Lai Jui-lung to run for Kaohsiung mayor for DPP

Lai Jui-lung to run for Kaohsiung mayor for DPP

2026-01-13

The DPP’s primary election to pick a candidate for Kaohsiung’s mayoral race has come to an end. The party’s candidate will be Lawmaker Lai Jui-long, who’ll be contending for the seat against the KMT’s Ko Chih-en. After thanking his supporters, Lai says he will focus fully on preparing for the election in hopes of succeeding Mayor Chen Chi-mai.

Lai has served three terms as lawmaker and has previously worked for the city. During Chen Chu’s administration, he was the head of Kaohsiung’s Marine Bureau and Information Department. Lai hopes to continue the DPP’s governance in the city, and all his rivals in the primary say they’ll rally behind him.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#elections #kaohsiung #mayor #賴瑞隆

民進黨高雄市長初選"賴瑞隆勝出" 邱議瑩:謙卑接受結果

2026-01-13

民進黨高雄市長初選落幕，立委賴瑞隆擊敗黨內三位對手，代表民進黨對決國民黨的柯志恩，賴瑞隆感謝選民支持，未來全力備戰，接棒高雄市長陳其邁。

賴瑞隆當過三屆立委，對高雄相當熟悉，在陳菊市長任內，擔任高雄市海洋局長和新聞局長，這次轉戰百里侯，誓言要延續高雄綠色執政。而落敗的三位選將都尊重結果，表示將團結一致，全力幫賴瑞隆輔選。

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Taipei International Book Exhibition to open from Feb.3 until Feb. 8

The 34th Taipei International Book Exhibition will soon take place at the Taipei World Trade Center from Feb. 3 till Feb. 8.This year’s Guest of Honor country is Thailand. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a preview!

The 2026 Taipei International Book Exhibition will open this February, with Thailand as the Guest of Honor. The Thai Pavilion, themed “CreaTHAIvity,” will highlight the richness of Thailand’s cultural heritage, creativity, and diverse storytelling traditions. Eleven acclaimed Thai writers and illustrators will join the exhibition, offering readers an opportunity to directly engage with the writers.

Kallaya Leewongcharoen
Thai Trade Office director
“CreaTHAIvity" in this context means the embedded Thai living style into imagination. The highlights of the pavilion we will include elements that come from Thai culture, like we use the collectors. Two collectors from Ramaiken, which is the Thailand’s national epics, written by King Rama I of Thailand.

In addition, the Thailand Pavilion will feature more than 30 activities and performances, ranging from introductions to Thai cuisine and Muay Thai demonstrations to interactive sessions and lessons on Thai language and culture.

Rex How
Taipei Book Fair Foundation chairman
Thailand—through its advertising, films, music, diverse commercial ambitions, and as a regional hub in Southeast Asia—has been selected as the theme country. This year, their large-scale participation offers Taiwanese audiences and readers the chance to slowly gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of Thailand.

Kallaya Leewongcharoen
Thai Trade Office director
It is really an honor of Thailand to be part of Taipei International Book Exhibition 2026 as a Guest of Honor. We bring 37 book publishers to join us, so we have many cultural events as well. It isn’t only looking books in our pavilion, but also culture that visitors can enjoy.

This year’s theme is “Reading is Amazing.” Several other countries, including France, Belgium, Czechia, and India, will also exhibit at the event. The fair will host activities including book-signing events, lectures, performances, and DIY workshops.

Josué Serres
French Office in Taipei
The first one that I think is very interesting. Her name is Magali Le Huche. She is a very famous book illustrator for children. One of her most famous books in France is called Paco. This one. It is a book for children with music in it. You can listen to the music and also of course, read the story. Actually, it is one of the most favourite books of my son. So, it is very famous in France. I will be very glad to have her in Taiwan. She will of course, present her latest books and will also organize a live drawing exercise for the public with some music from the Beatles.

The Taipei International Book Exhibition will be held at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 from Feb. 3 until Feb. 8.

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

#TaipeiInternationalBookExhibition #TIBE #台北國際書展 #Thailand #Books #BookWorms #泰國 #Events

2026-01-13

Lantern Festival returns to Chiayi, incorporates Alishan in design

The early months of 2026 not only bring the Lunar New Year, but also the annual Taiwan Lantern Festival! Held in Chiayi this year for the third time, the main lantern is inspired by Alishan’s ancient trees and will have a light show every half hour. The handheld lanterns this year combine the Year of the Horse zodiac symbol with Taiwan’s tourism mascot OhBear, depicting the Taiwanese black bear riding a wooden horse.

The Taiwan Lantern Festival is returning to Chiayi this year for its 37th edition. Differing from previous years, this year’s main lantern is not centered around the Chinese zodiac.

At 21 meters tall, the main lantern is modeled after a towering tree, with the upper section featuring a circular ring that symbolizes the sun rising amid mountain peaks.

Yao Chung-han
Artist
For the last part, we will use the lantern’s light to showcase Taiwan’s technology. The light will transform the main lantern into another shape, and through this white light, we will offer a prayer for this land, a prayer for Taiwan.

The visual display takes the audience on a journey through Taiwan’s oceanic origins and development of life to the formation of civilization. This year’s festival, running from March 3 to 15, will also feature two secondary lanterns and 23 exhibition zones.

Weng Chang-liang
Chiayi County Commissioner
This time we coordinated with the Taiwan Railway and high-speed rail and will provide more than 20,000 parking spaces on site. Because it is only 13 days and the festival is so spectacular, we expect there will be lots of people, so we will do our best to make transportation smooth.

The handheld lanterns this year are irresistibly adorable, combining this year’s zodiac animal with Taiwan’s tourism mascot OhBear, showing the black bear playfully rocking on a wooden horse.

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

#TaiwanLanternFestival #Chiayi #YearoftheHorse #Alishan #ancientforest #sacredtree #OhBear #tourism #lanterns #lightshow

2026-01-13

7-Eleven ibon kiosks to offer tourism information nationwide

7-Elevens across the country will soon offer detailed travel information for foreign visitors. The Tourism Administration has announced a partnership with 7-Eleven to make the convenience store’s ibon kiosks a hub for tourist information in Chinese, English and Japanese. By scanning a QR code, foreign travelers can access up-to-date details on scenic spots, and upcoming festivals. Let’s take a closer look.

The Tourism Administration’s adorable mascot Oh Bear is on the same stage as 7-Eleven’s superstar mascot Open Chan in a rarely-seen coupling. The goal is to promote tourism in Taiwan.

As foreign tourists in Taiwan inevitably visit convenience stores, the Tourism Administration has signed an MOU with 7-Eleven to cooperate over tourism.

Chen Yu-hsiu
Tourism Administration Director General
We hoped there was an opportunity to cooperate with convenience stores so that people could obtain information. We are now emphasizing the simultaneous promotion of quality and quantity. We hope to provide our international travelers at the very least with complete information that they need.

Over 7,200 stores across Taiwan will be upgraded to “traveler convenience stores.” In the future, travelers will be simply able to scan a QR code at the ibon kiosks to obtain the most up-to-date and accurate travel information. Simultaneously an “Oh Bear AI Assistant” will be launched, providing comprehensive information on regional cuisines, tourist attractions and festivals.

Chen Yu-hsiu
Tourism Administration Director General
In the first phase, we will include information on attractions and services, including transportation, from various central government ministries. The second phase will add on information from local governments. In the third phase, we will also include the private sector. For example, we aim to be the top choice for searches for Michelin-starred restaurants or restaurants with 500 Plates ratings. This is a crucial strategy.

In addition, the Tourism Administration continues to promote its “Taiwan, the Lucky Land 2.0” campaign this year. Any international traveler who has visited Taiwan before and brings a new friend to travel in Taiwan will have the opportunity to be in a lucky draw for a consumption or accommodation voucher worth NT$5,000, with hopes that more international tourists can travel to Taiwan.

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

#tourism #taiwan #travel #taiwantravel

2026-01-13

’Crane King’ Hu Han-yen shows off multi-million-dollar Taipei home

Taiwan’s “Crane King” Hu Han-yen, the chairman of Chi Deh Crane Engineering Co, recently posted a video of his luxurious home in Taipei’s Ximending area, packed with opulent, high-end furnishings as a replica of his “white house” in Zhubei. He said that when he bought it over a decade ago, it was over NT$500,000 per ping. Now it’s worth more than NT$1 million per ping, leaving people in awe of his astounding returns.

The famous “Crane King” chairman of Chi Deh Crane Engineering Co, Hu Han-yen, recently posted a video to Facebook showing off his luxurious apartment in Taipei’s Ximending.

From its crystal chandeliers and golden chairs, to the gilded ceiling and walls, the space radiates opulence with its high-end furnishings. But the highlight? Natural light from three sides, with a 270-degree panoramic view of the city from the garden.

Hu Han-yen
Crane King
The Grand Hotel, Chinese Culture University, planes taking off from Songshan airport. Look, it’s beautiful. I’ve owned this place for over 10 years and I’ve still never spent a night in the master bedroom.

Hu’s Taipei apartment is in the heart of Ximending, a neighborhood coveted for its convenience. The 14-year-old, 27-story building modeled after the Burj Al Arab in Dubai is a landmark in the area. The ground floor houses the Japanese dollar store Don Quijote along with numerous other retailers. Over the past 14 years, property prices have soared.

Hu Han-yen
Crane King
I was right to invest in this property at the time. I bought it for NT$500,000 per ping. Now it’s worth more than NT$1 million.

Chen Ping-chen
Realtor
The average market price hovers around NT$800,000 per ping. We’ve even seen some transactions going for over NT$900,000. So there’s definitely room for appreciation for early investors at this stage. In the northern Wanhua area around Ximending, there are even presales going for over NT$1.4 million per ping.

With Taipei real-estate prices soaring as they are, people are impressed by the Crane King’s timely investment.

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

#CraneKing #realestate #Taipei #Ximending #HuHanyen #property #propertyprices #luxuryapartment #interiordesign #investment

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