A record number of artistically designed balloons will turn up in this year's Taiwan International Balloon Festival in Luye, Taitung County in southeastern Taiwan from June 30th until August 6th.

Over 3 million people have attended the annual summer festival over the past seven years, making it the most popular hot air balloon festival in Taiwan.

According to Taitung County Government, 30 teams from 11 countries have been invited to show off their special shape balloons that for sure will surprise visitors this year.

The first group will feature a Vader balloon and a Yoda-shaped balloon from Belgium, a soldier-pattern balloon from the United Kingdom, pink pig and parrot-shaped ones from the United States, and a sea horse balloon and Woody bird-like balloon from Brazil, which will grace the skies with their beauty at Luye Gaotai this year.

This will be followed by two more groups of foreign-designed balloons that include Brazil's “hugging” balloon, dog-shaped and blue-chicken balloons, and a heart-shaped balloon from Japan which will fly up along with its Taiwanese counterpart. A Dutch rooster balloon will also take to the skies in celebration of the Year of the Rooster, which is this year.

Seven night glow concerts have been organized at different locations, kicking off at Taitung County Gymnasium on June 30th. The concert will be held at famous scenic spots on the south-link coast, including Zhiben Hot Springs, East Rift Valley and the south-link highway.

For more information, please visit http://balloontaiwan.taitung.gov.tw/ or www.facebook.com/balloontaiwan

Taitung County GovernmentHsue Pei-Shan, +886-89-324902sadyaoo@hotmail.com