Exhibition on Kinmen Cannonballs and Taiwan’s Top 10 Tourism Towns Kicks Off at Taipei 101

By MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

The newly selected Top 10 Tourism Towns and Top 3 Special Feature Towns, announced in March, will jointly occupy Taipei 101 from now until September 2. Cultural relics and creative merchandise from each town will be displayed on the 89th-floor observation deck, with the Kinmen Jincheng exhibition area also featuring wind-lion god statues and three cannonballs transported from Kinmen to showcase the island’s military heritage and traditional folk beliefs. The Meinong exhibition area in Kaohsiung highlights Hakka cultural aesthetics through its iconic oil-paper umbrellas. During the event, residents of the 12 counties and cities where the tourism towns are located can enjoy a special observation deck ticket price of NT$400 per person upon presenting valid ID, or a “4th person free” discount for groups of four.

During the exhibition period, “Tourism Town Star Days” will also be arranged, with each of the 13 towns taking turns to host local-themed activities on Saturdays and Sundays. This coming Saturday and Sunday will feature first-time appearances by Dajia in Taichung and Beitou in Taipei. Dajia will offer visitors the chance to take photos and interact with statues of Mazu, Qianliyan, and Shunfeng’er through a bugle corps experience activity. Beitou, meanwhile, will present live performances by Nangkasih bands—representatives of teahouse culture—and provide yukata kimono trials symbolizing Beitou’s hot spring heritage. Later, from August 4–5, Sanyi will showcase its expertise in wood carving with a duck and swan painting experience. Ruisui will introduce traditional Amis dance performances, opportunities to try on ethnic costumes, and quiz games to help international visitors better understand the area’s art and culture.

Beyond their participation in the Taipei 101 exhibition, each tourism town has also planned a variety of discounts and events locally. For example, Sanyi in Miaoli will offer a NT$299 combo ticket for a steam train ride plus entry to the Woodcarving Museum, allowing visitors to leisurely explore nostalgic railways. Jiji in Nantou provides “Jiji Town Good Deals,” where during the event period, those showing proof of riding the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle’s “Xitou → Sun Moon Lake” line can access discounts at up to 16 shops in Jiji. Lukang in Changhua has partnered with dozens of local businesses to offer various promotions—until December 31, visitors who say the secret phrase “Lukang Town, grab your good deal” at participating stores will receive discounts. Tainan’s Anping district will host various water activities such as canoeing at the Anping Historic Water Park every weekend from now until August 25, giving visitors a chance to get on the water. On August 22–23, the area will also hold a “Turning Sixteen, Joyfully Becoming an Adult” ritual ceremony.

American tourist Paul, who has visited Taipei on business several times, said that what makes Taipei most attractive is its high degree of internationalization, which is very convenient for foreigners, along with its many international cuisines, whether Japanese or locally caught seafood—all of which are quite unforgettable. Japanese tourists Mr. and Mrs. Kobashiro, visiting Taiwan for the first time, were impressed by Xinyi District, one of the Top 3 Special Feature Towns, particularly admiring its neat streets and diverse architectural styles, and they especially loved the expansive view of Taipei’s cityscape from the Taipei 101 observation deck.

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