Taipei International Spring Travel Fair: New Taipei Launches 6 Popular Mini-Tour Routes

The Sky Lantern event in Pingxi has, in recent years, become almost synonymous with New Taipei City—and even Taiwan—on the international stage, thanks to endorsements from global media outlets such as DISCOVERY Channel, CNN, and the world’s largest travel publisher Fodor’s. This has helped establish New Taipei City as the “Sky Lantern City.” However, aside from releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi, there are many other beautiful experiences in New Taipei City that travelers shouldn’t miss. This year, the Tourism and Travel Bureau continues to promote the concept of mini-tours that can be experienced by using public transport and exploring alleyways. In collaboration with the Civil Affairs Bureau, the Cultural Affairs Bureau, and the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Bureau, they are recommending mini-tour itineraries at the Taipei International Spring Travel Fair.

Among them, the Civil Affairs Bureau has integrated four district offices—Pingxi, Sanxia, Tamsui, and Wanli—that won awards in the “International Liveable Cities Awards – Citywide Community Category” last year (2013), showcasing the unique features of each district. The Pingxi District Office will launch a DIY sky lantern ornament activity, the Wanli District Office will feature adorable Wanli crab mascots, the Sanxia District Office will display traditional indigo dyeing art, and the Tamsui District Office will promote diverse artistic and cultural offerings. The Cultural Affairs Bureau is highlighting the artsy mountain town of Ruifang, inviting the Gold Ecological Park and the Mountain City Art Museum to lead participants in experiencing mining culture, as well as the beauty and tranquility of the mountain town. Aside from showcasing various cultural and creative goods, the Mountain City Art Museum will also present daily limited performances such as Buddhist statue carving, tea ceremonies, and guqin performances, hoping to provide visitors with a unique local artistic and cultural experience in Ruifang. The Indigenous Peoples Affairs Bureau is collaborating with the Atayal weaving association in Wulai to promote the popular Wulai Leisure Tribe Tour. Aside from displaying various cultural and creative goods, looms, and bows and arrows—traditional Atayal hunting or trapping tools—the bureau will also host performances of Atayal music and dance, offer complimentary tastings of the uniquely flavored Makau coffee, and provide hands-on DIY craft activities.

The New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau has also specially planned six reference mini-tour routes, including: the Shencheng/Pingxi Gourmet & Sky Lantern Tour, savoring Shencheng tofu and the dazzling beauty of the Policeman Sky Lanterns; the Tamsui/Bali Bike & Coast Dual Tour, enjoying romantic foreign vibes and leisurely riverside moments; the Sanxia/Yingge Nostalgic Vintage Trip, experiencing the beauty of indigo dyeing and treasure hunts in Yingge; the Xindian/Wulai Lakes, Mountains & Indigenous Heritage Tour, exploring the wisdom and vitality of indigenous peoples in nature; the Ruifang Cultural & Artistic Mini-Tour, enjoying the scenery and serenity of the mountain town; and the Wanli/Jinshan Hot Springs & Fresh Food Wellness Tour, immersing oneself in delicious seafood and rejuvenating hot springs.

Additionally, the New Taipei City pavilion will offer various deals and discounts every day: the Pingxi District Office provides 30 DIY sky lantern ornament slots daily; the Sanxia District Office offers 20 blue-dyed square scarves for those who upload and check in with a group photo; the Tamsui District Office provides 30 limited daily editions of videos related to the Tamsui Environmental Art Festival, hand fans, and stationery sets; the Wanli District Office holds an event where visitors can receive a hot spring hotel discount voucher by showing a booth photo, with 10 available daily; the Gold Ecological Park offers an 20% discount on all on-site cultural and creative goods, and customers spending NT$880 on publications will receive a bonus gift: the “New Taipei Museums My Schoolbag”; “Dad Zhou Food Co., Ltd.” offers a special price of three palm-sized buns for NT$100; “Saint Paris Food Workshop” provides a “spend NT$500, get NT$50 off” deal; “Fenghua Food Co., Ltd.” has a deal of two Mr. Bai-brand ice creams for NT$100 and a special price of NT$500 for three packages of nougat. Various businesses will also offer free tasting activities on-site.