Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Culture Group once again joins forces with cross-disciplinary director and playwright HUANG Chih-kai to present its 2026 flagship production, The Oolong Tycoon.

Based on historical events, the production traces the rise of LEE Chun-sheng, revered as the father of Taiwan oolong tea. Born into poverty as the son of a ferryman, Lee educates himself through sheer determination and, with remarkable foresight and resilience, navigates the turbulence of the late Qing dynasty to bring Taiwan tea onto the global trading stage.

The production vividly recreates the rise and prosperity of late nineteenth-century Dadaocheng, then Taiwan’s most thriving commercial district, alongside major historical conflicts including The Dingxiajiao Conflict, The Camphor Wars, and the Bangka Rent Incident. Audiences are drawn into a volatile era shaped equally by gunpowder and opportunity. To more fully evoke the world of early Han settlers in Taiwan, the performance carefully distinguishes between the accents and speech patterns of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou dialects of Taiwanese Hokkien. The tonal qualities of the language are further woven into the musical composition and rhyme, revealing the refined musicality and lyrical cadence of Taiwanese opera at its most captivating.

Legendary performer SUN Tsui-feng shares the stage with Ming Hwa Yuan’s third-generation performers CHEN Chao-ting and CHEN Tzu-hao, alongside outstanding younger actors including LI Yu-chen and Wu Mi-na. Together, artists from different generations carry forward the living legacy of Taiwanese opera, opening a new chapter with Taiwan’s first large-scale operatic saga centered on the world of commerce and trade.

Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group
Founded in 1929, this artistic family has dedicated itself to the art of Taiwanese opera, blending traditional foundations with contemporary elements. It is the only Taiwanese opera group in Taiwan with its own exclusive directors and a full roster of actors. Every member of the artistic family is fully committed to the performance art of Taiwanese opera, boasting a strong production and performance team and a unique Eastern artistic style. They have become a significant legend in Taiwan’s performing arts scene.

Artistic Director／CHEN Sheng-fu
Producer／CHEN Zhao-xian
Playwright & Director／HUANG Zhi-kai
Performer／SUN Tsui-feng, CHEN Zhao-ting, CHEN Zi-hao, LI Yu-zhen, WU Mi-na, CHEN Ling, HUANG Xiao-yuan
Stage Design／TSENG Su-ming
Lighting Design／CHEN Wei-an
Music Design／CHUANG Chia-yu
Taiwanese Hokkien Consultant／CHEN Feng-hui