Yellow Rubber Duck Arrives in Keelung in December to Celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve with You

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The first stop of the Yellow Rubber Duck’s Taiwan tour has been confirmed as Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Art Center. After wrapping up its Kaohsiung visit in October, it will make a brief stop in Taoyuan before “swimming” into Keelung Harbor on December 21. It will be on display for six weeks, accompanying the public through Christmas and the year’s biggest celebration — New Year’s Eve. The Keelung City Government stated that the approximately six-story-tall Yellow Rubber Duck will be placed about 15 meters from the Ocean Plaza along the harbor. Ocean Plaza is the best spot to view the duck.

▲ The cute and therapeutic Yellow Rubber Duck (Photo / Reporter Yu □ Ru)

On the 24th, Florentijn Hofman, the Dutch designer who created the Yellow Rubber Duck, attended the press conference for its Keelung exhibition and announced that the 18-meter-tall, 1,000-kilogram duck will arrive in Keelung Harbor in December. The city government said that this year marks the duck’s 12th birthday, and it is confirmed to be displayed from December 21 south of Qilian River and 15 meters in front of Ocean Plaza along the harbor. The six-week exhibition period includes both Christmas and New Year’s holidays. It is estimated to attract 5 million visitors and bring NT$1 billion in business opportunities to Keelung.

When Hofman heard that Keelung has been ranked as one of Taiwan’s least happy cities in recent years, he responded, “No way. Keelung Harbor is as beautiful as a painting, and its night view is also stunning. The duck will definitely bring happiness to Keelung. Keelung Harbor is like a big bathtub, and the duck is like a child taking a bath in it. I hope everyone will come to see the duck.”

Regarding the approaching typhoon season, Hofman pointed out that if the duck’s exhibition period coincides with a typhoon or excessively strong winds that threaten its safety, they will consider deflating the duck, similar to what was done in Hong Kong, to protect it.