New Taipei’s Happy Christmas Town Lights Up on the 22nd – Main Tree to Grow 0.5 Meters Taller

Tourism Center / Taipei Report

As the gates open, Hello Kitty, SpongeBob SquarePants, Transformers, Santa Claus, little bears, and the New Taipei City Government team joyfully appear, bringing early festive cheer for Christmas. The 2013 New Taipei Happy Christmas Town — a month-and-a-half-long series of Christmas events — will kick off with the lighting ceremony on November 22. Highlights include costume parades, children’s strolling activities, and exciting Christmas concerts.


▲ Simulation image of the 2013 Christmas tree main light display. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

New Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Chuan-chiao stated that the New Taipei Happy Christmas Town, which has welcomed visitors since its inauguration in 2010, is entering its third year this time and has become one of the city’s most iconic festive events. To allow more people to enjoy the joyful and colorful atmosphere of the Christmas Town, the New Taipei City Government has extended this year’s event from one month to one and a half months. The main Christmas tree light display, standing in the New Taipei City Civic Plaza, will “grow” from 35 meters to 35.5 meters.

The event organizer, the New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau, said that this year’s illuminated area has been further expanded. The entire light display zone uses a total of 2.4 million bulbs, with a total length of lighting equipment reaching about 300,000 meters — equivalent to 618 Taipei 101 buildings — transforming the Christmas Town into a brilliant sea of lights. From November 22 through January 5 next year (2014), the main Christmas tree light show will be performed every hour on the hour between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM each evening. At that time, the 12 light poles in the Civic Plaza will also change colors in sync with the show, illuminating the plaza’s carousel, coffee cups, and nearby cartoon-themed park featuring beloved characters, as well as large installations such as the nearby Happiness Castle and Dream Crystal Ball.


▲ The 2012 Christmas Town light sea. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)