Taiwan: National Day celebrations to take place islandwide Oct. 10

Event

Taiwan's government will celebrate National Day Oct. 10. Official celebrations will take place in Taipei's Zhongzheng District and Chiayi County. In Taipei, morning events include the annual National Day Parade and President Tsai Ing-wen's address in front of the Presidential Office building. Other official events will occur near the National Palace Museum's southern branch in Chiayi County. Thousands of people will likely travel to the area to witness a planned fireworks display from 20:00.

Officials will almost certainly close roads near the ceremony sites to facilitate installations and rehearsals in the run-up to the events. Tight security is likely near official events in Taipei during the celebration. Large crowds are highly likely to trigger localized transport delays in Zhongzheng District, Taipei, and near the fireworks display in Chiayi County.

Millions of people typically travel during the holiday period; trips could begin from Oct. 7 and continue through Oct. 11. Significant delays are likely on national highways, such as Freeway 1 (Sun Yat-sen Freeway), Freeway 3 (Formosa Freeway), and Freeway 5 (Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway). Authorities typically increase bus and train services; regardless, high demand for transport is likely.

Advice

Consider minimizing unnecessary long-distance trips during the holiday period. Confirm reservations, especially if traveling to Chiayi County. Regional airports, train stations, and bus terminals will be unusually crowded; allow considerable extra travel time due to volume delays at check-in counters and security checkpoints. If road travel is necessary, drive defensively, as heavy traffic is likely on main highways.

Resources

Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau
Taiwan Railways Administration
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport