Free outdoor skating rink opens in Taipei

Free outdoor skating rink opens in Taipei

2023-02-10

A free outdoor ice skating rink is open to the public in Taipei’s Nangang District until March 5. Visitors to the rink can rent skates and protective gear, skate for free, and they can also play with snow. Our reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a look!

Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
I am currently at a free ice skating rink in Nangang. After renting skates and protective gear, you can hit the ice!

This skating rink in Nangang is open to the public for free. After reserving a spot, visitors can rent protective gear and start skating.

This space, located outside of the headquarters of the CTBC Financial Park in Nangang, has been transformed into an ice skating rink. Organizers say the rink was inspired by The Rink at Rockefeller Center in New York. The rink this year is themed around computer gaming, and organizers have set up several game-related installations around the venue.

Member of the public
I come every year, at least once a week. I think the rink is great, and it’s very beautiful. The decorations remind me of computer games, like Minecraft.

Member of the public
Nobody is very good at skating at first, so we have to hold the rail for support. After a while, we can let go and skate on our own. I think it’s quite safe, because there are people watching us all the time, and when children come in, the staff are responsible for supporting them.

FTV reporter
Stephany Yang
Never seen snow before? This place also allows people to build a snowman and play with snow.

The ice skating rink also provides a place for people to play with snow.

Member of the public
I placed a mold on top to make a castle.

Member of the public
I don’t know how to skate, but I came here to play with kids. I made snowballs. My hands got pretty cold after playing in the snow.

The skating rink is located outside of the CTBC Financial Park in Nangang and will be open until March 5.

南港戶外溜冰場免費開放至3月5日

2023-02-10

台北市南港區有一個免費的戶外溜冰場免費開放至3月5日。遊客可租借用溜冰鞋及護具，免費溜冰及玩雪。一起來看看!

[民視英語新聞記者楊怡安]]
"我現在在南港的一個免費溜冰場。租好溜冰鞋和護具後，就可以下去溜冰了！"

這個位在南港的溜冰場開放民眾免費入場。預約後，就可以排隊取票入場。遊客可以先租借護具，然後就可以開始下場溜冰了。

主辦單位將中信金融園區外的空間，改造成溜冰場，靈感來自紐約洛克斐勒中心溜冰場。今年以「懷舊電玩風」為主題，將園區打造成冰上電玩世界。主辦單位在場地周圍設置了幾個與遊戲相關的設施。

[[民眾]]
"我每年都會來，一個禮拜至少會來一次，我覺得很好，也很漂亮，這裡的佈置也很像電玩，像是麥塊那樣。"

[[民眾]]
"大家本來不太會溜，就是扶著扶手，過沒多久，都可以放手直接溜了。我覺得還滿安全的，因為隨時都有人在我們旁邊看我們，然後小朋友進來，工作人員都會負責扶著他們。"

[[民視英語新聞記者楊怡安]]
"以前沒看過雪嗎？這個區域可以讓大家堆雪人和玩雪。"

溜冰場特地設置一個區域讓民眾玩雪。

[[民眾]]
"這個蓋上去，我做一個城堡。"

[[民眾]]
"我不會溜冰，所以來這邊陪小朋友玩。我用手做了雪球，玩到手有一點凍傷了。"

滑冰場位於南港的中信金融園區外，開放至3月5日，喜歡玩雪的民眾千萬別錯過了。

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Ever since a strong earthquake hit Turkey four days ago, the Taiwan-Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens, a Taiwanese NGO based in Turkey, has provided shelter to scores of earthquake survivors. The center, which was originally a community center for Syrian refugees, now takes in about 300 to 400 people a day. The center’s head Chiu Chen-yu returned to Taiwan on Thursday night and is now appealing for funds and more resources, so that his center can continue providing post-disaster relief.

Following a devastating earthquake, this little girl and her family sought at the “Taiwan center” in the Turkish city of Reyhanli near the Syrian border. The center says it’s receiving 300 to 400 survivors a day. Its head, Chiu Chen-yu, returned to Taiwan on Thursday night. He’s expected to stay here for two weeks, and drum up even more resources for earthquake relief.

Chiu Chen-yu
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Now in Reyhanli, the “Taiwan center” is the only institution that provides food, power, and water for free. I’ve come back this time because I hope that I can cooperate with the general public, scholars, specialists, architects, our donors and NGOs. We will look to our past experience with the 1999 Jiji earthquake to turn the “Taiwan center,” which is currently like an isolated island, into a place with energy self-sufficiency.

Chiu says the city of Reyhanli, where his center is located, is in a state of anarchy, with power and water shortages. He says that with resources limited, there could soon be a food crisis.

Chiu Chen-yu
Taiwan-Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens
The Taiwan center is an initiative of Taiwanese civil society. I am really grateful to the Taiwanese community for their support for us. I believe that the “Taiwan center” can keep on going and of course I very much hope that we can cooperate with the Taiwan government. In this most hopeless town, that is suffering from a Syrian refugee crisis and, at the same time, is suffering from a once-in-a-century earthquake, whatever the “Taiwan center” does will be watched by the world.

When Chiu’s “Taiwan Center” was established in 2016, Taiwan’s foreign ministry contributed about NT$12 million, but the monthly operating expenses of more than NT$1 million are raised by Chiu and Taiwanese business people based in Turkey. Following the earthquake, the center launched a fundraising campaign for emergency resettlement and relief. So far donations have exceeded NT$6 million. The hope is that the center can keep on operating and provide help to more earthquake survivors.

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His face is soft and supple after a clean shave. During the pandemic, some men could go for days and days without shaving -- after all, their jaws would be covered by face masks. But with the mask mandate easing on Feb. 20, this man says it’s time to get grooming again.

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I thought the rules were easing today, so I shaved off my facial hair. I usually shave once a week. Sometimes I got a little lazy and I go without shaving for a little longer. Having a little stubble was fine. It didn’t matter. But now I want to stay on top of it. My company really requires us to be groomed. My supervisor especially cares about this. I think my supervisor would turn a blind eye during the pandemic. But now that we’re going back to normal, I’m going to have to shave every day.

Member of the public
During the pandemic, I was at home all the time, so I didn’t need to put make up on. I wouldn’t even put on any tinted moisturizer. So I think it was very chill. But now the restrictions are getting lifted, and so I’m think I’m going to have to spend some money on cosmetics.

With the end of the indoor mask mandate drawing closer, sales have shot up for electric shavers, heated facial massagers, electric toothbrushes and other small electronics. Online searches for these kinds of products have doubled.

Cheng Chu-ni
Online retail platform PR
People will start showing their faces and teeth. So these small appliances and gadgets are in high demand. There’s been a clear growth in sales, which are about 20% higher than during the same period last year.

Chen Ruei-feng
Drugstore pharmacist
Yesterday, after the easing of the face mask mandate was announced, more people have been coming to our shop to buy lip care, facial care and other cosmetic products.

With masks coming off, retailers are looking forward to shopping sprees for cosmetics in the near future.

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Stephany Yang
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Are you looking for Valentine’s Day date ideas? Hotels and restaurants in Taipei have prepared meals exclusively for Valentine’s Day.

This hotel is offering a six-course set for Valentine’s Day. One of the two appetizers is an octopus salad with fennel and apple vinaigrette on the side.

The main course is charcoal-grilled tenderloin paired with lentils and chorizo, and drizzled with red wine sauce.

The soup is beef consomme with cheese dumplings and seasonal vegetables.

Lily Chang
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For this promotion period, our chef has specially designed a Mediterranean-style dinner for Valentine’s Day. It includes a charcoal-grilled steak. There is also a "strawberry pistachio tart" in the shape of a heart for Valentine’s Day oozing with sweetness.

Another hotel’s Michelin-recommended Italian restaurant has launched a decadent special set menu to attract customers. In addition to the black truffle tagliatelle there is also a black forest cake in the shape of a rose, served with ice cream in the shape of pink petals.

Member of public
I think it is very romantic and the atmosphere is also great. We ladies like places with a nice atmosphere and a sense of ritual.

Member of public
It exceeded my expectations. I am very pleased.

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Member of the public
The taste is very special. Cocoa sauce is added to the crispy chicken drumsticks and the sweet and salty taste combination is surprisingly very good. It tastes super hearty and the greasiness is cancelled.

Member of the public
It’s delicious. It has a tartness with the strawberry pieces. It’s delicious and doesn’t feel greasy at all.

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Hou Yu-ih
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We are all working together to get things done. That’s a quote from the late Master Hsing Yun. That’s the attitude we take when facing every challenge. With gratitude and cherishing our blessings, we can encourage ourselves to work hard and make New Taipei even better. We have a vision for 2030, and for it we need everyone’s cooperation.

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We have all grown up here in Taiwan, and we all have different roles to play. We all love Taiwan. And we are all willing to come together to face challenges head-on to make our country, to make Taiwan even better.

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