Taipei 101 to extend New Year's Eve fireworks show

Taipei, Nov. 25 (CNA) The annual New Year's Eve fireworks show at the Taipei 101 skyscraper will run this year for more than five minutes, thanks to increased sponsorship amid a vibrant domestic economic climate, the organizers said Thursday.

Many more businesses are willing to sponsor the fireworks show this year, given Taiwan's strong GDP growth in 2021, which is expected to surpass 6 percent, Taipei 101 COO Michael Liu (劉家豪) said at a press conference.

With greater sponsorship, the New Year's Eve fireworks show at Taipei 101 will extend beyond 300 seconds, which was the exact time last year, and the cost will be NT$30 million -- NT$5 million more than last year, he said

Taipei 101's full New Year celebrations started Thursday, under the theme "Toward a Better Future," and will run through Feb. 22, 2022, incorporating Christmas, New Year's Eve, Lunar New Year and the Lantern Festival, the company's Chairman Chang Hsueh-shun (張學舜) said at the press conference.

The celebrations, which will include concerts, and displays of light installations, art installations and light messages, are expected to attract more than 1 million visitors, Chang said.