Hit the beach and run wild—Penghu’s Light & Fireworks Show and Beach Fun Run are coming one after another!

▲The Penghu National Scenic Area Administration will hold the “2015 Penghu Bay Beach Fun Run,” hoping to drive tourism during the off-season after the summer vacation. (Photo / Provided by the organizer)

Reported by Chen Tzu-yin / Compiled by staff

The Penghu National Scenic Area Administration has launched the “Penghu Light & Fireworks Show” starting from Qixi Festival on August 20, followed by the “2015 Penghu Bay Beach Fun Run” at Ai Men Beach in Huxi Township on September 12, aiming to spark a tourism boom during the post-summer off-season in Penghu.

According to the administration, the Penghu Light & Fireworks Show will kick off on August 20 with its first show, featuring a total of nine sessions. These will be held on August 20, 23, 29, September 5, 13, 19, 26, October 3 (fireworks display and light show at Guanyin Pavilion at 8 PM and 9 PM respectively), with a special event scheduled for September 10 on Jibei Island—another light and fireworks show at 8 PM. Additionally, on September 19, there will be an extra Peng Fang Starlight Music event.

The “2015 Penghu Bay Beach Fun Run” includes a 3K walk, 6K race, and 12K challenge. Nearly a thousand people have already signed up. On the day of the event, there will also be an on-site “Poseidon Marine Sports Performance Show” where participants can sign up to try it out, followed by an evening concert featuring Golden Melody Award-winning Taiwanese pop king Show Luo. Penghu National Scenic Area Administration Director Chang Lung-cheng noted that running along the 3.2-kilometer crescent-shaped golden beach that links Ai Men, Lin Tou, Jian Shan, and Long Men is the biggest highlight of this beach fun run. Registration closes on August 2. Entry fees for the 6K and 12K runs are NT$400 and NT$600 respectively (including chip fee). Participants who complete registration and payment will receive a commemorative runner’s T-shirt and special gifts.

A staff member from the Planning Division of the administration, Ms. Tsai, stated that due to reduced flights in July, some tourists opted to go elsewhere. Year-to-date cumulative visitor numbers from January to now are around 328,000, about 3% lower than the 340,000 recorded in the same period last year. As the off-season approaches, the hope is that these two major events will attract more visitors to Penghu.