New Taipei City has been ranked 44th globally in the Happy City Index 2026 by the UK’s Institute for Quality of Life, joining the prestigious GOLD group of the top 50 happiest cities and distinguishing itself among the many participating cities worldwide. Thanks to its remarkable achievements in urban governance and sustainable development, New Taipei City is once again in the international spotlight.
The Happy City Index conducts evaluations across six major themes: Citizens, Governance, Environment, Economy, Health, and Mobility. It is one of the most recognised international benchmarks for urban development. New Taipei City’s placement in the GOLD group highlights its balanced progress across all areas of governance. Two hallmark achievements of the city’s ongoing efforts to enhance livability and urban resilience are the newly opened MRT Sanying Line and the Smart Flood Prevention Platform, which recently secured two major national awards.
Low-carbon, convenient public transportation is an essential indicator of urban happiness. Over the past eight years, New Taipei City has steadily expanded its rail network, adding the Circular Line, Danhai LRT, and Ankeng LRT as well as the recently completed MRT Sanying Line. With this milestone, the city’s operational metro network has officially surpassed 100 kilometres, reaching 108 kilometres and 90 stations. As the central axis of New Taipei City’s “three rings, six lines” transit network, the MRT Sanying Line marks a major step forward in driving local transformation. It serves as a green transit artery that connects cultural, tourism, and industrial corridors, significantly cutting commute times to and from the Taipei and Taoyuan metropolitan areas while easing regional congestion. It also upholds a public art philosophy that gives every station its own unique character. With craft design integrated into themed train cars, the MRT Sanying Line has become an aesthetic landmark of public transit that connects the Taipei–New Taipei–Taoyuan metropolitan areas, fulfilling the core vision of a Happy City in terms of transit accessibility.
Beyond convenient transportation, safeguarding citizens’ lives and property is also a cornerstone of urban happiness. In the face of challenges posed by extreme weather, New Taipei City has built a comprehensive flood prevention response mechanism. The Smart Flood Prevention Platform integrates multi-sensor data, including weather radar, AI rain streak recognition, and sewer water level gauges, processing up to 60,000 data points per minute. By pushing real-time alerts to all 29 district offices, the platform enables officials to manage disaster situations from a single smartphone, extending response lead times by more than two hours and significantly boosting disaster prevention accuracy and response efficiency. Additionally, New Taipei City uses an extended reality (XR) remote control system, allowing disaster management personnel to operate pumping station machinery remotely, effectively lowering operational risks while enhancing flood control safety. These innovative achievements combine smart technology with disaster governance.
From low-carbon public transportation to smart flood prevention, New Taipei City has continued to address urban development and climate change challenges through innovative governance. Driven by forward-looking infrastructure, digital technology, and a sustainability mindset, the city is constantly raising the quality of life for its citizens while bolstering urban resilience. New Taipei City does not view its “Happy City” status as a one-time achievement, but as an ongoing commitment to governance excellence.
Moving forward, the city will continue to deepen smart governance and public services, working alongside cities worldwide to build safer, more inclusive, and resilient Happy Cities, thus jointly achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Figure 1
The MRT Sanying Line serves as a vital cultural and tourism artery. Built on the concept of “giving every station its own unique character,” it integrates public art, on-site guided tours, and themed train cars to create a Taipei–New Taipei–Taoyuan transit and living sphere that balances functionality, aesthetics, and a sense of local culture.
Figure 2
From seamless travel to urban aesthetics, the newly opened Sanying Line allows citizens to enjoy an elevated quality of life and sense of joy during their daily commutes.
Figure 3
The Smart Flood Prevention Platform integrates multiple sources of data. It is capable of processing up to 60,000 data points per minute and pushing real-time alerts to all 29 district offices.
Figure 4
The Smart Flood Prevention Platform can be operated with just a single smartphone, and integrates real-time rainfall, water level, and flooding data, thus enabling decision-making in real time.
Figure 5
New Taipei City introduced an extended reality (XR) remote control system, allowing personnel to operate pumping station machinery from any location.
