Taipei Travel

To herald in 2017, revelers gathered at Civic Plaza to attend the annual New Year’s Eve Countdown Party in front of city hall starting in the evening of December 31.

Following the 7-hour-long event climaxing with the fireworks lighting up Taipei 101, city agencies work together to ensure that attendees make their way home in convenient and effective manners.

According to Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Information and Tourism Chen Yu-hsin, revelers began arriving at Civic Plaza in the afternoon of New Year’s Eve to secure top positions which offer a good view of the main stage and Taipei 101. Based on aerial photos taken earlier, the crowds extend from Civic Plaza out towards the direction of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.

The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation noted that MRT stations reported 2.6 million passenger accesses across New Year’s Eve. The number indicated a drop from New Year’s Eve last year, which showed 3 million riders during the same period. Further analysis indicate that the passenger volume from New Year’s Eve last year (Thursday) included both revelers and people going and leaving work in the vicinity. If taking into consideration only the MRT stations near the event venue (MRT Taipei City Hall Station, MRT Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station, MRT Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station, and MRT Xiangshan Station), the passenger volume actually increased by 3,600 riders compared to the same period (6 PM to midnight) last year.

The Department of Information and Tourism expressed its gratitude to the support of city government agencies in ensuring smooth traffic flow, maintaining order at the event venue, and cleaning up after the party. It also thanked Sanlih Television for the planning and execution of the New Year’s Eve Party.