[Weekend Fun in Taiwan]Christmas Concerts & Tea Tasting in Historic Alleys – New Taipei City Comes Alive This Weekend

New Taipei City is the first to host the “Joyful Christmas Concert,” with Jolin Tsai, JJ Lin, Jolin Tsai, and Show Lo taking the stage as headliners on December 7, 8, 21, and 22 respectively. The first concert on December 7 will feature a lineup of female singer-songwriters kicking things off, with the “Diva” Jolin Tsai closing the show. Also performing that day are the bright-voiced Xu Jia Ling, the powerful Lee Chia Wei, the operatic Jiang Mei Qi, the edgy Wei Wu Xian, the creative A Fu, and the ethereal newcomer Bai An.

 

Date: December 7

Venue: New Taipei City Civic Square

The “New Taipei Good Tea – True Skill Good Tea” event will run every Saturday and Sunday from now until December 22 around the Pinglin Old Street area. On December 7, there will be a riverside tea music concert, on December 14 an ecological tea hiking tour, and on December 21 a leisurely tea mountain run, all taking place in Pinglin. Organizers say the Pinglin Old Street offers many fun DIY experiences, such as hand-pressed tea DIY, tea hemp bride DIY, ground tea DIY, and bookmark DIY, allowing participants to enjoy the pleasure of hands-on crafting. Free shuttle buses will also be available, picking up visitors from Xindian MRT Station and Kunyang MRT Station to bring them to Pinglin.

 

Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday from now until December 22

Venues: Plaza next to Pinglin Tea Museum, Pinglin Old Street

 

 

The Wugong Furniture Business District is the largest furniture hub in northern Taiwan. The “2013 Wugong Furniture Business District Elegance Special Exhibition” will begin on December 7. This year’s event also includes a first-ever design competition with a grand prize of NT$100,000, themed around “Transformers” multifunctional furniture. Designers who create practical “multifunctional furniture” stand a chance to win big and become the next rising star in Taiwan’s design scene. In addition, to capitalize on the year-end furniture shopping boom and reward consumers, Wugong businesses are launching a double promotion—“Red & Green Trendy Combo” and “NT$3,600 Shopping Vouchers for Free.” Buy red-tagged items and get green-tagged ones at 10% off, new-style furniture starting at 35% off, plus 1,000 NT$3,600 furniture vouchers to be given away starting at 1:00 PM on December 7 and 8, limited to 1,000 vouchers, sharing a total of NT$3.6 million in shopping benefits with the public.

 

Dates: December 7–22

Venue: Wugong Furniture Business District, New Taipei Industrial Park

The “2013 Taipei Huajiang Wild Duck Festival” will kick off on December 7 and 8 under the Huajiang Bridge, with two 2-meter-tall and 3-meter-wide mascots—Little Mallard Ducks—joining in the fun. From September to March each year, thousands of wild ducks migrate from Siberia to winter in the wetlands around the Taipei Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park. During this time, visitors can enjoy birdwatching under the Huajiang Bridge, take in the beautiful wetland scenery, participate in community-building activities, and strengthen local identity. The festival also features a “Water Official Duck Fishing” parade, exciting challenge games, a fresh and fun birdwatching expo, and an educational conservation fair.

 

Dates: December 7 and 8

Venue: Under the Huajiang Bridge

The Shilin Yangmingshan Yam Festival series kicks off this month. First, the Shilin District Farmers’ Association will hold a “Wellness Welfare Store” yam sales event at the Jianguo Holiday Flower Market on December 7 and 8, where the public can buy the freshest Yangmingshan yams directly from farmers. From December 10 to 12, there will be a “Yam Treasure Hunt PaPaGO” farm experience at the Yangmingshan Yam Farm. On December 21, the “Yam Feast Show” will take place at Taipei Flower Village, featuring live band performances while enjoying a delicious yam feast. Only 40 tables are available for reservation for the feast, which can be booked through the Shilin District Farmers’ Association Promotion Division (call 28828959 ext. 502, Miss Li).

 

Dates: December 7 and 8

Venue: Jianguo Holiday Flower Market

 

 

The 2013 Greater Tainan International Travel Expo will be held from today through December 9 at the Tainan Nanhua World Trade Exhibition Center. This year’s Tainan Pavilion features four major themes: Tourism Tainan, Culture Tainan, Food Tainan, and Industry Tainan, aiming to showcase Tainan’s new face from different perspectives. The Malaysian Tourism Board and St. Denis Travel have jointly launched a “5-Day, 4-Night Johor Bahru & Malacca” package, offering family fun, shopping, gourmet food, cultural heritage, and eco-tourism all in one. Hawaiian Airlines and the U.S. Travel Promotion Association are also participating in the Tainan Travel Expo, offering special Honolulu fares starting at NT$17,000, including free extensions to any neighboring Hawaiian island.

 

Date: From today until December 9

Venue: Nanhua World Trade Exhibition Center, Tainan