NOVEMBER~JANUARY
DEC. Taipei Marathon ( 臺北馬拉松 )
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Locations: Civic Plaza, 1, City Hall Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City ( 市民廣場 ; 台北市信義區市府路 1 號 ) Street running has become very popular in Taiwan in recent years, and it seems as though there is a full marathon staged somewhere on the island each week (see “Splendid Festival” article in this issue). Among the many runs each year, the Taipei Marathon is arguably the most important and prestigious. More than 120,000 runners sign up each time, among them many professional runners from abroad. The start and finish is at Taipei City Hall, not far from the city’s most prominent landmark, the Taipei 101 skyscraper. Not all the participants will be running the full marathon (42.195km). There are also a half-marathon (21km), a 9km Run, a Fun Run (3km), and a Children’s Run (2km), giving runners of all types the chance to be part of this great sports gathering.
DEC. Highest New Year City Taipei – New Year's Eve Countdown Party ( 臺北最 HIGH 新年城 - 跨年晚會 )
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JAN.
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Location: Civic Plaza, 1, City Hall Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City ( 市民廣場 ; 台北市信義區市府路 1 號 ) Website: www.taipei.gov.tw Towering over Taipei’s Xinyi District, Taipei 101 is the city’s most recognizable landmark. Once a year, the tower appears to explode. When the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve a splendid fireworks display is launched from the exterior of the tower, one of the most spectacular shows in the world to welcome in the New Year. Hundreds of thousands of revelers will head to the area surrounding the tower to celebrate the end of the year together, first watching a grand stage show featuring many top acts from Taiwan’s popmusic scene. If you want to avoid the large crowds, there are numerous other locations from which you can watch the fireworks display, including restaurants in high-rises close to the tower and outdoor spots on Four Beasts Mountain southeast of the Xinyi District, with superb unobstructed views of the sparkling lights of Taipei and majestic Taipei 101 not far away.
DEC.
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JAN.
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Alishan Sunrise Impression Concert ( 阿里山日出印象音樂會 ) Locations: Alishan National Forest Recreation Area; 59, Zhongzheng Village, Alishan Township, Chiayi County ( 阿里山國家森林遊樂區 ; 嘉義縣阿里山鄉中正村 59 號 ) Website: http://recreation.forest.gov.tw After the fireworks that cap New Year’s Eve it’s just a few more hours till the first dawn of the New Year. In Taiwan, many people go to places where they can savor the first sunrise in a scenic setting. Many opt for spots on the east coast, where they can see the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean. Others head to the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, famous for its sunrises over Yushan (Mt. Jade, Taiwan’s highest mountain). While on January 1 it can get quite cold up in the high Alishan mountains, there is something that will warm you up, spiritually, when watching the sunrise – classic music performed live by an orchestra – sure to make your first day of the year a unique and unforgettable one!
Travel in Taiwan
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