Lunar New Year 結果共147筆

Bookings for additional flights to Taiwan’s outlying islands during the Lunar New Year holiday will open next Tuesday, according to the Civil Aviation Administration. The first wave of extra flights and regularly scheduled flights have been available for booking since December 5. The upcoming Spring Festival rush will see 6,646 seats available for Penghu routes and 4,334 seats for Kinmen routes. The number of additional seats for Matsu has not been disclosed, but the total number of extra seats reaches nearly 11,980. Travelers are reminded to issue their tickets within three days of booking to facilitate airline companies in managing reservations. The CAA also advises that seats are still available for off-peak dates and times across various routes.

According to a recent survey by Yes123 job bank, 71% of Taiwanese workers expect to receive a year-end bonus, with 21.1% predicting a larger payout compared to last year. Dissatisfaction with bonus amounts could lead 64.2% of office workers to consider resigning. However, 70.9% of employees anticipate receiving their 2023 bonus before the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday, which is a five-year high. Reasons for not expecting a bonus include company profit declines (15.8%), non-full-time employment status (5.2%), insufficient tenure (4.7%), and personal performance (3.4%). Among those expecting a bonus, 18.6% believe they will receive less than last year, while 60.3% expect a similar amount. The main intended uses for the bonuses are savings (45.5%), honoring parents (43.2%), loan payments (40.5%), handing out red envelopes (39.3%), and investing (31.4%). Workers believe that the ideal distribution of bonuses should be proportionate to personal performance (41.9%), equitable for all employees (32.6%), or tied to company profit (25.5%). Factors that could impact the size of year-end bonuses include company profits (69.2%), personal performance (52.3%), moods of bosses or major shareholders (51.4%), years of service (50.4%), job rank (26.7%), and relationships with bosses or supervisors (25.5%).

A survey conducted by online job bank Yes123 revealed that 88.4 percent of Taiwan’s companies plan to hold year-end parties before the Lunar New Year, with employees most eager to receive cash prizes. The survey also found that 60.3 percent of companies with year-end party plans will host lucky draw events. Among the preferred prizes, cash ranked as the top choice with 66.2 percent of employees, followed by smartphones (43.3 percent), cars (42.5 percent), department store vouchers (34.3 percent), and convenience store coupons (33.2 percent). The survey also showed that 73.6 percent of office workers have previously won a prize at year-end parties, with the average value of the biggest prize being NT＄11,833. The spokesperson for Yes123, Yang Tsung-pin, stated that the willingness of companies to hold year-end events has returned to normal, indicating the recovery and stabilization of the economy following the disruptions caused by Covid-19. The survey was conducted online from Dec. 1 to Dec. 14, with 1,366 valid responses and a confidence level of 95 percent and a margin of error of plus or minus 2.65 percent.

The Presidential Office in Taipei held a press conference to unveil the Lunar New Year’s greeting cards for 2024. The cards, designed by Yen Po-chun, feature a dragon motif combined with Taiwan’s scenic landscapes. The design aims to convey blessings for the Lunar New Year and wishes for prosperity, peacefulness, safety, and well-being for the nation. The card is in an ＂Mp4＂ format, with an animation that intertwines the dragon motif with the numbers 2024 and the word ＂LOVE,＂ symbolizing Taiwan’s vitality, hope, and vision for progress. Recipients of the greeting cards include heads of state, international dignitaries, ambassadors, representatives to Taiwan, local government figures, overseas Chinese community leaders, members of the legislative body, and notable figures from academic, cultural, and business sectors.

The Ministry of Agriculture’s Veterinary Research Institute has detected a new variant of the African swine fever (ASF) virus in pork products brought in by travelers from mainland China. This recombinant strain, known for its high pathogenicity and transmissibility, has caused severe outbreaks in China since its confirmation in 2022. This is the first time that two different strains of the virus, including the Genotype II strain prevalent in China since 2018 and its variant, have been found in illegally imported crispy intestine products. Testing has shown a rising trend in the positive detection rate for the ASF virus in illegally carried meat products from China. With the Lunar New Year approaching, citizens are urged not to bring any pork-containing products back to Taiwan, and the institute warns against illegal imports to protect Taiwan’s pig farming industry.

Discover America Committee in Taiwan President Brenda Tang revealed that the U.S. travel market from Taiwan has rebounded to 84% of pre-pandemic levels, according to data from the Tourism Administration. Taiwanese travelers heading to the United States surged by 185% from January to October this year, reaching 396,913, as reported by the National Travel and Tourism Office. Flights to the U.S. during the peak summer season had load factors of over 90%, while the off-peak months of September and October maintained load factors of at least 85%. China Airlines and EVA Airways have nearly returned to pre-pandemic flight levels, and Starlux Airlines is set to launch its San Francisco route. United Airlines plans to double its Taipei to San Francisco flights, and Delta Air Lines is preparing to commence a Taipei to Seattle route. Tour package prices to the U.S. for the first quarter of next year and the Lunar New Year peak season are expected to increase by no more than 25%, offering travelers some price assurance amid growing demand.

Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warns of a potential flu epidemic around the Lunar New Year due to an increase in Type B influenza infections. Over 6 million government-funded flu vaccines have been administered, with a vaccination rate exceeding 50% among senior citizens. Several counties have reached the target vaccination rate of 55% for seniors. Influenza outpatient and emergency department visits have shown a recent downward trend, but adenoviruses remain the leading respiratory pathogens. H3N2 is more prevalent than H1N1, with a rising proportion of Type B influenza cases. There have been 14 new severe influenza complications and three additional deaths, mainly affecting individuals with chronic illnesses who were unvaccinated. As of December 11, 6.098 million public-funded flu vaccine doses have been administered, achieving a vaccination rate of 50.4%. Officials urge eligible citizens to promptly get vaccinated, as approximately 500,000 doses of government-funded flu vaccine remain.

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported the first case of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in a child detected during airport screening. A teenage boy developed a fever upon arriving from mainland China on December 4 and tested positive for the pathogen the following day. This detection has raised concerns amid an outbreak of respiratory illnesses in mainland China. The CDC has initiated targeted surveillance at the country’s four major international airports, urging travelers to undergo voluntary testing. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections account for only 1.2 percent of the cases identified through airport screenings, indicating a downward trend overall. The current respiratory diseases in mainland China are predominantly attributed to influenza viruses, with Mycoplasma infections declining. Health officials have reassured the public that airport testing protocols will continue and are expected to be maintained through the Lunar New Year period to ensure monitoring of incoming travelers and the containment of potential infectious diseases.

In Taiwan, employees often contemplate job or profession changes, especially after receiving year-end bonuses around the Lunar New Year. Experts advise individuals of all ages to conduct thorough self-assessments before making a leap.

Taiwan’s CDC warns that respiratory illness cases in China may peak around Lunar New Year due to multiple pathogens affecting the northern regions. The CDC emphasizes that the surge is not caused by a single agent and poses challenges across different age groups. In addition to mycoplasma, other infectious threats like influenza and COVID-19 should not be ignored. To prepare for increased cross-strait travel, the CDC urges vaccination against flu and COVID-19, especially for the elderly and young children with weaker immune systems. Non-essential trips to China are recommended to be postponed as a precautionary health measure.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen inspects the new military conscription training program at Taichung’s military center, Cheng Kung Lingg. The Ministry of National Defense confirms the first batch of one-year conscripts will begin service on Jan. 25. The initial training for new recruits has been extended to eight weeks, with a focus on battlefield conditions. The training includes battlefield medical aid, advancing under simulated enemy fire, and rigorous final evaluations. The program also features shooting with night vision goggles and a live grenade-throwing exercise. President Tsai observes machine gun training and notes an increase in rounds fired. After basic training, soldiers will be assigned to units based on their interests and expertise. Approximately 9,127 individuals are expected to be drafted next year. The first group of conscripts can report for duty before the Lunar New Year and spend time with their families.

The Lunar New Year festivities culminated on Sunday following a 10-day-long holiday. As workers resume their duties, many people voiced their aspirations for higher salaries in the face of climbing living expenses.

The Chairman of Taipei 101, Chang Hsueh-shun, participated on Thursday in the start of the Year of the Rabbit celebrations.

Popular Taiwan eatery Formosa Chang announced that it will raise its prices starting on Wednesday (Feb. 1).  

韓國女團少女時代成員徐玄在春節特別穿上韓服慶祝新年，不過卻因為文案使用的是「Happy Lunar Year」，而非「Happy Chinese New Year」引來中國網友在貼文下憤怒留言洗版，直罵「連新年是中國的都不知道嗎？」，讓其他網友十分傻眼。

過年祝人「新年快樂」，沒想到這回竟然遭出征！自韓國團體少女時代出道藝人的徐玄，近期就IG寫下「Happy Lunar New Year」，卻有不少大陸網友糾正應該要寫「Happy Chinese New Year」，不只嚴重謾罵，還有人自稱是少女時代粉絲「因此心碎」，跨平台被網友出征。

If you’re looking to get your spook on this Lunar New Year, visit Ito Junji’s horror-inspired pop-up store in Taiwan.

「農曆新年」的英文翻譯觸動中國大陸敏感民族情緒，包含博物館、遊樂園與服飾品牌，使用Lunar而非Chinese，引發中國民眾不滿。另有韓國學者稱農曆新年不只屬於中國，同樣被出征。

新加坡南洋理工大學疑似在農曆新年展板的英文使用Lunar New Year而未使用Chinese New Year，遭人惡意竄改為Chinese，引發網友熱議。校方回應表示，秉持多樣性、包容性精神，因此使用Lunar一字。

繼韓國泡菜（kimchi）中譯名由官方改為「辛奇」後，亞洲文化圈共有的農曆年稱呼再次引發中國及韓國網友論戰，韓國誠信女子大學教授徐敬德發起將農曆年英文「正名」為Lunar New Year，社群帳號卻遭中國網友洗版。

With the Lunar New Year holiday fast approaching, doctors in Taiwan are warning of a possible spread of COVID variants and the Norovirus during this time of family gathering. 

身為美國亞裔人口最密集的行政區，加州州長紐森（Gavin Newsom）1日簽署新法案，正式將農曆新年（Lunar New Year）、訂為該州的法定假日之一。綜合當地媒體報導，紐森在聲明中強調、加州尊重也承認亞裔社區帶來的多樣性，新法案實施後，所有加州政府雇員都能享有8小時的休假，來慶祝這個重要的傳統節慶。