[Travel]How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve? The Tainan Four-Part Series from Dusk to Sunrise

Where will you celebrate New Year’s Eve in 2017? You've been watching the Taipei 101 fireworks for years — why not try something different this year? Join us in Tainan as we celebrate from sunset to the next sunrise, exploring four unique attractions to the fullest.

Head to Taiwan’s most distinctive “Jingzijiao Checkerboard Salt Fields” to watch the sunset, and arrive early to experience the fun of salt drying.

Catch the New Year’s Eve gala at the New Era Plaza near the high-speed rail station.

Go to Erliau, Taiwan’s lowest-altitude spot, to see the sunrise over the sea of clouds. (Admission required)

Hike and witness the flag-raising ceremony at Taiwan’s oldest reservoir.

■ Time: 2016.12.31 16:00–17:30 (Central Weather Bureau estimated sunset time: 17:24)
■ Location: Jingzijiao Tile-Pans Salt Fields, Beimen, Tainan

Get to Jingzijiao Salt Fields early to personally experience the joy of salt drying.
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Under the setting sun reflected on the checkerboard salt fields, everyone can bid farewell to the last sunset at Taiwan’s oldest salt fields.

■ Time: 2016.12.31 18:00 – 2017.1.1 00:40
■ Location: High-Speed Rail Special Zone near Tainan HSR Station

The 2017 Tainan New Year’s Eve Gala is hosted by Hu Gu, Janet, HAO JIAO XIANG QI, and Bai Jiaqi, featuring performances by Wei Li’an, Wong Hong-seng, Li Yuxi, SpeXial, Fire EX., Tseng Pei-chi, Guo Shu-yao, Li Yufen, Zhu Lijing, Xu Fukai, Guo Tingyun, Cao Ya-wen, Tsai Jia-lin, and Da Zhi. Special guest Chen Jin-feng will also be joining to celebrate the night with everyone.

Event website: http://www.2017tainan.com

2017 Tainan New Year’s Eve Gala Performance Schedule

Traffic Information:

(1) Car and Motorcycle Parking Spaces

■ Off-site Parking Lots:
Public (Free) Parking: 510 car spaces, 307 motorcycle spaces.
Private (Paid) Parking: Approximately 2,242 car spaces, 442 motorcycle spaces.

■ Roadside Parking:
Cars: Within approximately 300–800 meters from the venue, about 3,000 car spaces available.
Motorcycles: Within approximately 100–500 meters from the venue, open sidewalk areas provide around 5,000 motorcycle spaces.

(2) No Parking Zones

■ Control Period: From 14:00 on December 31, 2016 to 03:00 on January 1, 2017
■ Controlled Roads: Guiren 8th Rd (from Guiren Blvd to Zhongzheng S. Rd), Guiren Blvd (from Guiren 2nd Rd to Guiren 12th Rd), Guiren 10th Rd (from HSR 2nd Rd to Guiren Blvd), HSR 2nd Rd (from Guiren 10th Rd to HSR Blvd), HSR Blvd (from HSR 2nd Rd to HSR 6th Rd). No roadside parking allowed on the above roads.

Public Transportation

(1) City Buses

■ Red 3 (Tainan–High-Speed Rail Tainan Station–Guanmiao): 20 round trips in both directions. (Last departure at 19:50.)
■ Red 14 (Guanmiao–High-Speed Rail Tainan Station–Chang Jung University): 16 round trips in both directions. (Last departure at 21:50.)
■ Green 16 (Xinhua–Guanmiao–High-Speed Rail Tainan Station): 8 round trips in both directions. (Last departure at 19:35.)

(2) Free Shuttle Buses

■ New Year's Eve Free Shuttle Buses: Departures begin at 14:30 on 12/31/2016, running alternately with the High-Speed Rail Express Buses (City Hall Line and Chimei Line).
■ New Year's Eve Free Shuttle Buses will run from 00:00 on 01/01/2017, with the last bus at 01:30, until all passengers are transported. Passengers may board at the intersection of Guiren Boulevard and Guiren 12th Road.

(3) Taiwan Railways Additional Train Information

Additional services on January 1, 2017:

■ Shalun → Tainan (local train) at 00:15 / 00:37 / 01:15
■ Shalun → Chiayi (local train) at 00:55 / 01:30 / 01:55
■ Tainan → Kaohsiung (local train) at 00:55 / 02:30
■ Tainan → Chaozhou (local train) at 01:40

Self-Drive

■ From Taizhong 86 Expressway Datant Intersection → Turn left onto Zhongzheng South Road → Guiren 8th Road → Public or private parking lots, or roadside parking east of Guiren Boulevard.
■ Exit at Rende Intersection on National Freeway 1 → Head east along Rende Zhongshan Road → Turn left onto Guiren Boulevard → Guiren 7th Road → Roadside parking east of Guiren Boulevard.

Motorcycle

■ Head east along Rende Zhongshan Road → Turn left onto Guiren Boulevard → Guiren 7th Road → Neatly park on the sidewalk east of Guiren Boulevard.
■ Turn left onto Guiren Zhongzheng South Road → Neatly park on the sidewalk south of Guiren 14th Road or the sidewalk east of Guiren Boulevard.

■ Time: 2017.1.1 05:30–07:00
■ Location: Square next to the Erliau Sunrise Viewing Pavilion in Zuoquan
Ticket collection locations: Please see www.siraya-nsa.gov.tw/MainWeb/article.aspx (12/12–12/31)

This sunrise event has limited attendance. Only 3,000 visitors are allowed on the day, and only a few tickets remain. Try your luck getting one. If you don’t manage to get a ticket, you can head directly to the fourth spot, Hutoupi Reservoir, to catch the sunrise—it’s beautiful too.

Known for having one of Taiwan’s lowest-altitude sunrise sea of clouds views, Baobao Wen went many times just to catch the most stunning beam of light.

■ Time: 2017.1.1 07:30–11:00
■ Location: Hutoupi Scenic Area

On the first day of 2017, be sure to attend the flag-raising ceremony to show youthful energy. As per tradition, the Tainan Mayor raises the flag at Hutoupi, Taiwan’s oldest reservoir, and leads everyone on a lakeside walk. The full 4-kilometer stroll is great for your health.
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