2016 Taiwan International Balloon Festival 7/1-8/7 Shining Together Over Eastern Taiwan

"The greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph". In Taiwan, there are countless events every summer, but among them all, only one has successfully sustained its tourism appeal for six consecutive years——the "Taiwan International Balloon Festival," the first to offer daily free-flight rides and to train Taiwan's commercial pilots. This year, from July 1 to August 7, it will once again meet balloon fans at Luye Highland in Taitung County. Continuing last year's pioneering "glow show every week," this year's balloon festival will not only hold six glow concerts during its 38-day run, but also take on the challenge of bringing the excitement to different locations every week, with six weekends of different themes to move people and visitors from all over the country.

The drive from Taitung to Kaohsiung takes only 3 hours, and with the ongoing widening and improvement follow-up project for the South Link Highway (Provincial Highway 9), expected to be completed by the end of year 106 (2017), the driving distance between the two places will be shortened by at least 30 minutes. As various transportation facilities improve, the distance between these two neighboring cities of Taitung and Kaohsiung draws closer, building a bridge of friendship between the two neighbors and thereby bringing about this occasion: the Taitung balloons will make their first-ever cross-city glow concert in Kaohsiung, at 7 PM on June 4 at the Circular Plaza of the Kaohsiung Cultural Center. On an early summer evening, under the interplay of sound and light from the balloons, as many as five balloons will perform together. Accompanied by shifting light and shadow and a cool breeze, whether you come that day with family, friends, or a loved one to enjoy the show, you will surely imprint a romantic and profound memory on your heart.

Since Taitung County pioneered the balloon festival in 2011, it has inspired imitators everywhere over the past six years. This year, Taitung will take on an even more challenging task: in addition to the carnival activities, it will add Taiwan's first international-level balloon competition. From July 2 to July 6, every day from 5 AM to 7:30 AM, balloon pilots from around the world will gather at Luye Highland. 30 balloons and their pilots will challenge themselves through long-trained flying skills, bringing a tense and exciting competition to the skies over Taitung. Including the most popular events such as "Hare and Hound" and "Fly In," they will be faithfully recreated at Luye Highland. Balloon fans from all over the country are welcome to gather at Luye to cheer on Taiwan's competitors, and to witness a record-breaking 30 balloons soaring and roaming across the skies of Taitung.

The 2015 balloon festival attracted over 700,000 balloon fans to join in the celebration. In keeping with the belief of bringing local fans a brand-new thrill every year, this year, in addition to the balloon competition and the challenge of launching 30 balloons simultaneously, the event has invited the most special-shape balloons in history——15 of them——to come to Taiwan, including the aquarium, kiwi bird, Noah's Ark, and "High Kitty" from the United States; the fox balloon from Thailand; the rooster balloon from the Netherlands; and the octopus balloon and carp balloon from Japan, turning the skies above Luye Highland into the largest "animal carnival" ever! In addition, the British girl and boy balloons that came to Taiwan alone in 2014 and 2015 will this year gather together for the first time, coming to Taitung to admire the beautiful scenery of the East Rift Valley.

In 2014, the carnival was rated by the BBC as one of the world's top ten balloon festivals. This year it goes even further, taking on the challenge of a different venue every week, each one a new challenge, and breaking the tradition that glow shows must be held at Luye Highland, touring well-known spots such as Luye Township, Beinan Township, Chishang Township, and Taimali. Last year's highly praised dawn glow show will this year, in addition to Taimali, also be held at Sanxiantai Bixilian. Want to see balloons combined with the eight-arch cross-sea footbridge against the sunrise? Enthusiastic balloon fans can try to see which ones they can catch!

2016 Glow Concert Dates and Locations

7/02 (Sat) Location: Longtian Landing Field (Opening Ceremony)

7/09 (Sat) Location: Chenggong Township——Sanxiantai Bixilian (Sunrise Glow)

7/16 (Sat) Location: Beinan Township——Zhiben Hot Spring Area

7/23 (Sat) Location: Chishang Township - Dapo Pond

7/30 (Sat) Location: Taimali Township——Taimali Dawn Park (Sunrise Glow)

8/07 (Sun) Location: Taitung City Stadium (Closing Ceremony)