Taipei City Government

The hot spring season is here once again! Deputy Mayor Chen Chin-jun presided over a press event announcing the start of the 2017 Taipei Hot Spring Season on October 11. Now in its 16th year, the festival will take place at Qixing Street beside MRT Xinbeitou Station between October 19 and 23. Spotlighting “Onsen Water Spray Tradition,” the fest will feature six main themes, including an outdoor fair, stage performances, charity activities, yukata kimono dressing up, and an onsen spray parade. On October 21 and 22, adorable mascots and ambassadors from hot spring areas in Japan and other regions of the Asia-Pacific will join kids carrying children’s palanquins at the mikoshi parade to inject a dash of vigorous festivity into the neighborhood. Other highlights of the Taipei Hot Spring Season include nakasi singing competition, yukata design contest, Ming Hwa Yuan Taiwanese opera performances, open air cinema, Ibusuki’s Hula dance, Matsuyama’s enka performances, and shows featuring music bands from Kyoto. According to Chen, the city government has invested much effort to promote Beitou as an international hot spring destination. Resources have also been allocated to the remediation of Beitou Streak and the implementation of Grand Beitou Museum project. Through public-private partnership, the City hopes that Beitou will become a prime location for those seeking hot spring or other recreational activities.