Taipei  - Taiwan is to welcome 2009 with fireworks, prayers and the arrival of a pair of giant pandas China gave the island nation as a symbol of peace.

A spectacular fireworks display will be mounted from the top of Taipei 101, the world's tallest skyscraper, during the countdown to the New Year, the press officer Michael Liu said Friday.

Some 16,000 fireworks will be exploded, 4,000 more than last year, Liu said.

Since its opening in 2004, tens of thousands of Taiwanese have gathered around the 508-metre building to watch the New Year fireworks and enjoy all-night concerts at the foot of the skyscraper.

Those who want to be close to nature can usher in 2009 on the beach. Many people will be praying at Buddhist temples across the island.

The Tourism Bureau is inviting 10,000 Taiwanese to gather on the coast at Yilan, north-east Taiwan, to welcome the first ray of sunshine of the New Year.

The party will last from 3 a. m. to 8 a. m. on January 1, with revellers setting off 5,000 balloons and watching performances by rock bands.

Residents of the port city Kaohsiung hope 2009 will bring good luck to Kaohsiung Harbour as Taiwan opened maritime links with China on December 15 and many containers are expected to arrive there in future.

Kaohsiung Harbour used to be the world's third largest container port, but has dropped to eighth place as a result of Taiwan's six-decade ban on maritime links with China.

Hit by the global financial crisis, some half a million Taiwanese are jobless and many companies are either laying off workers or asking them to take unpaid leave.

However, the "real" New Year for Chinese worldwide is the lunar year which begins on January 26, 2009.

Chinese in mainland China and Taiwan will enjoy a week-long Chinese New Year holiday, also called the Spring Festival, during which they will have family reunions, visit friends and exchange gifts.

On the eve of the lunar New Year, two giant pandas given by China to Taiwan are expected to make their debut in Taipei Zoo, a sign of reconciliation between Taiwan and China which have been split since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.

The two animals arrived in Taiwan on December 23 in a chartered plane and remain in quarantine for one month before they are put on display in the Panda Hall at Taipei Zoo.

President Ma Ying-jeou recently unveiled his New Year card to the Taiwanese people. It features a map of Taiwan with the words: "Happy New Year. May All Your Wishes Come True."

Since his inauguration on May 20, Ma has vowed to improve ties with China so Taiwan can avoid war and develop its economy.

Taiwan and China launched direct maritime, postal links and daily charter flights on December 15 and analysts expect cross-strait exchanges to speed up in 2009. (dpa)