2017 Taipei Beitou Hot Spring Festival Press Conference

Beitou Hot Spring is one of Taiwan\'s most famous hot springs and a precious natural resource of Taipei. Since the Japanese built Taiwan\'s first hot spring inn "Tengu-an" in Beitou during the colonial period, Beitou has enjoyed over a century of hot spring industry splendor.

This year, the Taipei Hot Spring Festival enters its 16th year, taking place October 19-23 on Qixing Street next to Xinbeitou MRT Station. This year features specially added family splash zones, blessing ema areas, and food stalls. A highlight is the blessing portable shrine parade combined with children\'s shrines and domestic and international mascots for a lively street procession, plus the culturally nostalgic Nakashi PK Competition and yukata design competition - 5 days to experience the charm of Taiwan\'s No. 1 Hot Spring.

Taipei City Deputy Mayor Chen Ching-Chun specially attended the press conference on October 11 at Taipei City Hall to warm up for the celebration. Deputy Mayor Chen stated that Taipei has continuously focused on Beitou and aims to develop Beitou Hot Spring into a world-class tourist destination. The city government has also invested significant resources in projects including Beitou Creek restoration and the Greater Beitou Museum Plan, hoping through joint government and private sector efforts that the public will think of Beitou for hot spring bathing, wellness, and leisure.

This year\'s festival theme is "Splash Blessing Cultural Celebration" with 6 major themes: diverse exhibition booths, stage performances, local culture and charity, yukata experiences, and splash blessing parade, inviting everyone to visit Beitou and enjoy the essence of "Taiwan\'s No. 1 Hot Spring." Activities include Ming Hwa Yuan Taiwanese Opera, Nakashi Star Competition, outdoor cinema, Beautiful Taiwan 3D films, yukata design competition, plus Ibusuki City\'s Hawaiian hula from Japan, Matsuyama City enka singers, and the Kyoto Tatami Band performing grandly.

Another festival highlight takes place October 21-22, featuring the splash blessing ceremony with Japanese Asia-Pacific hot spring representatives, adorable mascots, and hot spring ambassadors in a parade. Two portable shrines carried by children in spirited outfits chanting slogans in unison deliver spectacular performances. Don\'t miss visiting Xinbeitou October 19-23 to experience this annual festival.

Reporters: Li Chen-Cheng / Liu Ying-Chun / Liu Shih-Ming