TAIPEI: Taipei has stepped forward offering to host the formal unveiling of Nature's Seven Natural Wonders, a senior city official said yesterday.

The selection of Nature's Seven Natural Wonders is currently the subject of global online voting.

"Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin has already written to Bernard Weber, founder of the New7Wonders Foundation, to inquire about the possibility of Taipei hosting the new world wonders unveiling ceremony," said city government spokesman Yang Hsiao-tung.

The mayor's move is aimed at boosting Taipei's international profile and visibility, Yang explained, adding that 20 other cities around the world have also expressed interest in hosting the event.

Taiwan's highest mountain 3,952-meter Yushan has dominated voting in the "mountain, volcanoes" category for quite some time in the online vote. Yang said he believes Yushan, also known as Jade Mountain, will emerge as one of the 28 finalists.

Located on the boundaries of Chiayi, Nantou and Kaohsiung counties, Yushan is known for its diverse wildlife and ecology. It is the only natural attraction in Taiwan to make the list of contenders in any category of the new world wonder nominees.

"And it will be even a greater honor for all of us if this well-known symbol of Taiwan is eventually selected as one of the seven new natural wonders and is announced in a ceremony held in Taipei," Yang said.

The Zurich-based New7Wonders Foundation launched the campaign in 2007 to select new natural wonders as part of its efforts to raise public awareness of the importance of nature conservation.

At midnight on July 7, all online voting will be suspended while the results of the second phase of competition are calculated and verified.

The top 77 nominees, by category, will be published on the foundation's website on July 9, after which a special expert committee will choose a shortlist of 28 official finalists, to be announced on July 21.

The 28 finalists will then be put to a final round of worldwide online voting in 2010 and 2011 for selection as the top seven natural wonders.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 07/07/2009 page2)