Wandering Taipei City’s Minsheng Community in Songshan District (松山), you are likely to encounter various designer shops, cafes and bakeries in the tree-shaded neighborhood.
The community, a 3km2 neighborhood between Minsheng E Road Sec 5 and Fujin Street, is home to more than 200 companies and studios in the music, film and design industries, making it one of the most concentrated art and culture areas in the nation’s capital.
To promote the creative vibe of the neighborhood, Taipei City and Shang Shan Human Culture Foundation, a local non-profit group, have joined forces to hold a month-long event called “Minshengism,” with guided tours and various activities from wine tasting and cooking courses to handicraft classes.
Liu Wei-gong (劉維公), a Soochow University professor and executive chairman of the foundation, said the city’s charm and creativity are hidden in the streets and small alleys, and invited the public to visit the neighborhood.
Until July 10, local residents and visitors can find activities, courses and free forums in neighborhood shops.
The activity is part of Taipei City’s Department of Cultural Affairs’ efforts to promote “creative street quarters” around the city, as it has sought to promote independent shops, designer stores and cafes in each of the 12 districts.
In Wanhua District (萬華), for example, residents and visitors can find traditional street snacks and ancient temples. Nearby Ximending (西門町), on the other hand, is famous for popular culture and trendy shops that are always crowded with teenagers.
The department said it will organize more activities in different districts to promote their distinctive features.
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