2014 Dawn Train Sunrise Tour Unveiled

By MOOK Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

 

The first sunrise on Taiwan's main island in 2014 will fall on Sanciyuan Islet in Chenggong Township, Taitung County, at 6:35 a.m. on January 1. To welcome the arrival of the dawn, the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration has specially invited "sunrise hunters" to set out to sea from the Sanciyuan Islet Recreation Area in Chenggong Township, Taitung County, to capture the first beam of happiness and success for visitors.

The first sunrise on Taiwan's main island in 2014 will occur at 6:35 a.m. on January 1 on Sanciyuan Islet in Chenggong Township, Taitung County. To mark the occasion, the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration has arranged for highly skilled sailfish harpooners to catch the sunrise for everyone. Harpooning sailfish is a distinctive fishing technique on the east coast. Every year from winter to spring, when the northeast monsoon blows, sailfish migrate closer to the eastern waters along the Kuroshio Current, prompting the harpooners to take action. This is also the best season to enjoy the rich flavors of sailfish. These fishermen, who battle the sea daily, are often the first to witness and greet the dawn. At the break of dawn on New Year’s morning, as the first light appears on the horizon, the harpooners at sea will instantly capture the sunrise and relay it back to the event site, allowing visitors at Sanciyuan Islet to be the first in Taiwan to welcome the new day.

 

Wu Zhif, Secretary of the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration, said that the over 300-kilometer stretch of the east coast is a great place to greet the sunrise. Sanciyuan Islet, composed of offshore islets and coral reef coastlines, along with the wave-shaped Eight-Arch Bridge, forms an iconic dawn-welcoming landmark on the east coast. On New Year’s Day, the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration has also arranged a variety of exciting activities at the Sanciyuan Islet Recreation Area. The events will kick off at 4:00 a.m. with the Dawn Market, featuring band performances and a stunning “Light & Sea” show using the natural landscape. The Amis Gakeng Band will also perform, using “percussion” to convey the traditional beauty of the Amis people, echoing the arrival of the island’s first sunrise. After welcoming the dawn, visitors can head to the pavilion on Sanciyuan Islet to ring the “Flag Hopes Success” bell and make a New Year’s wish. The East Coast National Scenic Area Administration has also specially printed limited-edition “Happiness from Sanciyuan Islet” postcards. By donating two eligible receipts, visitors can write blessings for family and friends, and the Administration will mail them out for free.

 

In addition, the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration, in collaboration with the Taiwan Railways Administration, the Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau, and the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation, has jointly launched the “2013–2014 Love You for a Lifetime ~ Harbor Sunset, Sanciyuan Islet Dawn” cross-year dawn cruise train tour. The train departs from Douliu Station at 2:05 p.m. on December 31, arriving at Kaohsiung Station at 4:15 p.m., where travelers can explore freely, before departing from Kaohsiung Station at 1:30 a.m. on January 1 to Sanciyuan Islet in Taitung. The Dawn Cruise Train opens for phone and online reservations at 10:00 a.m. on December 17. Full-price tickets are NT$1,288, and discounted tickets are NT$888. Participants will also receive a limited-edition 2014 Sanciyuan Islet New Year’s Event commemorative Easycard issued by the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration.

 

 

●   Extended Reading:

2014 Purple Yatai Countdown Party: Elva Hsiao Closes Out the Year with a Grand Countdown to the New Year

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