Mayor Huang noted that this marks Tainan City’s first participation in the UK’s International Food & Drink Event, an opportunity that will significantly enhance the visibility of Tainan’s brands in the British markets. He expressed strong confidence in the participating operators. In response to the European market’s healthy and organic food trends, the Tainan delegation focused mainly on fruits, processed fruit products, and aquatic products, which are easy to preserve and transport.

Businesses from Tainan will engage directly with British distributors to gain insights into local market demands. The Mayor also looks forward to boosting Tainan’s food and tourism industry through the food exhibition and deepening interactions with the UK.

Representative Yao remarked that the UK’s interest in Taiwanese products continues to grow, noting that the number of Taiwanese companies and organizations at this exhibition has increased since Taiwan’s first participation last year. As one of Taiwan’s major centers for high-quality produce, Tainan’s involvement further promotes collaboration and exchange between the food industries of Taiwan and the UK.

Mayor Jenkyns, who recently visited Tainan, shared her admiration for the city’s technological advancements and smart city development, as well as her appreciation for Tainan’s signature pineapples. She stated that Greater Lincolnshire, rich in agricultural biotechnology potential, also sent representatives to this year’s IFE and expressed enthusiasm for expanding cooperation between the two regions.

Participating in the British International Food & Drink Event (IFE) marks a significant milestone in marketing Tainan’s agricultural specialties overseas. During the event, Mayor Huang also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between Fisherman’s Hometown International Co. Ltd. and British trading partners, paving the way for Tainan’s agricultural and fishery products to reach consumers worldwide through the UK market.

Tainan City Government leveraged aiDAPTIV technology, independently developed by Phison Electronics, to build a new-gen AI knowledge management system. This solution is capable of rapidly organizing, searching, and conducting AI inference across massive amounts of administrative data, knowledge documents, and cross-bureau information within the city government, significantly improving internal knowledge circulation efficiency and decision-making support capabilities.

At the NVIDIA GTC, a globally recognized benchmark event in AI technology, Phison Electronics presented its collaboration with the Tainan City Government as part of its smart city solutions showcase. With Phison’s aiDAPTIV technology, the system supports on-premises deployment to ensure data security and autonomy, an essential requirement for government agencies and public services that place a high priority on information protection.

Compared with conventional AI query systems, this collaborative AI knowledge management system can improve overall performance by up to tenfold or more in practical applications. Moreover, its low construction costs and scalable deployment structure make it possible to extend AI from a limited set of high-cost use cases to a broad range of applications, including municipal services, citizen inquiries, administrative coordination, and public governance.

The Tainan City Government stated that it will continue to collaborate with industry partners to promote more AI-driven innovations so that smart technology can better serve the public and make the urban governance model smarter, more efficient, and more responsive.

President Lai noted that the Taiwan International Orchid Show (TIOS), alongside the World Orchid Conference (WOC) and the Japan Grand Prix International Orchid Festival, ranks among the world’s three major orchid exhibitions. This year’s event marked the first Orchid Show & Floral Technology Exhibition, showcasing Taiwan’s achievements in integrating technology into flower cultivation and design. He stressed that for Taiwan’s orchids to maintain our global lead position, the industry must continue to invest in innovation, cultivate new varieties, and improve flower health and durability. The President further pointed out that the Floral Industry Innovation Center will be further expanded and introduce AI and emerging technologies to bolster industry clusters. Furthermore, the government has successfully secured continued zero tariffs on Taiwan’s orchids and several agricultural exports to the US, while pledging ongoing support for Taiwan’s agriculture and orchid sectors under the principles of national sovereignty and economic security.

Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih said that the Taiwan International Orchid Show depends on the support of a complete and robust industry system. The fact that Tainan is able to host the Taiwan International Orchid Show for consecutive years showcases the local industries’ strength as well as Tainan’s city energy. This is the pride of agriculture in Taiwan. He emphasized that Taiwan’s agriculture industry is not afraid of competition as long as there is fair competition, and the industry has shifted from being price-oriented to value-oriented, improving international visibility and market competitiveness with quality and brand strength. The Ministry of Agriculture will continue to strengthen service capacity, work with operators to enhance competitiveness, and let Taiwan’s flora keep on shining on the global stage.

Mayor Huang Wei-che expressed that with the help of TAITRA, this year’s Orchid Show attracted a large number of international buyers. About 70% are new buyers, demonstrating the momentum of expanding global markets. He stressed that the key to competing in the market is quality: “If flowers bloom, butterflies come; when orchids bloom, buyers will follow.” Stable global orders and long-term collaborations can only happen when operators continuously improve flower health and cultivation techniques. Faced with the challenges of international competition and shifting tariffs, the local government will continue to work with the Central Government to help orchid growers enhance technical capabilities, expand export channels, and improve overall industrial competitiveness. In addition to exhibitions of technology, this year’s event features water-dyed orchid installations and 3D image presentations, showcasing the combined results of Tainan’s high-tech city image and its flower industry.

This year’s event presents a hybrid format that combines the Taiwan International Orchid Show with the Floral Technology Exhibition. This model offers visitors a better understanding of the past, present, and future of Taiwan’s flower industry from two perspectives. The Taiwan International Orchid Show features more than 1,000 high-quality orchids as well as a new variety registration platform and digital image database to support global competitiveness and credibility. The Floral Technology Exhibition combines AI, 3D projection, and immersive interactive experience to present a brand-new way for visitors to appreciate and interact with flowers.

The Taiwan International Orchid Show & Floral Technology Exhibition is open from February 27 to March 16, 2026, at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Floral Industry Innovation Center (FIIC). For more information, please visit the official website of the 2026 Taiwan International Orchid Show & Floral Technology Exhibition (https://tios.tw/).

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che was also present to welcome the event back to Tainan with trainers from around the world. Together, they enjoyed the premiere of the nighttime light sculpture show. Huang expressed his warm welcome to Pokémon players from home and abroad, encouraging visitors to also explore the Pharaoh: King of Egypt special exhibition at the Chi Mei Museum, along with Tainan’s historic landmarks and renowned local cuisine.

According to the city’s Bureau of Tourism, this is the second time that Tainan has hosted the Pokémon GO event (the previous one took place in 2018) and the city is honored to celebrate the game’s symbolic 10th anniversary this year. Held during the Lunar New Year holidays, the Pokémon GO Tour brings unique excitement to students returning home and offers international visitors an immersive way to experience Tainan’s distinct charm and culture while catching Pokémon.

This year’s edition invites trainers from around the world to enter the World of Pokémon through three themed AR habitats: Central Village, Coastal Laboratory, and Mountain Manor. The immersive experience also features many large inflatable Pokémon installations and popular photo spots, as well as special in-game encounters, including the world debut of Shiny Diancie and exclusive Pikachu wearing Calem’s or Serena’s hat.

Pokémon GO Tour official website - https://pokemongo.com/zh_Hant/gotour/tainan
Travel Tainan website - https://www.twtainan.net/zh-tw/
Travel Tainan Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/traveltainan

Director Wang Ming-de of the Transportation Bureau explained that the comprehensive Smart Bus-Hailing service is part of Mayor Huang Wei-che’s smart transportation policies. The Smart Bus-Hailing system, a nationwide first, offers an integrated solution to improve the bus-waiting experience. Passengers can notify drivers using any of three methods: the Tainan City Bus app, by scanning the QR code on the smart bus stop signs, or by pressing the button available at selected stops. The notification appears on the driver’s on-board unit (OBU), reminding them that passengers are waiting at the next stop. This feature not only prevents buses from skipping stops but also helps reduce driving stress.

According to Director Wang, to properly integrate the city bus routes into the service, they went through a series of system development, integration, and actual testing to combine the various OBU interfaces on the newly added bus fleet into the existing service system. The latest version added 150 OBUs and 716 bus stops along the 25 new city bus routes. With this upgrade, every route and stop in Tainan - including the six major trunk lines and all city routes - now supports the Smart Bus-Hailing feature. Director Wang encouraged residents to take full advantage of this convenient service, which remains unique to Tainan.

To notify bus drivers that there are waiting passengers at the next stop, users simply select their bus route and the stop they are at on the Tainan City Bus app, or scan the QR code on the smart bus stop sign for the estimated arrival time for all incoming buses, then press the “I Want to Ride” button to notify the bus driver. When the incoming bus is low-floor or wheelchair-accessible, the app will also display a “wheelchair boarding” option, allowing passengers with disabilities to alert the driver in advance. The city government reminds passengers that while the Smart Bus-Hailing system provides two-way communication between drivers and passengers, it serves as an auxiliary reminder. Riders are still advised to flag down the approaching bus manually to ensure safe and reliable boarding.

The multifunctional complex includes two standard baseball courses, two Little League baseball courses, two infield practice fields, and an indoor/outdoor pitching and batting facility. These features allow multiple teams to train simultaneously. The city government extended an early invitation to the Uni-Lions to hold their spring training at the Training Centers, in addition to their sessions at the Tainan Municipal Baseball Stadium. The Uni-Lions enjoy priority scheduling and discounted rental fees as part of the city’s initiative to support its home team. The Lotte Giants, who trained in Taiwan in 2025, renewed their contract last September, while the NC Dinos followed by signing in early 2026. Several other international teams have expressed interest in the facilities, but all spring training slots are already fully booked.

According to Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che, the Tainan Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadiums and Training Centers meet international standards and continue to attract inquiries from baseball teams around the world. As a show of support, the city provides the iconic home team, Uni-Lions, with priority access and favorable rates. Tainan City continues to actively promote international exchanges and bring in global professional baseball teams for spring training. This promotes baseball exchanges and demonstrates the Tainan City Government’s commitment to the development of local professional baseball.

Director-General Chen Liang-chien of Tainan’s Bureau of Sports remarked that the city government prioritizes local and domestic baseball clubs and thus invited the Uni-Lions first to reserve their practice time. He also added that several overseas teams are reapplying for time slots due to positive experiences in previous years, demonstrating the growing appeal of the Tainan Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadiums and Training Centers.

Governor Jose Enrique M. Miraflores of Aklan Province visited Tainan last August (2025) and soon after the two sides officially established a sister-city relationship. Aklan Province also sent a delegation to set up a promotional booth at the Tainan International Travel Fair last November at the invitation of Mayor Huang. To show the city’s deep appreciation of Aklan’s strong support of major municipal events, Mayor Huang accepted Governor Miraflores’ invitation and made a return visit. This trip is significant as it is not only the Mayor’s first visit to Aklan Province since the sister-city relationship was finalized, but also his first trip to the Philippines since becoming mayor.

The Tainan delegation’s visit coincided with the Ati-Atihan Festival, the Province’s most well-known festival, and the delegation took part in the Higante Contest Parade held on Jan. 15 afternoon. Impressed by the carnival-like atmosphere, Mayor Huang extended a special invitation to Governor Miraflores, welcoming Aklan Province to participate in the Nan Ying International Folklore Festival in Tainan this October and to share Aklan’s unique and rich folk culture with Tainan’s citizens.

Governor Miraflores welcomed Mayor Huang’s delegation together with his provincial government officials and SP Jupiter Aelred G. Gallenero. The Governor expressed that last year’s Tainan International Travel Fair marked a very good start for future collaborations between Aklan and Tainan, and that he looks forward to bringing more operators from the local travel sector to Tainan for this year’s Travel Fair to further strengthen partnerships in tourism, education, and business. Miraflores also noted that Aklan Province is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year with a series of festivities and hopes that Mayor Huang will visit again.

Mayor Huang also met with Benzen Raleigh Grepo Rusit, Deputy Mayor of Cavite City. After signing the MOU To Strengthen Sister City Relations between the two cities on behalf of Tainan, Huang remarked that the signing of this MOU symbolizes a new milestone and will strengthen the friendship between Tainan and Cavite City, Tainan’s first sister city in the Philippines. He added that Tainan City will continue to carry out city diplomacy to expand substantive cooperation with all of its Philippine sister cities.

Deputy Mayor Rusit explained that he was attending on behalf of Mayor Denver Reyes Chua, who was on an official visit elsewhere. He expressed his delight at witnessing the signing of the MOU and said he looks forward to more exchanges and communication between the two cities.

During his stay in the Philippines, Mayor Huang also met with officials at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines as well as local Taiwanese business representatives. He showcased several of Tainan’s signature agricultural products and discussed opportunities to expand Tainan’s brands in the Philippine market. He acknowledged the long-standing contributions of Taiwanese businesses in the Philippines in opening up markets for Taiwanese industries and expressed hope that these commercial ties will further deepen economic, trade, and urban exchanges between Tainan and the Philippines.

Despite having a limited budget, Tainan City still successfully delivered sensational stage performances and exciting events that combine Tainan’s delectable delicacies and renowned hospitality, satisfying the expectations of every participant - artist and audience alike. Mayor Huang remarked that the city is gradually building its unique New Year’s Eve event branding and invited everyone to take part in various events throughout the year, such as the Longci Void Mountain Festival, the Puji Lantern Festival, the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks, and the Tainan Shopping Festival. No matter what type of activity you’re looking for, Tainan can always impress visitors with its rich diversity and sophisticated charm.

To showcase the city’s famed food culture, Mayor Huang prepared an impressive spread of Tainan’s signature dishes to welcome domestic and international performers, as many of the Japanese and Korean artists had limited opportunities to explore local street food. Popular snacks offered included traditional braised foods, candied fruit skewers made with seasonal fruits, black sugar boba milk tea, almond tea, FORMOSA black tea, ba-wan, tofu pudding, danzai noodles, and grilled chicken fillets. Seasonal fruits and juices such as white pomelo, red and white dragon fruits, cherry tomatoes, pineapples, and melons were also served. In a gracious gesture, the Mayor even provided watermelon for members of ALL(H)OURS, fulfilling their wish to taste every fruit Tainan has to offer, a heartfelt display of the city’s warmth and generosity. 

This year’s event featured an impressive lineup of 15 performing groups from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Multitalented Japanese superstar Airi Suzuki energized the audience with her dynamic stage presence, while the popular Korean girl group STAYC impressed with their precise and vibrant choreography. Taiwanese jazz artist 9m88, nominated for Best Original Film Score at the Golden Horse Awards, brought a smooth jazz performance to the stage. Following the midnight countdown, local band Bestards kept the momentum going with a 40-minute encore set, keeping the crowd singing along late into the night.

Mayor Huang Wei-che welcomed the delegation and expressed that Tainan has not only the presence of major global tech companies but also incubated many SMEs and hidden champions. He further pointed out that the US tariff policy presented significant challenges for local businesses this year, but the city government is actively helping them overcome obstacles. Local companies have responded with remarkable adaptability and growth momentum. Such resilience is the most valuable urban characteristic of Tainan.

The Mayor hopes the visit will deepen the correspondents’ understanding of Tainan and lead to greater worldwide exposure through their text, audio, and video coverage.

This delegation toured Symon Agricultural Biotech, known for its orchid spray-painting technology, and Hundred Machinery, a food machinery manufacturer that has successfully pioneered new “blue ocean” markets. Both companies shared their experiences, adaptation strategies, and transformation approaches to navigate global shifts and tariff changes, and the correspondents also asked questions and had lively conversations with the businesses.

The Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) is a global association of journalists in Taiwan which assists foreign journalists and news correspondents in news gathering and information exchanges. Its members include several major foreign media in Taiwan.

Mayor Huang introduced Tainan as a major agricultural hub of Taiwan, producing a variety of high-quality fruits throughout the year. He stated that part of his visit to France was to promote Tainan’s fresh fruit with actual samples at this core European market. French importers hold Taiwan’s pineapple and guava in high regard after the fruits entered the local markets, expressing that the produce is of excellent quality and has a competitive edge over the Latin American or Southeast Asian products due to product differentiation.

Mayor Huang expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant government agencies for their assistance in helping Tainan’s guavas successfully enter the EU market, remarking that this is a major achievement of Tainan and Taiwan’s agriculture sector. He also thanked Representative Tien Chung-kwang, Taiwan’s representative to the Netherlands, and his colleagues who visited the Exhibition & Sale Event site in the Netherlands. Through the sales of the fresh fruit, Taiwan and Tainan can gain more understanding and exposure on the global stage, as well as display the nation’s agricultural strength.

In addition to guavas and pineapples, the Mayor noted that Tainan actively looks forward to shipping pineapples, mangos, and guavas to Europe next year and maintaining a year-round supply to the EU market. This will not only bring Taiwan’s fresh fruits onto European dining tables but also generate more overseas markets for our outstanding fruit producers.

According to the official website, attendees with tickets will have the opportunity to meet the first-ever Shiny Diancie or special Pikachu wearing Calem’s or Serena’s hat during the three-day event.

Tainan Metropolitan Park will debut three themed AR habitats: Central Village, Coastal Laboratory, and Mountain Manor. Trainers can choose their preferred starting habitat after purchasing tickets. Exclusive PokéStops with different trims for Furfrou, the Poodle Pokémon, will be scattered throughout the park, allowing Trainers to change Furfrou’s appearance and conduct Timed Research. Trainers need to complete the actions before 17:00 (local Taiwan time) on the day. Usually, Furfrou can only change its trim in certain areas around the world, or during special events, so take this opportunity to try out lots of new looks!

Tainan City Government Tourism Bureau Director Lin Guo-hua added that the very first Mega Night nighttime event will also be presented in this edition, allowing Trainers to continue catching Pokémon after dark in a one-of-a-kind sensory experience designed by the organizers.

Beyond the main venue, additional citywide gameplay will be available throughout Tainan during the event period. With the purchase of Citywide Gameplay Add-Ons, attendees can extend their stay for up to two days to enjoy the “GO Tour” in downtown Tainan! Trainers can experience the rich local history and delicious cuisine as they explore this charming city. Visitors are encouraged to plan at least a three-day, two-night stay to fully experience the Pokémon GO Tour and catch them all.

The “Tainan is Young” Christmas and New Year & Eve Festivities Series has now become a widely recognized city brand. The Mayor noted that when he first took office, the festivity series only had two events, and that more interesting and diverse family and large-scale activities were gradually added later to include participation from Xibei and Xinying districts. Huang stressed that while Tainan does not have the largest event budget in Taiwan, the “Tainan is Young” Christmas and New Year & Eve Festivities Series still ranks among the best in terms of excitement, diversity, and creativity.

In addition to three large-scale concerts, the event organizer and the city government’s Department of Information & International Relations announced that the 2026 Festivities Series will also feature three family events which will be held at the National Museum of Prehistory (Tainan), the Jiali Tainan Athletic Park, and the T.S. Mall Park, respectively. The family events will feature performances by Bean Theatre, Apple Theater, and Ifkids Theatre, as well as station rotation games. Everyone is warmly invited to come to Tainan to see your favorite stars, enjoy the city and its delicacies, and experience the strong culture and unique food here in Tainan.

The Tainan City Government also reminds the public that there have recently been cases in which criminals created fake “Tainan is Young Christmas and New Year’s Eve Festivities” accounts to offer jobs or recruit workers. The City Government stated that if anyone asks you to add unfamiliar LINE customer service accounts, verify money transactions, or accept vague job offers, these are very likely scams and the public should be aware of the risks. All information related to the “Tainan is Young” events will be announced on the Tainan City Government and “Tainan is Young” official websites and official Facebook fan page, and the government will continue to monitor and protect the safety of citizens while ensuring the events roll out smoothly.

★ 2026 Tainan is Young Christmas and New Year & Eve Festivities Series

• Nov. 29 (Sat.) 13:30 - 16:30

The Museum of Prehistory (Tainan Branch): Apple Theater / Gongfu sphere show / Wool felt DIY / Station rotation games

•  Dec. 6 (Sat.) 13:30 - 16:30

Jiali Tainan Athletic Park: Ifkids Theatre / Bubble + clown party / Wool felt DIY/ Station rotation games

•  Dec. 13 (Sat.) 13:30 - 16:30 

East District Times Park: Bean Theatre/ Shows by Summer (balloon artist) and Yang Yuan-Ching (yo-yo artist) / Balloon DIY / Station rotation games

•  Dec. 20 (Sat.) 19:00-21:00

Rock and Roll Christmas Concert (Yonghua Civic Center West Side Plaza)

• Dec. 27 (Sat.) 19:00-21:00

Nanying Lawn Concert (Nanying Green Heart Park-No.5 Park)

•  Dec. 31 (Wed.) 19:00 – Jan. 1, 2026 00:30

Tainan is Young” New Year Concert (Yonghua Civic Center West Side Plaza)

Mayor Huang, in his welcome remarks, thanked the Prime Minister on behalf of the citizens for repeatedly speaking out for Taiwan on the global stage and strongly supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. He noted that Tainan is honored by the visit and encouraged the guests to experience the city’s unique charm during their stay.

Mayor Huang also acknowledged the efforts of Ambassador H.E. Donya Lynex Francis and R.O.C. Ambassador to Saint Kitts and Nevis Edward Lin-Wen Tao in facilitating this sister city partnership. He pointed out that this relationship between Basseterre and Tainan is especially significant as the two historical cities share many similarities. Both are the oldest city in their respective countries, and Tainan was Taiwan’s capital for 300 years while Basseterre is the current capital of St. Kitts and Nevis. The Mayor expressed optimism about further cooperation in city governance, culture, education, and the economy to deepen ties between Taiwan and St. Kitts and Nevis.

Prime Minister Drew responded that Taiwan is a small yet powerful nation, and this characteristic is even more pronounced in Tainan. Sister cities Tainan and Basseterre both have rich histories and the strength of the old capitals can be seen in the carefully preserved historical sites in Tainan as well as the two ancient forts in Basseterre City. The Prime Minister also noted a shared cultural connection through Tainan’s internationally renowned mangoes and St. Kitts and Nevis’ Mango Festival. He remarked that such similarities make the sister city relationship both natural and meaningful.

The Prime Minister then pointed out that currently, there are many Kittian students studying in Tainan, especially in the field of mechanical engineering. These experiences and friendships gained in Tainan later become a significant driving force in SKN’s ongoing development. He stressed that small countries can still have great ambitions. St. Kitts and Nevis and Taiwan have already achieved much in the past together, and he expressed his hope for deeper collaboration to benefit the citizens of both nations.

Located on the southwest coast of St. Kitts Island, Basseterre, which is French for “low land”, is the largest city and capital of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Taiwan established formal diplomatic ties with St. Kitts and Nevis in 1983, being the first country to establish formal diplomatic relations with SKN following its independence. The two nations continue to share a strong partnership.

Welcoming Mayor Chen back to Tainan, Mayor Huang highlighted the city’s strong passion for baseball. He noted that the city had just hosted the biannual WBSC U12 Championship this July, as well as the Giants Cup International Little League Championship last month (Oct. 2025). Huang also mentioned that Torrance is close to Los Angeles, home of the world-renowned Los Angeles Dodgers. The Friendship Games in Torrance will give the young Tainan players an opportunity to broaden their horizons and interact with local teams.

Huang continued to say that Tainan is proud of its friendship city relationship with Torrance City and Tainan hopes to learn from Torrance’s experience. In the area of city governance, Tainan is equally committed to maintaining the cleanliness and safety of the city. Currently, Tainan has introduced new technology to streamline administrative processes and improve efficiency for its citizens.

Since his wife is originally from Taiwan, Mayor George Chen expressed that he feels very much at home every time he comes to Tainan. He recalled attending the Tainan 400 events and the opening of the Taiwan Lantern Festival last February with his city administration delegation. The mayor said he has always admired Tainan’s efficiency and hopes to further strengthen the friendship between the two cities. Torrance City is a very safe city and looks forward to welcoming Tainan’s little league teams to the Torrance Friendship Games, where young players will be able to practice and compete with local youth teams.

Mayor Chen also mentioned that Los Angeles will host the Olympic Games in 2028, and since the summer of 2024, the city has been holding International Little League Baseball Friendship Games as a warm-up for the Olympics. Baseball teams from Japan, Korea, and other US cities have also been invited to Torrance City for training and friendly matches. Torrance City has friendly city relationships with Oshu City and Bizen City in Japan - the hometowns of Los Angeles Dodgers players Shohei Ohtani and Yamamoto Yoshinobu, respectively. This past August, the city hosted youth baseball players and their coaches from Oshu City for a friendship game. Among the coaching staff was Toru Ohtani, father of baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani.

The City of Torrance and Tainan City became friendship cities on March 13, 2023. Located in the southwest region of Los Angeles County, Torrance is a 30-minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport and roughly one hour from Dodger Stadium. The city serves as a major hub for the U.S. automotive and aerospace industries, with facilities operated by major manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda. It is also home to vibrant Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean immigrant communities.

According to the Mayor, Tainan City currently has five lines of defense in place to block the disease from entering the city. These initiatives include banning the use of kitchen scraps as pig feed, prohibiting the movement of pigs out of farms as per central government policies, proactively distributing disinfectant to assist pig farmers in sanitizing their facilities, spending NT 10 million from the Secondary Reserve Fund to support the industries, and strengthening community-level disease prevention awareness.

At the same time, Huang stressed that African Swine Fever affects only pigs and cannot be transmitted to humans. Pork remains a safe and nutritious ingredient when purchased from a legal source and cooked thoroughly. The city government will continue to monitor market supply and disease developments to protect food safety, safeguard public health, stabilize market demand, and support the sustainable development of Taiwan’s pig farming industry.

The Tainan City Government also reminded the public to purchase pork products bearing the Traceable Agricultural Products (TAP), Certified Agricultural Standards (CAS), or slaughterhouse sanitation inspection certification mark to ensure the product comes from legal and safe sources. If you come across possible smuggled pork products or products of unknown origin, please report the case immediately to relevant authorities. Do not purchase or eat such products to prevent further spread of the disease.

The Mayor remarked that the city has been actively working on realizing its first MRT (Blue) line for years, and the Cabinet’s approval signals a new era for Tainan’s MRT construction and urban growth. The new Line will not only initiate a series of projects towards a complete MRT network but also link together major public transportation hubs across the city. He went on to stress that the approval was achieved through the joint efforts of the central and local governments, and expressed gratitude to the city’s councilors and council members for their support as well.

The 8.39-km-long metro line will run from Yongkang’s Daqiao area to the Tainan Cultural Center, with a branch extending to Rende depot. The route passes through some of the city’s busiest areas – East, Yongkang, and Rende Districts - and will connect with future extensions, including the Extended Phase One Blue Line, the Green Line, and the Red Line.

According to Transportation Bureau Director Wang Ming-te, Phase One of the Blue Line will feature 10 stations with stops at Zhonghua Road in Yongkang District, Zhonghua East Road and Dongmen Road in East District, and Zhongshan Road in Rende District. The system will adopt an elevated straddle-beam monorail system, the first of its kind in Taiwan, which is expected to shorten construction time, lower costs, and minimize visual impact while adapting seamlessly into the city’s unique urban landscape.

Wang also shared several numbers from the approved MRT plan: the total construction budget is NTD 32.731 billion, of which NTD 19.359 billion is funded by the central government and NTD 13.372 billion by the Tainan City Government. The city aims to begin the tendering process for contractors and project management soon, with construction targeted to start by the end of 2026 and completion expected within six years.

The Director added that Tainan will continue to develop its MRT network to improve public transport service accessibility and enhance road environments along the route. Proper pedestrian spaces, public bicycle and bus services, as well as park and ride programs, are also in the pipeline to create a new look for Tainan City’s transportation and lifestyle.

Mayor Huang stated that Tainan had already proposed suitable land plots when NVIDIA started scouting locations for its new global headquarters. While Tainan respects NVIDIA’s final choice of Beitou Shilin Technology Park, the land ownership issues and legal disputes that have surfaced recently highlight the significance of having straightforward land ownership and development flexibility. Huang reiterated Tainan’s advantages in convenient transportation, quick land acquisition, and transparent legal procedures, and stressed that the city can provide the most stable and efficient investment environment for businesses. Similar land plots in Tainan, such as the Pingshih Park, Shalun A1 Base, Southern Taiwan Science Park F and G Zones, Madou Industrial Park, Liou-ying Technology and Environmental Industrial Park, and the surrounding land of Tianma Radio Station, offer strong strategic value with convenient transportation and comprehensive living amenities. The mayor noted that the proposed sites for NVIDIA meet criteria with clear ownership, and the city government is committed to supporting future surface rights development and ownership transactions.

Tainan ranks among Taiwan’s top cities for semiconductor and AI industry growth. Major enterprises such as TSMC already have a presence in the Southern Taiwan Science Park, forming a comprehensive supply and manufacturing process chain. Besides featuring a central government-designated AI Industrial Park, the city also boasts a complete semiconductor ecosystem and smart robotics clusters. NVIDIA would have ready access to local CoWoS suppliers, as well as robotics and drone operators. Mayor Huang urged Jensen Huang to come personally experience Tainan’s booming growth in the semiconductor, AI, and green energy industries.

The Mayor further pointed out that Tainan is not only a tech city with a complete industrial chain and a livable environment, but also a city of delicacies that is recognized globally. British magazine Time Out named Tainan one of the “10 Best Street Food Cities in Asia”, drawing both tourists and entrepreneurs to the city. “If street food-lover Jensen Huang visited Tainan, he would no longer want to visit the night markets in Taipei.” Joked Huang. In closing, Mayor Huang reiterated respect for NVIDIA’s final decision but insisted that Tainan remains the best location for NVIDIA’s Taiwan headquarters, pledging the full support of the city government whenever needed.

The Mayor emphasized that vaccination helps lower the disease rate, thereby reducing the likelihood of class closures and easing concerns among parents and the elderly. Vaccinations should be administered yearly for optimal protection since epidemic strains vary each year. High-risk groups, such as seniors, pregnant women, and young children, should receive the shots as soon as possible.

Tainan City’s Public Health Bureau shared data from the CDC showing that during week 39 (Sep. 21-27), nationwide outpatient and emergency room visits for influenza-like illness reached 129,831, marking a 10.2% increase over the previous week and signifying the flu season has begun. During the same period, the number of outpatient visits with influenza-like symptoms in Tainan City was 11,096. Most deaths occurred among the elderly, chronically ill, or unvaccinated people over the age of 65, indicating that the threat of the pandemic should not be taken lightly.

The Public Health Bureau reminds the public that, alongside vaccinations, schools, kindergartens, afterschool institutions, and childcare facilities should continue to carry out epidemic prevention measures. Anyone feeling unwell should refrain from attending work or classes. Frequent handwashing, wearing face masks, covering coughs, and seeking prompt medical attention are also strongly advised. For more vaccination information, please visit the Public Health Bureau website or register through the Tainan Vaccination Appointment System (https://health-reservation.tainan.gov.tw/). Vaccinations are provided on-call at health centers in all 37 districts, contracted medical institutions, and community vaccination stations throughout the city.

Mayor Huang Wei-che of Tainan expressed gratitude for the central government’s support and offered full cooperation with land use changes and infrastructure development. Following the principles of “Industry Development, Environmental Sustainability, and Quality of Life,” the city will ensure that the Phase IV expansion balances local development with resident well-being. The city aims to become the future Asian Silicon Valley and core industry hub in the Greater Tainan region by combining crucial sectors - such as AI, semiconductor, IC design, robotics, drones, and green energy, as well as bringing in high-tech industry talents, developing peripheral areas, and upgrading industrial technology.

Located in Gueiren District, the 531-hectare new park, along with the high-speed rail station, the Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City, and the existing Southern Taiwan Science Park area, will complete the Southern Semiconductor "S" Corridor, which is projected to generate an annual output value of about NTD 2.2 trillion and 35,000 high-quality employment opportunities.

During his opening remarks, Mayor Tate recalled that after he returned from Tainan in May, he told his wife, “I’ve found the perfect holiday spot - Tainan.” He also shared news about the biggest event that was taking place that weekend in the city: Gold Coast’s rugby team finally reached the finals for the first time in 15 years. A large screen will be set up at the plaza, where 4,000 fans are expected to gather to watch the game. Tate further emphasized that baseball is also popular in Australia and expressed interest in future exchanges with Tainan’s baseball teams.

Mayor Huang replied that the Chinese Taipei team had just won the BFA XII U15 Asian Baseball Championship 2025 in Tainan and looks forward to working with Gold Coast in baseball training. He also invited Mayor Tate to attend the Tainan International Travel Fair this November and introduce the City of Gold Coast to more Tainan citizens. Mayor Tate responded that he would be delighted to visit Tainan with his family if his schedule allows.

As a gesture of friendship, Mayor Huang presented Mayor Tate with an orchid artwork featuring the Australian flag spray-painted on its petals, prompting audible admiration from the Australian Mayor. He also gifted Tate a bottle of “The Walls of Tainan” fragrance, a scent symbolizing the city and offering a reminder of Tainan whenever it is used.

Located on the east coast of Queensland, the Sunshine State, Gold Coast City is a globally renowned tourist destination with a pleasant climate and beautiful scenery. Tainan and the Gold Coast became sister cities on October 27, 1982, and have maintained a close friendship ever since. In 2022, the two cities celebrated the 40th anniversary of their sister-city partnership by exchanging congratulatory video messages. Mayor Tate has also visited Tainan on many occasions during his tenure, reflecting his deep affection for the city.

According to Mayor Huang Wei-che, these overseas sales expansion results once again demonstrate that Tainan’s high-quality and flavorful agricultural products can stand out in international markets. Known not only as a cultural capital and a hub for technology, Tainan is also a major production zone for agricultural and fishery goods. Hami melons, rice, and orchids from the northern Zengwen River area, along with mangos, pineapples, and jujubes from the southern region, are among its signature products. Despite reduced production this year due to natural disasters, export performance remained strong, with Tainan fruits now available in major supermarket chains and distribution channels across multiple countries. The additional exposure has attracted returning consumers and significantly increased the visibility and sales of Tainan’s agricultural and fishery products. Promotional campaigns, brand collaborations, and sampling events have attracted repeat customers and significantly boosted international recognition.

Thanks to the dedication and hard work of the local farmers, Tainan is able to reinforce the city’s global brand image. Mayor Huang highlighted specific examples: exports of Taiwan rice, largely produced in Tainan, grew from 2,400 tons in 2024 to 3,000 tons in 2025. Taiwan tilapia successfully entered markets in Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, despite challenges linked to US tariff policies. Efforts are also underway to explore opportunities for exporting pork products. Many food processing plants in Taiwan have already obtained international certifications and hopefully, Tainan can soon have local food processing plants to further promote the region’s high-quality pork products.

Tainan City Agriculture Bureau Director Lee Fang-lin remarked that marketing activities in the first half of this year (food exhibitions, channel partnerships, and promotional campaigns) generated both substantial orders and widespread attention. These efforts not only created economic benefits but also added value to Tainan’s agricultural branding. The bureau will continue to assist local businesses with overseas expansion and introduce more diverse strategies to secure a stronger global market share for Tainan’s products.

To increase global exposure of the city’s agricultural goods, the Tainan City Government organized 18 overseas marketing campaigns, participated in the international food expos held in Tokyo, Singapore, and Korea in the first six months of this year. We also arranged shelving and inbound marketing events at overseas channels and interacted with local festivals, travel fairs as well as local channels and traders around the world to boost publicity and exposure of Tainan’s agricultural products.

Orders linked to Foodex Japan alone are expected to reach NTD 420 million, involving more than 6,000 tons of fresh and processed fruits. Jujubes from Nansi District, for example, maintain freshness after cold treatment and quarantine processes, ensuring high quality upon arrival in Japan.

At the Food & Hotel Asia in Singapore, trade volume is projected at NTD 300 million with over 500 tons of fresh fruit ordered. Following the expo, Singapore began importing containers of Tainan Golden Diamond pineapples and mango pineapples weekly. More than 60 tasting events were held at FairPrice, Singapore’s largest supermarket chain, where an entire container of pineapples could sell out within just one to one and a half days, proving their popularity. Meanwhile, participation in the Seoul Food & Hotel added nearly NTD 200 million in trade volume, further demonstrating the competitiveness of Tainan’s agricultural exports.

Earlier this August, Governor Miraflores led a delegation to meet Mayor Huang in Tainan, where both sides had in-depth exchanges in culture, tourism, and so on. Mayor Huang expressed that Tainan and Aklan share similarities as agricultural and tourism hubs. With the twinning, Tainan will not only promote tourism exchanges and cultural cooperation but will also encourage enterprises to explore investment opportunities, hoping to facilitate city diplomacy through continued interaction.

Governor Miraflores highlighted that Aklan is home to the famous Boracay Island. The province also has two international airports, which provide strong support for trade and tourism. He further revealed plans to take part in the “Tainan International Travel Fair” to introduce Aklan’s unique charm to more Tainan citizens. During his visit to Tainan, the Governor was impressed by the citizens’ discipline and the city government’s efforts, expressing confidence in future cooperation.

Located in the central Philippines, the Province of Aklan has a population of over 600,000 and is one of the country’s leading agricultural and tourism province. Boracay Island, famed for its white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, draws travelers from around the world. In addition, the annual Ati-Atihan Festival held every January in Aklan blends religious tradition with parades, making it one of the most iconic celebrations and attracting countless visitors.

As this was the delegation’s first visit to Tainan, Mayor Huang Wei-che provided an overview of the city’s significance. He highlighted Tainan as not only Taiwan’s oldest city and cultural capital but also a hub of advanced technology. Global giants such as TSMC and Micron Technology have major facilities in the Southern Taiwan Science Park, presenting ample opportunities for high-tech collaboration with the US Midwest.

The Mayor said that since Tainan has many sister cities in the US Midwest, hopefully, this meeting can facilitate more collaborations in the areas of culture, education, and sports - especially among young people. The delegation replied that they have accepted Mayor Huang’s invitation and will attend the opening ceremony of the 8th WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 to show their support for the young players, the sport, as well as the friendship between Taiwan and the US. 

President Sinclair expressed that she was honored to lead the 2025 US Midwest Political Leaders Delegation to meet with Mayor Huang. She was deeply touched by the Taiwanese hospitality and reiterated the enduring partnership between the US and Taiwan, rooted in shared democratic values and trade relations.

Comptroller Mendoza also thanked Mayor Huang for the meeting and remarked that the delegation is a friend of Taiwan and will continue to promote more substantive exchanges upon returning to the US. She noted that the visit had been highly inspiring and praised Tainan’s vibrant culture, adding that she looks forward to spending more time in the city on a future visit.

The 2025 US Midwest Political Leaders Delegation comprises senior dignitaries, state senators, and house leaders from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan. During their visit, the delegation praised Tainan’s historical and cultural richness and recognized the need to deepen local cooperation. Topics such as climate change, aging populations, and education were also discussed during this meeting.

Mayor Huang expressed that Taiwan’s primary export markets have traditionally been the US, Canada and the Middle East, yet the uncertainty surrounding new US tariffs makes it essential to develop new markets. The successful entry into the Singaporean market has significantly boosted the local fishers’ confidence in expanding new export opportunities. As the global trade landscape continues to shift dynamically, the Tainan City government team remains committed to fostering public-private partnerships and advancing domestic and overseas marketing schemes. These efforts are designed to increase the visibility of Tainan’s high-quality aquatic products in the global market, drive the transformation and upgrading of the Taiwan Tilapia industry, and ensure stable incomes and industry stability for local fishers.

Huang specifically mentioned that at this year’s Singapore Food Expo, several local distributors were so impressed by the kabayaki-style Taiwan Tilapia they sampled at the Taiwan booth that they stopped by every day throughout the Expo. This shipment of fish products to Singapore includes a variety of fish products, such as raw fish patties, skin-on fillets, and frozen whole fish - ideal for hot pots and a range of dishes. It also features ready-to-eat items such as kabayaki-style fish belly and fried fish nuggets. These products will soon be available at numerous restaurants and supermarkets across Singapore.

Agriculture Bureau Director Lee Fang-lin reported that Tainan produces around 25,000 tons of Taiwan Tilapia every year, representing about 45% of the nation’s total output. The aquaculture farms are mainly distributed in Syuejia, Madou, Siaying, Lioujia, and Guantian. With the goal of establishing new markets beyond the United States, the city government team went to the Taiwan Pavilion in Singapore to promote Taiwan Tilapia during the Dragon Boat Festival. This campaign led to the collaboration between the Tainan Fishery Marketing Co. and Longrunn Food Pte - the company placed an order valued roughly NTD 600,000 for five tons of Taiwan Tilapia on June 24.

The Agriculture Bureau added that the Jiangjun Smart Seafood Processing and Logistics Operations Center at Jiangjun Fishing Harbor serves as a base for promoting local fish product processing, production and marketing regulations, and price stability. Phase one of the development was partially completed and approved in 2024, while phase two is scheduled for completion in August 2025, with handover to the operator expected by the end of October. The Center is expected to process over 1,000 tons of seafood annually, focusing on products such as Taiwan Tilapia, hard clams, oysters, white shrimp, and milkfish. All facilities meet HACCP and GHP standards and are equipped with advanced cold chain technology, positioning the Center as a demo site for cold chain logistics and aquatic product processing in Southern Taiwan.

Tainan, Taiwan’s oldest city, had just held its Tainan 400 event last year, as noted by Mayor Huang Wei-che. With its rich historical and cultural heritage, Tainan stands to benefit significantly from the European Union’s expertise in preserving history and culture. The government team is also committed to promoting more interactions and academic exchanges among young people, further strengthening the enduring friendship between Tainan and Europe.

In terms of economy and trade, the Southern Taiwan Science Park, which is located in Tainan, has attracted many European companies to set up factories in the area. Additionally, the city’s mango and guavas have just recently passed inspection and gained entry into the EU market. Tainan looks forward to more collaborations with the European Union in high-tech and basic agriculture sectors which will enable both markets to prosper.

Mr. Güllner thanked Mayor Huang for inviting him to the Tainan Human Rights Month exhibition, noting that this was his first official visit to Tainan and a valuable opportunity to learn more about Taiwan’s human rights history. He remarked that Tainan and the EU are like-minded partners and affirmed that the EETO will continue to fully support and strengthen bilateral economic, trade, and cultural exchanges. Mr. Güllner also commended Tainan’s achievements in public diplomacy. Currently, Tainan has 60 signatory cities, and hopefully, Taiwan can have more exposure in the global community.

Since its establishment in 2003, the European Economic and Trade Office has consistently fostered collaborations between the EU and Taiwan across a broad spectrum of policies and maintained strong relations with the civil society, think tanks, and academia. In recent years, the European Parliament has passed several resolutions which demonstrate the European Union’s support for and commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Premier Cho Jung-tai shared this exciting news during his inspection of water conservancy facilities in Tainan on June 14. He said that Taiwanese mangoes are already available in markets such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. Now, as Taiwan’s mangoes and guavas have passed the stringent inspection standards of the European Union, these fruits will soon be available to consumers across the EU as well.

According to Mayor Huang, the Tainan City Government has been proactively promoting local agricultural products in overseas markets. He recalled an incident from his visit to a Tainan agricultural product promotion event in the Netherlands in September 2024, where he encountered significant challenges bringing even a small number of samples into the country due to strict EU quarantine regulations. These stringent requirements have also posed difficulties for European vendors interested in importing fresh produce from Tainan. The Tainan City Government promptly contacted Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture, requesting that our APHIA collaborate with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) to clarify quarantine procedures for imported produce. Taiwanese authorities also provided information on the nation’s systematic pest control measures, such as mango vapor heat treatment and guava cold treatment quarantine, which ultimately helped to gain the trust of EU regulators.

The Tainan City Government has long cooperated with the Ministry of Agriculture in upgrading produce quarantine technology. The Yujing Vapor Heat Treatment Plant completed its equipment renewal last year and now boasts the highest vapor heat treatment capacity in Taiwan. The treatment effectively exterminates oriental fruit flies, significantly improving the quarantine clearance rate for exported produce. In addition, with the adoption of cold treatment quarantine technology for guavas, Tainan’s guavas have been exported to the United States since 2019, making Tainan the first region in Taiwan to export container shipments of guava. The recent opening of the EU market is expected to bring even greater benefits to local producers. 

Interactions between the two cities began when Chimei Food, a Tainan-based company, set up food production lines with Polish food company Super Drob in Łódź City. This private sector collaboration laid a solid foundation for closer diplomatic relations between the two cities: Mayor Huang visited Łódź City during his trip to Europe last September (2024) and the Deputy Mayor of Łódź City led a delegation to Tainan in February this year to facilitate additional business exchanges. 

After thanking the Polish Office in Taipei and CMF for their assistance and support, Mayor Huang expressed that he expects more exchanges in the areas of culture, education, tourism, and commerce between the two sister cities. Łódź has left a beautiful impression on the mayor and he emphasized that both Tainan and Łódź - ancient cities with histories spanning over 400 and 600 years, respectively - share many commonalities that can serve as a foundation for further interactions. Additionally, Mayor Huang announced that Tainan City will name a new road “Łódź Road” in honor of this new sister city friendship.

Łódź City Mayor Hanna Zdanowska agreed that the ties between Łódź City and Tainan were initiated and driven by private enterprises, and the newly signed agreement holds symbolic value. She looks forward to sharing Łódź’s culture with Tainan and broadening cooperations between the two cities from commerce to the areas of culture and education. The younger generation is also encouraged to participate in cross-national exchanges to explore further opportunities for collaboration.

Polish Office in Taipei Director Cyryl Jacek Kozaczewski expressed his honor at witnessing the successful establishment of a sister city relationship between the iconic cities of Łódź and Tainan during the visit of the Łódź City delegation. He extended his gratitude to all sectors whose support and efforts have helped further strengthen the friendship between Taiwan and Poland.

Ambassador-at-Large Richard Soong said that the people of both Taiwan and Poland are exceptionally friendly and sincere, and he is happy to see more interactions between them, which will further strengthen the ties between the two nations.

Łódź, the third-largest city in Poland, serves as a major European logistics hub due to its central location - less than a two-hour drive from the capital, Warsaw. Its strategic position and strong public security make it an attractive destination for business investors. The visiting delegation from Łódź includes representatives from the city’s International Partnerships Department, city council members, and the President of Lodz University of Technology. During their visit, the delegation toured the Chimei Happiness Factory and the Chimei Museum and also initiated academic exchanges and partnerships with National Cheng Kung University.

According to the Mayor, previous rehabilitation subsidy policies covered only children aged 0 to 6 years old. However, it became clear that children continued to need rehabilitation services beyond this age, and ending subsidies at six placed a financial burden on their families. In response, the Tainan City government launched a new program to support disadvantaged children and adolescents. The program aims to provide stable and continuous treatment resources for children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 through government subsidies. Additionally, the government is working to integrate rehabilitation services into the special education system, aiming to help children develop independence and adapt to social life. The goal is to create a more supportive environment for children and adolescents while encouraging their participation and self-care skills.

Children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 who are registered and currently residing in Tainan City, and who hold a doctor’s certificate of diagnosis indicating the need for continuous rehabilitation treatment, are eligible to apply for the new subsidy program. Certificates of diagnosis issued on or after January 1, 2025, are accepted. Subsidies are available for rehabilitation services not covered by National Health Insurance, including speech, occupational, and physical rehabilitation. The maximum subsidy is NTD 4,000 per person per month, with an increased maximum of NTD 6,000 per person per month for low-income households. Eligible applicants may apply at the district office corresponding to their household registration starting June 1. Please have the necessary documents, such as the doctor’s certificate of diagnosis, ready when applying. For more information, please visit the Tainan City Government Social Affairs Bureau website or contact the Bureau’s Women’s and Children’s Welfare Division Hotline at 06-2980111.

On the new query interface, users can view the location of nearby YouBike stations in either map or list mode as well as see real-time updates on the number of available bikes and docks. This allows them to conveniently plan the next leg of their journey while still on the bus, ensuring a seamless connection between different green transportation options.

The Map Version query function was also upgraded in this revision. Oftentimes, regular bus routes have temporary extensions or detours to accommodate local needs. Previously, these adjustments were all displayed on the same map simultaneously, making the map extremely difficult to read. The updated version now offers a more convenient and intuitive user experience by allowing users to select the specific information they want to view - such as stops on different extended routes or the estimated arrival time at a particular stop.

Tainan is the first city in Taiwan to develop dynamic bus information service systems. The system has been operating for more than 20 years with new features continuously added to enhance user experience. Please download the latest official version of the Tainan City Bus app for the full experience.

Mayor Huang Wei-che expressed that Tainan City and the Gold Coast have enjoyed a strong and enduring friendship since becoming sister cities in 1982. To express Tainan’s gratitude for the Gold Coast’s longstanding support, Mayor Huang announced that a new road in the South District will be named Gold Coast Road, symbolizing the lasting bond between the two cities. Mayor Huang also warmly welcomed the visiting delegation and presented the Key to the City to Mayor Tate, noting that Mayor Tate’s repeated visits to Tainan further demonstrate the strength of their sister-city relationship. Finally, Mayor Huang extended an invitation to Mayor Tate and the citizens of the Gold Coast to visit Tainan often.

Mayor Huang went on to express that Tainan is Taiwan’s oldest city and is known as the Cultural Capital. Like the Gold Coast, Tainan is a friendly and welcoming city with a diverse cultural background. The Mayor looks forward to further collaborations with the Gold Coast in the areas of industry, culture, education, and sports.

Mayor Tate responded that Gold Coast and Tainan share an enduring relationship that will be passed down to future generations. While Gold Coast is a relatively young city, it still shares many similarities with the ancient city of Tainan. These commonalities present potential areas for future collaboration, including climate change responses, education and youth development, and innovative medicine. Furthermore, Mayor Tate expressed his admiration for Tainan’s culinary culture. He hopes to have the opportunity to visit Tainan with his family and share the city’s unique charm and culture with them.

An active promoter of global city exchanges, Mayor Tate has led delegations to Tainan City on several occasions. The City of Gold Coast, located in Queensland - Australia’s “Sunshine State” on the east coast - is an internationally renowned tourism destination known for its pleasant climate and beautiful scenery. Tainan and Gold Coast have enjoyed a sister city relationship for 43 years, celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2022. To mark the occasion, the two mayors exchanged brief video messages of goodwill, and Tainan hosted a popular Gold Coast-themed static exhibition for the public.

Hailed as the “secret hideaway of Tainan”, Yuguang Island is just a short distance from the city. Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che pointed out that Yuguang Island offers beautiful landscapes and the serene Crescent Bay comes right into view after visitors cross the bridge. The island has gradually become a popular tourist destination nationwide in recent years thanks to the city government’s promotional efforts, and the island has become a favored venue for many art and music festivals.

Since the inception of the Yuguang Island Arts Festival in 2017, Tainan City’s Cultural Bureau has successfully reintroduced the island to the public through curated exhibitions, installation artworks, and public participation events. The Arts Festival officially transitioned into a Life Festival which features a series of activities, inspiring new experiences for island lifestyle and recreation through means and activities that are more relevant to daily life.

Based on the core idea that “life is art,” this year’s festival featured a wide array of activities. For the first time, music performances, outdoor markets, and workshops focused on lifestyle aesthetics and mind-body wellness were introduced. A special session, “Zone Out Acoustics Day”, held over Mother’s Day weekend, invites the public to relax and “zone out” together. By creating a more open and participatory event, we hope to attract visitors of all ages and backgrounds to experience the unique atmosphere of Yuguang Island, where art and nature intertwine.

After congratulating Bradley-Jones on her new position, Mayor Huang remarked that Tainan is a historical capital with widely recognized delicacies and prosperous new technology industries. Agriculture, auto parts, and high-tech are some of the thriving industries in the city. He noted that, like Tainan, the United Kingdom is home to many historical cities and is famous for its whiskey. Mayor Huang suggested that Tainan and the UK explore opportunities for exchange in culture, education, and various industries. He also pointed out that the UK is a popular destination for students from Tainan pursuing overseas studies, and looks forward to future collaborations with Representative Bradley-Jones and the British Office Taipei.

Ms. Bradley-Jones shared that when she came to Taiwan with her family two years ago, she was deeply impressed by Tainan’s food and weather. She explained that she plans to travel around Taiwan to learn more about the unique characteristics of each city and looks forward to partnering with Tainan to expand the interactions between the UK and Taiwan. In addition to building on the existing collaborations in the areas of economy, trade, and green energy, Bradley-Jones highlighted that the UK has one of the highest numbers of startups in the world. She believes this presents endless opportunities for innovative collaborations between the two parties.

Ruth Bradley-Jones is an experienced diplomat with a career that spans over 20 years. Previous postings include Myanmar, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and as the UK representative to the EU. During this Tainan visit, the British Office delegation not only met with Mayor Huang Wei-che but also visited the Tainan Fire Bureau to learn about the city’s disaster response, relief, and rescue operations.

The signing of this MOU marks an important milestone in the city’s promotion of international education, Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che remarked. Through this program, local students can earn globally recognized academic qualifications while completing their studies in Taiwan, providing them with greater options for future studies and personal growth. The city government continues to implement bilingual and international education initiatives, aiming to cultivate a new generation of globally competitive talent. By pooling resources from the Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City and the Southern Taiwan semiconductor cluster, Tainan is strengthening connections between academia and industry to support local innovation and economic development.

Tainan City Bureau of Education Director-General Cheng Hsin-hui explained that the OSSD joint dual-degree program gives local students access to both domestic and Canadian courses. The flexible curricula and credit transfer mechanisms enable students to broaden their learning horizons and expand their academic choices. The customized curricula, which include online and language training courses, are mainly literacy-oriented and emphasize self-directed learning. This program is supported by the Bureau of Education and is expected to be expanded to additional schools interested in developing international courses as more experience is accumulated. The goal is to establish an international education curriculum model with distinctive Tainan characteristics.

According to Huang Ci-Huang, Director of the Tainan Municipal Shalun International High School Preparatory Office, the highly flexible joint dual-degree curriculum allows students to transfer up to 24 OSSD credits, enabling them to obtain a Canadian high school diploma simply by taking 6-7 additional core courses. The curriculum is designed to help 10th-grade students transition smoothly into the program, with courses beginning in 11th grade. Online learning options provide students with flexible scheduling to meet mandatory course and OSSD requirements. Furthermore, Shalun International High School plans to introduce all-English lecture courses for business management students to simultaneously enhance both language proficiency and subject expertise. This approach aims to give students a competitive edge, whether they choose to pursue further studies in Taiwan or abroad.

Mayor Huang shared that, for the second year in a row, Kaohsiung City and Taipei City remain the top two sources of website visitors by city of origin. Tokyo also holds its position at number ten for the second consecutive year and stands out as the only foreign city in the top ten, indicating that it generates more visitor traffic than some cities within Taiwan.

As in recent years, Japan is still the overseas region with the most visitor traffic to the Travel Tainan website this year, followed by Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, and South Korea. The top five rankings are the same as last year, demonstrating that people in these regions are extremely interested in visiting Tainan.

Website visitors are primarily interested in practical information. The Q1 event with the highest click-through rate was “Stay One Night, Get Another Night Free in April-May.” In the Latest News section, the article about the four Lunar New Year markets in 2025 attracted the most traffic. After analyzing the top 50 articles in the Event and Latest News categories, the Bureau of Tourism found that, in addition to themed activities, visitors are particularly drawn to promotional offers and organized content - such as quick “for dummies” guides and itinerary tips. These types of resources are especially valuable to users seeking useful, easy-to-understand information.

The top ten popular tourist destinations on the website are Sicao Mangrove Green Tunnel, Shanhua Farmer Market, Yuguang Island, Anping Fort, Anping Old Street, Guanziling Scenic Area, Garden Night Market, Taiwan Orchid Plantation, Jinshali Pink Shower Tree Trail, and Shennong Street. Director Lin Guo-hua of the Tainan City Government Tourism Bureau stated that the Bureau will continue to monitor visitor preferences and optimize online content accordingly. The goal is to help visitors from home and abroad discover the highlights of Tainan more easily.

Mayor Huang Wei-che emphasized Tainan City’s significant historical role in connecting Taiwan to the global stage, with Anping serving as a key hub for international interactions. The Tait & Co. Merchant House, a landmark of both historical and architectural importance, was an indispensable base for international trade in the 19th century. The site carries the record of Tainan’s linkage with the world and bears witness to the rich history of Taiwan’s tea, sugar, and camphor industries. The mayor intends to keep Tainan in the global conversation by preserving historical sites and fostering cultural innovation. To provide a high-quality cultural experience and a fresh perspective to the public, the city is transforming these historical sites into platforms that connect the past and the future.

The Tait & Co. Merchant House, established by British merchants in 1865 following the opening of Anping Port, stands as a testament to Tainan’s prominence as a global trading hub in the 19th century, according to the Cultural Affairs Bureau. As one of Anping’s five major merchant houses of the era, it symbolizes the city’s golden age of trade and serves as a historical marker of international exchange. Visitors can also explore nearby attractions such as the Sio House (Salt Museum) and the Historic Julius Mannich & Co. Merchant House, both showcasing classic merchant house architecture. These sites aim to immerse visitors in Tainan’s rich history and culture, offering experiences that transcend time and space.

The construction of Tainan Art Museum Building 2, for which the city had to independently seek funds, was finished during President Lai Qing-de’s tenure as the Mayor of Tainan, according to Mayor Huang Wei-che. The building is now a significant local icon and a must-visit destination for domestic and overseas visitors in Tainan. Since its operation, Tainan Art Museum Building 2 has consistently displayed exceptional achievements. The City Government aims to improve Tainan’s art museums and further promote art from Tainan and Taiwan worldwide with the opening of the National Museum of Modern Art Tainan Preparatory Office today.

The Taiwanese Art History Reconstruction project was launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2018, said Minister of Culture Li Yuan. The objective is to reconstruct our own local historical perspective and system for art museums through thorough research and curation activities. From 2018 to 2024, the project collected 867 art pieces by local masters and 90,000 historical documents and materials, and restored 8,000 pieces of artwork and cultural relics. The public’s enthusiastic response prompted the launch of the Taiwanese Art History Reconstruction 2.0 project in 2025. In addition to showing past results, this new edition also includes organizing permanent exhibitions of artwork by Taiwanese masters as well as the establishment of the National Museum of Modern Art Tainan Preparatory Office.

The Ministry of Culture said that the art scene has long been anticipating another national-level art museum in Taiwan to display the evolution of Taiwan’s art history comprehensively and systematically. After extensive consultations, discussions, and cross-unit coordination, the Ministry of Culture ultimately selected the Tainan Art Museum Building 2 as the site for the future National Museum of Modern Art Tainan. The building, which is provided by the Tainan City Government without any fee, will host permanent exhibitions of modern Taiwanese artwork between 1895 and 1960. The Ministry looks forward to launching a second national-level art museum that is in harmony with the evolution context of the city and local art museums.

Mayor Huang Wei-che expressed his condolences about the LA wildfires that occurred earlier this year and remarked that Tainan is willing to assist in the rebuilding process as the city has extensive experience in disaster prevention and recovery. Tainan was hit by an earthquake at the beginning of the year which damaged over two thousand homes, said the Mayor, and the afflicted areas are actively working on reconstruction projects. He also recommended a visit to the city’s Fire Department for more information.

In addition to acknowledging that the delegation members are all important public servants in the US, Mayor Huang mentioned that the Taiwanese immigrant community in California and Los Angeles is very active. He hopes the delegation can facilitate more interactions with Tainan in the areas of education and culture and looks forward to increasing collaborations between the two areas with more actual visits.

After twenty years, the Association’s delegation has finally made it back to Taiwan, said Stan Liu, CEO President and Council Member of Diamond Bar City, California. Liu was excited about this trip as he had already heard a lot about Tainan’s rich culture and food while he was in the US. He added that Peggy Huang, a Council Member for the City of Yorba Linda, is originally from Tainan and this visit is very meaningful to her.

Former Mayor of the City of Arcadia Sho Tay said that he feels a strong connection to Tainan because many of his family members reside here. He noted that Tainan has changed drastically over the past few decades, particularly in the area of technological advancement and now the impressive city is completely different. Tay voiced his admiration for Tainan’s vision for urban development and said that upon his return to the States, he will apply what he had learned on this trip to local city management and governance.

Established in 1997, the Chinese-American Elected Officials Association (CEO) is a non-profit organization that consists of current and former Chinese-American elected or public officials. The majority of this Tainan delegation comes from the political, academic, and water resource sectors in Los Angeles County or neighboring cities and includes Mayors, Deputy Mayors, City Council Members, School District Education Committee Members, and Water District Chairpersons. During their stay in Tainan, the delegation also visited the Fire Department, the Bureau of Education, and the Tainan City Council.
 

Ambassador H.E. Andrea Clare Bowman of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines remarked that this is her fourth Taiwan International Orchid Show. She observed that unlike last year’s exhibition plan which focused on floriculture, this year’s show displayed how orchids flourish in their natural habitats, creating a presentation that is also very pleasing. 

Deputy Trade Representative of Singapore Mr. Timothy Seow pointed out that the orchid named Vanda Miss Joaquim is the national flower of Singapore. This is his first Taiwan International Orchid Show experience and he was very impressed by the orchids’ arrangement at the venue, which showcases their original tropical rainforest habitat. Seow also mentioned that the previous edition of the Asia Pacific Orchid Conference was held in Singapore and he is delighted to participate in the event this year in Taiwan.

According to the Tainan City Government, all foreign representatives were impressed by this year’s Taiwan International Orchid Show. To properly showcase the potential of this sector, the exhibition combines high-tech components with vibrant floriculture art. Tainan City, a significant hub of Taiwan’s orchid industry, has set a new standard for the worldwide orchid market by successfully integrating AI and net-zero emission technologies into industrial operations in addition to demonstrating its exceptional cultivation techniques and R&D capabilities.

This is the first time the Asia Pacific Orchid Conference and the Taiwan International Orchid Show were held simultaneously. The 16-day event attracted exhibitors from 34 countries and featured 50 professional forums covering topics including orchid breeding, cultivation, scientific research, and sustainable development of the industry. We aim to foster more international collaborations through the two events and further worldwide orchid trading and technology exchanges.

Well-known Tainan business Chi Mei Frozen Food Co., Ltd. (CMF) and a Polish food company jointly built a food production line in Łódź City, laying the foundation for stronger partnerships. Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che also visited Łódź during his trip to Europe in 2024, with the goal to facilitate more exchanges between industries in the two cities. Tainan will continue to enhance the relationship and eventually hopes to become sister cities with Łódź.

Mayor Huang thanked the Łódź delegation for visiting and remarked that he was impressed by the beautiful Polish city. Łódź was founded over 600 years ago while Tainan has a history of 400 years. The Mayor expressed that both ancient cities can exchange experiences in many fields as we tackle future challenges together.

Huang also encouraged exchanges between teachers, students, and the general public to promote closer relationships through academic interactions and tourism. He sees great collaboration potential in the areas of culture, education, sports, and business development and the Tainan City Government will keep on promoting interactions between the industries in the two cities. In addition to in-season local fruits, Mayor Huang also prepared the traditional Polish pączki (doughnuts) for the guests to celebrate the Catholic holiday Fat Thursday.

Deputy Mayor Adam Pustelnik of Łódź City expressed that he already experienced the friendliness, hospitality, and open-mindedness of the locals during his first visit to Tainan. Łódź and Tainan share a lot of similarities and thus he feels very comfortable with his Tainan friends. City diplomacy is particularly important in the era of globalization, as Pustelnik pointed out, and his delegation includes several important officials from the Łódź City government. He hopes that this visit marks a start for more interactions to come and will lead to a valuable partnership with Tainan City soon.

During their stay in Tainan, the Łódź delegation visited the Chimei Happiness Factory and a couple of local manufacturers with the assistance of the Economic Development Bureau to interact and introduce the investment environment in Łódź. Tainan companies were encouraged to consider Łódź as a potential location for their overseas investments. The delegation also stopped at National Cheng Kung University as well as historical and cultural destinations such as Chihkan Tower and the Chimei Museum.

The Mayor expressed gratitude to Senator MacDonald and the Canadian Senate for their long-term support of Taiwan. Tainan is a city where the old meets the new and traditional and high-tech industries coexist, according to Mayor Huang, and its rich and diverse delicacies, religions, and cultures never disappoint tourists. Furthermore, technology behemoths, such as TSMC which dominate the global semiconductor industry chain, have also set up factories in the Southern Taiwan Science Park, demonstrating the competitiveness of the city.

Tainan, Taiwan’s oldest city and Cultural Capital, cordially invites our Canadian friends to come experience the ancient city’s diverse appeal as well as its past and memories. In addition to facilitating more interactions with Canadian cities in culture, trade, and other aspects, the Mayor looks forward to maintaining peace, stability, and openness in the Asia-Pacific region with allies who share similar values.

Senator Michael MacDonald remarked that this is his first visit to Tainan, despite having traveled to Taiwan four times prior. His initial impression of the city is its convenient transportation: the high-speed rail makes Tainan easily accessible from other cities in Taiwan and travelers can enjoy pleasant scenery along the way. As Taiwan’s oldest capital, Tainan is the starting point of numerous cultures and historical events. MacDonald stated that he is happy to help further collaborations between Canadian cities and Tainan City after learning about the city’s features and strengths. Additionally, because this stay in Tainan is brief, he wishes to return someday to enjoy the many historical sites and local cuisine.

Senator MacDonald emphasized that the delegation’s primary purpose is to convey the friendly support of Canada for Taiwan. He is aware that Taiwan has overcome challenges brought forth by different regimes and historical events and successfully transformed into a model of mature democracy in Asia, and Canada is willing to work with Taiwan and Tainan to defend this hard-won democracy and freedom.

This delegation of Canadian senators includes Michael L. Macdonald, cochair of the Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Senator Donald Neil Plett of the Conservative Party of Canada, and Senator John M. McNair. While in Taiwan, the group attended the HFX Taipei and visited Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao and the Legislative Yuan. 

According to Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che, the annual Longci Light Festival - Void Mountain focuses on regional issues and explores the local value of Longci. The event, which presented its sixth edition this year, combines cultural festivals with local communities to attract crowds and revenue to this small mountain town. It not only boosts the local economy but also creates more business channels for industries in the Tainan-Guanmiao Corridor.

The 2025 Void Mountain was curated by a new team – bodesign and artists Li Kuan-Yi and Liang Lai-Chang. Eleven groups of exceptional artists presented thirteen pieces of art under the theme 焰土新生, which translates to “Flaming Earth, Rebirth”. An interactive installation featuring a six-meter large outdoor gauze screen projection was set up in the woods for the first time. The futuristic creation sparked a lot of interactions between visitors and the artwork, went viral on social media, and attracted a lot of repeat visitors. With the perfect conclusion of this year’s exhibition, we look forward to the 2026 season in which we will continue to explore local characteristics and create more unique and captivating light and shadow art experiences.

According to Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che, the EPP seeks to increase students’ awareness of environmental issues and relevant problem-solving skills through the implementation and promotion of environmental education courses that uphold the concept of “starting from campuses, changing the world”. Students may create a larger force for environmental protection by influencing the actions of their families and, eventually, society. In addition to expressing his approval and appreciation for the schools that were awarded international accreditations this year, Huang emphasized the importance of continuing to advance ecological education to spread the idea of sustainability from campuses and connect domestic schools with the rest of the world.
 

Director-general Cheng Hsin-hui of the Tainan City Government Bureau of Education explained that with “incorporating education into practical action” as its core principle, the EPP advocates for the integration of environmental protection awareness into classrooms and encourages students to learn more about and participate in major global issues. Besides attaching particular importance to partnerships between students, teachers, and communities, the Program is committed to putting the UN SDGs into practice through environmental actions and establishing sustainable living models. Innovations in education are demonstrated through curriculums that combine local features with global issues.

Tainan City has an impressive list of certified schools. After Hushan Experimental Elementary School was granted a permanent Green Flag in 2023, two more schools (Tainan Municipal Anping District Yizai Elementary School, Yuguang Branch, and Tainan Tzu-Chi Elementary School) received Green Flags in 2024. So far, the city has accumulated a total of 3 Green Flags, 26 Silver Flags, and 4 Bronze Flags.

The Training Centers’ adult baseball main field is the largest outdoor baseball field in Taiwan, according to Mayor Huang Wei-che. The field is equipped with full facilities and the outfield stand area is designed with no blind spots. To give spectators high-quality ballgame viewing experiences, the venue recently completed simulated testing for earthquakes, natural disasters, and rainwater retreat speed. The Mayor also mentioned that the world-class Tainan Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadiums and Training Centers have been progressively gaining global recognition and drawing a lot of inquiries from overseas teams. Hopefully, the collaborations can further promote Tainan’s baseball in the international baseball scene and facilitate more exchanges between domestic and international baseball teams.

The Tainan Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadiums and Training Centers hosted their first collaboration this January (2025) when the Korean baseball team Lotte Giants held their spring training session at the Training Center. The last time the team conducted their spring training in Taiwan was five years ago in Kaohsiung in 2019. Features that attracted the Lotte Giants to Tainan include the perfect indoor and outdoor venues and training equipment at the Tainan Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadiums and Training Centers, the relatively warm winter climate in Tainan, its strong baseball culture, comprehensive medical care system, and low crime rate.

According to the Tainan City Government, President Lai Ching-te promoted the construction of the Tainan Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadiums and Training Centers while serving as Tainan City Mayor. The Little League main and auxiliary fields at the Training Center were completed in 2019; and the second phase of the adult baseball field project kicked off in September the following year, gradually finishing the infield practice field, adult baseball auxiliary field, and indoor pitching and batting practice field. The completed adult baseball main field marks the completion of Taiwan’s largest and most comprehensive baseball training base and heralds a new chapter in Tainan’s long history of baseball. 

President Lai Ching-te remarked that he is happy to see that his successor has carried on the city policies and that the Shalun Green Energy Science City, which Lai helped to establish while he was Tainan’s mayor, is now demonstrating such accomplishments thanks to the collaborative efforts of the central government, legislators, and the Tainan City Government. Transforming Taiwan into an AI island was one of the targets mentioned in his inauguration speech, and Taiwan already has numerous advantages in a number of areas when it comes to AI development. Lai hopes that the Greater Southern Silicon Corridor will enhance Taiwan’s competitiveness and expand its global market.

The Shalun Green Energy Science City has strong R&D and technology capacities, said Mayor Huang Wei-che. With resources from the National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs), Academia Sinica, and ITRI as well as National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), this is an important hub for smart technology and net zero transition in Taiwan. In addition to being designated by the central government as an AI industry development center, Shalun Green Energy Science City also attracted several high-tech businesses, such as AMD and Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL), to establish offices here, demonstrating its potential to quickly become the Greater Southern New Silicon Valley. Huang thanked the central government for their strong support and stated that the local government is committed to enhancing infrastructure so that related businesses and R&D can realize their full potential.

According to the Tainan City Government, Tainan has recently become a major player in technology and industry development, particularly due to the semiconductor industry’s convergence effect in Southern Taiwan Science Park, which has made the city a significant link in the global industrial chain. Semiconductor heavyweights such as TSMC and UMC as well as many international semiconductor equipment manufacturers including ASML, Lam Research (US), TEL (Japan), and Ebara (Japan) all have locations in the Park. The Shalun Green Energy Science City, another important driving force, works closely with major national industry policies and attracts businesses and academic institutions from fields such as information security, space, quantum science, smart transportation, net zero technology, smart agriculture, and smart medical care. This year (2025), major global manufacturer AMD also arrived in the Science City.

The Tainan City Government expressed that while the Tainan 400 event series officially ended with the New Year’s Eve concert, the excitement hasn’t subsided yet. In addition to being listed as one of the best places to visit in Asia in 2025 by Time Out, Tainan was also featured in the UK National Geographic Traveller’s “The Cool List 2024: the 30 most exciting destinations to visit in 2024” and US CNN’s “Where to go in 2024: The best places to visit”. In both articles, Tainan was the only city from Taiwan. 

Time Out’s article describes Tainan as “Taiwan’s oldest city and original capital – also regarded as the county’s foodie capital” and “is a warm-weather southern gem.” The city provides “cutting-edge arts, cool bars, and drool-worthy cuisine” in addition to its rich history and lively culture. The local snack Tongji Anping Bean Curd and the Anping Tree House were highly recommended as well as the Tainan International Dragon Boat Race Championships, which is “a perfect blend of tradition and riverside fun”.

The fact that Tainan has been repeatedly recognized by international media as a world-class tourist destination is something the citizens are proud of, said Mayor Huang Wei-che. The vibrant culture and food traditions that the Tainan locals created are the unique niches that attract tourists from around the globe to Tainan for in-depth tourism. The city government will continue to strive to attract more international visitors to come and experience the beauty of Tainan.

Original Time Out article: https://www.timeout.com/asia/travel/travel-experts-guide-to-the-best-places-to-visit-in-asia-in-2025

Mayor Huang was very happy to see so many friends here in Tainan for New Year’s Eve and said that the energy of the jubilant crowd helped warm up the cold weather. He also mentioned that Tainan had an amazing year in 2024 because it was the year of Tainan 400 and expressed his joy of enjoying a wonderful concert with good friends during the last few hours of 2024.

According to the Mayor, the Tainan is Young Christmas and New Year & Eve Festivities Series has become a well-known event of the city. The government team reads all messages posted on the city government’s Facebook page recommending their favorite artists for the concerts, making the yearly event something to look forward to. Finally, Mayor Huang thanked everyone for their enthusiastic support and participation and hopes to see everyone at next year’s Tainan is Young Christmas and New Year & Eve Festivities.

A-listers and well-known performers are invited to perform at the city’s annual Christmas and New Year’s Eve concerts. In 2019, Korean group ASTRO and (G)I-DLE appeared on stage, followed by Hyoyeon from Girls’ Generation in 2020. Korean pop princess Sunmi and new-gen idol group EPEX performed in Tainan in 2022, and popular singer and actress Kim Sejeong was here in 2023. According to the Mayor, this year’s concert will feature more eye-catching stars. Today, EVNNE, a hot new group from Korea, expressed that they like Tainan very much and are happy to have Tainan as their first overseas concert stop.

As an act of hospitality, the Tainan City Government set out numerous local treats backstage for the artists. The performers happily snacked on old-fashioned gua baos, pumpkin seafood fried rice noodles, savory seafood porridge, Tainan milkfish ball soup, traditional migao (sticky rice topped with minced pork), braised beef and beef tendon, lu mian (braised noodles), migao porridge, and heibai qie (assorted side dishes) and thanked the city government for their thoughtfulness.

This year, the three concerts of the Tainan Christmas and New Year & Eve Festivities series will feature nearly 40 groups of popular artists, including domestic pop groups, rock bands, classic songstresses, popular singers, and the winners of the Golden Horse Best Original Film Song and the Golden Melody Best Vocal Group Awards. Come and have a great time!

★Dec. 31 Tainan is Young New Year’s Eve Concert 18:00 - 00:30 (subject to change) 
Yonghua Civic Center West Plaza
◎Lee Junho, Power Station, Nine One One, @onefive, Shi Shi, Eve Ai, Bii, SHOU, Pets Tseng, GENBLUE, FEniX, AcQUA, Lin Mei-hsiu, Kang Kang, Mini Tsai, Real Huang, Purple Crush, Jenny Zhang.
◎ Hosts: Ken Wu, Cathy Shyu. 
For more information, please visit the 2025 Tainan is Young Christmas and New Year & Eve Festivities Series official website. (https://tainanyoung.com.tw/)

Tainan City Mayor Huang Wei-che pointed out that a good command of English is a useful tool for the new generation of students in the face of future challenges. The Advanced English Language Proficiency Qualification program aims to cultivate and support more outstanding local students through adaptive curricula and help them become future citizens who can thrive anywhere in the world. 

As per regulations, the Advanced English Language Proficiency Qualification is only open to junior high school students and qualified students can participate in advanced English courses offered by the program school. Elementary school students who show strong English language skills and pass various qualification tests can also enroll in the program courses. Course content is planned according to the characteristics of each school. Elementary school students will be introduced to selected readings of the classics and sharing as well as creative storytelling, and junior high students will be exposed to activities such as journalism writing and Model United Nations. 

The registration period for the junior high Advanced English Language Proficiency Qualification is from Jan. 6 to Jan. 15, 2025. Elementary school students in sixth grade who are registered in Tainan City or attend elementary schools in Tainan City are eligible to apply. The first and second stages of qualification are scheduled to be held in February at Tainan Municipal Yong-kang Junior High School. For more information, please visit the Tainan Resource Center for the Gifted and Talented website or call 06-2149750 ext. 28.
 

Pointing out that Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan, Mayor Huang said that this livable city’s unique image is formed by its rich cultural heritage and modern advanced high-tech industries. Four hundred years ago, Tainan and Taiwan had their first interaction with the world; and this year (2024), Tainan not only hosted the Taiwan Lantern Festival again after 16 years but also organized a series of acclaimed major events, including the Taiwan Design Expo and Creative Expo Taiwan, showcasing Tainan’s cultural depth and diverse charm.

Mayor Huang emphasized that Tainan’s high-tech sectors continue to develop and that the Southern Taiwan Science Park’s output value is now the highest in the nation. With the industrial chain strength of the Shalun Green Energy Science City, Tainan shows strong competitiveness in the fields of semiconductors, renewable energy, and AI, which draws investments from major manufacturers from home and abroad. Last but not least, the Mayor invited our media friends to take a stroll and experience the splendor of Tainan. Hopefully, the interactions will inspire new sparks between local and international mindsets.  

President Thompson Chau of the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) mentioned that Tainan has experienced several regime changes since the Dutch arrived there 400 years ago. Modern Taiwan’s multicultural background and the formation of its national identity were established on that historical context and the collective efforts of the democratic-minded Taiwanese people. Taiwan is making more frequent appearances in global media, and the Tainan 400 event series is a precious opportunity for people to learn more about Taiwan and explore its diverse definitions and characteristics.

Moreover, President Chau finds that Tainan and York (UK) share similar characteristics, as both cities have rich culture and cuisine as well as a large number of museums and historical sites. The locals are very friendly as well, making the cities ideal global tourist destinations. Chau then quoted President Lai Ching-te’s remarks at the state banquet this year, during which he stated that the Tainan 400 is an important milestone, and the development of Tainan also is a demonstration of the goal of establishing Taiwan as a place where its people can live in peace and enjoy life.

The Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) is an international journalists’ association in Taiwan. Besides organizing various activities and promoting news development, the Club strives to assist foreign journalists and media workers in news collection and information exchange. Its members are mainly correspondents of major foreign media in Taiwan. In addition to attending the press event, the foreign journalist delegations also visited Anping, Southern Taiwan Science Park, and drone manufacturer Hsuan Yuan Technology Co. (in Southern Taiwan Science Park).