Taipei’s lantern festival will have Labubus and Transformers

Taipei’s lantern festival will have Labubus and Transformers

2026-01-29

The Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and Taipei is already getting ready for its lantern festival. This year, the event will be held across two exhibition areas in the city, each with characters from different franchises. Over at the Flora Expo Park in Yuanshan, the key theme will be Transformers. The other area will be located at the ever-popular Ximending shopping district, and the theme was finally announced on Thursday by Taipei Mayor Chiang wan-an. Let’s hear from him.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei Mayor
I would like to officially announce the theme for the exhibition area in Ximending. It’s a collab with the world’s biggest toy company Pop Mart. Last week I asked my oldest kid to teach me about the six characters. I can already tell that for this year’s Lantern Festival, my two younger kids will be asking me to take them to both of the exhibition areas.

Yu Hsiang
Taipei tourism official
The Pop Mart characters are known all over the world, and the craze for the collectibles was really impressive. Its influence went beyond Asia and caught on even with artists in Europe and the Americas. So, this year the Taipei Lantern Festival will be held in collaboration with Pop Mart. We hope that the highly recognizable brand will attract more visitors, and draw big crowds to the shopping district. We hope this will boost spending, and stimulate growth in the hospitality sector, generating big tourism benefits.

The main lantern lighting up the night at the Ximen exhibition area will be an 8m-tall Baby Molly. And she won’t be alone. There will also be other popular characters including Skullpanda, Dimoo, and of course, the world-famous Labubu. The exhibition area is sure to be a hit with trend chasers. Meanwhile, the exhibition area in Yuanshan, centers on the Transformers theme. There, the star of the show will be the main protagonist of the franchise, Optimus Prime. Taipei is going all out for the festivities this year, in hopes of attracting large crowds of revelers.

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

#lanternfestival #lny #cny #popmart #labubu

2026台北燈節首度雙展區市長蔣萬安開箱西門町IP

2026-01-29

2026台北燈節今年以雙展區、雙IP呈現，繼先前亮相過的花博展區，以變形金剛為主題，另一個西門町展區IP，今天(29號)也由市長蔣萬安，親自為大家揭曉。

[[台北市長蔣萬安]]
“今天我也正式跟大家公布，西門展區的主題，就是和國際最強的IP泡泡瑪特，昨天晚上我跟我家的大寶，趕快叫他教我一下，怎麼認識六個角色，而且我可以預見今年的燈節，二寶，三寶應該會吵著，要我帶他們前來兩個展區”

[[台北市觀傳局長余祥]]
“泡泡瑪特是全球知名的IP，它們帶動的風潮也是非常可觀的，不只是席捲亞洲，也有非常多的歐美重量級的藝人，也都非常喜歡，所以我們這次，台北燈節跟泡泡瑪特合作，就是希望能夠透過這樣子，非常具有高知名度的IP，能夠為我們帶來更多的人潮，也把人潮帶進商圈消費，刺激我們的旅宿成長，帶來更好的觀光效益”

西門町展區將以8公尺高的baby molly為主燈，另外還有6個超夯IP燈組，包含星星人，labubu、dimoo等，而另一個已經亮相的花博展區，則是以變形金剛為主題，以柯博文為主燈，期盼到訪人潮，再創觀光高峰。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
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Pingtung Lantern Festival showcases local cultures in four lantern zones

The 2026 Pingtung Lantern Festival features light installations set up across the Pingtung County Park, Wannian River, Victory Star Village, and Longjing River in Neipu. Integrating local cultures, natural landscapes, and artistic designs, the festival creates an immersive viewing experience. The main light installation at the county park, Light of the Mountains, stands 12 meters tall, shifting its lights in time with a four-season musical suite to showcase the ever-changing mountain forests.

The 2026 Pingtung Lantern Festival opens at the Pingtung County Park, lighting the night.

The main installation, Light of the Mountains, stands 12 meters tall. The lights shift in time with a four-season musical suite, showcasing how the mountain forests change throughout the year.

Chou Chun-mi
Pingtung County Commissioner
We’ve set up four lantern zones with 40 different light installations, lighting up the Wannian River. Here at Pingtung County Park, there’s the 60 meter-long, 12 meter-tall Light of the Mountains, which shares with everyone the beauty of Pingtung’s mother, Dawu Mountain, in all four seasons.

The Pingtung Lantern Festival starts in the Pingtung County Park and spreads out along the Wannian River, Victory Star Village, and the Hakka lantern zone at the Longjing River, highlighting Pingtung’s diverse cultures.

Chou Chun-mi
Pingtung County Commissioner
This year, alongside our Wannian River lantern zone, we’ve extended the displays to the century-old historic residence, the Lee family’s Ding Chang House, opening its courtyard for everyone to visit. Along Wancang Street, we’re showcasing lanterns designed by local children. There are beautiful lanterns in every area.

The Pingtung Lantern Festival is running through the Lunar New Year until March 8. People can explore the festival’s four lantern zones and enjoy an enchanting evening in the city.

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

#PingtungLanternFestival #Pingtung #lantern #festival #lightinstallation #light #art #design

2026-01-29

People warned against picking up ’ghost packages’ from Wan Shi Yi

Some people have been receiving a message that their package is ready for pickup. But luckily, when they get to the convenience store, the clerk recognizes the suspicious company name and stops the transaction. Reporters followed up on the company, Wan Shi Yi. It primarily develops software, and is not involved in e-commerce or logistics. Claiming wrongful impersonation, the company has reported the alleged scam to police.

A seller prepares a package for delivery. Later, the buyer goes to a convenience store to pick it up. This is common enough. But be careful, because it might be a scam.

A number of people have reported receiving an unknown package from this company.

The package says it’s from Wan Shi Yi. Convenience store clerks are aware of the scam and will advise customers against picking it up. One person opened the package to find a face mask imported from China that they clearly never ordered, but required payment upon receipt. Strangely, some of the targets had just ordered something online, so it seems the fraudster is attempting to make it seem as though it’s their real order.

Voice of Mr. Chen
Scam target
They sent me a message the other day saying my package had arrived. But the company I ordered from said they take a long time to prepare orders, so I thought it was strange. When I started to wonder if it was a scam, the clerk told me I don’t need to pick it up if I’m suspicious.

Voice of Wan Shi Yi representative
Our company has been in business for 30 years. We have nothing to do with this. We’re purely a software company. We don’t send out any packages.

Wan Shi Yi said it’s a software developer and was wrongfully impersonated by fraudsters who hacked their email. It said it’s already reported the matter to police and pressed charges. The Criminal Investigation Bureau urged people never to pick up packages from unknown sources.

Chen Pin-hui
Criminal Investigation Bureau detective
No matter how much it costs, if you didn’t make the order yourself, or it’s from an unknown source, don’t accept the package. Instead, file a complaint through the proper channel with the convenience store or request a refund.

In another case, people have been receiving emails supposedly from the president or Presidential Office soliciting policy suggestions for discussion. The bureau issued an urgent warning advising people against responding to these phishing emails designed to steal personal information.

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

#scam #package #delivery #ecommerce #onlineshopping #fraud #PSA #phishing #suspicious #crime

2026-01-29

Ready-made Lunar New Year meals to enjoy at home

How are you spending the Lunar New Year? As the holiday approaches, the way families prepare their reunion dinner has been evolving. While many once gathered at restaurants, online shopping for ready-made festive meals has quickly become the new tradition. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to a well-known blogger, Lulu Wang, to find out how she prepares her Lunar New Year meals.

For Lunar New Year, many hotels and online platforms offer ready-made frozen meals and festive banquet dishes. One iconic dish is Lion’s Head Meatballs, a Shanghainese specialty made of large, tender pork meatballs braised with vegetables. You can buy them frozen and prepare them at home in just a few steps.

Lulu Wang
Blogger
Today’s demonstration features New Year’s dishes: Lion’s Head Meatballs. These dishes are generally prepared by five-star restaurants, so they’re already fully cooked and seasoned-you only need to reheat them at home. The key to reheating is to first check the instructions on the box for the recommended time. For example, if it says 15 minutes, follow that exactly to get the best texture. For soup-based dishes like braised Lion’s Head, we suggest adding some napa cabbage, regular cabbage, or shimeji mushrooms. This not only enhances the flavor but also helps make up for the lack of fiber during the holiday season. When reheating frozen New Year dishes, always use medium to low heat. Avoid high heat, because since the food is frozen, strong heat can easily burn the bottom of the pot and affect the taste. Instead, let it simmer gently so the heat slowly penetrates the meatballs.

Wang explains that her family shifted from dining out to enjoying New Year’s Eve dinner at home because restaurants book up months in advance. Ordering online is not only convenient but also more comfortable for the whole family. She prefers meals from well-known hotels or Michelin-starred restaurants, trusting their reputation for quality.

Lulu Wang
Blogger
Based on experience, I recommend choosing frozen New Year’s dishes that are co-branded with or produced by well-known hotels or restaurants. They would never risk damaging their reputation, so from my years of buying them, I feel the quality is quite reliable. Currently, the more popular frozen New Year’s dishes include braised Lion’s Head meatballs, pork hock, the classic Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and whole chicken soup-these are all essentials for the holiday. For non-soup dishes, there are also fish, cold platters like beef tendon, beef tripe, and beef shank, and drunken chicken.

Whether you decide to dine in or out, there’s an option for everyone to enjoy.

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

#LunarNewYear #LunarNewYearMeal #FrozenMeal #ReadytoEat #Convenient

2026-01-29

National Palace Museum artifacts return home after Czechia exhibition

Last September, 131 artifacts from the National Palace Museum made a trip across the world to Czechia for an exhibition spanning more than three months. Among the items on display at the National Museum of the Czech Republic was the world-famous Jadeite Cabbage, as well as intricate curio cabinets belonging to nobles and the famous painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” Once the exhibition wrapped up, the director general of the Czech National Museum Michal Lukeš escorted the invaluable treasures all the way back to Taiwan. At a press conference on Thursday, he had a special announcement to make: The Czech museum will hold an exhibition in Taiwan to show its gratitude, bringing precious Czech artifacts all the way from Europe.

Hsiao Tsung-huang
National Palace Museum Director
The National Palace Museum’s popular national treasure, the Jadeite Cabbage, has wrapped up its first journey in Europe and returned home safely. It shows just how far the power of culture can reach, allowing visitors in Europe to understand the richness of Taiwan’s culture through our museum’s artifacts.

Michal Lukeš
Czech National Museum Director
The exhibition’s tentative name is “Heart of Europe: Treasury of Czech Culture.” More importantly, we will bring dozens of artifacts from our collection. They will be the most representative and iconic pieces of Czech cultural history and natural heritage.

The National Palace’s Museum exhibition “100 Treasures, 100 Stories” opened in Prague on September 12. More than 340,000 visitors were attracted to the exhibition over 110 days. But the exchange between Czechia and Taiwan wasn’t celebrated by everyone. While the exhibition was on, terrorist threats were made, warning that if the exhibition continued, there would be arson, thefts and shootings. Fortunately, nothing of the kind happened, and now the artifacts are back home in pristine condition, just in time for the Lunar New Year break.

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

#culture #museum #nationalpalacemuseum #jadeitecabbage #czechia #taiwan

2026-01-29

Tainan panini shop goes viral due to customer blooper

A panini shop in Tainan recently went viral, but not due to the authentic Italian fare it’s serving up. It all happened due to a mistake over hand sanitizer that was caught by a security camera and posted online. The video shows the shutters of the shop rapidly coming down on a customer about to walk into the eatery. But the shutters weren’t activated because the shop was about to close. It was actually due to another customer already inside the eatery. She had pressed a button on what she thought was a sanitizer dispenser, but she left with dry hands, as the device was actually the button to roll down the shutters. Fortunately, the customer caught underneath was unharmed.

A customer had just put one foot forward when the security shutter started rolling down. Was the store closing?

Owner
Panini shop
She thought the device was a hand sanitizer dispenser. So she pressed the button for hand sanitizer. I had just opened, but then the shutter rolled down. It’s like opening for the day only to close soon after.

The woman in the footage thought the switch on the wall was a hand sanitizer dispenser. She wanted to clean up after eating but nothing came out when she pressed the button. Instead, the shutter rolled down.

- Does this happen often?
- No, no. It’s the first time this has happened.

Member of public
At panini shop
It’s funny, really funny. It’s like they’re busy preparing meals, but then all of a sudden, the shutter rolled down. The video was so viral, even my mom saw it.

Member of public
At panini shop
It’s really quite something. How was it possible? Yes, it does look like a hand sanitizer dispenser, but I don’t think anyone would have that behind a glass door.

This panini shop in Tainan is run solely by the owner, and so he only noticed the error when it was already too late. The footage had gone viral online, some entertained by the mishap, and others horrified of the hazard. The shop owner has since taped over the switch and put on a sign asking customers not to touch the device. He also sought help from the shutter vendor.

Chen Po-wei
Security shutter vendor
There’s a switch that cuts off power. Press this button and the shutter won’t move no matter what. When it’s time to close, the owner can press this circle to activate the switch again, and the shutter can be rolled down as usual.

Additionally, the shutter also has a safety mechanism in place. It immediately bounces back when it bumps into a person or object, so no one would be injured. The incident could be considered a happy accident for the owner, now that everyone knows his shop.

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

#panini #funny #smallbusinesses #台南美食 #中西區美食

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Biggest-ever Taipei Game Show opens at Nangang Exhibition Center

The Taipei Game Show is back at Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei. More than 1,000 gamers braved the cold weather and queued outside on the expo’s first day, some even arriving the night before. Though the gaming industry is largely consumer-oriented, industry insiders are still concerned about the effects of macro factors, namely US-China tech rivalry and tariffs.

Visitors are queuing outside Nangang Exhibition Center. It’s Day 1 of Taipei Game Show 2026, held during winter break. The closer it is to the 10 a.m. opening, the longer the line becomes. Some gamers even braved the cold overnight to get their hands on limited edition merch.

- Umm… I’m here today from 7… 7:30 and I was already here.
- So were there lots of people already when you arrived at 7:30?
- Yes, lots actually.

- I should’ve come earlier.
- What time do you think that is?
- I should’ve come yesterday.
- Yeah, so many people were already queuing last night.
- Umm… the merch is limited edition, so only they’ll score some.

This year, the Taipei Game Show has expanded, with participation from 399 vendors and 1,800 booths. The honorary chair of Taipei Computer Association, Tung Tsu-hsien, is also here personally to present awards. However, despite the show being mainly consumer-oriented, participating businesses are watching the impact of China allowing Nvidia chip imports and US tariffs.

Tung Tsu-hsien
Taipei Computer Association honorary chair
US tariffs on South Korea were abruptly raised to 25%. It wasn’t just done to get Korea’s attention, but also to make many other countries in talks take note. The era of businesses happily and diligently making great products is over. Now, all commodities, from oil to semiconductors to chips, can be weaponized to gain leverage in international political competition. Taiwan is caught in the middle of China-US rivalry and must find the best way out.

Current geopolitical tensions may affect the computer and gaming industries, and Tung says Taiwan must be prudent and find the best way out.

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

#taipeigameshow #gamers #gaming #videogame

2026-01-29

Taipei 101 Chair gets in harness to view city from 460m up

The entire world was glued to their screens last weekend, as American climber Alex Honnold made his way to the top of the 508-m Taipei 101 unaided. And in Taiwan, the Honnold effect continues. The Chair of the Taipei 101, Janet Chia on Thursday got a closer look at Honnold’s path to the top from a special observation platform. The Skyline sits at 460m above the ground, and offers uninterrupted views of the entire Taipei basin. Although the views are stunning, the focus on the deck now is not the scenery. Instead, it is the corner from which Honnold entered the final stretch of his ascent to the tip of the skyscraper’s spire. Chia says that, though she was nervous, the trust she had in Honnold and the team, and the thrill of the live event made the climb the best day of her life.

Janet Chia
Taipei 101 Chair
My home is also that way. If you come up here, you can look for the landmarks of your life from being a child to an adult.

Taipei 101 Chair Janet Chia has no limits. At 460m above the ground on the Skyline, Asia’s highest observation deck, she showed cameras the best spots.

Tang Shih-ching
FTV reporter
We are on the Skyline 460 on Taipei 101, which affords views of the city from 460m above the ground. You can see the entire Taipei basin stretching into the horizon. And this corner is where climbing ace Alex Honnold made his way to the top.

With resistance suits and safety harnesses, you don’t have to look at the city through a glass panel or through a fence. There’s all-round unobstructed views of the capital’s landmarks, the Keelung River and Yangmingshan. But the most popular spot is this.

Janet Chia
Taipei 101 Chair
This is the corner that Alex climbed up from. From here, you can see what he was seeing at the time.

On his free solo climb up Taipei 101, Alex Honnold went past this very spot to reach the top of the spire at 508m.

Janet Chia
Taipei 101 Chair
Reaching the top myself was a big challenge, and of course, it’s a very different view. Nothing like this has ever been done before. It was nerve-racking, but it wasn’t really stressful. The thing with Alex did give me pressure from many different places, of course. But it’s not like I didn’t have confidence in myself. I trusted Alex and the entire team. Though I couldn’t relax fully, I knew it’d be a success.

Chia faced considerable skepticism when she took over as the chair of the Taipei 101. Now that she’s put Taiwan on the map thanks to Honnold’s climb, some say she should run for mayor.

Janet Chia
Taipei 101
I will absolutely, 100%, definitely not run in the Taipei mayoral election. That should be left for people who have experience in city governance.

Chia says she has no intention of turning to politics. Her next goal is the Taipei 101 vertical marathon, where she hopes to reach greater heights.

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

#taipei101 #alexhonnold #views #taipei #taiwantravel

2026-01-29

Rubio asked about implications of Maduro detention on Taiwan

2026-01-29