Temporary steel bridge over Matai’an Creek opens to traffic

Temporary steel bridge over Matai’an Creek opens to traffic

2026-01-01

A temporary steel bridge has been inaugurated to finally connect the two banks of the Matai’an Creek in Guangfu. The previous bridge was washed away in a flood last September, and residents have had to make do with detours or a culvert path on the bed of the river. The new bridge will save locals 20 minutes in getting from side to side, and comes with increased safety precautions.

Resident
Hualien
We’re all thrilled. It saves us at least 20 minutes.

Resident
Hualien
With travel getting easier, we should see more spending in Guangfu.

Hsieh Chin-ching
Project manager
We divided the work into two or three shifts, to keep progress going continuously. If we didn’t meet a target on any given day, I’d ensure it’d get accomplished within 24 hours.

Lin Fu-shan
Directorate General of Highways
If there are any situations upstream, we have early warning mechanisms to decide whether a bridge or road closure is necessary.

Construction on the temporary steel bridge began on Oct. 18. Completion was initially slated for before the Lunar New Year, but construction teams wrapped up work early, opening the bridge to traffic on Jan. 1. Work on a permanent bridge is already underway. Authorities estimate completion for the end of 2027.

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#hualien #guangfu #bridge #engineering

一天三班趕工! 馬太鞍溪鋼便橋元旦10點開放通行

2026-01-01

去年花蓮光復洪災沖斷了馬太鞍溪橋，在日夜輪班趕工下，鋼便橋提早一個月，在今天上午十點正式通車，當地居民興奮的說，起碼可以省20分鐘的車程。不過，公路局也提到一旦上游有狀況，為了安全起見，仍會封橋管制。

[[當地民眾]]
“當然大家很高興，節省最起碼有20幾分鐘的車程。"

[[當地民眾]]
“大家通勤方便之後，就會增加進入光復地區的消費量。”

[[順運工程負責人謝金清]]
“分就是兩班到三班這樣子，不斷的，每天到一個段落、一個進度如果沒有達成，我就是用24小時完成。”

[[公路局長林福山]]
“上游有相關的一個狀況發生的話，那我們會依照我們的預警機制，如果說有需要這一個封橋封路，我們還是會來做一個實施。”

花蓮馬太鞍溪橋，去年9月23日被洪水沖斷後，造成民眾進入光復鄉的不便，出入都得繞路，相關單位先迅速完成溪底便道，中期完成鋼便橋，從10月18日開始施工，工期超前一個月，提前到1月1日通車。另一方面，永久橋也在持續趕工中，公路局希望能在明年底，完成雙向通車。

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Restaurant in Xinyi offers affordable, premium beef tongue

Anyone can now enjoy the finest Japanese Sendai beef tongue right here in Taiwan. Grilled beef tongue is becoming increasingly popular in Taiwan, the thick slices of premium meat cooked on a traditional charcoal grill. In addition to famous Japanese restaurants opening branches in Taiwan, one restaurant group has also launched a new brand centered around beef tongue in Taipei’s Xinyi District.

Premium beef tongue sizzles on a traditional charcoal grill, drawing out the fat and locking in the juices. Whether dipped in salt, mustard, pepper, or a marinade, each choice brings out a different flavor. It’s usually paired with pickled vegetables to cleanse the pallet.

Customer
I quite like the charcoal flavor. My favorite is this Greek salt sauce, and paired with these pickled vegetables, I think it really cleanses the pallet.

Customer
There’s a movie of the Japanese manga Crayon Shin-chan where they really want to have barbeque. Hiroshi started imagining eating beef tongue. “Beef tongue, I really want beef tongue.” I thought, it is really that good?

Sendai in Japan is famous for its beef tongue, and now this delicacy can be enjoyed right here in Taiwan. This restaurant offers 14 different set meals, pairing different cuts of tongue with wagyu steak or Iberico pork. Beef tongue is usually on the expensive side, but here, customers can enjoy a meal for under NT$400.

Hsiao Wei-yi
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With resources from our corporate group, we’re able offer Sendai beef tongue set meals at about 70% of the market price, making it more affordable. We spent over a year on this, including going directly to Sendai to do market research.

The business uses the entire cow, turning parts that people don’t typically eat into pet treats. This lowers overall costs for the restaurant, making beef tongue more affordable.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#beef #tongue #beeftongue #Sendai #Japan #Taiwan #setmeal #grill #charcoal #restaurant #BBQ

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Navy recruiter leaves humorous comments on posts about children

A navy recruiter recently took to social media, leaving humorous comments on posts featuring infants and young children, joking that their hairstyles met regulations and praising their future potential. The recruiter said this was his own idea, aimed at giving military recruitment an online presence, since it mostly relies on in-person booths. In the age of social media, online humor can be an effective marketing tool, even for the military.

Special forces soldiers in full uniform hold T91 combat rifles, while others cover a rifle with camouflage. Military recruitment usually occurs at in-person events like this one, where people can check out military equipment. But one recruiter recently took his efforts online.

From babies pulling themselves up with handles to crawling along the floor, a navy recruiter left humorous comments on countless posts about infants. He has praised their potential and fitness, saying the navy needs them and that he looks forward to them joining the military in 16 years. He even said one baby’s hairstyle already meets military standards.

Chi Tung-yun
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The most important aspects of social media are, first, to be interesting, and second, to be unconventional. Using methods that no one else is using can spark viewers’ interest and motivate followers to share the content, turning it into viral marketing. Recruiters have applied this interesting approach to promote military recruitment. This is a highly commendable practice that deserves to be encouraged.

The recruiter said it was his own idea, hoping to increase visibility and make recruitment smoother. His work has paid off, as his posts and comments have received over 7.5 million views in the past month. This creative recruitment idea is taking social media by storm.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Taiwan’s largest goldfish farm develops 47 species over 30 years

Taiwan’s largest goldfish farm is located along a mountain highway in Pingtung’s Xinpi Township. The owner, Tseng Yen-chin, has loved goldfish ever since he was little. Through his own research and experimentation, he has bred 47 different kinds of goldfish, including some extremely rare varieties. He hopes to become Taiwan’s largest goldfish repository.

Tseng Yen-chin
Goldfish breeder
I didn’t have a fishtank before, so this one was absurdly gorgeous. The white was very white, the red was very red. It looks especially good in a pond.

Tseng Yen-chin cradles a red-cap oranda in the palm of his hand, its head topped with a red cap as it flutters its white fins like a crane spreading its wings to fly. Tseng started this goldfish farm along a mountain highway in Pingtung’s Xinpi Township, which is now Taiwan’s largest.

Tseng Yen-chin
Goldfish breeder
We have over 250 ponds over more than half a hectare. Right now we have 47 varieties. This one is a traditional imperial court goldfish. Most people haven’t seen them before.

Originally from Kaohsiung, Tseng moved to Pingtung to start his farm at the base of Dawu Mountain. He’s been fascinated by goldfish ever since he was little. At 17, he started raising them and hasn’t looked back since. Through his own research and experimentation, Tseng has bred 47 species over the past three decades. Some are only 2 or 3cm big, while others are 20 to 30cm. More than half are rare varieties.

Tseng Yen-chin
Goldfish breeder
This is a bubble eye. It has two liquid sacs under its eyes filled with tissue fluid. I don’t think anyone else has this kind. Our most expensive one right now is actually just the pearlscale oranda. We’re charging a lot for the pearlscale because it’s so rare. Ours get this big, bigger than your fist, which is hard to do. And they all still have protruding nodules. None have worn off. It’s not easy.

Tseng aims to become Taiwan’s largest repository for goldfish species. He also opens his farm for parents to bring their children and learn about goldfish. He hopes to encourage them to love goldfish as much as he does, so that when they grow up, they can carry on the torch.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Artist Jenny Liao showcases works at the Florence Biennale

Jenny Liao is a Taiwanese contemporary artist known for her bold acrylic paintings that explore themes of love, hope, and perseverance. She has exhibited internationally, earning awards in France, Italy, and the UK. Most recently, she showcased seven works at the Florence Biennale. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us inside the inspiration behind her art.

This work, “Serenade of the Heart” by Jenny Liao conveys a lyrical serenade, a feeling that intertwines with the journey of a girl she calls the Dancing Girl. Through vibrant colors, it reflects the different stages and emotions of her story: the highs and lows, the struggles, and the moments of joy. The light in the painting is a symbol of resilience and renewal. Liao hopes her work encourages people to keep moving forward despite hardships.

Jenny Liao
Artist
This painting exactly reflects the theme of this exhibition in Italy. It is called “Serenade of the Heart.” A serenade is a feeling, a mixture of feeling during the journey of the Dancing Girl. You can see different colors in this painting. The color represents different stages and different emotions portray the story of this girl. That is a moment of high and low of her journey. Meaning the difficulties, struggles, happiness, and joy. Those things are mixed together in this painting, but in each of the small stages, the Dancing Girl breaks through and starts to move again. So, you can see the breakthrough. The light here that she flies with the light together to continue her journey.

Jenny Liao is a Taiwanese contemporary artist known for her bold acrylic paintings that convey themes of love, hope, and perseverance. She has exhibited internationally, winning awards in France, Italy, and the UK. She recently attended the Florence Biennale, showcasing seven works.

Jenny Liao
Artist
This one is different from the previous one. There’s a lot of green inside of it. One day, I took the bus to the Yangming Mountain. When I took off the bus, I saw a tree in front of me. The sun shines so shiny. It shined all over the tree. I depict this painting is that there is a light inside of our heart. No matter if you know the creator or not, He is inside of our hearts and the light will lead your path. At that moment, all my worries were completely shaken off from my body.

A self-taught artist, Liao spent several years in the financial industry before discovering her passion for painting.

Jenny Liao
Artist
At that moment, I didn’t know how to paint. I just used color and freely painted on the canvas. That is a journey and a process of my painting. I don’t think, I just paint freely from my heart and to the canvas. Each of my paintings actually represents my heart at that stage.

Liao has been creating art for a decade. Through her creations, she aspires to inspire audiences across the globe.

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On Thursday, President Lai Ching-te delivered his 2026 New Year’s Address, titled “Island of Resilience—Light of Hope.” This year, he emphasized the importance of national unity, especially considering that China’s 2027 invasion preparedness timeline is only a year away, making defense preparedness all the more crucial in 2026. He also said, again, that he’d be willing to deliver a state of the national address to the Legislative Yuan.

President Lai Ching-te’s New Year’s Address titled “Island of Resilience—Light of Hope” listed the country’s milestones in 2025 and external challenges.

Lai Ching-te
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In the face of China’s rising expansionary ambitions, the international community is paying attention to whether the Taiwanese people possess the resolve for self-defense. As president, my position has always been clear: to staunchly defend national sovereignty, strengthen national defense, and enhance whole-of-society defense and resilience. Facing China’s alarming military ambitions, Taiwan has no time to wait and certainly no time to consume ourselves with internal strife. And so I hope the ruling and opposition parties can work together to swiftly pass this crucial national defense budget.

China is believed tobe preparing to be able to win a fight for Taiwan by 2027, making 2026 a crucial year in defense buildup, a point he reiterated when taking questions from the press.

Lai Ching-te
President
For Taiwan, the most important thing is exactly as Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” describes: rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him. We must prepare for the worst, and make the best preparations. Therefore, the year ahead, 2026, is key for Taiwan. So long as China faces the reality that is the existence of the ROC, and come forth in parity and dignity, we’re very willing to conduct exchanges and co-operations with China.

Again, the president emphasized the preconditions for cross-strait exchanges: parity and dignity. Meanwhile, he also called for an end to internal strife.

Lai Ching-te
President
I would like to thank the Constitutional Court for its professionalism and moral courage in making a decision to resume operations and ensure our citizens’ rights and interests. If the constitutional system is not upheld – if a single power expands without limitations – it is our people who suffer, and our nation that is forsaken.

He thanked the Constitutional Court for resuming operations, in order to protect citizens’ rights and interests. He again called on the opposition to cooperate, for the good of the nation.

Lai Ching-te
President
The 2025 deadlocks ought not to persist into 2026. Projects that are crucial for the nation to endure and develop must no longer be stalled by obstruction. As president, I will take action to promote cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties. I also want to reiterate that, provided it is beneficial for resolving disputes and building consensus, I am willing to deliver a state of the nation address to the Legislative Yuan in accordance constitutional methods.

He expressed willingness to give a state of the nation address to the Legislative Yuan, if that helps put an end to the current legislative impasse, so that national security and development can be upheld.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwan #taiwanpolitics #happynewyear #2026 #賴清德

2026-01-01