Kaohsiung’s “Celebrate the New Year in Style” campaign kicks off with tons of New Year goods and huge giveaways on Little New Year’s Eve

By Liu Jiawen, compiled and reported

The series of events under “2012 Celebrate the New Year in Kaohsiung” officially kicked off and will run until January 21 (Little New Year’s Eve), with major specialty districts across the city rolling out special deals on festive goods and free Spring Festival couplets, aiming to send everyone home with a bag full of treats. On January 18, an event will be held at Xingzhong Night Market, featuring discount vouchers offering 10% off for purchases over NT$200 at selected shops; on January 21, Little New Year’s Eve, activities such as “Fortune Chain Game” and “Fortune from the Sky Giveaway” will take place at the plaza in front of Hanshin Dome, where thousands of pounds of New Year goods will rain down from above for a limited-time grab-and-run. Participants in the “Fortune Chain Game” may also win extra goodies from the frenzied treasure hunt.

In addition, free red envelopes will also be distributed at both event locations. The envelopes feature gold-flecked designs on the cover and a three-dimensional little dragon on the inside with a NT$10 coin motif, symbolizing prosperity and fortune. The background includes iconic buildings in Kaohsiung—such as Qishan Railway Station, the Old Fengshan City Gate, Meinong East Gate Tower, and the Zuoying Dragon and Tiger Pagoda—as well as future landmarks like the Kaohsiung Port International Traveler Center, the Kaohsiung Harbor Cultural & Popular Music Center, and the World Trade Exhibition Center, representing a blend of modern style and traditional local flavor, making them truly worth collecting.

The theme of this year’s event is “Long Lai Xing Fu,” which in Taiwanese means “Everyone Comes for Happiness,” symbolizing that everyone can enjoy a happy year during the Year of the Dragon. The street decorations have also expanded across Greater Kaohsiung, including areas such as LinYuan, Hunei, Fo Guang Shan, Meinong, and major freeway interchanges. As soon as you enter any key transportation route into the city, you’ll see festive dragon flags celebrating the New Year fluttering in the wind. Through festive events hosted by specialty districts, aside from encouraging consumer spending, they also allow returning travelers and domestic and international tourists alike to soak up the lively New Year atmosphere.