Major tourist attractions in Taipei’s Beitou District (北投), including the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, will extend their opening hours on weekends and introduce night time activities to promote the tourist area during the summer months.
Beitou, a hub of hot spring culture in Taiwan, was recently voted as one of the top 10 tourist areas in the country. It is well-known for traditional hot spring sites and a variety of spa facilities and is -especially popular during winter when tourists flock to enjoy the hot springs. Japanese-style structures and buildings scattered around the district also made it a favorite destination for Japanese tourists.
To promote the area during the summer, Taipei City’s Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday it would extend the opening hours at the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, the Plum Garden and the Ketagalan Culture Center to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays from next month to September.
Photo: Tsai Wei-chi, Taipei Times
The three tourist attractions are scheduled to hold a joint party at the Beitou Hot Spring Museum at 5pm on Sunday featuring dance and music performances.
A traditional folk song performance led by folk singer Chen Ming-chang (陳明章) on the yueqin (月琴) will be held on July 20 at the museum to showcase the nostalgic atmosphere of the old Beitou.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday touted Beitou as a great tourist spot not only for its hot springs, but also its old district which is rich in history and culture.
“The extension of opening hours makes it easier for tourists to visit Beitou during the summer nights and hopefully the public will learn more about Beitou’s rich history and culture,” he said.
The department has also invited local tourist guide Yang Yeh (楊燁) to lead free tours around the town at 4:30pm on July 14, Aug. 11 and Sept. 15.
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