Mayor Lu Shiow-yen’s Final Taichung Shopping Festival Kicks Off October 24, Eyes NT$200 Billion Milestone

◆Eight Years of Growth: Taichung Eyes NT$200 Billion in Consumer Spending

The 8th Taichung Shopping Festival, the final edition under Mayor Lu Shiow-yen’s administration, will run from October 24 to December 25. At the October 14 launch event, Mayor Lu highlighted the festival’s remarkable growth, with registered consumer spending rising from NT$2.5 billion in its inaugural year to NT$37.4 billion last year. With more than NT$180 billion accumulated over seven editions, the city aims to surpass NT$200 billion in eight-year registered spending.

◆Champion City: Nearly 270,000 Businesses Join the Festival

Under the theme “Champion City,” this year’s festival brings together award-winning professionals, outstanding athletes, and local businesses to celebrate Taichung’s achievements. Nearly 270,000 businesses are participating, combining shopping promotions, tourism, and international marketing to showcase the city’s economic vitality.

◆People First: Driving Local Economic Growth

Mayor Lu emphasized her administration’s commitment to “Less Politics, Greater Focus on People's Livelihoods, and Stronger Economic Development.” Originally launched to support small businesses in traditional markets, night markets, and shopping districts, the festival has grown into Taiwan’s largest cash prize campaign outside the national Uniform Invoice Lottery. It has generated over NT$70 billion in nationwide economic output, including NT$6 billion in spending by visitors from outside Taichung last year.

◆Expanding Festival Economics: 11 International Awards

Without increasing its overall budget, the city expanded its economic initiatives to include the Taichung Hot Pot and BBQ Festival and a traditional market shopping voucher program. Together with Taichung Shopping Festival and digital services through the TCPASS app, these initiatives have earned 11 international awards, highlighting Taichung’s innovative approach to boosting local consumption.

◆Bigger Prizes: Cash, Cars, a Home, and International Flights

This year’s prizes include NT$3,000 daily, NT$100,000 weekly, and NT$1 million monthly cash draws, along with a car every two weeks and a residential property as the grand prize. An exclusive partnership with EVA Air will also offer two round-trip tickets to destinations worldwide, while additional flights to Japan and South Korea will be awarded.

◆Register Early: 8,000 Warm-Up Prizes Await

Receipt registration opens through the Taichung TCPASS app on October 14. From October 15 to 23, a warm-up campaign will award 8,000 prizes, including gift vouchers, afternoon tea vouchers, and Taichung sun cake gift boxes. Warm-up and official festival receipts will be counted separately, with major prize draws beginning October 26.

For more information, visit the official website at https://fun.taichung.gov.tw/ or follow Taichung Shopping Festival’s official Facebook page.