Taipei and Shanghai Jointly Promote “Micro Travel” with Leaning Mailbox and Pineapple Cakes Joining the Fun

▲ The “Leaning Mailbox” has also made its way to Shanghai to support Taipei’s micro travel campaign. (Photo / Reporter Chen Ruizhong)

Reported by Reporter Chen Ruizhong / Shanghai

To encourage travelers to explore Shanghai and Taipei more deeply, the Taipei City Government’s Department of Information and Tourism, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, and EVA Air jointly held the launch ceremony of “Micro Travel Between Two Cities” today (August 26) at the Shanghai Science Hall. Five major travel themes were planned to offer unique “twin-city micro adventures” not found in traditional travel guides.

Based on the concept of micro travel, the “Micro Travel Between Two Cities” event marks the first collaboration between the tourism departments of Taipei and Shanghai since the establishment of their Twin-City Forum cooperation platform in 2010. Together, they have launched distinctive travel routes under five major themes: “Cuisine,” “Nostalgia,” “Hidden Gems,” “Literary Memories,” and “Urban Silhouettes.”

▲ A variety of Taiwanese specialties such as pineapple cakes and dried mangoes prepared at the event.

Taipei specially produced a micro travel guidebook, featuring insights from five distinctive travel writers—Luo Zhicheng, Liu Kexiang, Kung Toujian, Wen Shikai, and Huang Weirong—who introduce Taipei through their personal experiences and daily lives, inviting residents of Shanghai to experience a different side of Taipei's charm.

With its rich historical background, Shanghai introduced five routes: Exotic Flavors, Urban Hidden Gems, Culinary Shanghai, Literary Memories, and Urban Silhouettes. These highlight Shanghai’s historic architecture, traditional cuisine, and cultural journeys themed around Eileen Chang, offering visitors a fresh perspective on the city.

Different from traditional tourism promotion events, this “Micro Travel Between Two Cities” emphasizes the “different” angle. Therefore, the launch ceremony not only featured representative local snacks from Taiwan such as herbal tea, dried mangoes, pineapple cakes, rice crackers, and nougat brought specially from Taiwan, but also included installations like the Haishen City God Temple and a 3D LEGO map of Taipei. Even the highly popular “Leaning Mailbox” became a featured decorative element at the event, allowing Shanghai residents to embark on a sensory journey of Taiwanese food and culture through taste and interaction.

▲ (From left, third person) Yang Jinsong, Director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism; Jane Yen, Director of Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism; and Nie Guowei, Chief Public Relations Executive Officer of EVA Group, sharing Taiwanese herbal tea together.

Yang Jinsong, Director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, stated that exchanges between Shanghai and Taipei are close, and the joint focus on “micro travel” as a theme demonstrates mutual understanding. Jane Yen, Director of Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism, said that Shanghai’s proposed routes exploring Eileen Chang and architecture align well with the preferences of Taiwanese travelers. Taipei also offers many diverse route options, such as a heritage itinerary including Beimen, the former Nishi Honganji Temple, and Ximending following the removal of the Beimen elevated highway.

▲ The commemorative EasyCard launched for the Micro Travel Between Two Cities event.

Nie Guowei, Chief Public Relations Executive Officer of EVA Group, believes that “micro travel” is no longer about the superficial sightseeing of tour groups, but rather about venturing beyond guidebook routes to personally experience life, food, and culture. Travelers from both cities can discover each other’s history and culture through micro travel, and EVA Air hopes to make the journey itself the beginning of the micro travel experience.

EVA Air also noted that there are currently 10 airlines operating between Taiwan and Shanghai, with a total of 136 weekly flights, of which EVA and UNI Air operate 29 flights. In conjunction with this event, EVA Air has launched “micro travel” flight + hotel packages for both Taipei and Shanghai. The first 1,500 participants in the Taipei micro travel program will also receive a commemorative EasyCard.