Taiwan museum removes 'mainland Chinese' term from exhibition promotion

The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMFA) has swiftly removed promotional language featuring a term commonly used in mainland China following public backlash. The museum had used the phrase "展覽上新啦～" (zhǎnlǎn shàng xīn la~) to announce a new exhibition at the National Museum of Natural Science.

Netizens flagged the term "上新" (shàng xīn), which translates to "new arrival" or "newly launched," as a "Chinglish" term – a vocabulary item originating from mainland China. The criticism, amplified on social media platforms like Threads, argued that public institutions in Taiwan should avoid such terminology. One user, identified as 'yuramu', reported the usage to "Chinglish police," a colloquial term for those who monitor and call out the use of mainland Chinese vernacular in Taiwan.

The museum responded quickly to the criticism. The original phrase was replaced with "科博館最新展覽來囉～" (kēbó guǎn zuìxīn zhǎnlǎn lái la~), meaning "The Science Museum's latest exhibition is here~." A museum spokesperson stated that the updated wording is "more in line with public opinion."

The "Ke Ju Mei Tu" alliance, which includes the National Museum of Natural Science, the National Taichung Theater, NTMFA, and the National Public Information Library, was formed two years ago. This collaboration aims to link cultural and artistic corridors in central Taiwan and provide unique experiences for visitors. The incident highlights ongoing discussions in Taiwan about linguistic identity and the influence of mainland Chinese internet culture.