Planning for inauguration banquet includes resort renovations and traffic control｜Taiwan News

Tainan is the site of this year’s presidential inauguration banquet, and event planners are making sure guests experience the beauty and passion of the southern city. Over NT$10 million has been put into resort renovations, to make sure the president, vice president and guests have the best experience. With so many souvenirs, guests should prepare to go home with specially-designed, Tainan-themed bags in both hands.

President-elect Lai Ching-te recently released a video on Facebook that introduces Taiwanese soft power that people can get their hands on: ceramic plates of the inauguration banquet. People have been working around the clock to put the finishing touches on the grand event.

Yang Fu-chiang
Formosa Yacht Resort director
Tainan’s very own butterfly orchid has been added to this ceramic plate; it’s a charming look.

But there’s more than just specially-designed plates, as the food going on those plates is being made by a host of different caterers. Drink options include inauguration-themed alcoholic beverages and cold brew oolong tea that comes in a wine bottle.

Like the location of the night-time banquet, the resort’s second floor has also been renovated. With total expenditures exceeding NT$10 million, the goal of the event is to make visitors feel at home.

Cheng Po-hui
FTV reporter
This place right here’s a replica of the one in the Presidential Office Building. The room will be a place the president can chat with banquet guests.

Yang Fu-chiang
Formosa Yacht Resort director
For the renovation work, well, that of course is no small cost, but we expect it to look great.

There’s also been a lot of planning for transportation on May 20, as nearly 1,000 guests from out of town will be taking a trip from the city’s high-speed rail station to the banquet in Anping District.

Wu Yu-Chih
Tainan Public Transportation Office director-general
The distance of the entire trip is about 20 kilometers, and the city government will be assisting us by providing traffic control along the route as well as helping with the motorcade of VIPs.

Traffic control will primarily be carried out on May 20 from 4:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon, which is when guests will be heading to the banquet. Officials ask the public for their cooperation at that time.

Tainan City Government commissioned a bag manufacturer to design canvas bags that will be able to hold goodies from the event. The bag’s design might look simple, but it’s full of elements that represent Tainan.

Chen Shih-hsien
Banquet bag designer
Historic sites are in red, a color that represents the joyful atmosphere. And then the bag itself is made out of the plant ramie, which represents the resilient nature of the Taiwanese people, who are able to overcome all sorts of trials and tribulations.

Local keepsakes from Tainan will fill up these bags. Over in Sigang District, a shop that specializes in making goods out of soft rush was, at the last minute, able to make a woven bag that has also attracted a lot of interest.

This 2024 inauguration banquet is taking place 400 years after the Dutch first landed in Tainan. One bag might not be enough, so guests will likely need to use both hands to take back all of the special Tainan-themed souvenirs, because banquet planners are making sure guests will be able to feel the passion of Tainan.

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