Hundreds of thousands of people across Taiwan spent the last night of the millennium partying, especially on the beaches along the east coast where the first rays of sunlight would shine, marking a new year.
More than 100,000 people gathered at the Lungpan Park (
On the beach of Taimali, the day broke at 5:45am, sending the crowds into a euphoric roar. Unfortunately, most other places along the coast were cloaked in heavy clouds until well after 6am.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
During the night, hundreds of thousands of people participated in celebratory rallies and concerts from Taipei to Kaohsiung.
In the plaza in front of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, more than 100,000 participated in the celebrations featuring media celebrities and a last minute appearance of Vice President Lien Chan (
The crowds went into a frenzy just before midnight, throwing fluorescent tubes and plastic bottles onto the stage as Lien spoke. Lien responded by throwing his cap into the crowd.
In the Taipei City Hall plaza, 100,000 people attending another millennium party featuring mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
The National Palace Museum also offered free-of-charge entry at many of its exhibitions from 8pm to 11:40pm last night.
More than 10,000 people went to the midnight party held in front of the museum.
In Taipei, nine couples held their wedding ceremonies in front of the presidential office at 4am. A total of 32 couples tied the knot at the Taipei District Court yesterday morning, despite the fact that the Chinese lunar calendar bore no special recommendation for marriage.
"We don't care if it's a good day on the lunar calendar. We know that [couples married on] the first day of the millennium will be together till death," said one bride.
Entry tickets were sold out last night at many of the pubs and discos across the city, despite the inflated cover charges. Many places raised their prices from the usual NT$200 to NT$500 to NT$400 to NT$1,200.
The city's major hotels also saw record-breaking attendance at their millennium parties, with over 3,000 people crowding into the lobbies of the Grand Hyatt and Formosa Regent.
Meanwhile, in Taipei County's Pinghsi (
The party reached its climax at midnight with the lift-off of a giant lantern 18.98-meters tall and weighing 200 kilograms. The lantern, which now claims a place in the Guiness Book of World Records, carried the words "Keep going Taiwan -- peace." The lantern was released amid prayers by a Taoist organization.
Thousands of other lanterns also floated skyward in other villages and cities across Taiwan bearing hopes for peace and rapid recovery from the massive September 21 earthquake.
On Orchid Island off Taiwan's east coast, men of the Yami tribe rowed in traditional wooden boats to meet the dawn.
In Kaohsiung City, some 100,000 people gathered at an evening gala at the city's culture center for a millennium countdown led by mayor Frank Hsieh (
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