TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei Water Dance Festival opened over the weekend with a water, light, and fireworks display at Rainbow Bridge, which spans the Keelung River in Taipei’s Songshan District.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and other guests launched the first performance at the opening ceremony. The show features a water curtain serving as a screen for projected lights and lasers, creating the image of a fire-breathing dragon, per a press release.
The nightly performances are accompanied by low- to mid-altitude fireworks and music, including selections from the musical “The Phantom of the Opera.” The display combines water, fire, light, and shadow effects along the Keelung River waterfront.
In remarks at the ceremony, Chiang welcomed the festival’s third year and said the event has attracted more than 1 million visitors over the past two years. He said the festival has boosted tourism and economic activity in the Songshan and Neihu districts while creating memorable experiences for residents and visitors.
The Taipei City Government said the festival was created to encourage residents to engage with the city’s waterfront areas. Officials said they will continue efforts to develop Taipei as a water-friendly city and improve viewing facilities around Xikou Wharf to enhance the visitor experience.
Chiang encouraged visitors to use public transportation and suggested combining a visit to Ciyou Temple and Raohe Night Market with the water dance performances at Rainbow Bridge. According to Taipei’s Department of Information and Tourism, this year’s festival will feature a mix of classical and popular music, per a press release.
The festival also introduces an interactive installation called the “Piano Fountain.” Visitors can play notes by stepping on a large piano keyboard, triggering synchronized fountain displays. The attraction is open daily from 6:45 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. and from 7:45 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.
The Taipei Water Dance Festival runs through June 27. Water dance performances are scheduled daily at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 9 p.m., with different musical themes featured each week.
Organizers encouraged visitors to travel by public transportation, using MRT Songshan Station or Songshan Railway Station and then walking to the riverside park via Keelung River Evacuation Gate No. 4.
