Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

On March 27, Mayor Chiang Wan-an attended the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei Volunteers Appreciation Dinner. He noted that the event is Taiwan’s first major iconic festivity to be held in the post-pandemic era. It allowed many international visitors to experience the warm hospitality of locals and enjoy the beauty of the city.

He pointed out that over 2,200 volunteers helped support the day-to-day aspects of the lantern event. The volunteers hail from different backgrounds: students, senior citizens, expats, disabled individuals and more. All of them took part in basic training and specialized training courses. The dedication of the volunteers is impressive and requires much effort. 

There are a number of mission-based volunteer squads for this year’s Taiwan Lantern Festival. Some of the teams include general affairs, events, logistics, crowd flow, and guide. Likewise, there are also expats who volunteer and provide services such as interpretation and sign language for visitors. 

The mayor recalled that he visited the lantern festival with his wife. His wife reminded him to wear a cap, a face mask, and glasses so people will not recognize him. After disembarking from the MRT, they took a short walk and visited a service station on Guangfu South Road. At the booth, they were greeted by a volunteer, who asked them if they need any assistance. He received instructions on how to get to the venue at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, and the volunteer reminded him that he can win a pack of snacks by scanning a QR code for one of the related activities. 

Citing this encounter, Chiang said he is impressed on how proactive the volunteers are in helping visitors. He praised the success of this year’s Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei and attributed it to effort from many people – especially the volunteers who provide major support and assistance. 

Chiang pointed out that the city government will continue to organize major international events in the future. Citing the upcoming 2025 World Masters Games as an example, he remarked that there will be over 40,000 visitors from 110 countries around the world visiting Taipei. The event will be another important opportunity for Taipei to shine in the spotlights again.