places. So, I wanted to see what kind of programs they have.”
Around the event venue, many people accepted introductory materials on Falun Dafa and immediately read them. Additionally, Taipei residents sat in the audience throughout the entire celebration, learning the Dafa exercises during the demonstration, while Western tourists also learned the exercises on the spot.
Visitors accepted introductory materials on Falun Dafa.
Falun Gong practitioners demonstrated Dafa exercises, and members of the public learned the practice on the spot.
Office Worker Reborn Through Cultivation Joins Colleagues to Celebrate Falun Dafa Day
Many Falun Gong practitioners came to the event with their families and friends to celebrate Falun Dafa Day together. Practitioners from all walks of life shared how their physical and mental health had improved through their practice. Some practitioners, through studying the Fa, doing the exercises, and cultivating their character, have recovered from serious illnesses, and feel as if they were given new lease on life.
Ms. Chou (left), an employee of the Taiwan Power Company, brought her colleague Ms. Li (right) to participate in the May 13 World Falun Dafa Day activities.
Ms. Zhou, an employee of the Taiwan Power Company, candidly admited that she once hit rock bottom in her life, tormented by a family-related illness and chronic insomnia, and it was not until she encountered Falun Dafa that a glimmer of hope and a turning point emerged in her life.
She recounted, “At that time, I saw numerous doctors and took countless medications, yet nothing could cure me. I felt a strong urge to give up on myself. I felt that my life had deteriorated to such a state that I was utterly hopeless.” Because she could see no hope for the future, Ms. Zhou became reluctant to leave her home or interact with others. During her worst periods, she could do nothing but lie motionless in bed.
She felt, however, that there had to be a way out. At first, Ms. Zhou’s mother took up Falun Gong, and finding the practice so beneficial, introduced it to her. “I truly put the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance into practice, cultivating my inner self and changing my former temperament. Combined with studying the teachings and practicing the exercises, I gradually recovered from a state where I had been practically a wreck,” she said.
Today, Ms. Zhou sits in the audience, healthy and cheerful, attending the World Falun Dafa Day event with her colleague, Ms. Li. She said, “I now sleep soundly and have regained my strength. I’ve received a raise and a promotion at work, and my supervisor and colleagues are all very kind to me. My relationship with my family is also excellent—all thanks to Falun Dafa.” “I am so grateful to Master for saving me from being a broken person and giving me a new lease on life!”
Ms. Li, a colleague, candidly admitted that she previously held only a superficial understanding of Falun Gong, but after meeting Ms. Zhou, she gained a deeper appreciation for the principles of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance,” and expressed a willingness to learn more about the practice.
In her eyes, Ms. Zhou is a person of great sincerity. “She is quite kind and pure-hearted; she speaks her mind honestly and is willing to work on her own shortcomings and engage in self-reflection. I feel that cultivators are quite different from ordinary people.” She noted that while the two had occasionally experienced conflicts, Ms. Zhou never simply placed the blame on others; instead, she was always willing to calm down and listen attentively to the other person’s opinion.
At the conclusion of the event, everyone present gathered together and chanted in unison, “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” expressing their gratitude to Falun Dafa and Mr. Li Hongzhi.
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