Asia's largest "Giant Balloon Parade" takes the stage, Chen Chu rides a double-decker bus to join the fun

Asia's grandest "7-ELEVEN OPEN YOUR DREAM Giant Balloon Parade" kicked off joyfully on the 17th at Times Boulevard, mobilizing more than 23 large cartoon balloons and joining forces with more than 40 groups, over 1,500 performers in total, showing off their adorable charm and drawing a full crowd's gaze. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu, the Flower Mama mascot and the Kaohsiung mascot were on hand to celebrate with the public, welcoming everyone to visit the warm and friendly port city.

The giant balloon parade entered its 11th edition this year, having accumulated more than three million spectators over the past 10 years. This year's theme is "2016 My Love Is in Kaohsiung," with the three main threads of "love, music, environmental protection." Taking advantage of the good weather, crowds poured into the site starting in the afternoon. Mayor Chen Chu also rode a double-decker sightseeing bus waving to the crowd, gathering with the entire city government team, AIT Southern Branch Office Director Du Weihao and others on Times Boulevard to celebrate with the public.

This event brought together four themed teams: "Xiao Tao's Selfless Love," "PLEASE Mei-mei's Beautiful Love," "LOCK Xiao Jiang's Energetic Love" and "OPEN Xiao Jiang's Childlike Love," creating Kaohsiung's finest atmosphere and scenery. Besides the full OPEN! family being present, brand-new cartoon characters such as "Snow Bell Rabbit Bobo," "Kanahei's Small Animals," "Cup no Fuchiko" and "PAW Patrol - Chase and Marshall" made their first appearances. Seeing the new friends join, everyone kept waving greetings and scrambling to take photos, capturing the adorable look of the giant cartoon balloons.

In addition, cartoon characters such as The Bears' School Jackie, HELLO KITTY, SpongeBob SquarePants, Kulu Cat, Xueluo Cat, Rilakkuma, Snoopy, Ryan the Lion, Datong Baby, Gudetama and Cup no Fuchiko also occupied Times Boulevard with their adorable force, with a total of 23 groups of large cartoon balloons and more than 40 groups, over 1,500 performers in total, joining in to bring everyone abundant joy and excitement.