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Taipei 101 gears up for New Year’s Eve fireworks extravaganza

A sneak peak of the upcoming Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks extravaganza features a light show composed of patterns from Taiwan’s indigenous tribes. (Courtesy of TFCC)

A sneak peak of the upcoming Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks extravaganza features a light show composed of patterns from Taiwan’s indigenous tribes. (Courtesy of TFCC)


Taiwan’s landmark Taipei 101 will ring in the New Year with 16,000 fireworks and sparklers, a light show celebrating the nation’s attractions from food to freedoms and a soundtrack sung by an indigenous choir.
 
Taipei Financial Center Corp., which manages the skyscraper, released a promotional video for this year’s six-minute extravaganza Dec. 20.
 
A light-emitting diode screen on the structure’s northern facade will display an animation highlighting nine Taiwan themes spanning freedom and democracy, medical expertise, multiculturalism and night markets. TFCC President Angela Chen said a wide variety of images have been chosen to give viewers an insight into the diversity of Taiwan’s attractions and achievements.
 
The soundtrack was made by members of Taiwan’s Paiwan tribe: singer Abao, also known as Aljenlijen Tjatjaljuvy, and Puzangalan Children’s Choir from the southern county of Pingtung. According to award-winning composer Lim Giong, who produced the recording for the show, this is the first time the fireworks will synchronize with the animation and the music.
 
First held in 2005, the Taipei 101 fireworks display has become one of the most celebrated events of its kind in the world and is routinely covered by major global media outlets. In 2012, it was named by CNN as one of the world’s 10 best spots for seeing in the New Year. (CPY-E)