Taipei 101 Financial Center Corp has asked the public to help decide what New Year wishes should be put up in lights on the skyscraper’s facade to ring in the new year.
After a 202-second fireworks show at midnight to celebrate the coming Year of the Dragon, the building will be lit up with New Year wishes from the 78th to the 81st floors, Taipei 101 spokesman Michael Liu (劉家豪) said.
“They will be the tallest New Year wishes in the world,” he said.
Photo: CNA
In previous years, the New Year lighting of Taipei 101 was a commercial venture that cost business sponsors NT$30 million (US$991,000) each. However, in recognition of the Republic of China’s centennial this year, Taipei 101 organizers have decided to fund the New Year’s celebrations themselves.
“To celebrate ‘Double 101,’ we want everyone in Taiwan to participate in this meaningful event,” Liu said. People will be able to see their choice of New Year wishes in lights right after the dazzling fireworks show, he said.
The public will be given nine wishes, in Chinese and English, to choose from, Liu said. They include “Smile Taiwan, Smile 101,” “101% Happiness, Joyful Taiwan” and “Beautiful Taiwan, Yes 101.”
This year, only four floors, instead of the usual eight or 10, will be lit, since more of the Taipei 101 tower is being rented out for office use, Liu said.
A new technique will be adopted this year for the light display, he said, but declined to give any details.
“It’s going to be a surprise, and I’m sure everyone will be impressed,” he said.
Nearly 90 percent of the office space in the tower has been occupied, which means that unless some new method is devised, the lighting displays might not continue beyond next year if all the space is taken, he said.
Voting for the most popular New Year wishes is being conducted on the Chinese-language Web site www.taipei-101.com.tw.
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