On the early morning of September 19, 2025, in the city of Willoughby, Australia, time seemed to be gently lifted by a distant bell and gong sound. That day, a grand event spanning both the past and the present began in tranquility and solemnity - the Taoist ritual tradition of Australia's Yaochi Palace was officially recognized as a regional representative project of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Asia-Pacific; Yan Meixi Daoist Master was officially awarded the status of a representative inheritor of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Asia-Pacific; and the Australia Asia-Pacific Intangible Cultural Heritage Taoist Culture Center was simultaneously inaugurated.

This is not an ordinary celebration; rather, it is a brilliant mark left by history in the Southern Hemisphere. It witnessed the handshake between the ancient Eastern civilization and the modern Western society under the stars, and also signified that the Australian Taoist culture has written a new chapter in the world's cultural map.

  The timeless essence, the echo crossing the vast ocean

  Taoist culture is a philosophy that integrates nature and the universe into a single breath, and it is a soulful poem of the coexistence of humans and the universe. The Taoist rituals of the Yaqi Palace in Australia precisely present this ancient charm: solemn rituals, distant musical pieces, and scriptures carrying philosophical thoughts, like an intangible light band, traverses the vast ocean, from the mountains of China to the continent in the Southern Hemisphere.

In this multicultural land of Australia, this tradition has not been eroded by time; instead, it has shone with a unique brilliance in the new environment. Whether it is the seasonal sacrifices, community rituals, or the delicate expressions of music and dance, all these have enabled people from different ethnic backgrounds to experience a tranquility and harmony that transcends language.

The international intangible cultural heritage certification of the Taoist rituals of the Yuhu Palace in Australia is not only a recognition of the depth of its culture, but also a bridge for cultural dialogue. It tells the world: Intangible cultural heritage is not an isolated figure of one country or one region, but a spiritual wealth shared by all humanity; Taoist culture is not only confined to the ancient halls of green mountains in the East, but can also shine together with the stars in the night sky of the Southern Hemisphere.

"This is a moment of epochal significance." Willoughby City Council representative MICHELLE said emotionally during the awarding ceremony. Indeed, this is the first Taoist cultural project in Australia to receive the international certification of the Asia-Pacific Intangible Cultural Heritage. This not only fills the void in Australia's cultural landscape, but also marks the first time that Australian Taoist culture has been included in the official records of the Asia-Pacific Intangible Cultural Heritage in an international certification form.

       Behind the international certification lies a rigorous selection process: the completeness of the project, the uniqueness of the rituals, the community's ability， the contribution to cultural diversity... Each aspect requires years of accumulation. The success of the Taoist rituals of the Yaochi Palace in Australia proves the vitality of this Eastern wisdom taking root in a foreign land， and also indicates Australia's broad-mindedness in the global multicultural protection system.

   At this moment, Australian Taoist culture has entered the mainstream discourse of global intangible cultural heritage and has become a shared spiritual symbol worldwide. Its value lies not only in preserving an ancient ritual, but also in revealing to modern society: how to retain the deep connection between humans and nature, individuals and the universe in a rapidly developing world. Willoughby City Council's praise - a permanent archive of respect

    If the international certification of intangible cultural heritage in the Asia-Pacific region attracts worldwide attention, then the actions of the Willoughby City Council in Australia represent a heartfelt local response.

 The Willoughby City Council, where the Australian Yuhchi Palace is located, specially sent Councilor Michelle to attend the awarding ceremony. She solemnly announced on behalf of the city council: The Willoughby City Council will, at the city council meeting, present this Asia-Pacific Intangible Cultural Heritage International Certification as a government special proposal, giving it high recognition and praise. And this proposal will be permanently archived in the historical archives of Willoughby City.

This means that the Australian Yaochi Palace Taoist Ritual Tradition of the Asia-Pacific Intangible Cultural Heritage was for the first time officially recorded in the public memory of the Australian government in the most formal manner. This was also the first time in Australian history that a municipal government honored the international achievements of Taoist culture in the form of a motion. It is not just a document, but also a tribute, representing the open commitment of the Willoughby City Council to multiculturalism - here, every culture deserves to be respected, protected and passed on.

When the next generation goes through the archives of Willoughby City, what they will see is not just a collection of words, but rather the cultural landscape of the city in the 21st century: respecting differences, cherishing traditions, and embracing the world.

Yan Meixi has been featured on the cover of the international special issue of "Asia-Pacific Culture and Heritage" published by the Asia-Pacific International Intangible Cultural Heritage Press.

At the center of this historical stage stands a composed and determined woman - Daoist Master Yan Meixi. She is the founder of the Australian Taoist Association and the core inheritor of the Taoist rituals of the Yaochi Palace in Australia. Over the years, she not only has been safeguarding the ancient rituals in the ceremonies, but has also integrated Taoist philosophy into community education, cultural exchanges and youth education.

 "Intangible cultural heritage is not an antique kept in a glass case, but a living thing that can breathe in daily life." This statement by Master Yan embodies her determination. The honor of being an Asia-Pacific International Representative of Intangible Cultural Heritage is not the end for her; rather, it is a greater responsibility: to continue leading the team and allowing this serene wisdom from the East to grow under the sun of the Southern Hemisphere and to be heard on the international stage.

 Her figure is a microcosm of countless cultural guardians: working silently, without seeking attention, yet with a lifetime of passion, she passes on the flame of tradition to the future.

The International Taoist Culture Forum of the 2024 Australian Taoist International Cultural Arts Festival came to a successful conclusion.

Along with the certification came the official establishment of the Australian Asia-Pacific Intangible Cultural Heritage Taoist Culture Center. This is not only a place for display and research, but also a platform for dialogue - East and West, ancient and modern, academia and community, all will converge here.

The center will conduct academic research on Taoist rituals, hold international cultural festivals, train young inheritors, and engage in cross-cultural exchanges with the mainstream society of Australia. For the Australian Taoist Association, this represents a crucial step from the local folk level to the international stage; for the Australian society, this is a new cultural force that will infuse Eastern wisdom into the diverse urban pulse.

In the days to come, this center will not only be a base for heritage preservation, but also a laboratory for innovation: Here, the chimes of Taoism can coexist with modern music, the harmony of Tai Chi can communicate with digital art, and the ancient rituals can shine with new brilliance in the exploration of the new generation.

The Oath under the Stars: Echoes of Tradition and the Future

       As night fell, the sky of Willoughby was bathed in the light of the Southern Cross. The light was distant and clear, as if echoing Kant's famous saying - "The starry sky above and the moral law within." At this moment, the ancient Taoist rituals resonated with modern Sydney, and the Eastern philosophy shone brightly with the Western freedom.

The international certification of the Taoist rituals of the Yuhu Palace in Australia as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Asia-Pacific region is not only an honor for Australia, but also belongs to the entire Asia-Pacific region and the entire human race. It reminds us that culture is not isolated islands, but a flowing ocean of interaction; tradition is not relics of the past, but a living water that nourishes the present and the future.

 When the archives of the Willoughby Municipal Government preserve this proposal forever, when Master Yan Meixi continues to watch over and pass on the heritage in the morning and evening bell tolls, and when the Australian Asia-Pacific Intangible Cultural Heritage Taoist Culture Center welcomes one group of curious visitors after another, we can be confident that:

 On this distant continent in the southern hemisphere, an Eastern ancient charm has been engraved into the annals of world civilization; and that tranquility and wisdom from Taoism will eventually transform into star-like light, illuminating the common spiritual sky of humanity.