Seeking to attract the public to Taipei during the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, the Taipei City Government has released a program of activities drawn up by its Committee of Tourism.
"This program is specially tailored to enable the public to see what Taipei City has to offer," Taipei City Government spokesman Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) said.
In accordance with the lunar calendar, Chinese New Year this year falls on Feb. 12.
"In past years," said Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), "almost one-third of the city's population left the city and traveled home to central and southern Taiwan for the Chinese New Year holiday.
"So, we want the public to know that this is actually the best time to visit Taipei because you won't encounter the kinds of problems that occur frequently on most normal days, such as traffic jams and long queues."
"Instead of getting stuck in traffic jams on their way out of Taipei and traveling home," said Ma, "We would like to encourage Taipei citizens to invite their friends and relatives to come and spend their Chinese New Year holidays in Taipei."
Wu said that every afternoon from 1pm to 4pm during the three-day period (Feb. 12 to Feb 14), the city government will hold a variety of performances in front of City Hall.
"Entertainment such as folk dances, jazz music, puppet shows, cheerleading squares and an orchestra that will perform New Year pieces," Wu said.
"In addition, Mayor Ma's office will be open for public tours from 1pm to 4pm ... and Mayor Ma will deliver his New Year greeting to tourists in person."
Wu said the city government has also mapped out day-tours for sites such as the Taipei City Zoo, the National Palace Museum, the National Museum of History and the Core Pacific Mall.
For further details, contact the Committee of Tourism of the Taipei City Government at (02) 2720-8889 ext. 1505.
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