Taipei: The Taipei Lunar New Year Market will be enforcing strict regulations regarding vehicle access and smoking, as announced by the Datong Precinct of Taipei City Police. The market, set to run from Saturday through February 15, will transform Dihua Street and its vicinity into pedestrian-only zones during operating hours.
According to Focus Taiwan, all automobiles will be prohibited from entering Dihua Street Section 1, spanning from Nanjing W. Rd. to Guisui St., every day from noon to midnight throughout the market's duration. To manage traffic flow, intersections around the market, such as Minle St., Guisui St., and Minsheng W. Rd., will face periodic one-way traffic controls or no-left-turn restrictions.
Additional closures include Huayin Street, from Chongqing North Rd. to Taiyuan Rd., and the rear entrance of Taipei Main Station, which will be inaccessible to vehicles from Friday through February 15, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Similarly, vehicle entry to Ningxia Night Market will be barred daily from 4 p.m. to midnight until February 22.
The Taipei City Police will employ CCTV surveillance and deploy rapid-response units to manage traffic congestion and address any incidents, including illegal parking, during the market period.
The Taipei City Department of Health has announced a smoking ban throughout the Lunar New Year Market, including in alleys near Dihua Street. The department will enforce this regulation through patrol teams equipped with placards and will communicate the rules via broadcast and text messages. Violators will face fines ranging from NT$2,000 to NT$10,000.
To accommodate smokers, a temporary smoking zone has been established in the square next to Gate No. 5 of Dadaocheng Wharf, with smokers encouraged to use designated areas and avoid smoking while walking.
Public transportation will also see adjustments during the market. Buses, including Routes R33 and 811, will bypass the "Dihua Street" stop at Minsheng W. Rd., Datong District. The Public Transportation Office has instructed bus operators to increase the frequency of buses during weekends and from 4 p.m. to midnight on weekdays to better serve market attendees.