Aside from cool concerts and fancy fireworks shows, a hiking event was also held in National Taiwan University to celebrate the New Year, and among thousands of participants this time, one couple even walked all the way from Tainan to join the activity.

Although their feet are bleeding and callused, this couple from Nantou's Puli spent ten days walking barefoot from Tainan's Luermen to Taipei for a National Taiwan University-sponsored New Year's Day health walk.

Mr. and Mrs. Sun have participated in the annual walk for the past four years, and decided this year to follow Yu Yonghe's 300-year old route up to the north.

Their journey allowed them to experience the changes that Taiwan has undergone, and celebrate the arrival of the Republic of China's centennial year in their own special way.

Despite the cold weather, several thousand people gathered at NTU early Saturday morning for the flag-raising ceremony and New Year's Day health walk, which is in its eighth year.

Many famous athletes were spotted in the crowd, including taekwondo athlete Yang Shu-chun, marathon runner Tommy Chen, and baseball player Chen Wei-yin.

Yang in particular said that she hopes to bid farewell to the past, and ring in a happy, healthy centennial year.