Written/Compiled and Reported by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel Life Network
The Yellow Duck's arrival at Kaohsiung's Glory Pier is in the final countdown stage. Today (13th), the duck and its floating platform were assembled for the first time, undergoing both land and water inflation tests, and were towed from Pier-2 Art Center to Glory Pier as a trial. Kaohsiung City Government Information Bureau Director Lai Jui-long stated that due to the use of large blowers on-site, the 18-meter-tall duck was fully inflated in just about 10 minutes. However, inflating it on water must take weather conditions into account, and since the duck moves with the waves, the process is more challenging. After the tests, the duck and its platform were towed back to Pier-2 for fine adjustments in preparation for its official harbor debut at 4:00 p.m. on September 19.
The Yellow Duck has completed its inflation test today and will meet everyone on Mid-Autumn Festival, September 19. (Photo provided by Kaohsiung City Government)
The duck body and floating platform were assembled in the morning, followed by a land inflation test to confirm the air pressure inside the duck and its fullness. In the afternoon, the first water inflation was carried out at Pier-2, and after a blessing ceremony for the launch, a water towing test from Pier-2 to Glory Pier was conducted to evaluate towing speed and angle.
The duck body is made of PVC-coated fabric, with raw materials supplied by Nan Ya Plastics and enhanced durability by the manufacturer, Atmosphere Corporation. It is stitched together from 240 pieces of varying shapes, using approximately 840 meters of fabric in total. A fully inflated duck requires 40 adults holding hands to encircle it. With a height of 18 meters, width of 25 meters, and weight of 1,000 kilograms, it is the second largest in the world and the largest in Asia.
The fully inflated Yellow Duck displays its adorable and radiant signature smile. (Photo provided by Kaohsiung City Government)
The world’s first detachable floating platform for the duck was designed and manufactured by Kaohsiung-based KS FORD Shipbuilding. Made of metal, it has a diameter of 15 meters and weighs about 11.5 tons. To keep the duck stably positioned in the waters of Glory Pier, four sets of 2-ton anchor blocks will be placed underwater and securely connected to the platform with steel cables.
Lai Jui-long emphasized that both domestic and international tourists are welcome to visit Kaohsiung from Mid-Autumn Festival on September 19 to October 20 to see the Yellow Duck, enjoy local cuisine, and experience the city’s vibrant diversity.
● Extended Reading:
Must-visit Spots for Mid-Autumn Festival: A Guide to Taiwan’s Popular Attractions
http://goo.gl/mqmBHg
MOOK Travel Life Network – The Largest Chinese Travel Information Platform
www.mook.com.tw
The world’s second largest and Asia’s biggest Yellow Duck undergoes a trial sail, attracting many onlookers. (Photo provided by Kaohsiung City Government)