Taipei COOL Christmas: Hot Spring Christmas Tree at Taipei Living Festival

Taipei\'s annual commercial district event "Taipei Living Festival - Christmas Celebration" will be grandly held on November 24-26 on Qixing Street next to Xinbeitou MRT Station. This year\'s theme combines Christmas with local hot spring elements, creating a unique 10-meter-tall steaming hot spring Christmas tree, with Bravo Bear soaking comfortably inside! The venue gathers 23 commercial districts with 70 specialty shops in three zones: Commercial District Souvenirs, City Cuisine, and Leisure & LOHAS, allowing the public to explore Taipei\'s many distinctive commercial districts all at once.

Taipei City Department of Commerce Director Tsai Tsung-Hsiung stated that this year\'s Taipei Living Festival is in its second year. Taipei has diverse commercial districts, and through the Living Festival, an exchange platform is established, allowing the public to visit multiple districts in a single day trip to Xinbeitou. Continuing last year\'s momentum, this year features Christmas celebrations combined with a locally themed hot spring Christmas tree for early holiday atmosphere. This event helps more people discover each district\'s unique characteristics.

The event features three exhibition zones. City Cuisine gathers famous foods including Yuanshan Commercial District\'s "21 Workshop" sun enzyme noodles. Commercial District Souvenirs collects specialty gifts like Chaoyang Commercial District\'s "Jia Cai Leather DIY" genuine leather handmade bags. Leisure & LOHAS recommends relaxation destinations including Xinbeitou\'s "Sweetme Hot Spring Resort" and "Lealea Garden Hotels Beitou" offering half-price hot spring vouchers.

The opening ceremony features Director Tsai ringing a bell to launch the festival. A Christmas tree decoration competition by Beitou students follows, with public voting for the top tree. Voters have a chance to win hot spring bathing vouchers.

The highlight hot spring Christmas tree lighting ceremony is on November 24 at 5:30 PM, with Deputy Commissioner Wu Hsin-Pei and local representatives jointly lighting it. The 10-meter blue-and-white tree gleams silver-white under lights, with hot spring steam and foam snowflakes creating a romantic snow country ambiance against Xinbeitou Train Station - a must-see photo spot.

Bonus promotions: First, "EasyCard Living Gold Gift" - present your EasyCard for a NT$50 cash voucher. Second, "Spend & Win Lucky Bags" - spend NT$100 for stamps, collect three for a lucky draw. Grand prize: NT$6,800 hot spring accommodation voucher, 300 lucky bags daily. On November 25 at 2 PM, MOMO TV hosts hold a fan event - parents are invited to bring children in Christmas costumes!

Head to Xinbeitou from November 24-26 to experience a day of Taipei living. For more info, visit the Taipei City Department of Commerce Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/tcooc).