Tens of thousands of spectators gathered at Taipei’s annual New Year’s countdown party outside Taipei City Hall on Tuesday, where a six-minute fireworks show was set off atop the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper.
The themes of this year’s Taipei 101 fireworks display were “Team Taiwan” and “Champions,” in recognition of Taiwan’s victory at the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 baseball championship in Tokyo in November.
Before the fireworks show, a light sculpture show created by Canadian-American artist Bernard Chang (張伯納)was also presented, featuring the likenesses of eight notable Taiwanese athletes who competed in the Summer Olympics in Paris and the Premier12 tournament last year.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
A New Year’s Eve countdown party was held in the plaza in front of Taipei City Hall, featuring renowned K-pop group Apink and several Golden Melody Award winners, such as Penny Tai (戴佩妮), Faith Yang (楊乃文) and YELLOW (黃宣).
Tourists and local residents gathered near the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Tuesday, hours before the fireworks show to ring in the New Year was scheduled to take place, with performances by pop singers continuing past midnight in front of Taipei City Hall.
Anne, from the Philippines, said she was visiting Taipei for the new year and planned to watch the Taipei 101 fireworks show.
A surgeon working in Hong Kong, Anne said her new year’s resolution is to work harder and fulfill her career goals.
Alfredo Arellano Jr, a Filipino factory worker, said it was his first New Year’s Eve in Taiwan, and he was excited to experience the fireworks show at Taipei 101.
His new year’s resolution is to make more money for his future and that of his family.
Suchira Rachakrom, from Thailand, was also in Taipei to celebrate the new year, saying that the fireworks show at Taipei 101 was a main attraction.
She added that she had heard the theme of the fireworks show was a celebration of Taiwan’s victory in the Premier12 championship in Tokyo on Nov. 24 and hoped to “celebrate with everyone in Taiwan.”
In addition to Taipei, New Year’s Eve events were held across Taiwan, including in New Taipei City, Taichung and Kaohsiung, with pop concerts and fireworks displays to welcome in the new year.
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