The “2017 Better Together, a Wonderful Night for All” Double Ten Day celebration is leaving Taipei for the first time this year, and will instead be held in Taichung. The festivities will begin at 7 p.m. on October 9 at the track of the National Taiwan University of Physical Education and Sport. Arts heavyweights including Chio Tian Folk Drums and Arts Troupe, Nine One One, GTM, William Wei, Eve Ai, Bii, Elvis Tian, and Pets Tseng for a night of revelry! Members of the public may pick up free tickets from local Taichung City Government offices beginning today.

On September 28, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Taichung City Government held a press conference to announce the hosting of the Double Ten celebration at the City Hall on Taiwan Boulevard. The Chio Tian Folk Drums and Arts Troupe and boy band GTM gave a rousing performance at the conference after the announcement. Chief of the Legislative Yuan and Chair of the National Day Planning Committee Su Jiaquan, Overseas Community Affairs Council Head Wu Xinxing, Vice Chief of the Ministry of the Interior Hua Jingqun, City Mayor Lin Jialong, Deputy Mayor Lin Lingsan, City Council Member Liu Shizhou, Head of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce Lin Guixiang, and Event Ambassadors Nine One One were all in attendance.

Yuan Chief Su stated that last year’s “One Heart across China” Double Ten Day celebration was held specially for overseas Chinese and Taiwanese businesspeople, and was held in Taipei. This year, the event is moving from Taipei, and, after considering that Taichung City residents would happily take part in the music, cultural, and arts events, the committee decided to “give the event to Mayor Lin and we won’t be disappointed!” and so decided to hold this year’s Double Ten Day celebration in Taichung. We hope that all citizens of Taiwan may also attend this event, show our love for Taiwan, and strive for the future of Taiwan. He also believes that when overseas Chinese return to Taiwan to attend the Double Ten Day celebration, they will mostly travel, and spend money, around Taipei. Taipei and New Taipei City are already exceptionally developed, and so there was no need to gild the lily any further. For this reason, this year’s Double Ten Day celebration will take place in Taichung in the hopes that overseas Chinese and Taiwanese businesspeople may travel around Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, and Miaoli, learn more about their development, drive spending, and promote economic and tourism development.

Mayor Lin stated that he was happy that Chief of the Legislative Yuan, Su Jiaquan, and Chair of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Council Wu Xinxing were able to push for the Double Ten Day celebration to held outside of Taipei for the first time, and in Taichung. The theme for this year is “2017 Better Together, a Wonderful Night for All.” The performance docket is a particular draw. Taichung invited nearly 3000 overseas Chinese to the event, and also extends an invitation to foreign nationals, and especially residents of Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, and Miaoli to join us at the NTUPES track.

Mayor Lin also stated that the Double Ten Day celebration will be spectacular, and is looking forward to Taiwanese citizens celebrating Double Ten Day with this lively, creative event, and welcome overseas Chinese back to Taiwan.

Chairman Wu of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Council stated that nearly 5000 overseas Chinese have signed up to attend the Double Ten Day celebration to date, and expects several hundred more to sign up in the next few days. In total, over 5000 overseas Chinese are expected to return to Taiwan this year, around 1600 more than last year.

The Taichung Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that the Double Ten Day celebration will display the diverse cultures of Taiwan. The event has 6 themed sections including “The Light of Taiwan,” “The Future of Taichung Is Not a Dream,” “Taiwan’s Got Hip-Hop,” “The Sound of Flowers Blooming,” “The Meteoric Power of Chinese People in Asia,” and “Classic Songs Shish Kebab.” “The Light of Taiwan” will feature a performance from the R.O.C. competitive cheer squad, “The Future of Taichung Is Not a Dream” is a performance by GMT of their song “My Future Is Not a Dream,” and the Chiu Tian Folk Drums and Arts Troupe, and “The Sound of Flowers Blooming” will feature lead singer from the band I-Want Star Power, who performed at the opening ceremony of the Universiade, and Pets Tseng, to invite everyone to the 2018 Taichung World Flora Expo.

The “Taiwan’s Got Hip-Hop,” “The Meteoric Power of Chinese People in Asia,” and “Classic Songs Shish Kebab” form the core of the evening’s celebration, featuring popular acts such as the every-man’s band Nine One One, Prince of Love Songs Bii, the talented and creative William Wei, Golden Song Queen Eve Ai, Ben Wu, Elvis Tian, and Lu Kuo-Wei, performing classic songs, hip-hop, and pop music, and making for a wonderful night.

Additionally, the celebration will also introduce brand-new real-time interactive and virtual reality technology. Attendees need only check in on Facebook or Instagram with particular keywords, and may connect with the venue’s LED screen, allowing you to show pictures you upload, and share your joy through interacting with everyone there. In order to allow those watching the livestream or reruns to experience the atmosphere, the event will feature VR technology, which will be used to show computer animation on a mirrored surface. This will make you feel as if you are interacting with the singers, and make you feel like you are in the world of the song.

Tickets for the“2017 Better Together, a Wonderful Night for All” celebration are free, and allow you to enter the venue. Tickets are available starting at 9 a.m. on September 29 at Taichung City Public Offices. Limit 2 per person, while supplies last. Entrance to the venue starts at 5 p.m. on October 9. Please enter prior to 6:30 p.m. through Diantai Street, and make your way to the spectator section on the second floor.