New Year's Day flag-raising ceremony to feature Taitung hot air balloons, ushering in a year full of passion and hope

▲ Taitung’s hot air balloons are set to take flight. (Photo / Provided by Taitung County Government)

Tourism Center / Taipei Reporting

Taitung’s hot air balloons are back in action. This time, these beautiful balloons once again soared the skies over Luye Gaotai early this morning (21st). This was a simulation flight and training session conducted by the Taitung County Government’s hot air balloon team, invited to participate in next year’s New Year’s Day flag-raising ceremony at the Presidential Office. On New Year’s Day, Taitung’s vibrant, romantic, and passionate hot air balloons will also take to the sky, presented as a gift to the people of the nation.


▲ On New Year’s Day, Taitung’s vibrant, romantic, and passionate hot air balloons will also take to the sky, presented as a gift to the people of the nation. (Photo / Provided by Taitung County Government)

During the winter season when strong northeast monsoons prevail, suitable weather for hot air balloon inflation and free flight is rare. To ensure a stunning hot air balloon launch during the New Year’s Day Presidential Office flag-raising ceremony, the Taitung County Government, after analyzing meteorological data, decided to seize the rare opportunity of good weather and conduct a training session at dawn on the 21st at Luye Gaotai.

At around 6 a.m., while it was still dark, all personnel had gathered, and the service vehicle carrying Taiwan’s only two legally operated hot air balloons drove into the vast grasslands of Luye Gaotai to prepare for the inflation process. The rare winter sunrise also began to rise, and the balloons were smoothly inflated on the sunlit golden grass, then took flight into the blue sky after inflation. These two hot air balloons will also be launched during the New Year’s Day flag-raising ceremony, bringing passion, beauty, and boundless hope to the first day of the Republic of China’s 102nd year.


▲ The hot air balloons were smoothly inflated and soared into the blue sky on the sun-drenched grass. (Photo / Provided by Taitung County Government)