By MOOK Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported
Stars shine bright in Greater Kaohsiung ! The highlights of December — the “Giant Balloon Parade” and the “2014 Incredible Kaohsiung New Year's Eve” — attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Among the most anticipated events, the “WOW Kaohsiung ! 2014 Incredible Kaohsiung New Year's Eve” boasts the largest and strongest lineup in Taiwan, featuring an exclusive opening performance by Asian pop giants Mayday, a headline set by ballad prince JJ Lin performing at concert level, Taiwan-exclusive Hello Kitty performances, and a romantic Ferris wheel fireworks show over the harbor. Friends from both home and abroad are welcome to experience this incredible New Year's Eve in Kaohsiung.
The Kaohsiung New Year’s Eve concert will open with a performance by Mayday, close with JJ Lin, and feature acts such as Yen-j. (Photo provided by Kaohsiung City Government)
The highlight of the evening, the “WOW Kaohsiung ! 2014 Incredible Kaohsiung New Year's Eve,” begins at 7:00 PM on December 31st on Era Boulevard. This year’s Kaohsiung New Year’s Eve features a diverse and star-studded lineup. The evening show kicks off with a 40-minute performance by Asian pop giants Mayday, followed by performances from Yu Sheng, Hsieh Po-an, Aaron Yan, Yoga Lin, Christine Fan, Yen-j, MP Magic Power, Lee Wei Feng, boy band AK, and Super Idol winner POP CORN, all keeping the energy high for Kaohsiung’s New Year’s celebration. This year also exclusively features Hello Kitty, celebrating its 40th anniversary, who will bring joyful carnival song and dance performances to Taiwan. Closing the night, ballad prince JJ Lin will perform classic romantic ballads and upbeat dance tracks. After the countdown, all-around entertainer Peter Ho, who hasn’t celebrated New Year’s in Taiwan for eight years, will take the stage with a tribute medley to music icons, kicking off the first highlight of 2014.
To welcome the brand-new year of 2014, the fireworks display is designed around the homophonic concept of 2014 (meaning “love you forever”). In an elegant French romantic style, under the dynamic melody of Mayday’s song “OAOA,” a three-tier rainbow fireworks show will light up the sky simultaneously above the Ferris wheel and the Blue Whale Building, resembling a blue whale gliding through the harbor and splashing waves. Multi-point launches of specially made Japanese-style fireworks will burst in the night sky, creating a lively and glamorous New Year's atmosphere. Combined with dynamic swinging combination fireworks and fan-shaped radial fireworks, a total of 103 dazzling and spectacular effects will be produced. The fireworks display will last a total of 214 seconds, with 20,140 fireworks launched, promising a vibrant, romantic, and passionate New Year’s Eve fireworks show in Kaohsiung. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be broadcast live on SET Metro (Channel 30), SET International (global), MOD SET General (Taiwan), Hit FM radio, YouTube, and Yahoo Kimo, allowing Chinese people around the world to witness the festivities in Kaohsiung simultaneously.
Additionally, the eighth edition of the “Giant Balloon Parade” will take place on December 14th at 1:30 PM on Era Boulevard, gathering over 30 cartoon-themed balloons and 15 professional performance groups. In addition to the full OPEN Family lineup, Grey Wolf, who went on a solo adventure last year, will return to the Pleasant Goat family, along with new friends OPEN-Z, SNOOPY, and PPG characters Old Pey and Apu. The adorable floating balloons and dynamic ground performances intertwine to create a carnival-like celebration that will keep your eyes glued to the spectacle. This year also introduces a new Giant Balloon Night Exhibition on December 14th and the OPEN RUN balloon fun run on December 15th, extending the fun throughout the weekend.
● Further Reading:
Taipei 101 New Year’s Fireworks Animation Revealed – Golden Theme Welcomes the Year of the Horse
http://goo.gl/c6Oe28