For many years, cities and countries in Taiwan set up a fireworks show to celebrate the coming of new year. Taichung City Mayor, Lin Chia-lung leads to set the example in pursuit of environmental protection and announced starting from this year, new year countdown events officially organized by Taichung City Government will not set up fireworks. This demonstrates Taichung’s determination to contribute to Taiwan’s environment and prevent wastage.

Taichung City Government has been promoting various air pollution control and prevention policies. Taichung City’s average concentration of PM2.5 gradually dropped from 27μg/m3 in 2014 to 22.8μg/m3 in 2016. By this November, it came to 20.1μg/m3. Days of purple warning also decreased from 87 in 2014, 69 in 2015, 50 in 2016, and 20 by this November. Mayor Lin said he had instructed that the new year countdown events organized by agencies of Taichung City Government shall not set up fireworks shows to reduce air pollution, contribute to Taiwan’s environmental protection, and avoid resource waste.

Director-General of Information Bureau of Taichung City Government, Zhuo Guan-ting, said that in the past Taichung, like other cities and counties around Taiwan, set up fireworks shows in new year countdown events. We probably are used to that celebration; however, recently some citizens had proposed to the City Government do not set up fireworks. Mayor Lin officially announced that in the future no more fireworks will be set up in new year countdown events organized by Taichung City Government, a breakthrough change for Taichung’s new year countdown event culture.

Director-General Zhuo said, in order to allow residents in Taichung, from the county and city of the former jurisdiction, to participate in their nearby annual new year countdown events and promote for 2018. This year’s “Star-Spangled Welcome of the Flora Expo- 2018 Taichung New Year Countdown Celebration” will be organized at 7: 00 pm on December 31, at the field track of National Taiwan University of Sports and Park Lot 2 of Lihpao Resort. Relevant information of casts and traffic information will be announced. Everyone is encouraged to take a part.