Keelung’s Yellow Duck Bids Farewell – Crowds Shout: “Goodbye, Duck!”

▲ Keelung’s Yellow Duck held a “farewell ceremony” on the afternoon of the 8th, with visitors rushing to take photos and say goodbye. (Photo / Eastern TV News)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Keelung’s Yellow Duck took its final bow this afternoon (the 8th), as the Port Authority and Coast Guard Administration deployed four vessels that sounded their horns and sprayed water in a blessing. As the song “A Thousand Miles Away” played, the Yellow Duck slowly drifted away, marking the end of its journey in Taiwan. Nearby crowds couldn’t help but shout, “Goodbye, duck!”

The Yellow Duck has been on display in Keelung since December 21 last year, and today bid farewell amid light breeze and drizzle. The closing ceremony kicked off with a performance by local Keelung singer Lian Yile. In his speech, event initiator Huang Jing-tai first expressed gratitude to the public for their participation and to all participating units for their hard work.

Huang Jing-tai mentioned that without taking the first step, Keelung will never move forward. All the challenges encountered during the exhibition period served as valuable tests, and he pledged to strive for an annual international large-scale installation art event in Keelung in the future, aiming to shift public perspectives and drive urban development.

He also emotionally penned a farewell message reflecting his sentiments over the past 50 days: “Entering the harbor through wind and rain, returning in tranquility—over the 50 days the Yellow Duck stayed in Keelung, it remained composed, unfazed by its scars and dust. With its innocent heart, it radiated gentle strength. With gratitude, we shared joy and happiness with the public; with humility, we accepted all criticism. The Yellow Duck helped us see ourselves, face challenges, and embrace the future.”

The organizers had previously run a photo contest for the Yellow Duck on Facebook (Facebook), receiving 417 submissions. After evaluation by an internal panel, 13 entries were selected and provided to Florentijn Hofman for his official website and Facebook page. Today, commemorative plaques were also awarded to the photographers. (News source / Central News Agency)