Countdown to 2015 Begins！A Comprehensive Guide to New Year’s Eve Celebrations and Sunrise Watching Events Across Taiwan

▲ The Taipei 101 fireworks show this year will last 218 seconds. (Photo/From the official website of Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

With just 10 days left until 2015, many people have already started planning where to ring in the New Year with a lively celebration. Below is a roundup of major New Year’s Eve events, sunrise watching, and flag-raising ceremonies across Taiwan’s cities and counties, along with spectacular fireworks displays around the island—must-see events for your New Year’s countdown!

Northern Taiwan:

Taipei City:This year, the New Year’s Eve party in the Taipei–New Taipei metropolitan area will be held at Taipei City Hall Plaza, featuring an all-star lineup including Left Right Left Right, JJ Lin, Show Lo, and Jolin Tsai. There will also be a 360-degree rotating stage and 10,000 glow sticks distributed to the crowd, which change colors with every countdown number.

Taipei 101 will host its 11th annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Although the sponsor has not yet been announced, the show is confirmed to go on, lasting the same 218 seconds as last year. A 60-second preview is expected to be revealed later this week.

New Taipei City:New Taipei City’s New Year’s Eve celebration includes a flag-raising ceremony on New Year’s Day, which will take place at San Diego Cape. In addition to a special audiovisual fireworks show, a highlight will be 80-year-old “New Year’s Grandma” from Gongliao District, who, to mark the 80th anniversary of San Diego Cape Lighthouse next year, will lead girl scouts in singing the national anthem.

Taoyuan County:The upcoming upgrade of Taoyuan County will be celebrated with a New Year’s Eve event starting at 6 PM on December 31st at the Taoyuan County Multifunctional Arts and Cultural Park. This year, the event will be hosted by entertainers Harlem Yu, Jacky Wu, Hsieh Hsin, and Chuang Yu-chieh, and will feature performances by artists such as Crowd Lu, Kris Phillips, Fish Leong, and the Universe band. Crowd Lu will perform before the countdown, while Crowd Lu will also wrap up the night for Taoyuan citizens with a closing performance.

▲ The fireworks show at Leofoo Village Theme Park this year will last a full 10 minutes！(Photo/Provided by Leofoo Village Theme Park)

Central Taiwan

Taichung:The Taichung City Government will hold New Year’s Eve parties at both the National Taiwan Sport University Stadium and the Fengyuan Stadium. Performers include Jolin Tsai, Wang Xinling, Aaron Yan, Lulu Hsueh, and Kate Hu, along with a fireworks display.

Nantou:The Nantou Qingjing New Year’s Eve party will begin at 7 PM on December 31st in the parking lot of the Qingjing Farm Visitor Leisure Center. The event will include performances by the Manhui Dance Troupe, Xi Lie Ke Cultural Art Troupe, indigenous singer Lin Na, Zhang Manying, and an electronic music party. After the countdown, there will be a lights-out stargazing activity.

Yunlin:The New Year’s Eve party at Leofoo Village Theme Park will kick off at 7:30 PM, featuring not only a concert but also the highly anticipated fireworks show, which will last 610 seconds. The show will introduce imported wind wheel equipment for a 360-degree aerial hanging fireworks display, along with a Ferris wheel showcasing a double-ring competition and a 15-meter-high 4D laser magic show.

▲ Erliao in Zuozhen is known as the city’s closest spot to watch the sunrise. (Photo/Provided by Siraya National Scenic Area)

Southern Taiwan

Alishan:Alishan’s 2014 Year-End Welcome Gala will be held at 7 PM on December 31st at Alishan Railway Station. On New Year’s morning at 5 AM, the Sunrise Impression Concert will take place at the Duigao Yue Platform in Alishan Forest Recreation Area.

Chiayi City:Chiayi City Government’s New Year’s Eve celebration, themed “All Chiayi, All Art,” will begin at 7 PM on the evening of the 31st at the North Building Plaza of the Chiayi City Hall. Performers include Aaron Yan, Chen Shiyu, Liang Zhe, 831, Bomber, Monster Fish, and ASA bands.

Tainan:Tainan’s traditional three-part New Year’s celebration kicks off with the “Send Off the Sunset” event at Beimen at 4:30 PM, bidding farewell to the last sunset of 2014 on Taiwan proper.

The second part of the New Year’s celebration, the “Tainan Happy Sheep New Year’s Eve Party,” will be held at 6 PM in front of the High-Speed Rail Tainan Station Plaza. The hosts include Host Hu Gua, Hou Yijun, Gino, and Bai Jiaqi, with a lineup of top entertainers performing back-to-back.

The third act of the New Year's Eve celebration is the "Er Liao Welcoming the First Light" jointly organized by the municipal government and the Tourism Bureau’s Siraya National Scenic Area Administration. At Er Liao in Zuozhen, Tainan — the lowest-altitude sunrise and sea of clouds viewing spot in Taiwan — the public will gather to welcome the first light of 2015. Please note that this year’s Er Liao event has a limited number of participants and requires tickets for entry.

Kaohsiung:The New Year’s Eve party at Dream Mall in Kaohsiung will run from 6:30 PM until 1:30 AM, featuring electro queen Jolin Tsai as the opening act, along with Show Lo, Hu Xia, and the countdown to be performed by Sodagreen.

E-DA Theme Park also hosts a New Year’s Eve celebration, inviting top stars such as Jolin Tsai and Hebe Tien as the closing acts, with additional performers including internet sensation Annie Yi, Dream Girls, Show Lo, JPM, and Alien Huang. This year’s fireworks show at E-DA will last 365 seconds, symbolizing 365 days.

Pingtung County:The Pingtung County Government’s New Year’s Eve celebration will be held at the County Gymnasium, featuring performances by MOMO Brothers and Sisters, Feng Shen Bao Children’s Taiwanese Opera Troupe, Hsieh Chin-Ching, Huang Shan-Liang, and Huang Si-Ting.

The Kenting National Park Administration will hold a first light welcoming event at Longpan Park in Kenting, with the Nine-Day Folk Performance Troupe accompanying visitors to greet the first dawn.

▲ The Taitung New Year’s Eve party will be even more colorful than last year’s!(Photo / from Taitung County New Year’s Eve FB fan page)

Eastern Taiwan

Yilan:The Yilan County Toucheng Township Office welcomes the first light of 2015 on the Lanyang Plain. On January 1st at 5 AM, the “2015 You’re the One, Toucheng Greets the Dawn” event will take place at Gang’ao Beach, featuring performances by multiple singers, complimentary Laba congee and ginger tea, as well as limited-edition peace blessing bags.

Taitung:The “2015 Colorful New Year’s Eve PARTY SHOW” hosted by the Taitung County Government will be held at the Taitung County Gymnasium from 7 PM on December 31st until midnight on January 1st. The hosts are Hsu Che-Hui and Little You, with guest performers including Wang Ruo-lin, Show Lo, Huang Mei-chen, YOYO Family’s Watermelon Brother, and Orange Sister.

Meanwhile, there will also be a New Year’s Eve music concert at the Taimali Township Seaside Dawn Park. Starting in the evening on December 31st and facing the Pacific Ocean, the event will feature indigenous song and dance, performances by popular bands, countdown, fireworks, and a flag-raising ceremony to welcome the first light.

Hualien:The Hualien County Government will hold the “Pacific Tourism Festival” New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebration over three consecutive evenings from December 31st to January 2nd, starting at 6 PM each night in the Sixth Redevelopment Zone of Hualien City. Over 20 Chinese singers will gather in Hualien, transforming the entire city into a Pacific Music City.

Offshore Islands

Penghu:The Penghu County Government will host a New Year’s Eve celebration starting at 7:30 PM on December 31st at the square in front of the county government building, featuring performances by Super Idol contestants Yang Qian-Shi and Wu Zhong-Ming, as well as local performance groups, and a fireworks display. On January 1st, activities such as a flag-raising ceremony and jogging events will also take place.

Kinmen:The Kinmen County New Year’s Eve celebration, themed “Happy Kinmen – Spirited as a Flying Sheep,” will be held at 7 PM on December 31st at the plaza behind the County Stadium, hosted by entertainers Abu and Fan Shixuan. Performers include Kang Kang, Lin Hui-Ping, Hsu Jen-Chieh, Lee Yi, Lin Yu-Chun, and Jia Jia. The venue will also feature other activities.

On the northernmost national territory, the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration will hold a first light welcoming event at 6 AM on January 1st at Dongyin, inviting the public to welcome the new year and watch the sunrise alongside the national second-grade historic site Dongyin Lighthouse and the scenic beauty of Fu Zheng Beach. (Source: Central News Agency)