Though Christmas is not an official holiday in Taiwan, it is still marked by a great many people across the country. Christmas celebrations in Taiwan are, in fact, one of the most significant celebrations from November to December every year. It is therefore not uncommon to see shopping malls, stores, and households across Taiwan put up Christmas trees, display lights, and put on light shows at this time of the year.
While stores are selling Christmas-related items and restaurants are serving special Christmas Day set menus, local governments would even take responsibility to sponsor a variety of Christmas celebration activities officially. The following are some of the highlights of the Christmas celebrations in Taiwan this year.
Please watch the following video of the highlights of Christmas celebrations in Taiwan.
Including Taiwan’s most iconic landmark, the Taipei 101, famous shopping malls and fancy hotels, Taipei Xinyi Shopping District (台北信義商圈) is colorfully decorated during the Christmas season to mark Christmas celebrations.
In addition to the light show of the Taipei 101 skyscraper, one of the most striking Christmas events in this District is the Ciao Milano (浪漫耶誕城) organized by Uni-President Taipei Department Store (統一時代百貨台北店) at the Dream Plaza (夢廣場) of the Taipei City Hall Bus Station.
With the theme of “I-Sharing,” the beautiful Christmas tree, Purple Wish, is designed based on the famous glass window of Milan, adding a lot to the romantic atmosphere in the plaza.
With the theme of space and planets, the 2018 Christmasland in New Taipei City (新北耶誕城) is held by the New Taipei City Government from November 16, 2018, to January 1, 2019. Not only is it one of the most well-known winter festivals in Taiwan, but it is also selected by the The New Zealand Herald as one of the world’s best Christmas markets on December 15, 2018.
Additionally, its eye-catching giant sphere-shaped LED Christmas tree was recommended by Harper’s Bazaar Magazine as one of the 19 most amazing Christmas trees in the world.
Other highlights include the largest 3D projection mapping shows, the first-ever giant ball-like LED art installation, The Fascinating Planet (迷幻星球), and the exhibition of The Pool, an interactive art installation from New York, the Planet Container Market (星球主題貨櫃市集), the four light zones and the four overpasses decorated with rose gold, pink, blue, and silver-white lights.
The shimmering lights are scattered around the entire area near the New Taipei City Government Hall, including the New Taipei City Plaza, New Banqiao Central Park, Banqiao Station Building, and Banqiao Station Front Square.
Christmas celebrations at Christmas Alley
Located on the outskirts of Taipei City, a small alley (Alley 15, Lane 71, Section One, Shipai Road,石牌路1段71巷15弄) is often referred to as the Christmas Alley (聖誕巷) or the Jiqing Christmas Alley (吉慶聖誕巷), as about 100 families in this neighborhood decorate the exterior of their residences with different sorts of attractive LED lights and other decorations during the Christmas season every year.
The custom dates back to about 20 years ago when a father of the church in the small alley started to move its Christmas tree and other decorations outdoors on Christmas Eve in 1999. Inspired by the joyful festive atmosphere, this custom was thus gradually followed by more and more residents in this alley.
The Christmas Alley gained its popularity due partially to the joint efforts of a village chief surnamed Huang, an associate professor surnamed Pan and the father of the church. In particular, after it was reported by local newspapers, it has attracted many people to visit this unique alley every year. In 2013, the Jiqing Christmas Alley was voted by netizens as one of the top 10 romantic Christmas spots in Taiwan.
Cosponsored by the Keelung City Government and civic organizations, a giant Christmas tree glittering with numerous lights, a Christmas light tunnel, and other art installations are set up at the Keelung Maritime Plaza (基隆海洋廣場) in Northern Taiwan’s Keelung City. They make this small port city more colorful at the end of the year.
Located on the outskirts of Taoyuan City, Gloria outlets (華泰名品城) is the first and only U.S.-style open-air outlet mall with landscaped shopping village in Taiwan. In addition to an interesting Christmas market and art installations, an 18-meter-tall red Christmas tree is erected at its square. With a hole, the beautiful giant Christmas tree also allows visitors to explore inside.
