A hot air balloon from Taiwan took to the skies at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on Saturday. The balloon, from the southeastern county of Taitung, was adorned with the flag of the Republic of China, which is the official name of Taiwan.
The Taitung hot air balloon, which is sponsored by the county government, has visited ten countries over the past three years.
Taitung County Chief Justin Huang was on board the balloon for the 50-minute flight. He said it was the first flight by a hot air balloon from Taiwan in the United States.
Taitung is home to a hot air balloon festival of its own. Huang said that for the past five years, the county government has been traveling the world and inviting balloonists to take part in the annual extravaganza.
Meanwhile, some 750 balloons from 16 countries took part in Saturday’s festival, which is the world's largest balloon fiesta. The event will last through through Oct. 11.