TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwanese capital will undertake a comprehensive review of its performance venues to improve accessibility for elderly music fans, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) announced Friday (April 11). The initiative comes in response to concerns raised by legendary Mandopop vocalist Tsai Chin (蔡琴), who publicly criticized the steep staircases at several of the city's prominent concert halls as potentially hazardous for her predominantly older audience. Tsai's comments have sparked a broader conversation about age-inclusive design in Taiwan's cultural spaces.
The 67-year-old vocalist, making her highly anticipated return to performing in Taiwan following a three-year absence, announced her upcoming "Don't Say Goodbye" (不要告別) concert series at a press conference Thursday. The tour will feature performances in Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taiwan's second-largest city, throughout June. In a notable departure from industry trends, Tsai selected the more intimate Taipei International Convention Center (TICC, 台北國際會議中心) as her venue rather than the recently completed Taipei Dome (大巨蛋), a massive multipurpose arena. Her decision prioritized accessibility and patron safety considerations over the potential for larger ticket sales at the more spacious facility.
Speaking to reporters before a scheduled appearance at the Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, Mayor Chiang committed to a thorough assessment of accessibility features at city-operated performance spaces. The mayor, who has cultivated an image as a patron of the arts, also expressed personal interest in attending Tsai's June performance if his official duties allow. Taipei's Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tsai Shih-ping (蔡詩萍), who maintains a longstanding friendship with the singer, praised her principled stance on audience safety. The cultural commissioner pledged that upcoming venue renovations would incorporate design elements accommodating patrons of all ages and mobility levels. ★