Meet writer Alison Zhao. Within her works on the Chinese struggle for human rights and the  feminist movement, her words keep the inner fire of China’s activists shining brightly. Behind her eloquent words and confidence lies someone who watches with both hope and pain, as a new generation seeks to go beyond what has been done before.

In 2011, Alison arrived in Taiwan as an exchange student, and for the first time, covered a presidential election in a democracy. As she further ventured into the world of journalism, published a book, and went on to study in the United States, we wondered – how did her experiences in Taiwan shape her life choices? By the age of 27, Alison had already won five of the highest honours within Asian human rights journalism – including from the Hong Kong Human Rights Press Awards and the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards. One cannot help but admire her continued courage. Even the characters in her writing – who are constantly under the chains of fear and oppression – still manage to stand up for their beliefs.

At TAIWANfest, we invite you to get to know the story of Alison, her experiences in Taiwan, and her activism! At the Taiwan Bookstore, you’ll have to opportunity to read and buy her works, and possibly even meet Alison herself!