Green measures in place for Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival

Green measures in place for Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival

2025-01-09

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is coming up soon. The iconic sky lantern festival will take place across five days, starting on Feb. 8, accompanied by a snake-themed light show. New Taipei is keen to attract international travelers, and a South Korean celebrity has been called in to promote the celebration. A mountain cleanup event also aims to collect lantern pollution after the festival ends. New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih learns the Korean for “Happy New Year” from South Korean celebrity cheerleader Lee Dahye.

The moment the lanterns are released at the event was the very first time that Lee has ever set off a sky lantern. As the event’s ambassador, she’s very excited about the big day.

Lee Dahye
South Korean cheerleader
South Koreans also pay attention to the sky lantern festival. There’s an exchange between the event in Taiwan and events in South Korea. I hope that my serving as the ambassador will mean that people not just from Taiwan, but also from South Korea, and travellers from all over the world, will be able to take part in the sky lantern festival.

Revelers write “Happy New Year” on a sky lantern. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival will take place across five days, starting on Feb. 8, accompanied by a snake-themed light show.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei mayor
A projection show for the “gold snake” will bring good luck and celebrate the Lantern Festival, as well as Valentine’s Day, making Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival the best tourist destination in the world. We want to enable more international tourists to share our traditional Taiwanese custom.

The annual extravaganza is, however, frequently plagued by environmental concerns. This year, New Taipei government is calling on businesses to make sky lanterns out of eco-friendly materials. After the festival, it is running a mountain cleanup event, calling on people to volunteer to pick up lanterns that have fall down on the mountains and recycle the materials, so the festival doesn’t become a blot on the earth.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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平溪天燈節2/8登場! 李多慧代言活動喊"超期待"

2025-01-09

2025新北平溪天燈節，即將在2月8號盛大展開，當天除了天燈齊放的活動，還會搭配蛇年光雕，活動場面將非常熱鬧，今年還特別邀請超高人氣的韓籍啦啦隊女神李多慧擔任活動代言人，從來沒放過天燈的她，直呼相當期待活動的到來!

新北市長侯友宜，跟著啦啦隊女神李多慧，學講韓文的新年快樂。

活動記者會中，天燈起飛瞬間，第一次放天燈的李多慧，這回身為活動代言人，相當期待2月即將登場的天燈活動。

[[韓籍啦啦隊女神李多慧]]
“韓國人對天燈節也有關注，剛好在韓國、台灣都有活動交流，希望藉由這次活動代言，不只台灣人能參加、韓國人或是國際旅客，都能參加這次的天燈節活動”

在天燈上寫上新年祝福，新北平溪天燈節，一連五天的活動將在2月8號熱鬧登場，還會搭配蛇年燈光秀。

[[新北市長侯友宜]]
“金蛇的光雕讓好運來，來慶祝元宵節，同時也是情人節，讓平溪的天燈是全球，最佳的旅遊地點，能夠讓更多的國際觀光客，分享我們台灣傳統的習俗”

不過新北平溪一年一度的最大盛事，經常被詬病的環保議題，新北市府除了呼籲業者使用環保材質製作天燈，活動結束後也將發起淨山活動，號召志工上山回收天燈，一起愛地球。

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CES 2025 in Las Vegas kicked off this Wednesday. At the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, or ITRI showcased 10 innovations in wellness and smart medical technologies. From mobility aids to sports training, and even cell therapy, ITRI’s top technologies got big thumbs-up from global peers.

A quick smash, then the speed, height and landing of the shuttlecock shows up on the screen. Taiwanese-American Olympian Howard Shu tries his hand at ITRI’s booth at the CES in Las Vegas.

Howard Shu
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The AI Badminton Trainer by ITRI utilizes cutting-edge 3D-IC technologies. A high-speed camera captures the player’s stroke technique and position and sends the data onto the cloud. Then, with generational AI, it aids professional training. Another highlight from ITRI are these devices.

They’re KneeBO and HipBO exoskeletons that provide mobility assistance and training for individuals with knee or hip joint degradation. With these devices, patients can even tackle a challenging hike.

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It’s really interesting for me, trying the product and feeling the support that you get from when you lift your knee or when you walk, you know, it pulls your leg. That was very impressive, so, yeah, great product.

The world’s largest consumer electronics show, known as CES, kicked off on Wednesday. This year, ITRI is showcasing ten innovations centered on wellness and smart medical technologies. Another breakthrough was iKNOBeads developed with Reliance Medical Technology Corporation from Singapore. It’s a bionic magnetic bead-based platform for manufacturing various immune cells.

Edwin Liu
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This year we made changes to our existing strategies. Our whole system is based on wellness, which then extends to showcasing smart medical and cell therapy technologies. So at this year’s CES, our entire focus is on smart healthcare.

With more than 4,000 developers from 150 countries worldwide participating in CES, ITRI truly brought Taiwan’s very best technologies to the global stage.

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Kenting tourist numbers hit 41-year-low in 2024

Tourist numbers at the seaside resort town of Kenting have plummeted in recent years. The figure hit a 41-year low in 2024, as the town recorded just 2.14 million visitors, a decline of 480,000 from the previous year. The sharp decline has dealt a crippling blow to the local tourism industry. Already, three resorts have announced they’ll be shutting down in the first half of the year. Though some have said they are closing for renovations, other business owners in the area see a dark future ahead.

It’s a lovely day in Kenting, but the streets are deserted. Once a popular tourist destination, visitor numbers have been steadily dropping to a low of 2.14 million visitors in 2024, a 41-year low.

Ms. Lee
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Just 10% of what it was before. I haven’t had business in two, three days. It’s a transition period.

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Our business keeps falling and falling. That’s also true for the hostels. Take a look for yourself. You can take a picture there and there. Are there any guests?

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The hotel has been in operation for almost 30 years. Due to big changes in the market and different consumer needs, the hotel will suspend operations on Feb. 28, and we will make any necessary adjustments.

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The company may reallocate workers to other locations, if we are willing to move. If not, then we’ll get laid off with severance pay.

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The setting sun is reflected in the lake water, creating a heartwarming scene. Photography is the big love of Taoyuan City councilor Lee Po-fang. When he’s out and about visiting voters in the city, he often takes a moment to capture the scenery on camera.

Lee Po-fang
Taoyuan City councilor
If there’s a blue sky and white clouds and it’s reflected in the water, then it’s stunningly beautiful, and bursting with color.

Lee has been serving the city for over two decades. Ten years ago, he began his photography hobby, and since that time he’s amassed over 80,000 snaps. He’s even published a book, introducing readers to the charms of Daxi and Fuxing Districts.

Lee Po-fang
Taoyuan City councilor
We don’t have to go and seek out a grand view or a spectacular vista. Such views may crop up, but you can’t force them. But if I can observe the beauty in something through a tiny detail, actually, I can gradually change my habits. In other words, if I start with looking at the little things first and then the bigger picture, then even more wonderful surprises are in store.

Lee teaches students through practice – his expertise is not a guarded secret. He says you don’t need a premium SLR camera: any smartphone is good enough to capture a lovely view. He loves to teach other hobbyists precious little tips that can elevate the beauty of their images.

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After getting a lesson from the councilor, you take another photo and think, “Oh wow! The quality of the image is really better!” You don’t need an amazing phone.

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