Felix the Cat makes a public appearance at the Colorful Qingjing Lake Hot Air Balloon Festival!

▲ Kaohsiung imported a Felix the Cat hot air balloon from the U.S. to attract tourists. (Photo / Provided by Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau)

Tourism Center / Reported from Taipei

Hot air balloon fever sweeps across Taiwan again — not to be outshined by Taitung’s Angry Birds balloons, Kaohsiung has imported a Felix the Cat hot air balloon from the U.S., joining colorful balloons from Slovenia to kick off the “2013 Kaohsiung Take Off – Urban Hot Air Balloon Carnival.”

The “2013 Kaohsiung Take Off – Urban Hot Air Balloon Carnival” will take place at Qingjing Lake in Kaohsiung from July 6 to August 11, running for 37 days. Over eight hot air balloons from the U.S., the U.K., France, and Slovenia will take flight, giving 30,000 visitors the chance to experience the thrill of hot air ballooning. Unlike other cities’ events, Kaohsiung’s balloons offer breathtaking aerial views of Qingjing Lake’s beautiful scenery. During the event, water and air quality monitoring will also be conducted in collaboration with relevant agencies to promote environmental protection.

In addition to tethered hot air balloon rides, the festival features aerobatic remote-controlled glider shows, drone exhibitions, a World Ice Cream Carnival, a Hot Air Balloon Cultural Museum, a Hot Air Balloon History Museum, a Joyful Balloon Pavilion, a Chinese and Western Food Street, a special sale of local agricultural products, souvenir stalls, a family amusement castle, and a 3D flying motion cinema — ensuring a wonderful holiday for visitors of all ages.