Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, compiled and reported by Chen Guanxin
Kids who have seen *Up* must also dream of tying their house to colorful balloons and flying among the blue sky and white clouds. The “2012 Taiwan Hot Air Balloon Festival,” hosted by Taitung County Government, will kick off on June 29 and will feature Taiwan’s only hot air balloon summer camp. The camp will run for six sessions, during which foreign pilots will serve as instructors. The curriculum includes knowledge about hot air balloon flight, equipment operation, balloon inflation and deflation techniques, all hands-on. Participants can experience flying without having to tie a house full of balloons. Registration runs from now until June 5. Each session accommodates 60 participants, with an entry fee of NT$5,000 per person. Applicants must be at least 15 years old.
Summer vacation is just around the corner—enroll your child in the hot air balloon summer camp for a unique holiday experience soaring through the skies. (Photo by Li Xinyi, Scenic Spots Family Travel Network)
The 2012 Taiwan Hot Air Balloon Festival will run from June 29 to September 2. In addition to the summer camp, hot air balloon experience activities will also be available starting June 30. Sessions are held twice daily: from 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM and from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, at NT$500 per person. Visitors traveling to the event during this period by train from Taipei area stations (Shulin, Banqiao, Taipei, Songshan) or Kaohsiung area stations (Xinzuoying, Kaohsiung, Fengshan) are eligible for discounted fares of NT$350 and NT$160 respectively. Upon arriving at Taitung Station, visitors can take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle bus to the festival venue. For those flying into Taitung, shuttle buses are available from the airport to Taitung Railway Station, where you can transfer to the Tourist Shuttle. Designated taxi-sharing pick-up points will also be set up at Taitung Railway Station, Taitung Airport, Taitung City Tourism Service Center, Cianjin Hot Spring’s Four-Faced Buddha, and Luye Plateau throughout the event to help ease traffic congestion around the venue.
Trained staff will be on-site to guide participants through the entire hot air balloon operation process. (Photo by Li Xinyi, Scenic Spots Family Travel Network)
Additionally, a naming and online voting campaign for the newly acquired tilting EMUs on the Eastern Line by Taiwan Railways will be held. Winners will receive a free hot air balloon joyride experience. Details will be announced separately after confirmation by Taitung County Government.
2012 Taiwan Hot Air Balloon Festival
Venue: Luye Plateau, Taitung County
Dates: June 29 to September 2
Experience times: Hot air balloon experiences are available daily from 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Experience fee: NT$500 per person
● Read more: Grass sledding, paragliding, and hot air balloons — Luye Plateau is lively all year round
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