The New Year countdown party on Thursday organized by the Taipei City Government is expected to attract more than 1 million visitors, with MRT lines to provide 24-hour service for revelers.
The annual countdown in front of Taipei City Hall will start at 7pm with music acts throughout the evening by performers including Wang Lee-hom (王力宏), Mayday (五月天), S.H.E and Crowd Lu (盧廣仲). The party — the city’s largest gathering — will conclude at 1am.
The firework show at Taipei 101 will feature 22,000 rounds of fireworks — 6,000 more than last year — for a 188-second show costing NT$30 million (US$930,000).
A special musical concert for fans of old Chinese classics will also be held. The Dialogue between Flowers and Music New Year’s Eve concert will take place at the Da-an Forest Park (大安森林公園) between 8pm and 12:30am.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said that as the event attracts an increasing number of people every year, the city government has drawn up traffic control and public transportation plans.
The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation said all MRT lines will offer a 24-hour service on Thursday. Trains will be running on rush hour schedule starting at 5pm, with an average of 3 minutes between each train.
Crowd control measures will be implemented according to needs at five major MRT stations in the area (MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing, Zhongxiao Dunhua, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei City Hall, and Yongchun stations), the city government said.
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