National Day Fireworks Show Held in Kaohsiung 國慶焰火睽違20年重返高雄 規模歷年最大

The National Day fireworks show was held in Kaohsiung on the night of Oct. 10. The show kicked off with Tai Tzu-ying swinging her racket.

Kaohsiung native Tai Tzu-ying swings her racket, kicking off the 2021 National Day fireworks show.

“Three, two, one. Swing your racket.”

The fireworks lit up the night sky over Kaohsiung. The extravaganza was billed as the largest in history, with close to 20,000 fireworks, including over 100 12-inch and 16-inch fireworks, released over a 3-kilometer area. This was Kaohsiung's first time hosting the National Day fireworks show in 20 years. The Kaohsiung City Government honored Chinese Taipei's Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the event, along with health and disease prevention workers. President Tsai Ing-wen, meanwhile, said Kaohsiung is becoming "more and more different."

Tsai Ing-wen, ROC President："After watching the fireworks show in Kaohsiung tonight, everyone can stick around and take a stroll around. I know you can take hot air balloon rides over Love River now. Kaohsiung really is becoming more and more beautiful, and more and more different."

Chen Chi-mai, Kaohsiung City Mayor："This summer, we had the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Taiwan's athletes performed historically well. They displayed self-confidence, courage, and determination. This is the spirit of the Port of Kaohsiung." 

Fireworks were released from five locations around the Port of Kaohsiung by seven platform vessels to the accompaniment of the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra. An estimated 100,000 people attended the show.

拿著羽球拍練習動作，總統蔡英文及高雄市長陳其邁等人，在世界球后也是在地高雄人戴資穎的教學下一同揮拍，開啟2021年國慶焰火序幕。

「3、2、1，請揮拍。」

璀璨焰火照亮高雄港的漆黑夜空，一共施放將近兩萬發，其中12吋和16吋大口徑高空焰火超過百發，是歷年最多，施放面寬超過3公里，也是施放範圍最大的一次，睽違20年國慶焰火重返高雄，要展現出高雄百年大港的氣勢。

受到疫情嚴重影響的一年，高雄市府特地邀請東奧及帕運選手，還有各單位防疫團隊先搭乘遊艇來到舞台區，感謝他們這一年來為台灣加油打氣，總統蔡英文也誇獎高雄越來越不一樣。

總統  蔡英文表示：「今晚大家可以來高雄欣賞國慶焰火，看完了，還可以留下來看看，多走走。我知道現在愛河，還可以坐熱氣球進行空中遊覽。高雄真的是越來越漂亮，越來越不一樣。」

高雄市長 陳其邁表示：「今年的夏天，東奧、帕奧，台灣的選手創下了史無前例的佳績，他們都展現了自信勇敢堅韌，這是高雄大港的精神。」

從高雄港內五個布彈點，一路向外延伸到旗津，這次國慶焰火總共動用七艘平台船施放海上焰火秀，搭配高雄市交響樂團演奏，成了視覺和聽覺雙重饗宴，蔡英文也提醒，連假期間振興不忘防疫，防疫不忘振興，估計到場一同欣賞焰火的民眾超過十萬人。