Under Taiwan’s Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, drivers can be fined for holding, lighting, or smoking a cigarette while on the road if the behavior affects traffic safety. The rule has been in effect since at least July 1, 2019, and the fine was subsequently increased from NT$600 to NT$1,200 following a legislative amendment in late 2025.

The city said additional pedestrian-environment improvement projects are also underway nearby on Jiouru 1st Road (九如一路) in Sanmin District (三民區) and Wumiao Road (武廟路) in Lingya District.

The trees, known in Chinese as fenghuangmu (鳳凰木), usually bloom from May to July. Their bright orange-red flowers have made them a familiar sight in southern Taiwan.

Although the Japanese word itself has no insulting meaning, the phrase has developed in Taiwan into slang roughly meaning someone who is clueless, annoying, incompetent or “not quite right.”

Six big rigs smashed into each other on National Freeway 1 Monday morning, dumping a steel coil onto the road and grinding northbound traffic to a crawl.

Some hope the renovated park’s upgraded lawn could be used for camping-style activities, markets, and small unplugged evening concerts.

The Southern Region Water Resources Branch said the latest rain was helpful but not enough to end the water shortage pressure. Forecasters expect another possible plum rain front in early June, but officials said conditions remain uncertain and water dispatching would continue to be adjusted based on rainfall and reservoir levels.

Officials said the red-and-white stop area and the red octagonal “stop and proceed” marking both require drivers to bring their vehicle to a complete stop, check that the intersection is safe, and only then continue. Simply slowing down is not enough, the department said.

Chen said Cishan’s Gushan Park (鼓山公園) reflects both the district’s strengths and its current limitations. While the area has a rich historical background, he said, its overall tourism theme remains somewhat scattered.

The same dataset showed that several other parts of Taiwan were also shrinking. Kaohsiung was listed at 2,713,913, down 0.32 percent, while Tainan was listed at 1,849,281, down 0.25 percent.