City of Bellevue Hosts 100 Year Celebration of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

On this centennial anniversary of the Republic of China established by Sun Yat-sen, there will be a special photo exhibition and series of lectures celebrating Sun’s life and legacy. As the founding father of the Republic of China, Sun Yat-sen’s (1866-1925) political vision paved the way for Taiwan’s transformation after 1949. Not only revered by the ethnic Chinese people around the world, he also was named by Time magazine as one of the world’s 100 most influential people in the 20th century.
Sun was born at a time when China was weakened and profoundly humiliated by Western powers. In his words, China was treated “worse than the colonies.” Having witnessed the corruption and incompetence of the Qing government, Sun was deeply committed to restoring Chinese national pride by overthrowing the feudal dynasty.

His vision would lead him to travel around the world seven times, soliciting financial and political support for the revolutionary insurrections in China. It would take him nearly 30 years, half of which he spent in exile, before finally establishing the Republic of China, the first democratic republic in Asia.

Sun had strong connections to the United States, graduating from the same high school in Hawaii where President Obama attended 100 years later. The leader of the Chinese national revolution lived in northern California, and at one point, was also detained at the Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco for 17 days, since the US only recognized the Qing government at that time. The experience did not dampen his admiration for an American-styled democracy and his wish to establish a government “of the people, for the people and by the people.”

”Sun Yat-sen: His Life and Legacy” is provided by the Government Information Office, National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Kuomintang Party Archives Library of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Opening Ceremonies

On January 8, 2011, from 11:00AM to 4:30 PM, an expected crowd of 250 people with local State and Taiwan ROC dignitaries’ as VIP attendees will be at Bellevue City Hall, 450 110^th Ave NE, Bellevue. Opening ceremonies feature the International Lion Dance group, Martial Arts Team, Huayin Performing Arts Group, Chinese Art and Music Association and a ribbon cutting.

Exhibition Period:

January 8, 2011 – January 18, 2011.  Monday –Friday only after January 8, 2011.