As the World Masters Games 2025 opens, the New Taipei City Government hosted a gala tonight (May 18, 2025) to receive athletes and distinguished guests from around the world. Before the gala, Mayor Hou also hosted a tea party to welcome nearly a hundred distinguished guests from sister and friendly city delegations, representative offices in Taiwan, and chambers of commerce. Earlier in the day, the delegations enjoyed a cultural tour of Banqiao and local beer at the Fuzhong Drunken Summer Party, experiencing the magic of New Taipei City in the summer.
 
During his remarks at the tea party, Mayor Hou introduced Taipei and New Taipei City as a sunny side-up egg, where New Taipei City is the egg white. He also extended a warm welcome to the international visitors to tour New Taipei City’s mountains, oceans, and forests because egg whites are healthier. The Mayor also shared that his name reads like the Mandarin term of friendship – you yi – and that New Taipei City hopes to be good friends with everyone. The Mayor then exchanged and took pictures with all delegations and foreign representatives in Taiwan, thanking them for visiting New Taipei City.

 Mayor Hou Yu-ih hosts the tea party and thanks international guests for supporting the WMG 2025.

Mayor Hou Yu-ih with international visitors.

During the World Masters Games 2025, the New Taipei City Government Secretariat also invited over a hundred visitors from international organizations and sister and friendly cities in the U.S., Korea, Canada, and Japan. On opening day, the Secretariat arranged for the visitors to tour famous New Taipei City attractions such as Yingge and Jiufen, while today, they visited Fuzhong in Banqiao. All tours were equipped with English and Japanese services, providing in-depth insights into the Lin Family Mansion and Garden, Cihui Mazu temple, and other local cultural heritage. They ended their day at the Fuzhong Drunken Summer Party held at Fuzhong Plaza. After the Party, the guests embarked on an MRT journey from Fuzhong Station to Banqiao Station, experiencing the speed and convenience of the Taipei Metro for themselves.
 

The U.S. and Canada delegations tour the Lin Family Mansion and Garden and learn about Banqiao’s history.

A delegation from Wulai District’s sister city of Shiranuka, Hokkaido also delivered a flash mob performance of their traditional Shiranuka koma odori (Shiranuka Horse‑like Dancing) at the Banqiao Station, attracting many travelers. This is the first Shiranuka koma odori performance in New Taipei City since the delegation’s honored performance eight years ago. Shiranuka koma odori was created in 1919 by Shiranuka youth in their spare time. The now centennial dance mimics a playful colt as it leaves the stables and steps onto the farm.

The Shiranuka delegation from Hokkaido delivering an incredible horse dance performance at Banqiao station.