"2026 Beitou Summer Festival – Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate Music Party": Shopping District Stamp Rally with Great Prizes! Over a Thousand Carp Streamers Flutter Again, Nakashi Melodies Echo Throughout Beitou

【Taipei City Department of Economic Development Press Release】

Issuing Unit: Commerce Development Section
Release Date: May 29, 2026
Contact: Section Chief Tsai Hui-chen / Media Contact Chang Ting-tien
Tel: +886-2-2720-8889 ext. 6503 / 4563

To shape the brand identity of Beitou's commercial district, the Taipei City Department of Economic Development has guided the Taipei Hot Springs Development Association to hold the "2026 Beitou Summer Festival – Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate Music Party" from May 29 to June 21, 2026. Now in its second year following last year's great success, the event draws on the resonance between Japan's traditional Dragon Boat Festival custom of hanging carp streamers (こいのぼり, koinobori) and the Chinese cultural idiom of "a carp leaping over the dragon gate." Over a thousand carp streamers will be displayed around Beitou Park, Qixing Park, and the Hell Valley (Direhgu) area, creating a distinctly Japanese summer atmosphere that differs from the autumn and winter seasons. The opening ceremony on May 29 features the beloved Nakashi-style classic cuisine banquet, and on Saturday evening, May 30, the well-known band "Little Boys Band (小男孩樂團)" will perform live. Weekend events throughout the festival include pop music concerts, a Nakashi singing competition, and a family-friendly outdoor cinema with picnics. This year, visitors will also be invited into hot spring hotels for creative hands-on workshops. During the festival, simply download the exclusive stamp-collecting APP, make purchases at member stores or on-site market stalls, and visit Beitou's featured attractions to participate in the stamp rally lottery, with chances to win accommodation vouchers, hot spring coupons, and more. Great food, great shopping, and great fun—it's all waiting for you in Beitou!

This year's "Classic Cuisine Banquet" seats 24 tables and features multiple creative Beitou-style dishes prepared by master chef "Ah-Wen Shi." Every dish is a mouth-watering delight. In addition to Beitou's signature food and classic black tea, each table receives a complimentary bottle of Kinmen Kaoliang liquor sponsored by the Kinmen Winery, blending Beitou's local character with Japanese culture through a perfect culinary pairing. The Nakashi Uncle Band (藝起那卡西大叔團) performs beloved Nakashi classics live on-site, offering guests a feast for the ears, palate, and eyes. The whole family is welcome to enjoy this wonderful leisure outing and create joyful memories together.

Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an stated that Beitou's commercial district is rich in cultural history and hot spring tourism resources, and that Nakashi music culture and cuisine banquets carry deep cultural heritage. To promote Beitou's summer identity, the city government has been supporting the Taipei Hot Springs Development Association in independently organizing the "Beitou Summer Festival" series since last year (2025). To further incentivize visits to Beitou, Taipei City Government opened the use of Senior Citizen Cards (敬老卡) for hot spring public bath payments in the Beitou area starting in February of this year. Given Beitou's deep historical ties with Japan, the area features eye-catching Japanese-style photo spots in summer, and in autumn and winter hosts internationally recognized events such as the "Taipei Hot Spring Season." The goal is to attract visitors in every season, offering different experiences while enjoying the pleasures of hot spring bathing for total relaxation of body and mind.

Beitou's Deep Musical Heritage: Over a Thousand Carp Streamers Dance to the Music

Lin Chih-yu, Chairperson of the Taipei Hot Springs Development Association, explained that Beitou's fame is inseparable from the companion industries of hot spring culture, establishing a three-in-one entertainment model of "hot springs, cuisine banquets, and music." Looking back at Beitou's industrial history, the rise of "Nakashi" in the 1960s was rooted in the unique hot spring tourism ecosystem of this land. Early Nakashi musicians moved between guesthouses, offering not just performing art but a highly refined form of "customized musical hospitality." This walking-and-singing service laid the social foundation for Taiwanese people to express emotions through song. In that spirit, this year's program features Nakashi cuisine banquets, pop music concerts, and Nakashi singing competitions as musical gatherings. In keeping with the principles of environmental sustainability, more than a thousand carp streamers of various sizes will flutter from Beitou Park all the way to the Hell Valley, with two large carp installations of 3–4 meters above the fountain pond. Music lovers and fans of Japanese atmosphere alike must come to Beitou—this place has an abundance of Japanese charm to offer. Come capture the breathtaking view of a sea of carp streamers dancing in the breeze, a scene full of happiness and blessings!

District Experience Tours, Beitou Guide Q&A, Local Arts Performances, and Good Goods Market — Exciting Activities Every Weekend!

On the weekends at the beginning and end of the festival, Qixing Street and Qixing Park will host a rich variety of thematic activities. During the opening weekend (May 29–31), Qixing Street will be closed for a grand opening celebration. In addition to creative cuisine banquets, afternoon family DIY workshops will run from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, accompanied by dozens of hot spring vendors and a curated goods market. On the evening of May 30 starting at 7:00 PM, singer-songwriter Wang Yu-shao, warm-voiced vocalist Moriyama Yuriko, and the headlining band Little Boys Band will take the stage for a spectacular concert. May 31 features Beitou's beloved Nakashi singing competition, with live band accompaniment and prizes up to NT$5,000 in cash plus hot spring vouchers for the winners. The closing weekend (June 19–21) falls during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, with family-friendly balloon interaction shows and an outdoor cinema. The surrounding area will also host the local specialty arts market "Yiqi 543." Throughout the festival, four guided tour sessions of "Ask a Beitou Guide" invite visitors to explore the local market and experience the everyday life, faith, and culture of Beitou residents, deepening their appreciation of Beitou's rich character.

Beat the Summer Heat: Visit Local Member Stores, Make Purchases at Featured Spots, and Join the Stamp Rally Lottery

During the hot summer afternoons, visitors are invited to explore local member stores, with over 9 hot spring businesses offering diverse hands-on experiences and tour packages. Whether it's therapeutic essential oil DIY, handmade soap stamps inspired by Beitou's local mineral veins, the most seasonally fitting sachet-making experience, or packaged experience programs from resort operators—all are designed to allow body and mind to fully unwind. A dedicated stamp-collecting APP will also be launched during the festival. Simply visit Taipei Hot Springs Development Association member stores or on-site market stalls during the event period and make any purchase (no minimum spend) to earn 1 point. Visiting local featured attractions—such as Xinbeitou Station and Beitou Hot Spring Museum—also earns points. Collect 3 points and exchange them for one lottery draw at the weekend service desk. There are over a thousand prize sets to be won, including hot spring business discount vouchers, hot spring bathing coupons, and accommodation vouchers. Hot spring enthusiasts absolutely cannot miss this chance to take home these wonderful prizes! Nearby cultural venues will also extend their operating hours until 8:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, including Xinbeitou Station, Beitou Hot Spring Museum, Ketagalan Culture Center, Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch (Saturdays only), and the Hell Valley, inviting visitors to explore the surroundings after enjoying the performances and art installations.

For more information, please visit the "Xinbeitou Hot Springs" Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/taipeihotsprings/) and the "Taipei City Department of Economic Development – I Am a Business Ya Person" Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/tcooc/).

Press Contacts:

Taipei City Department of Economic Development

Section Chief: Tsai Hui-chen   +886-2-2720-8889 / 1999 ext. 6503 / +886-921-488-467

Media Contact: Chang Ting-tien   +886-2-2720-8889 / 1999 ext. 4563 / +886-926-025-783

Taipei Hot Springs Development Association

Secretary: Yu Tsai-yi   +886-939-226-170