The observatory at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) is to reopen tomorrow after nearly two years of renovation, the Civil Aviation Administration said yesterday.
The civil aviation authority made the announcement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend after Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) visited the renovated facility yesterday morning.
Chen said he loved watching planes fly overhead in Taipei’s Binjiang Street, adding that he was particularly impressed by the childcare room as well as the futuristic-style entrance to the observatory.
Photo: CNA
Taipei International Airport Office is conducting a final inspection of the observatory today and tomorrow before reopening it to the public on the first day of the long weekend, office director Cheng Chien-chung (鄭堅中) said.
The observatory will be open daily from 9am to 9pm and can accommodate up to 600 visitors at a time.
The observatory opened to visitors in 2011 and immediately emerged as a popular destination in northern Taiwan for aviation fans, with annual visitor numbers peaking at 450,000, Cheng said.
However, the airport office decided to change the solid wood flooring on the deck in October 2023 due to damage from long-term use, he said.
“While replacing the wood flooring, the construction team also found that part of the waterproofing structure had deteriorated and required more thorough work. We then decided to expand the construction by rebuilding the groundwork and upgrading the facilities,” Cheng said.
The construction was completed last month after nearly two years of renovation, he said.
The revamped observatory features several new facilities. To enhance visitors’ safety, the wood flooring has been replaced by more durable and slip-resistant wood-plastic composite flooring, the office said.
Near the observatory’s entrance is a 3D wall designed around the theme of aviation and the future, and visitors can take pictures with the airport’s three mascots at the wall: an orange fairy named Luchengcheng (綠橙橙), a flying squirrel dressed as female captain named Aichiang (愛將) and another squirrel dressed as a male captain named Songsang (松桑).
The observatory is equipped with accessible restrooms and a childcare room to meet the potential needs of elderly travelers and families with young children, as well as a coffee shop operated by the Seoul-based Caffe Bene.
In related news, Songshan airport yesterday advised travelers to closely monitor potential flight changes next week as the airport has been instructed to assist the military in rehearsing for the aerial show for the Double Ten National Day celebrations.
The airport must also assist with the full-force rehearsals on Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning, it said.
The airport’s international and domestic flights could be affected, it said.
Songshan airport is a joint military-civilian facility, accommodating commercial flights and military operations.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
ISOLATION: The outposts would serve as support and backup bases, forcing US forces to either face China head-on or reroute, increasing travel time and operational costs China’s outposts in the South China Sea could be used to delay and constrain foreign forces during a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, giving Beijing a critical window to carry out amphibious landing and blockade operations, a report said. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forward operating bases on islands and reclaimed features in the South China Sea could delay foreign forces long enough for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to secure a key 48-to-72-hour window in the Taiwan Strait, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council found. The report, conducted by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, examined
RSS