Ankeng light rail opens in New Taipei, with free rides until March 12

Ankeng light rail opens in New Taipei, with free rides until March 12

2023-02-10

Greater Taipei now has a new metro line: the Ankeng light rail in New Taipei. The nine-station line opened to the public on Friday, and will be offering free rides between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. for a month. New Taipei mayor Hou Yu-ih attended the opening ceremony, where he was asked about a potential presidential bid in 2024.

After four years of construction, the Ankeng light rail in New Taipei is finally up and running.

Member of public
I came here in the early morning from Danhai, to see the preparations and the equipment and so on. I want to compare it with the Danhai light rail.

The Ankeng light rail has nine stations starting from Sishizhang, a transfer station with the Circular line of the Taipei MRT. The new line will be free to ride between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. for a month until March 12.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei mayor
It can save 15 to 20 minutes of travel times in the greater Taipei area. The rail has fantastic views, and you can see the Erbazi Botanical Garden. There’s also a lot of good food in the area.

At the opening ceremony, reporters asked New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih whether he had plans to run for president in 2024. Report say some people are hoping he will run together with former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu to get more supporters onboard.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei mayor
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.

Hou was also asked about reports that Hon Hai founder Terry Gou and KMT Chair Eric Chu could team up in an attempt to block a potential presidential run by Hou.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei mayor
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.

As expected, Hou avoided answering the questions head on.

安坑輕軌通車! 試營運至3/12免費搭乘

2023-02-10

新北市的”安坑輕軌”正式通車了！上午，在捷運”十四張站”舉辦通車典禮，今起至3月12日的每日10時至18時，展開為期1個月的免費試乘活動。新北市長侯友宜親自出席記者會宣布好消息，針對外界好奇，他會不會進軍2024總統大位，他則是老話一句”好好做事”。

歷經六年施工，新北市安坑輕軌，終於通車。

[[民眾]]
“我是今天凌晨從淡海過來，了解一下一些配備，一些設施之類的，想跟淡海跟輕軌做比較”

安坑輕軌全線設有9座車站，首站十四張站，可和新北環狀線銜接轉乘，今起至3月12日的每日10時至18時，展開為期1個月的免費試乘活動。

[[新北市市長侯友宜]]
“到大台北地區，可以節省15到20分鐘的路，沿途風光明媚，更有二叭子植物園可以好好的欣賞，也有很多在地的美食”

而外界也關心，侯友宜會不會考慮角逐總統大位，外傳，有人為侯友宜與韓國瑜牽線，希望促成韓家軍挺侯，力拚2024。

[[新北市市長侯友宜]]
“大家一起共同好好的努力做事，星雲大師的法語，用這樣的態度面對所有的困難，用感恩跟惜福，惕勵自己好好的努力，讓新北市會更好，我們有2030新願景，需要大家共同攜手合作”

對於外界分析，郭台銘和朱立倫可能合作，就是為了「卡侯」，侯友宜的回答依舊保守。

[[新北市市長侯友宜]]
“每一個人都是在台灣這塊土地成長，扮演不一樣的角色，我們都愛台灣，我們都願意面對所有的困境齊心齊力，同心齊力團結在一起，讓我們國家，讓台灣這塊土地會更好”

對於敏感的政治問題，侯友宜依舊低調。

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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
Taiwan-Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens
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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Beauty products see booming sales ahead of the lifting of a rule requiring wearing of indoor masks

A surge in sales of cosmetics and beauty gadgets has been reported ahead of the Feb. 20 lifting of the requirement to wear a mask indoors. One online shopping platform says things like facial massagers, electric shavers and electric toothbrushes are selling particularly well. Meanwhile, a brick-and-mortar shop reports more and more customers are buying face care products and makeup. All this is so that a good face could be presented to the world.

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.

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Valentine’s Day specials around Taipei

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Fast food restaurants and hotels in Taipei are launching special deals for couples. What can you look forward to? Our very own Stephany Yang takes us to a few places to find out what they have to offer.

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
Hotel PR assistant manager
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.

Fine-dining not your thing? We’ve got you covered. This fast food chain is serving up fried chicken dipped in chocolate sauce and sprinkled with freeze-dried strawberry pieces.

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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