And in Central Taiwan, more than 13,000 people braved the cold weather on Friday night and gathered at Alishan to greet the first dawn of the New Year. When the sun finally rose shortly after seven, they immediately broke into cheers and applause.

At 7:15 a.m., 13,000 people broke into cheers and exchanged New Year's greetings with one another when the first rays of sunlight broke through a thick layer of clouds.

Braving cold weather and fierce winds, the crowd applauded and waved national flags when the sun finally rose.

One person started writing postcards to family and friends that couldn't be there to share the experience with them, while others enjoyed a musical concert sponsored by the Chiayi County Government.

Many of the thousands used their cameras to capture the unforgettable moment, and preserve for posterity the first sunrise of the Republic of China's centennial year.