Evergreen Laurel Hotel

If you got caught up in the glamour of "Lust, Caution", then don't miss the "YA~Shanghai! Countdown Party", which will be held at the Evergreen Laurel Hotel. This year's event will focus on "Old Shanghai," so expect to see a dance performance given by Shanghai girls, as well as other traditional fashion shows and singing performances. The night's host will present a KUSO-style performance of the movie, but that's not all--there will also be a magic show and lots of fine prize giveaways for all. But, most importantly, you can enjoy this event free of charge! For details, call 2324-2236.

Hotel ONE Taichung

Hotel ONE Taichung is a well-facilitated, trendy, tech-savvy hotel; on New Year's Eve, the hotel will host a party in the first-floor lobby. The crowd will be able to yell out the countdown with folks all over Taiwan, via a loud-speaker conference call with The Landis (Taipei), Tayih Landis (Tainan) and Hotel ONE in Sujhou. There will be champagne, wine, popular bands, and DJs performing throughout the night. It's sure to attract a good number of people. Call (04) 2303-1234 for more information.

Hotel ONE--Top of ONE
On Hotel ONE's 46th floor restaurant, there there will be a New Year's Eve Party with French-style set meals, live jazz, Veuve Chicquot champagne, and Christmas themed cocktails. The party costs NT$3,900+10% per person, and the night's music theme will be feisty Latino. For reservations, call (04) 2303-1234 and transfer to 46th floor Top of ONE restaurant.

Chung Hsing University's All-Day Event
Chung Hsing University will start its "Let's Shine!" celebration at 9 a.m. on December 31. This event will last 16 hours and include a wide variety of performances. A fun fair with various activities like T-Shirt painting and calligraphy is also in the mix. Street artists will be performing in the morning, while bands from different universities in central Taiwan will show off their musical talent in the afternoon. At night, popular singers and rock bands, as well as a five-minute fireworks show, will get everybody excited for the countdown.

A series of celebrations at Sun Moon Lake
From December 22 to the Lantern Festival (in mid-February), Sun Moon lake will host a series of celebrations. On Dec. 31, between 10 p.m. and midnight, there will be a special celebration at Chi En Temple. As the year changes into 2008, the bells at various temples around SunMoon Lake will be rung 108 times. The bells, the lake view, and the brightly-lit docks, tourist center, churches and temples will be a pleasant way to ring in the new year.

Sinshe Flower Festival

All sorts of flowers, like lavender, sunflowers and daisies, can be enjoyed in the 52 hectares of Sinshe fields. In winter, when the crops are freshly harvested, the gardeners start to plant flower seeds. Besides organic goods, vendors sell all kinds of handicrafts and food, making the farm a good day-trip. Before December 9, performances and agricultural products are abundant. It's best to visit the flower festival while the weather is still a bit warm.

Dakeng's Fruit Picking Fun

Here in Taiwan, December is kumquat season, the time of year when you can spot fields of the golden fruit from miles away. In Dakeng, you can hand pick these babies yourself or enjoy their fresh, sweet taste at the XinYue Restaurant (04-2239-6331). Most of the ingredients used at the restaurant are homegrown. The popular WuYeh Song (Chinese herb) Chicken Hot Pot is a great dish in both hot and cold weather. The key to its taste is the right amount of bitter tea oil and sesame oil. XinYue Cheese Hot Pot, another popular dish, is a tasty mix of cheese, garlic, onions, and all sorts of fresh spices. Dishes you don't want to miss include their specialty, the NT$60 XinYue Snack, as well as Pickled Green Papaya Salad and their new dish, Prawn Rolls.

Lychee Orchard Tour

Traditional Taiwanese homes set between hundred-year-old lychee trees come into sight once you set foot in this orchard. Behind the homes, a hill gives visitors an expansive view of the mountains and farm houses. After taking a tour of the lychee trees and nearby orange orchard, visitors can sample the local fruit while enjoying a cup of orange tea or trying a bit of the owner's own orange jam. For more information about the orchard or tours, call (04) 2239-3797.