Hundred-Yuan Gift Vending Machine & Custom Letter Workshop: The QM Christmas Village Is Filled with Festive Surprises

▲ Elves are taking over the QM Christmas Village, working diligently on the Christmas tree.

Reported and photographed by Chen Hanyin / Taichung

Aside from visiting romantic holiday spots, one of the most exciting things about Christmas is exchanging gifts and cards with family and friends in this special season to express your heartfelt thanks as the year comes to a close. When you visit Qianmei in Taichung, besides checking out the Art Museum’s Cosmic Dream, don’t forget to stop by Christmas Village #68 and Christmas Village #1049 to send cards and wrap gifts to send your love.

▲ Write a card for someone you love.

Taichung’s two popular malls, Qianmei Eslite and Golden Park, have created a Christmas Village together. This year’s theme is “Santa’s Gone on Holiday,” where adorable elves take over the job, sprinkling happiness and golden sparkles around the mall for those picking out gifts. The outdoor Christmas tree is covered in hardworking elves, looking absolutely charming, and there's even an elf setup where visitors can place their phones to take group photos with a timer.

"No-Randoms Letter Workshop"
Location: No. 68, Gongyi Rd., West District, Taichung City

▲ Elves help take group photos.

Additionally, if you want to write a Christmas card for your loved ones, be sure to visit the No-Randoms Letter Workshop. Just insert coins to buy a postcard, write it on-site, and drop it in the machine—the elves will happily send it out for you, and postage is completely free. Also, customers buying Christmas gifts can head to the “Gift Bar” to create one-of-a-kind wrapping paper. In the little wooden house, weekend surprise windows also offer custom packaging services where illustrators will design a truly unique package just for you.

▲ The super-sized card-making area: "No-Randoms Letter Workshop."

▲ Mailing cards is postage-free.

▲ The gift wrapping station lets you create a unique package for just 50 NT.

▲ Different stamps help make one-of-a-kind wrapping paper.

▲ Special wrapping paper is just 50 NT per sheet.

▲ Artists will also be around on holidays.

If you don’t have time to host a gift exchange party with friends this year but still want that thrill of receiving a gift, check out the “Gift Vending Machine” at Golden Park. Following the success of the Planet Creation Machine, artists have created a new machine that brings happiness. Matching the festive Christmas vibe, this bright red machine is filled with all kinds of lovely gifts. Similar to a gashapon (capsule toy) concept, just insert 100 NT to surprise yourself with a gift exchange item, and gifts are limited daily and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

▲ Santa’s gone home for the holidays.

▲ Each gift box costs 100 NT.

"Gift Vending Machine"
Dates: Until December 31, 2017 (Sun)
Time: Weekdays 3:00–8:00 PM, Weekends 12:00–8:00 PM (Closed Mondays & Tuesdays)
Cost: 100 NT per use
Location: 2F, Golden Park Mall, Taichung