Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article surpassing the area’s total annual precipitation by some one-fifth and three more days of heavy downpours followed The number of people affected by the disaster exceeded 10 million In the disaster’s aftermath, Chinese officials undertook a countrywide examination of its reservoirs. A prominent hydrologist, Chen Xing, whose warnings and criticisms had gone unheeded during construction of the Banqiao Dam was brought back to help in clearing the river channels Many of the 62 dams destroyed were rebuilt including Banqiao (completed in 1993) and Shimantan (1996) 3 (CNA) The water supply to about 26,000 households in areas of Banqiao District New Taipei will be temporarily suspended from Dec the city's Water Resources Department announced Tuesday the water supply will be suspended for 40 hours until 1 a.m 11 to carry out maintenance work on an old underground pipeline along Nanya South Road A total of 26,352 households are expected to be affected and consumers are advised to store water ahead of time Various makeshift water supply tanks will be available around the city or people can contact Taiwan Water Corporation for water delivery The water supply suspension will also hit several other wards in Banqiao Preliminary assessment says passenger accidentally fell off platform New Taipei City firefighters rescue passenger trapped under train on Monday 3788TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A man fell onto the tracks of a Taiwan Railways Corporation (TRC) train at Banqiao Station in New Taipei on Monday At 12:58 p.m., the man, estimated to be around 30 years old, fell from Platform 2 for unknown reasons, per Ettoday He landed on the tracks between cars 10 and 11 of the No First responders found him pinned beneath the train and used specialized rescue equipment to free him The man was unconscious but still breathing and was rushed to the hospital Police reviewed surveillance footage and preliminarily ruled out foul play. Current assessments indicate the fall was accidental, per Liberty Times The TRC temporarily slowed both northbound and southbound trains and rerouted traffic to alternate tracks 2203 were guided to transfer to other services The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation Taiwan arrests drugs smuggler during stopover between Belgium and Macau Taiwan Railways to seek compensation after car blocks tracks in Taoyuan Missing man in New Taipei train track incident turns self in Missing man on train tracks a mystery in Taiwan Train on Taiwan's east coast damaged by broken tram line Train strikes and kills man in northern Taiwan Taipei MRT reminds passengers of drinking water ban Taiwan dollar hits NT$29 per US dollar triggering currency exchange rush Central Bank steps in as Taiwan dollar posts strong single-day gain Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes off east Taiwan Vietjet flight makes unscheduled landing in Taiwan Taiwan ranked 2nd most innovative country in world US tech earnings spark Taiwan stock market rally Four Vietnamese residents found dead in northern Taiwan Taiwan ranks 1st in Asia on World Press Freedom Index US Congress members urge Somalia to reverse Taiwan passport ban A quasi-public preschool in New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋) has been ordered to suspend enrollment of new students after three of its teachers were found to have physically abused eight children earlier this year the New Taipei City Department of Education said on Monday A committee was appointed to investigate the accusations against three female teachers Parents told the committee that their children had been subjected to physical abuse including being slapped in the face and dragged by their feet with significant force Photo courtesy of the New Taipei City Department of Education examined evidence and concluded that the accusations made against the three teachers were true while the preschool owner was fined NT$60,000 for negligence The three teachers were also handed lifetime bans from teaching meaning that they will never work as educators in Taiwan again The department’s administrative investigation and penalties are separate from a criminal investigation of the case which is to be conducted by the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for alleged offenses of causing injury Although it is allowed to continue operating the Banciao institution has been banned from enrolling new students and ordered to make improvements while its status as a “quasi- public” preschool that receives government subsidies would be removed with effect from Aug said recently that although the three teachers had acted “somewhat inappropriately” toward the students they had done so to manage their classrooms and had apologized to the parents for their actions The government failed to take into consideration the teachers’ workloads and the amount of pay they were receiving adding that the penalties were “in fact a bit too harsh.” Democratic Progressive Party New Taipei City Councilor Huang Shu-chun (黃淑君) said that the department had been slow to handle the case The fines were issued on June 13 and the preschool on June 21 held a parents’ meeting to explain what had happened adding that other parents were likely unaware of the situation before then The department must be more prudent in its evaluations of institutions that are granted quasi-public preschool status Department Commissioner Chang Ming-wen (張明文) said that certain procedures are necessary when looking into a matter related to the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act (兒童及少年福利與權益保障法) adding that the investigation was launched in April as soon as it became aware of the issue The preschool previously had more than 30 students and after consulting with parents adding that it has fewer than 10 students enrolled The department would “ensure the rights and interests of every student who remains at the school,” he added Students from New Taipei Municipal Banqiao Senior High School and Shanghai Guangming High School try playing guqin a plucked seven-string traditional Chinese musical instrument during an exchange event at Shanghai Guangming High School in east China's Shanghai The exchange event is held in Shanghai from July 4 to 9 Students from New Taipei Municipal Banqiao Senior High School learn the moves of Peking Opera with a teacher during an exchange event at Shanghai Guangming High School in east China's Shanghai student from Shanghai Guangming High School communicates with students from New Taipei Municipal Banqiao Senior High School about singing and moves of Peking Opera during an exchange event at Shanghai Guangming High School in east China's Shanghai Students from Shanghai and Taiwan stage a talent show during an exchange event at Wanping Theater in east China's Shanghai This article was published more than 6 months ago Large wave crashing over a sea wall as Typhoon Kong-rey neared the coast in Taitung.STR/AFP/Getty Images A car under an uprooted tree at New Taipei City as Typhoon Kong-rey neared the coast in Taitung.STR/AFP/Getty Images Banqiao Cihui Palace archway that collapsed in Banqiao District in New Taipei City due to strong winds from Typhoon Kong-rey.-/AFP/Getty Images in New Taipei City due to strong winds from Super Typhoon Kong-rey.-/AFP/Getty Images in Yilan County following strong winds and torrential rain from Typhoon Kong-rey.-/AFP/Getty Images A man runs in the storm as the super typhoon hits Taiwan in Taitung.Annabelle Chih/Getty Images Fireman and workers looking at a large fallen tree in New Taipei City due to strong winds from Super Typhoon Kong-rey.-/AFP/Getty Images A person walks past a fallen light sign as Typhoon Kong-rey approaches in Keelung Firefighter beside a roof blown away due to strong winds and rain from Super Typhoon Kong-rey in Hualien County.STR/AFP/Getty Images A man (R) helps a motorist with a scooter amid heavy rain due to Super Typhoon Kong-rey in Keelung.I-HWA CHENG/AFP/Getty Images Photo released by Hualien County Fire Department police check an area destroyed by Typhoon Kong-rey in Hualien County Businesses and schools across Taiwan were closed Thursday as Typhoon Kong-rey the largest storm to directly hit the island in nearly 30 years brought destruction when it made landfall in the early afternoon Heavy rains and strong winds caused mudslides reported the storm had cut power to more than 650,000 households as of Thursday evening The high winds and steady rain brought down power lines tore the roofs off buildings and toppled street signs metal pieces were peeling off some buildings and any objects not tied down had turned into projectiles whipping down streets and alleys and toppling scooters a favourite mode of transport for Taiwanese commuters Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported Kong-rey had claimed one life and injured 73 people across the island as of early afternoon Thursday It said a total of 9,658 people have been evacuated and 91 emergency shelters set up within 12 municipalities Taiwan shut down for the arrival of strong Typhoon Kong-rey on Oct 31 with all cities and counties declaring a day off for what is expected to be the largest storm in 30 years Typhoon Kong-rey is the largest storm to hit Taiwan since 1996 the island’s Central Weather Administration said earlier this week It labelled Kong-rey a “strong typhoon,” the highest rating it has Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Center said winds on Thursday in southeastern Taitung County were recorded as high as 17 on the Beaufort wind force scale; that part of the measurement system is for gusts greater than 200 kilometres an hour The centre urged people to avoiding going outside and in particular to avoid visiting the coastline Two missing Czech hikers in Taiwan’s Taroko National Park were later found to be taking shelter in a tent to ride out the storm “I also hope that the whole country will co-operate to avoid disasters and not engage in dangerous behaviour such as wave watching during the typhoon” Taiwan President Lai Ching-te wrote on Facebook Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported one woman died Thursday after the truck she was riding in was struck by a falling tree near Nantou County’s Ren’ai Township suffered cardiac arrest from her injuries and efforts to resuscitate her at a Taichung hospital were unsuccessful Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Steven Chase is a senior parliamentary reporter for The Globe and Mail He has covered federal politics in Ottawa for The Globe since mid-2001 He previously worked in the paper's Vancouver and Calgary bureaus and originally joined The Globe and Mail in 1998 he reported on Alberta politics for the Calgary Herald and the Calgary Sun He’s had ink-stained hands for far longer though having worked as a paperboy for the (now defunct) Montreal Star the Vancouver Sun and the North Shore News In four instances, Mr. Chase has been part of a Globe team that won a National Newspaper award. In 2023, he was a recipient of the Parliamentary Press Gallery Charles Lynch Award for outstanding national affairs coverage. In 2024, he and colleague Robert Fife won the Sidney Hillman Prize for their work on foreign interference again for their work on foreign interference Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate If you do not see your comment posted immediately it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted UPDATED: Read our community guidelines here We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons or for abuse. For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions Chernobyl killed fifteen times fewer people and desolated an area of land one-sixth as large Chen Xing’s warnings proved prescient in early August 1975 when Typhoon Nina battered Banqiao and dumped a meter of water in three days. The dam didn’t stand a chance. As it began to disintegrate under heavy strain, one of the workers struggling to save the dam reportedly shouted “Chu Jiaozi!” The river dragon has come… Six hundred million cubic meters of water would eventually pour through the remains of the ruptured dam forming a wall of water 6 meters high and 12 kilometers wide moving up to 50 kilometers per hour The towering deluge eventually collapsed 62 more dams Far more would eventually die of starvation and disease The Chinese Communist Party silenced all public accounts of the calamity for more than ten years deadly scope of the Banqiao dam failure now known there has been no worldwide movement to halt the construction of hydropower dams to save lives hydropower isn’t perfect — it redirects rivers and is costly to build — but it’s still a clean What doomed hundreds of thousands of people almost a half-century ago was not the act of harvesting renewable energy from moving water; it was incompetence stemming from the communist government Unfortunately, this key nuance has not been widely realized when it comes to nuclear power. In the 1980s, 46 nuclear power plants came online in the U.S only four have even started being constructed “nuclear” has become a dirty word one that could easily power humanity and prevent carbon pollution for centuries to come 2024 theme 'Magical City' features 5 new characters Main Christmas tree in heart of New Taipei's 2024 Christmasland (New Taipei Tourism and Travel Department photo) 26303TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The New Taipei 2024 Christmasland in Banqiao officially kicked off on Friday (Nov This year's festival will run for 48 consecutive days under the theme “Magical City." It features five new characters and an eight-story high LED main stage show, per the New Taipei Travel and Tourism Department.  Magic-themed installations were placed in four lighting zones: the Magical City zone in New Taipei City Hall Square the Magical Manor zone in the square in front of Banqiao Railway Station and the Magical Fairytale Kingdom in Fuzhong Plaza.  This year's overpass light corridors include the “Magic Star Gate” on Xinzhang Road Bridge "Butterfly Dream Forest" on Xinfu Road Bridge and “Gingko Magic Star" on Xianmin Boulevard among the light corridors are “Radiant Fantasy” near the bus stop at HiMall “Donut Fantasy” at the Far Eastern Mega Tower overpass “Dreamy Sea of Stars" at the Banqiao Station overpass and “Magic Fountain" at the Far Eastern Department Store overpass Sidewalk light installations include the “Lucky Star” on the Xinzhang Road sidewalk “Dream Mistletoe” on the Xinfu Road sidewalk “Wishing Path” on the Zhongshan Road sidewalk and the “Enchanted Galaxy” on Xianmin Boulevard All displays will be lit daily from 5:30 p.m City to build 8-story library in Sanchong District for completion in 2031 New Taipei City Library in Banqiao District 2215TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei City Government said Wednesday the city's second major public library will be built in Sanchong District next year The city government will rebuild the library at its original site in the district. It will invest NT$3 billion (US$92.3 million) to construct an eight-story library, including an indoor sports court, a retail area, and a performance space for 400 spectators. The project is expected to be completed in 2031, per CNA The city’s Cultural Affairs Department reported the library’s planning progress at a municipal meeting on Wednesday It said the new facility will continue the design concept of the city’s first major public library and offer digitized reading services to citizens New Taipei’s first major public library is a 10-story above-ground and three-story underground green building with more than 710,000 books and 1,000 journals The facility utilizes smart lighting and external airflow for cooling in non-summer months.  The library in Banqiao features seven exotic-themed reading spaces Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) said the city government’s second administrative building in Sanchong District began construction in 2022 and is expected to be completed next year The nearby New Taipei Industrial Park has attracted companies such as E.SUN Bank will become one of the city’s three major hubs The city government added it will invest NT$5.3 billion to upgrade the city’s existing 386 libraries In celebration of World Book and Copyright Day architectural models and design drafts submitted for the new library’s design competition were displayed at the city hall on Wednesday New Taipei commercial office deals exceeded NT$10 billion in 2024 New Taipei plans over 200 cat microchipping events New Taipei approves record NT$222 billion budget for 2025 New Taipei to inspect all public elevators Taipei launches WMG2025 FunPass ahead of World Masters Games Scooter riders face fines ranging from NT$500 to NT$3,000 and possible loss of license 3360TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei's Banqiao District began Wednesday to crack down on scooters with expired exhaust inspections The city's Environmental Protection Department said the enforcement area includes surrounding zones between Fuzhong and Xinpu MRT stations Passing scooters are screened for overdue inspections using a license plate recognition system in the controlled area Tsai Min-ching (蔡旻憬), a chief of the air quality maintenance division, told CNA that 10 license plate recognition systems have been installed on major roads for round-the-clock monitoring He said violations are identified through a connection with the scooter exhaust inspection management system Tsai said the city has over 2.2 million registered scooters The city also has around 600 exhaust inspection stations achieving an 80% inspection rate last year Tsai said scooters more than five years old should undergo exhaust inspections annually Riders who fail to undergo timely inspections may face a NT$500 (US$16.39) fine.  Tsai said that if inspections are overdue by six months an additional NT$3,000 fine will be levied with the possibility of license plate revocation The department said diesel buses and trucks more than three years old will also be subject to regulation Violators will be fined between NT$500 and NT$60,000 under the Air Pollution Control Act The department added the city will impose harsher penalties on vehicles that break the law when the air quality index reaches an alert level Outdoor elevator accident injures 2 in New Taipei CPC’s swappable battery stations debut in Tainan Worker falls at New Taipei construction site Suicidal man realized he wanted to live and ducked under train Liang crouches on track moments before train arrives 4534TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A man who disappeared after jumping onto train tracks at a Banqiao station on Friday faces fines for disrupting train services At 5:51 p.m. Friday, the man jumped onto the tracks at Banqiao's Fuzhou Station seconds before the Tze-Chiang Limited Express Train No The train was brought to a halt and services were immediately suspended on the line a 50-year-old man surnamed Liang (梁) called the Banqiao precinct of the Railway Police Bureau saying he was the man on the tracks Liang then went to the RPB station in Banqiao to turn himself in at 2:17 a.m.  Liang said he lied flat between the tracks as the train passed over him He said that he only suffered minor abrasions to his waist and legs from the incident.  The Taiwan Railway Corporation told CNA that if it is confirmed that Liang had deliberately trespassed onto the tracks, resulting in disruptions to 58 train services and delays totaling 3,200 minutes, the case will be handled under Article 57 of the Railway Act which prohibits pedestrians and vehicles from trespassing on railway tracks the RPB will impose penalties and TRC will seek compensation for the related losses Those experiencing thoughts of suicide should immediately seek help by calling the Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center at 1925 or the Taiwan Lifeline International at 1995 Foreign residents can call the Community Services Center at 02-2836-8134 (business hours) or 0932-594-578 (after hours) Union slams pay rise for Taiwan railways bosses Scooter on train station platform causes accident in northern Taiwan Huang Kuo-chang blasts wasteful spending and DPP's mass recall effort Huang Kuo-chang (with microphone) addressed supporters on Sunday in Banqiao 3196TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Amid ongoing recall campaigns targeting legislators across the nation the Taiwan People’s Party organized a protest in New Taipei’s Banqiao District on Sunday to criticize the ruling DPP government.  Led by TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), multiple speakers criticized the Lai government and the DPP legislative caucus. Organizers said that an estimated 6,000 people were in attendance, reported LTN.  Huang called for people to stand up and fight the alleged abuse and corruption of the DPP government The crowd could be heard chanting slogans like “The people must take charge” and “Lai Peggy Chen (陳佩琪), wife of the former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) who is on trial for corruption was also present and addressed the crowd on Sunday She called for party supporters to hold the government accountable for wasteful spending and to work together to protect future generations.  After last week's passage of the government budget drafted by the KMT and TPP the central government must deal with considerable freezes and cuts totaling an estimated NT$207.5 billion (US$6.29 billion) Huang and other speakers defended slashing the budget claiming it is necessary to stop wasteful and incompetent governance During the rally, TPP members passed out manila envelopes with documents on alleged scandals that show how the government misused taxpayer money. Huang urged supporters to spread the information throughout society to hold the Lai government accountable, reported CNA.  Tainan KMT members arrested for fraud in recall targeting DPP lawmakers DPP lawmakers rush rostrum at Taiwan's Legislative Yuan Video promotes 2nd stage of KMT legislator recall campaign Taiwan recall campaigns against 2 DPP legislators progress TPP chair says Lai administration trying to impose 'one-party rule' Taiwan People's Party convenes 3rd party congress hundreds gathered in Banqiao to back recall campaigns DPP supporters gathered for a rally at Banqiao's Second Sports Stadium on Sunday 3356TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held a rally in New Taipei on Sunday to gather signatures for its ongoing mass recall campaign drawing a sizable crowd despite poor weather conditions Supporters gathered at the Second Sports Stadium in Banqiao District where booths were set up to promote the recall of sitting Kuomintang (KMT) legislators across New Taipei was hosted by DPP Secretary General Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) and party spokesperson Wu Cheng (吳崢), per UDN Organizers had expressed concern over turnout due to wind and rain but supporters braved the weather to express concern over Taiwan’s political situation and show support for the recall effort Sunday’s rally marked the first in a series of rallies and policy briefings under the campaign slogan “The People Are in Charge,” per ET Today Similar events are scheduled for Taichung on April 15, Taoyuan on April 16, Hualien on April 22, Tainan on April 23, Kaohsiung on April 29 and another in New Taipei on April 30 DPP Legislator Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧), one of eight DPP lawmakers targeted by the KMT in a retaliatory recall campaign thanked attendees for their commitment to defending Taiwan The KMT’s effort comes in response to the DPP’s mass recall targeting 35 opposition lawmakers KMT holds rally to oppose legislative recalls in Taiwan's Taoyuan Taiwan People's Party protests DPP governance in New Taipei 15851TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A teenager who allegedly sprayed bullets at the entrance to a pawnshop on Thursday (April 20) is in custody At around 8:53 a.m. on Thursday morning, the 17-year-old boy surnamed Liu (劉) was seen getting out of a taxi and opened fire with a submachine gun on a closed pawnshop in New Taipei's Tucheng District He then fired several more rounds before hopping back into the same taxi and fleeing the scene Liu surrendered himself along with his weapon to Banqiao police at 9:10 a.m. and confessed that he had a grievance with the owner of the pawnshop, reported UDN primarily in the shop's steel roller shutter and scooters parked in front Police are conducting an investigation into the motivation for Liu's actions and how the gun had been obtained. Liu is being investigated for breaching the Controlling Guns, Knives and Ammunition Act (槍砲彈藥刀械管制條例) and in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act (少年事件處理法), he was sent before the juvenile court of the New Taipei City District Court, which ruled that he be placed in custody, reported CNA two shooting incidents occurred in Taipei City and New Taipei City on Wednesday (April 19) A 17-year-old male surnamed Wu (吳) allegedly fired shots in Taipei City's Zhongshan District and New Taipei City's Banqiao District Wu was placed in custody by the juvenile court the two days of shootings in Greater Taipei may be related to the seizure by Keelung police on April 11 of nearly one ton of raw materials used by a narcotics factory The drug manufacturing factory reportedly has ties to the Bamboo Gang and Huashan Gang there was allegedly a dispute that broke out among gang members over property damage and the flow of illicit funds Closeup of bullet holes in steel roller shutter Bullet holes seen in scooter parked in front of pawnshop Modified submachine gun Liu allegedly used to fire on pawnshop Video shows 17-year-old get out of taxi, spray bullets at New Taipei pawnshop, and hop back in same cab https://t.co/aqsTwmqunv pic.twitter.com/8GlYLZYunG Police close in on Tainan Fisherman Association chair shooter DNA of Tainan Fisherman Association chair shooter found Weichen Group chair shot outside Taipei's Tian Long Sauna 2nd getaway car of Tainan Fisherman Association chair shooter found Manhunt underway for Tainan Fisherman Association chair shooter Photo: Courtesy of State Grid Nanjing Power Supply Company "We have inspected the power lines inside and outside the base With the correct nuclear phase of the 220 kilovolts equipment in the station and the successful completion of .. the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced it would open 10 of its nuclear technology research .. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page please first agree to the privacy policy below.New Taipei City councilors from Banqiao District voiced concerns on Wednesday about the "traffic nightmare" caused by the annual "Christmasland" event which will run for 48 days from mid-November to New Year's Day (Full text of the story is now in CNA English news archive. To view the full story, you will need to be a subscribed member of the CNA archive. To subscribe, please read here.) 9572TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An 18-year-old high school student surnamed Li (李) pulled an older woman off train tracks at Banqiao Station Southbound 2A platform at 8 a.m but his actions drew a reprimand from the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) TRA warned that his actions heightened the potential risk of the situation, and passengers are always prohibited from getting on railway tracks. Instead, TRA said the correct action would have been to notify station personnel, per PTS Li said he had carefully judged the situation and felt he had enough time to reach the woman and move her to safety He moved her to a gap between adjacent train tracks Heroic high school student warned to stay off railway tracks "I looked at the headlights of the train and saw that it had not come into the station yet The grandma did not seem to have any reaction so she was just slumped over on the tracks This made it easy for me to move her to a safe place," said Li agreed that Li should have considered his safety as a primary consideration “He said his father often told him that before helping others This is what we often remind our children." The oncoming train had already been notified of a disturbance on the tracks and was stopped "When the train was about to enter the station the driver stopped as a precaution,” said Railway Police Bureau Banqiao Station Chief Lu Yi-yuan (呂義原) and the case was being transferred to the relevant authority to prosecute TRA is studying the feasibility of installing platform doors to prevent passengers from entering railway tracks with trial operations slated for Kaohsiung Station by year-end some experts believe platform doors will be difficult to install as many different models of trains operate on TRA tracks with door positions and track alignment difficult to coordinate some experts have encouraged TRA to strengthen announcements and warnings when trains enter and exit stations The Railway Police Bureau also called upon passengers to be mindful of standing behind the yellow warning line on train platforms to ensure safety Foreign minister says revisions to Taiwan Relations Act unnecessary Scholar recommends changes to Taiwan Relations Act to enhance US security commitment President praises Taiwan Relations Act on 45th anniversary TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The New Taipei City Government approved the bid for the "Banqiao Station New Entrance Project" on Friday (March 14) which aims to improve the transfer system between the Circular Line Banqiao Station (環狀線板橋站) and other major rail lines located at East Gate 1 of Banqiao Train Station (板橋火車站) will reduce transfer times from 12 minutes to just five.Passengers currently face a complex transfer process between the Banqiao Station (板橋站) on the Bannan Line (板南線) and the Circular Line which involves multiple routes and a 20-minute transfer fare integration This upgrade will benefit around 30,000 passengers daily New Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems Director Lee Cheng-an (李政安) emphasized the importance of this project highlighting the high daily passenger flow and the need to enhance service efficiency by adding a second entrance 公司介紹 人才招募 節目表 主播專區 企業動態 更正與澄清 新聞自律規範 隱私權政策 網站使用協定 版權宣告 業務服務 節目版權銷售 公開招標 頂尖事務所 官方聲明 性騷擾防治措施 本網站使用Cookies以便為你提供更優質的使用體驗，若您點選下方"我同意"或繼續瀏覽本網站，即表示您同意我們的Cookies政策，欲瞭解更多資訊請見隱私權政策 Global Times senior reporter, mainly covers the reporting of movies, TV, music and culture news. Promotional material for Zheng Banqiao Photo: Courtesy of Yangzhou Opera Research Institute The Lhasa Shoton Festival kicked off in Lhasa, the Xizang Autonomous Region, on August 16, 2023. During the ... Kunqu Opera artists stage flash mob performances in Paris China’s first-ever 8K panoramic sound Kunqu Opera film The Handan Dream was screened in Shanghai on Tuesday as ... Met exhibition shows how famed Chinese artists used depictions of the natural world to comment on society, Zhao Xu reports in New York. In 1753, 60-year-old Zheng Xie (Zheng Banqiao) left behind his life as a county magistrate once and for all, to engage solely with painting and poetry, and a close-knit circle of like-minded friends known today as the "eight eccentrics of Yangzhou". Yangzhou was an affluent eastern Chinese city and haven to scholars, painters and calligraphers, disenchanted or not. The decision was voluntarily and involuntarily taken: voluntarily because Zheng had helped to seal his own fate as a court official by openly disobeying his superior; involuntarily because Zheng, who had spent the first 43 years of his life trying to pass the examinations needed to enter imperial officialdom, was left with no choice — to concur with his superior would mean to close the county granary to starving villagers at a time of great famine. Zheng, who once wrote that "the rustling of the bamboo leaves outside my abode reminds me of the grunting and groaning of the destitute and the downtrodden", chose to listen to that sound, one that resonated deeply with him. Before departing, he painted a few stems of "skinny" bamboo "for use as fishing poles over wind-ruffled water", according to his own inscription. If anything, the bamboo rustling proved to Zheng that integrity was vital. This belief is evident in many of his works, including one recently on display at an exhibition, titled Noble Virtues: Nature as Symbol in Chinese Art, at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. In his own inscription, the painter-calligrapher described his work as a "portrait" for a friend who, like the bamboo, harbored the same "hollowed heart", one that's unclogged by worldly pursuits. One cannot help but think that the 49-year-old Zheng was also creating his self-portrait, at a time when many of the trials and tribulations of his life lay ahead. "When the painting was done in 1742, Zheng was in Beijing, capital of the Qing empire (1644-1911), socializing with members of an elite, literary class, many of whom were scholar-officials," says Joseph Scheier-Dolberg, the show's curator. Complete disillusionment would not come until a decade later, but the man had already matured as an artist. With his "economical, almost strategic" application of ink — to quote Dolberg, Zheng conjured up orchid flowers complete with pistils and stamens, with just a few strokes and dabs. The orchids' slender leaves echo the spindly stalks of the bamboo, and both find company in rocks, a symbol of constancy in the artistic language of ancient China. While Zheng's work exudes tranquillity, elsewhere the bamboos are subjected to wind and rain, with wispy tendrils swept up or leaves soaked and heavy. MaoHaus Interior. Image © Xia ZhiMaoHaus seeks to explore various elements of deign within a singular expression. Looking to new material innovation the façade pushes the limits of what may be achieved from seemingly conventional architectural materials. Seeking a multifaceted design, MaoHaus exists as a synthesis of material properties, customized computational tooling and generation with historical reference, context and expression.  MaoHaus Site. Image © Xia ZhiOriginally published on January 05 You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email 26383TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The New Taipei 2023 Christmasland in Banqiao District is officially slated to kick off on Nov The New Taipei City Government on Oct. 27 confirmed that the opening date for the 2023 Christmasland festival is Nov 17 and it will run for 46 consecutive days This year's theme will revolve around Santa Bear mascot and his friends Robbie Rabbit Light displays will be set up at locations such as the New Taipei City Hall Square the square in front of Banqiao Railway Station The creation of a canopy-style Christmas tree that transforms into a matcha Christmas tree cake is particularly notable It will be surrounded by colorful dessert cakes and layered lighting designs resembling the decoration of a cake with frosting creating a "romantic atmosphere" that will fill New Taipei City At the press conference for this year's event Santa Bear and his five friends unveiled information about the series of activities that will be held in the coming weeks and provided details about the themed lighting zones and light corridor installations These include the City Hall Square's "Sweet Xmas Party" lighting zone featuring scenes with giant gift box decorations in "Chocolate Mouse's Ode to Joy" and the joyful playful atmosphere of the "Santa Bear FUN Park." Sant Bear Fun Park in Sweet Xmas Party light zone In the Banqiao Railway Station square's "Sweets Town," there will be installations of fondant macarons and whimsical dessert-shaped art installations In Wanping Park's "Lan Lan Lan Cat Sweet Xmas Party" lighting zone there will be "joyful and heartwarming" Lan Lan Lan Cat-themed Christmas decorations In Fuzhong Plaza's "Gingerbread World" lighting zone the "only giant gingerbread man in Taiwan" will be featured to create a unique winter Christmas world Gingerbread World light district includes largest gingerbread man in Taiwan Organizers said this year's light corridors will be "even more dazzling and captivating in 2023!" They include the Milky Way Corridor Locations: New Taipei City Hall SquareSquare in front of Banqiao Railway StationWanping ParkFuzhong Plaza For more information, please visit the official Christmasland website 460TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei City's annual Christmasland will light up tonight (Nov 15) in New Taipei City Plaza and for the rest of the holiday season will include lights shows The festival in New Taipei City's Banqiao District will run this year from Nov according to the New Taipei City Government This year's visual feast will feature laser light displays beamed onto an area of 8,800 square meters that covers Banqiao Station and New Taipei City Hall The projection space will be the annual event's largest ever The city government will also decorate the eight overpasses around the city hall with attractive lights In addition to the opening ceremony on Nov other highlights include a children's carnival from Nov and a "Superstar Concert" to be held Dec The carnival will feature a rotating teacup ride and merry-go-round in the area around New Taipei City Plaza and a Christmas Eve party will take place on Dec The main light show will run from 5:30 p.m there will be interactive artistic gadgets a "forest mini train," and a Miravivi Christmas gift house at Banqiao Station Plaza The New Taipei Christmasland gala is the largest annual Christmas event in Taiwan and was listed in 2018 by Hankyu Travel International Co. as the top overseas Christmas travel destination in the world Video promoting Christmasland from @ntctour Facebook page: Park at Civic Plaza of New Taipei City Underground Parking Lot (NT$30 per hour) Banqiao Train Station Underground Parking Lot (NT$40 per hour) or Te Zhuan San Outdoor Parking Lot (NT$20 per hour for weekdays The underground parking lot of the city hall is not open for parking For more information, visit the New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Department website, the official Christmasland website, or the Christmasland Facebook page Christopher C. Burt  ·  May 30 The list uses the highest estimate for the Banqiao Dam disaster.The Banquao Dam was constructed with the help of Soviet consultants in 1951 as a project to control flooding and generate electricity It was designed to survive a “once in 1000 years” return rainfall event (the area normally receives about 1000mm/40” of rainfall a year) which was calculated as being 300 mm (11.81”) of rainfall over 24 hours that much rain fell in just two hours during the 1975 storm with following maximum point rainfalls measured: 189.5 mm (7.46”) in 1 hour494.6 mm (19.47”) in 3 hours830.0 mm (32.68”) in 6 hours (world record)954.4 mm (37.57”) in 12 hours1060 mm (41.73”) in 24 hours1629 mm (64.13”) in 3 days and some details were considered classified information until the year 2005 This is the reason that so few people understood the true nature of the calamity until just recently One of the most critical issues facing hydrologists and engineers is calculating what the “worst case” scenario might be in terms of rainfall when they are tasked with the construction of dams and other infrastructure projects In general they want to know what the heaviest rainfall for specific periods of time might be over the course of the projected life of the structure(s) if the dam is expected to stand without reconstruction for 100 or 200 years then they must know what the maximum amount of rain might be in a “once in a 100- or  200-year” storm These time spans are often called return periods or recurrence intervals; they are meant to convey probabilities and not to imply that such rains would be guaranteed to occur in those time frames the Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center at the NOAA/NWS Office of Water Prediction publishes tables of extreme maximum point precipitation totals for various time periods for both the U.S Below is the latest incarnation of those tables (which are being updated at this time):  This has recently been a controversial subject with many scientists attributing global warming with increased precipitation rates and consequent flooding events several “once in 100 or 500 year” precipitation events have occurred in the same area (i.e Maryland) in just the span of a decade or so There are clear signs of a nationwide increase in extreme rainfall events. Chapter 7 of the 2017 USGCRP Climate Science Special Report "Precipitation Change in the United States" "Analyses of precipitation extreme changes over the United States by region (20-year return values of seasonal daily precipitation over 1948–2015 Figure 7.2) show statistically significant increases consistent with theoretical expectations and previous analyses a significant increase in the area affected by precipitation extremes over North America has also been detected There is likely an anthropogenic influence on the upward trend in heavy precipitation although models underestimate the magnitude of the trend." 7.3) illustrates the incidence of 2-day precipitation events in the U.S that exceed their 5-year recurrence intervals and how this has dramatically increased since the 1990s: Should this trend continue, we may expect to see more extreme rainfall events occurring as time goes by. As the above report stated in its Key Findings section for U.S. precipitation change: “Heavy precipitation events in most parts of the United States have increased in both intensity and frequency since 1901 (high confidence) There are important regional differences in trends with the largest increases occurring in the northeastern United States (high confidence) mesoscale convective systems (organized clusters of thunderstorms)—the main mechanism for warm season precipitation in the central part of the United States—have increased in occurrence and precipitation amounts since 1979 (medium confidence).” The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news the environment and the importance of science to our lives This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company Burt is the author of "Extreme Weather; A Guide and Record Book." He studied meteorology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison emailccburt@earthlink.net We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good We may use or share your data with our data vendors © Copyright TWC Product and Technology LLC 2014 It’s one of the deadliest structural failures you’ve never heard of. While HBO’s Chernobyl is gaining plaudits for its detailed depiction of the worst nuclear accident in history, China’s Banqiao Dam Disaster has only a few CCTV documentaries to its name few outside of Henan province remember the 1975 incident which occurred just a decade before the infamous Reactor 4 meltdown in Pripyat the Cultural Revolution had isolated China from the world’s gaze the death tolls from disasters were treated as state secrets The 150-foot Banqiao Dam was completed in 1952 near the city of Zhumadian. It had been intended to “Harness the Huai River,” according to a decreed by Mao Zedong, and bring better flood protection to a region long known for deadly inundations and grinding poverty the so-called “Iron Dam” was considered a miracle of Communist engineering Chinese-built hydroelectric project built fit to survive a typhoon A 2010 dam burst submerged homes near Dexing, Jiangxi province (VCG) the project was dogged with problems and safety concerns; cracks appeared The dam was equipped with only five sluice gates Leading hydrologist Chen Xing had criticized that design as well as other designs he’d helped oversee He’d begun to fear that dams were raising Henan’s water table to dangerous levels Chen would be the equivalent of Chernobyl’s defeated protagonist Valery Legasov who was labeled a “rightist opportunist” over his criticisms about safety and saw his career stall only to have his fears confirmed in the worst way possible.) penning verses on their capacity for subjugating nature to humanity’s will (“Walls of stone will stand upstream to the west …The mountain goddess if she is still there/ Will marvel at a world so changed,” goes one) The construction of hundreds of dams was ordered across the country Mao’s attentions had been distracted by power struggles within the Party which had been battering the coast of Taiwan eventually settling over the Huai River Basin it had poured a year’s worth of rain in under 24 hours onto Zhumadian an area with a population of 7 million—a 2,000-year record The “days were like nights as rain fell like arrows,” survivors later recalled “The mountains were covered all over by dead sparrows.” Before communication lines were knocked out the authorities had instructed Banqiao not to leave its sluice gates fully open to prevent further flooding downstream By the time the panicked crew hurried to disobey the order waters were lapping at the top of the Iron Dam faster than it could drain When the skies miraculously cleared at 1 a.m. frenziedly stacking sandbags amidst the worst weather in centuries briefly imagined they might be saved: storm clouds rolled back; stars emerged; there were excited shouts that the waters were retreating a sound “like the sky was collapsing and the earth was cracking”: “The River Dragon has come!” someone is supposed to have cried about 280,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools Whole towns were demolished; 85,000 died instantly there was no chance of warnings or evacuation further down the line either the floodwaters took out a further 61 dams in quick succession more than a million remained stranded in the disaster zone Dike maintenance had been neglected during the Cultural Revolution and there was nowhere for the water to drain survivors who’d clung to trees or rooftops were forced to eat leaves and livestock carcasses Famine and plague claimed tens of thousands more than the original domino-like disaster it left behind thousands of rotting corpses in the summer heat Heavy storms caused another dam burst in Xianning The “Zhumadian Reservoir Dam Break Incident” (驻马店水库溃坝事件) also known as the “758 Incident” (referring to its occurrence in August 1975) received little coverage at the time; it wasn’t for another thirty years that the topic would be considered suitable for discussion “Floods and drought are a fact of life for much of China,” the People’s Daily noted in 2005 adding that “Chinese should be prepared for any devastating floods in the future.” Cover photo of the Three Gorges Dam testing its sluice gates from VCG Photos and voices from the people living through catastrophic floods central China and water park makes waves—it’s Viral Week Thirteen new electric buses will join New Taipei City’s public transportation fleet tomorrow plying route 857 between Banqiao and Tamsui districts Sanchung Bus Company said that 13 buses on the company’s cross-district trunk line will be replaced by Foxtron Model T electric buses. The Taiwan designed and manufactured buses were first launched in Kaohsiung City in March last year The 857 route will be the first time the Model T is used in northern Taiwan The Model T has a range of 240 kilometers and is equipped with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that can detect the distance of other vehicles and detect lane deviation and improper driving behaviors The 13 buses will increase the fleet of electric buses in Taipei/New Taipei City to 177 vehicles Another 35 electric buses are expected to be added by the end of this year with the goal of having 100% electric buses by 2030 The 857 route passes through 7 districts of New Taipei City – Tamsui carrying around 400,000 passengers per month Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. this site is affected by big-tech/social media censorship Get Instant notification of latest news by email Taiwan English News is published by Phillip Charlier who is based in New Taipei City, Taiwan. If you have news tips or issues you want covered: Let me know Will offer clouds and colocation services to business customers The Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation (TSEC) has opened a new data center to ensure security and reliability of financial transactions The facility in Banqiao District was under construction for nearly three years and comprises a total of ten floors: seven above ground and three underground It has already started offering cloud and colocation services to the country’s largest businesses TSEC calls the facility “world-class” and says it has been equipped with advanced disaster recovery functionality the data center has been certified to TIA-942 – a standard developed by the Telecommunications Industry Association that includes guidelines for planning and building data centers particularly with regard to cabling systems and network design The Taiwan Stock Exchange broke ground on its latest data center in 2013 aiming to considerably modernize its IT estate The facility is located in a newly built data center park in Banqiao in Taipei’s technology corridor which enjoys strong connectivity and is already home to a number of technology companies The data center was built in cooperation with Chunghwa Telecom with two independent electricity feeds provided by Taiwan Power Co and has been designed to withstand flooding The TSE will share the data center with the Taipei Exchange which operates the local over-the-counter market Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia Christmasland (New Taipei City Government photo) 977TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei City's annual Christmasland light show will light up on Friday (Nov 15) in New Taipei City Plaza and include light shows "Icicle Light Corridor" (New Taipei City Government photo) and a "Superstar Concert" to be held on Dec The carnival includes a rotating teacup ride and merry-go-round in the area around New Taipei City Plaza while a Christmas Eve party will be held on Dec "Purple Gold Light Corridor" (New Taipei City Government photo) "Purple Love Light Corridor" (New Taipei City Government photo) "Forrest Bath" (New Taipei City Government photo) "Magic Gingerbread House" (New Taipei City Government photo) Overhead view of Christmasland (New Taipei City Government photo) Video by New Taipei City Government promoting the event: For more information visit the Taiwan Tourism Bureau website, or the event's official Facebook page please first agree to the privacy policy below.Starting from the new school semester in September male students in New Taipei's Banqiao Senior High School (板橋高中) will be allowed to wear skirts to school You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed A dispute between two factions of the Bamboo Union saw 11 shots fired in anger in Banqiao District yesterday and 42 shots blasted into a pawn shop door using a submachine gun in Tucheng District this morning In the early hours of the morning Wednesday and Wu fired several shots at Hsu’s car driving with a flat tire until he reached Huajiang Bridge Hsu then called a tow truck to take him and his car to a location on Wenhua Road in Banqiao District Wu went to the Banqiao Police Station and turned himself in surrendering two modified pistols and six rounds of ammunition Wu had fired at least 11 shots in the two incidents Police suspect that the shooting was related to a debt dispute with the disputing parties belonging to the Hongren and Mingren societies of the Bamboo Union At around 8:00 am this morning a man was seen getting out of a taxi on Sichuan Road in Tucheng District In broad daylight and in front of stunned bystanders then went to nearby Daguan Police Station and turned himself in with the weapon In a common modus operandi of criminal gangs in Taiwan both shooting cases involved underaged gunmen and the suspects will be charged as minors Police in Taipei City and New Taipei City have formed a joint task force to investigate the crimes and the “behind the scenes instigators.” The legitimate criminals are making sure you are up to date with your vaccinations from authorized drug companies Disney+ theme projection mapping show turns into popular attraction in New Taipei City the 2022 Christmasland in New Taipei City officially lit up the nighttime sky on November 11 As Disney+ theme animated projections glamorously announced the start of the extravaganza eventgoers and visitors snapped photos of adorable characters and scenes from Disney content at the New Taipei City Hall This year’s event has been boosted to a new level with installments inspired by characters and scenes from Disney content which are on show at the two main illumination zones  Main areas including “Snow Town” (New Taipei City Plaza) “Silver White Forest” (Banqiao Station Square) “Pixar Classics” (Wanping Park) are in the Xinban Illumination Zone.  “National Geographic Polar Area” (Fuzhong Shopping Area) is located in the Fuzhong Illumination Zone In addition to over 45 illumination installations and corridors the splendid aurora and romantic snowflakes will surely create a lasting memory Come and be part of an overnight social-media sensation New Taipei City Plaza: Snow Town with White Romance The statue of Olaf from Frozen is now smiling at every fun-seeker and waving his hands at the centerpiece white Christmas tree in “Snow Town.” The well-known landmark Bamboo Shoot in New Taipei City Plaza is now decorated as a vibrant Christmas tree eventgoers can gaze at the magnificent projection mapping show on the wall of New Taipei City Hall that depicts a lively and joyous Christmas scene A huge Christmas tree with fabulous illumination installations has been erected in the city hall foyer to create the wonderful scene of a fairytale forest Statues of Mickey and Minnie have also been installed in the forest in witty and lively poses to invite everybody to have fun at “Mickey’s Snowy Forest.” Disney fans cannot miss the New Taipei City Plaza where the “Disney Ice Party” pop-up store offers popular Marvel and Star Wars merchandise Walk into the junction of Zhongshan Road and Xinfu Road next to the New Taipei City Plaza and meet the installment of the Marvel character Groot.  Adorable Groot wears a gigantic attention-seeking headset with dazzling neon lights which change color to the beat of music warming the hearts of visitors of all ages Four pavements surrounding the city hall square have been designated as the “Mickey Light Zone” with bright images of Mickey the “Minnie Light Zone” which features numerous Minnies shining in flower petal pink the “Marvel Light Zone” which spreads the power of glittering superheroes and the fairytale “Ice Crystal Boulevard” inspired by the movie Frozen.  The lane is decorated as an ice crystal world for eventgoers to experience the charm of a silvery Christmas In addition to the “Ice Palace Merry-Go-Round” that drives children crazy unprecedentedly the “Igloo Snow Pool” brings even more thrills to Christmasland The igloo-style building is filled with fun and artificial snow to accommodate up to 12 persons - a wonderful attraction offering an exquisite backdrop for photos the sobering cold will take you right into an imaginative winter fantasy Simply put on your down jacket and snap a shot in the snow scene as if you were in the Antarctic Banqiao Station Square: Silver White Forest in Scandinavian Vibe The “Silver White Forest” in Banqiao Station Square beckons visitors to the illumination zone with thousands of snow-white bulbs covered head-to-toe with silver balls and a smiling Santa welcomes all eventgoers to join this exciting party Radiant “Crystal Sphere Igloo” is also nearby and greets visitors with below-zero temperature and a romantic snow-white winter scene huts in the snow are the homes for a lovely family of snowmen The draping of Christmas string lights comforts visitors like shining polar stars in the winter sky The installation “Ice Floe Hut” projects fine ambient light for the endearing polar bears and “Polar Light” breathes life into the romantic starry night sky over Taipei Also in Banqiao Station Square are the long-awaited free carnival rides including “Adventure Car” and “Wonder Train,” bringing children the most joyful adventure this winter (Please note that both carnival rides are designed for children under 12 and those under 100cm must be accompanied by their parents.) the Circular Line Illumination Zone “Glitzy Expectation” boasts a design inspired by snowflakes Just walk up the stairs by the square and be embraced by gorgeously beaming snowflakes Walk under the piers of the Taipei Metro Circular Line along Wenhua Road and bathe in lights and snowflakes.  Dubbed as “Beauty Dropping Like Petals,” rays shine elegantly like ice columns and light up your journey through this beautiful city From the “Silver White Forest” in Banqiao Station Square to Wanping Park installments inspired by popular Pixar classics including Inside Out are in the area for all visitors to take photos and enjoy the festive vibes Each dazzling installation has become a popular attraction Come and be refreshed by the touching and joyful moments with “Pixar classics.” Snap a shot with your favorite characters to make memories that will continue to melt your heart for years to come The “Pixar Pop-up Store,” hidden in a gigantic toy box offers a range of Pixar merchandise for you to enjoy a shopping spree Must-Visit Spots for Influencers: Christmas Stunning Light Corridors The Christmas Stunning Light Corridors at Christmasland in New Taipei City is a Mecca for all visitors every year the “Force Corridor” inspired by Star Wars displays different colors on the Libao Footbridge The “Galaxy Corridor” is decorated with dazzling silvery stars on Libao Footbridge over Xianmin Boulevard Snowflakes float over “Snowflake Corridor” on the Mega Tower Skywalk while the “Polar Corridor” is lit up by dazzling aurora in multiple colors on the Banqiao Station Footbridge “Dazzling Corridor” on the Xinfu Footbridge and kaleidoscope-like “Dreamy Corridor” on the Banqiao Station Footbridge will surely make your visit worthwhile the “Gem Corridor” on the FE21’ Footbridge is now beaming with vibrant lights Each unique installation renders Christmasland in New Taipei City more splendid and magnificent bring your cameras and imprint these holiday scenes forever in your memory Fuzhong Shopping Area: Raising Environmental Awareness with “National Geographic Polar Area” In addition to the Xinban Illumination Zone the “National Geographic Polar Area” illumination zone is also situated in Fuzhong Embark on a National Geographic polar exploration just outside the entrance of the Taipei Metro Fuzhong Station The reunion scene of the “Polar Bear” family will surely kindle a sense of bliss for Christmas Air-film structured “Iceberg” allows visitors to experience below-zero temperatures in subtropical Taiwan while the “Snow Land” installation integrates the AI data of New Taipei City and transforms it into an artistic media show The “Arctic Ocean” installation simulates the grandeur of the Arctic Ocean take a stroll among the glamorous Arctic scenery the rays and beams from illumination installations create an Arctic starry sky to exhibit different charms of Fuzhong visitors and residents may also reflect on what we should do to preserve our living environment “Xmas New Taipei Have Fun” in Banqiao Very Hot Zone brings together two innovative tourism brands “Route 2 Taiwan” and “Danlan Historic Trail,” for visitors to take a photo with the mascot Santa Bear Family Step into the tunnel-style installation and immerse yourself in an imaginary world with interactive sensory devices Indulge in the fun exclusively for winter 2022 More information about “2022 Christmasland in New Taipei City” is available on the New Taipei City Travel website and the New Taipei City Travel Facebook Fan Club To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible 5873TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC) is not only providing mass transportation services in the Greater Taipei area but it is also delving into the fitness business by creating Taiwan’s first metro table tennis center at one of its stations Taipei MRT’s Metro Table Tennis Space, located at Banqiao Station, began operation on Friday (Sept. 9), and it is open daily from 8 a.m.-10 p.m., TRTC said in a press release The fee for playing there is NT$100 per hour for customers who make reservations online and NT$200 per hour for those who purchase tickets at the information desk of Taipei MRT Banqiao Station People who participate in the long-term rental program can enjoy a 28% fee discount and unlimited hours of playing adding that the long-term rental tailors to the needs of table tennis athletes and table tennis club members who need to practice often or hold table tennis competitions There are 10 tables at the Metro Table Tennis Space and the floor is made of impact-absorbent exercise mats when the table tennis center began trial operations the average service rate has been as high as 70%.Noting that the table tennis center is busier during weekends and national holidays TRTC recommended that the public come to play on weekdays For related information, call the TRTC 24-hour customer service hotline at 02-218-12345 or the 1999 Citizen Hotline, or visit the company’s website Taiwan table tennis player Tian Shiau-wen takes 2 medals at Paris Paralympics Taiwan women's table tennis team advances to Olympic quarterfinals Paris Olympics tennis table draw reveals Taiwan players’ matchups Taiwan table tennis mixed doubles to attend Paris Olympics 10563TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei’s annual Christmasland lit up Banqiao District on Friday evening (Nov delighting crowds eager to experience the festive atmosphere and get a look at this year’s light display Located at Citizen’s Square in front of the New Taipei City Hall the 2022 Christmasland display will be open for the public to enjoy until Jan Each weekend there are activities and performances for families to enjoy the holiday season This year’s Christmasland features an abundance of characters licensed from Disney including classic characters like Mickey and Minnie as well as modern characters from Pixar Studios Before the opening ceremony on Friday evening, New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) had officially taken the day off to take care of election related matters, reported UDN Responsibility for overseeing the launch of Christmasland was left to Deputy Mayor Chen Chwen-jing (陳純敬) it was quickly discovered by visitors that Mayor Hou was present for the ceremony and was enjoying the event as a regular New Taipei resident The entire Christmasland venue is divided into different stations and situated around the “Snow White City” and a giant white Christmas tree at the center of the plaza The eight pedestrian overpasses around New Taipei Citizen’s Square are also decorated with colorful lights providing an excellent landscape for guests to take photos for social media New Taipei’s Tamsui to host fireworks on August 11 New Taipei’s Hohaiyan Rock Festival takes place this weekend 1773TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A cat ran away from a home in New Taipei’s Banqiao District and was brought by someone to a police precinct on Wednesday evening (Feb The individual who brought the cat to the police precinct said it was found on their balcony on Banqiao’s Mingchuan Street. The cat was suspected of leaving its home through a window and becoming lost, per CTS. Police fed it canned food and took turns petting and posing with the affectionate feline Police posted photos to the precinct's Facebook page very heavy." The social media post aroused much attention with more than 20 people offering to adopt the lost cat The cat was later turned over to the Banqiao District Animal Shelter, where workers said the probability of lost cats being returned to owners is usually quite low.  and an arrangement was made for the cat to return home on Thursday (Feb Yunlin launch Taiwan National Day fireworks Taoyuan unveils Taiwan National Day pedestrian signals Flooding shown at Kaohsiung's Museum of Fine Arts area red sunsets over Taipei before Typhoon Krathon Feature photo: Legend of the Taiwan Bunun tribe sun shooting statue Feature photo: EVA Air jet flies past Taipei 101 17786TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The New Taipei 2022 Christmasland in Banqiao District, which will be held from Nov. 11 until Jan. 2, is sure to spread Christmas cheer among visitors, New Taipei Tourism and Travel Department announced in a press release on Friday (Oct This year’s event will feature fake snowfall events to recreate a white Christmas and Disney character artwork installations There will also be an abundance of activities including carnival parties for kids on Nov “white parties” at the Fuzhong business area on Nov and star-studded Christmas concerts on Dec there will be an igloo snow pool for the first time At a press conference to announce the event on Friday New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said that Christmasland activities have won accolades domestically and abroad in the past and this year’s event will make visitors feel like they are in the middle of a "white castle," per the release Christmasland has the country’s largest light projection show each year and this year’s show at Banqiao's Citizens Square will have a Disney+ theme and display the Northern Lights for the first time The main light show will come on every half-hour from 5:30 -10 p.m A merry-go-round will be put in place at Citizens Square to provide free entertainment There are double light display areas this year at Christmasland and the Fuzhong business area Olaf from the Disney movie "Frozen" will be featured on the main Christmas tree at Christmasland The plaza in front of Banqiao Station will feature Disney+ scenes and there will be free entertainment while the Fuzhong area will feature polar landscapes The city government will also decorate the eight overpasses around city hall with colorful lights For more information, please visit the event's website High speed rail plans free tickets to attract visitors to central and south Taiwan Taipei and Taoyuan MRT to launch joint ticket with Japan’s Keisei railway Taiwan sees 5 million international visitors as of August Tainan plans cable car project in Hu Tou Pei Scenic Area Tourists visit Daylily Mountain in eastern Taiwan Taiwan Taoyuan airport passengers reach 90% of pre-COVID levels Department of Rapid Transit Systems says 11 displacements must be repaired Track on Circular Line seen badly bent after magnitude 7.2 quake (New Taipei City Government Department of Rapid Transit Systems photo) 7211TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Circular Line will require one year and cost NT$400 million (US$12.3 million) to repair damage from April's massive earthquake.  New Taipei City Government Department of Rapid Transit Systems announced it would cost NT$400 million to fix 11 track displacements or a special type of bridge bearing made of steel and rubber to withstand large loads head of New Taipei's Department of Rapid Transit Systems said the design team has conducted six simulations to understand how the structures would hold up during quakes They recommended using the maximum expected force for strengthening the design.  Lee said the department provided construction companies with analysis for constructing the platforms contractors will manufacture 11 pot bearings The repair expenses will be covered by the city's disaster preparedness fund Before the Circular Line resumes full operation shuttle bus services between Banqiao and Zhonghe stations will continue Police deny slow start to search for missing German professor in Taiwan High school student 18th death from Taiwan's 7.2 quake Featured photo: Buddha statue loses head in Taiwan quake New Taipei MRT Circular Line quake recovery period estimated to be 1 year April 3 Hualien quake had power of 39 atomic bombs Number of buildings damaged by spate of east Taiwan quakes rises to 4 26620TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A young woman waiting at a bus stop in New Taipei City was struck by an air conditioner that fell from the 17th floor of a building on Thursday (July 20) and died from her wounds despite emergency treatment The incident occurred at a bus stop near Exit 2 of the Xinpu MRT station on Minsheng Road in Banqiao District shortly after 1 p.m., reported UDN suffered a large gash on her head and broken legs and she was unresponsive when she was transported to the emergency room at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital.After Huang was struck her older sister who was with her contacted police and firefighters at 1:11 p.m Despite initially showing signs of life and receiving emergency treatment from several bystanders who were also nurses Huang was declared dead about an hour later by doctors at the hospital The 30-kilogram AC unit that struck the woman was reportedly installed by a single worker on a floor that is undergoing renovation. The worker had allegedly just fastened the unit to the window frame, but it was not securely installed and fell to the street soon after it was let go of, reported TVBS.Officers are investigating the scene and circumstances to determine how the incident occurred has been taken to the local police station for questioning and has reportedly accepted responsibility for Huang's death 4510TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Mega City department store in New Taipei City’s Banqiao District was closed Saturday (Aug 28) after an employee tested positive for COVID-19 The New Taipei City Government was conducting an investigation. However, the individual had not been confirmed as a COVID case by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), CNA reported A PCR test she applied for of her own accord turned out positive the large shopping center near Banqiao’s Mass Rapid Transit high speed rail and train station decided to close down Saturday for disinfection More than 1,500 employees were called up to undergo quick COVID testing, while the mall could only reopen on Sunday (Aug. 29) if the tests could be completed in time and no positive test results were found, a report said several department stores and shopping malls across the Taipei region have been hit by COVID transmissions with sales assistants most often infected. Mega City forms part of the Far Eastern Group which also manages Sogo and Far Eastern department stores Taiwan High Speed Rail on track to break yearly passenger record New Taipei hosts 'Super Star Christmas Concerts' Creative teppanyaki delights at upscale restaurant in New Taipei   At the forefront of modernity: Department stores of the 1930s 7338TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A hotpot restaurant in New Taipei faces a fine of between NT$60,000 (US$1,900) and NT$200 million if it fails to pass inspection this week following an incident when a rat fell onto a customer's plate On Sunday (Nov. 26), a woman posted about the incident on the Facebook page “I am a Banqiao resident” (我是板橋人) where she had taken her friends from Taichung to eat at Chien Tu Shabu Shabu Hotpot Restaurant’s Shuangshi B branch in Banqiao District She and her friends were so shocked they immediately left the restaurant She said many customers were still waiting in line outside (Facebook page "I am a Banqiao resident" photo) The diner said other guests appeared unphased by the incident and continued to eat She was bewildered at how people could continue to have an appetite after the massive rat appeared Later that day, the restaurant issued an apology for the disturbance and said operations had been suspended for two days, reported Mirror Media It said a professional cleaning company had been hired to disinfect the restaurant The hotpot chain said that over its 27 years of operation it has placed great importance on cleanliness it said that recent disinfection work around the ground floor perimeter may have led rodents to seek refuge inside the ceiling It apologized for "causing a panic among customers." It vowed to conduct an internal review and thoroughly clean the restaurant to provide customers with a "dining environment in which they can feel at ease." The New Taipei City Department of Health inspected the premises based on the Regulations on Good Hygiene Practices for Food (食品衛生良好規範準則), reported China Times Inspectors found that the restaurant had hygiene deficiencies such as failing to implement vector prevention and control at the kitchen's back door and failing to cover trash cans The health department ordered the restaurant to make improvements within a time limit If the restaurant fails follow-up inspections a fine of between NT$60,000 and NT$200 million will be imposed