Turtle Island in the eastern county of Yilan has reopened after closing for more than two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thursday marks the first day that Turtle Island reopens to the public. And who were at sea to welcome lucky tourists? Dolphins!
With the recent COVID outbreak under better control, the government has eased restrictions on visiting the island. Still, to ensure safety, only 1,800 people are allowed to be on Turtle Island a day, with a maximum of 450 people at a given time.
Meanwhile, in the eastern county of Taitung, a prayer ceremony for Taiwan was held, using hot air balloons. After all, Taitung has played host to the International Balloon Festival for years. The ceremony featured hot air balloons in the form of Hello Kitty and the design of the indigenous Bunun people’s traditional clothing.
Last year’s festival was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A local tourism official said the county has yet to decide whether or not to hold the event this year.