TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's National Day celebration will span two cities for the first time. New Taipei City will host the Oct. 9 gala, while Taitung County stages the Oct. 10 fireworks display, officials announced at a joint press conference Sept. 24.
The arrangement marks New Taipei's first-ever National Day gala and Taitung's first fireworks show in nine years. Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), who chairs the National Day Celebration Committee (慶籌會), joined New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) and Taitung County Magistrate Yao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴) to unveil the events.
"From Taipei County to New Taipei City, we have never hosted a National Day gala — this is our first time," Hou said. He revealed that Han personally called him to ask whether New Taipei could "take on the responsibility" of hosting, adding he agreed without hesitation in his final year in office.
"Speaker Han, you didn't pass me over; our brotherhood was not in vain," Hou said, drawing laughter at the press conference.
Taitung's fireworks display at the Beinan River (卑南溪) estuary carries the theme "World's Ark: Austronesian Taiwan" (世界的方舟：南島臺灣). The roughly 30-minute show will launch 19,000 fireworks over the Pacific Ocean.
Rao said the fireworks return to Taitung for the first time since 2017. The county has invited Golden Melody Award-winning singer ABAO (阿爆) to serve as music director.
This year's National Day visual design incorporates semiconductor wafer imagery, reflecting Taiwan's position in the global chip industry, Han said.
Budget figures and expected attendance for both events were not immediately available. New Taipei City is offering a three-day tour package linking the gala and fireworks, with registration opening Sept. 29. ◼