It used to be that Taipei was dead quiet during the Lunar New Year holiday, with not much to do except listen to the din of firecrackers. Nowadays, if you’re looking to spend time in the city, there are plenty of choices, even on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Most major department stores and malls, eager to lure shoppers ready to spend their hongbao money, will be open for business, as well as many movie theaters and museums. Here is a list of the shops, theaters, restaurants and other establishments that are open in Taipei during the holiday.
Bear in mind that on Sunday, which is Lunar New Year’s Eve, most businesses close at around 5pm or 6pm, so get your shopping done before then. If you plan on eating out on Sunday night, a safe bet is a restaurant or bar popular with expats, such as Brass Monkey, Carnegie’s or The Tavern.
Photo: Liberty Times
As for public transport, all buses and the MRT will operate during normal hours, but on reduced schedules, throughout the official holiday, which runs until Jan. 29.
SHOPPING
Bellavita
Address: 28 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路28號)
Telephone: (02) 8729-2739
Web site: www.bellavita.com.tw
Hours: Closed on Sunday, 11am to 10:30pm throughout the holiday (restaurants close at 9:40pm)
Sogo Department Store
Address: Zhongxiao Branch (忠孝館): 45, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段45號); Fuxing Branch (復興館): 300, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路三段300號)
Web site: www.sogo.com.tw
Hours: Both the Zhongxiao and Fuxing branches are open from 11am to 5pm on Sunday and 11am to 10pm for the rest of the holiday
Breeze Center (微風廣場)
Address: 39, Fuxing S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市復興南路一段39號)
Web site: www.breezecenter.com
Hours: 11am to 6pm on Sunday, and then normal hours: 11am to 9:30pm from Monday to Wednesday and 11am to 10pm on Thursdays and weekends
Hankyu Department Store (統一阪急百貨)
Address: 8, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路五段8號
Telephone: (02) 2729-9699
Hours: 11am to 6pm on Sunday, 11am to 10pm from Jan. 23 to Jan. 28
Eslite Bookstore (誠品)
Address: Dunnan Store (敦南店) B2, 245, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路一段245號B2); Xinyi Store (信義店), 6F, 11 Songgao Rd, Taipei City (台北市松高路11號6樓)
Hours: The Dunnan branch closes at 6pm on Sunday and reopens on Monday at 11am. The Xinyi branch closes at 6pm on Sunday, and resumes normal business hours on Monday
Taipei 101
Address: 7, Xinyi Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市信義路五段7號)
Telephone: (02) 8101-8898;
Hours: The Observation Deck is open from 9am to 6pm on Sunday (last tickets sold at 5:15pm) and 9am to 10pm during the rest of the holiday (last tickets sold at 9:15pm). The mall is open from 11am to 6pm on Sunday and 11am to 10pm for the rest of the holiday
MOVIES
Vieshow Cinemas Taipei Xinyi (台北信義威秀影城)
Address: 18 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路18號)
Telephone: (02) 8780-5566
Hours: Normal business hours throughout the entire holiday. Visit www.vscinemas.com.tw for movies and screening times and to reserve tickets online
SPOT — Taipei Film House (台北光點)
Address: 18, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市中山北路二段18號)
Telephone: (02) 2511-7786
Hours: Closed Sunday to Tuesday. Opens everyday from Wednesday, from 11am to 10pm. For a list of films and screening times, visit www.spot.org.tw
Miramar Cinemas (美麗華影城) and Imax Theater
Address: 6F, 22 Jingye 3rd Rd, Taipei City (台北市敬業三路22號6樓)
Telephone: (02) 8161-1900
Hours: Normal business hours throughout the entire holiday. Visit www.miramarcinemas.com.tw for movies and screening times and to reserve tickets online
Miramar Entertainment Park (美麗華百樂園)
Address: 20 Jingye 3rd Rd, Taipei City (台北市敬業三路20號)
Telephone: (02)8502-2208
Web site: www.miramar.com.tw
Hours: The ferris wheel, supermarket and stores are open from 11am to 9pm on Sunday and 11am to 10:30pm throughout the holiday
BOWLING
Yuanshan Bowling Alley (圓山保齡球館)
Address: 6, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市中山北路五段6號)
Telephone: (02) 2881-2787
Hours: Closes at 4pm on Sunday, resumes normal hours (9pm to 2am) starting Monday
Chungcheng Bowling Alley (中正保齡球館)
Address: 392 Zhongzheng Rd, Taipei City (台北市中正路392號)
Telephone: (02)2836-0101
Hours: 24 hours a day
MUSEUMS
National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物)
Address: 221, Zhishan Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市至善路二段221號)
Telephone: (02) 2881-2021
Hours: 8:30am to 4pm on Sunday, 8:30am to 6:30pm from Monday to Jan. 27, 8:30am to 8:30pm on Jan. 28
Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館)
Address: 181, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市中山北路三段181號)
Telephone: (02) 2595-7656
Hours: Closed on Sunday and Monday, reopens on Tuesday. Open daily throughout the rest of the holiday from 9:30pm to 5:30pm
RESTAURANTS AND BARS
Barcode
Address: 5F, 22 Songshou Rd, Taipei City
(台北市松壽路22號5樓)
Telephone: (02) 2725-3520
Hours: Daily from 9pm to 2:30am (10pm to 2:30am on Sunday)
Brass Monkey
Address: 166 Fuxing N Rd, Taipei City
(台北市復興北路166號)
Telephone: (02) 2547-5050
Hours: Open the entire holiday, weekdays from 5pm to 1am, closes at 4am on Thursdays and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays
Carnegie’s
Address: 100, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City
(台北市安和路二段100號)
Telephone: (02) 2325-4433
Hours: Daily from 10:30am to 5am throughout the entire holiday
The Tavern
Address: 5, Ln 380, Keelung Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市基隆路一段380巷5號)
Telephone: (02) 8780-0892
Hours: From 5pm to 2am throughout the entire holiday
Jake’s Country Kitchen
Address: 705, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 6, Taipei City (台北市中山北路六段705號)
Telephone: (02) 2871-5289
Hours: Open from 7:30am to 3pm on Sunday, and 10am to 9pm for the rest of the holiday
Grandma Nitti’s
Address: 8, Ln 93, Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路93巷8號)
Telephone: (02) 2369-9751
Hours: 10am to 5pm on Sunday, noon to 8pm Monday to Wednesday and normal business hours for the rest of the holiday
HOT SPRINGS
Tien Lai (天籟溫泉會館)
Address: 1-7 Mingliu Rd, Zhonghe Borough, Jinshan Dist, New Taipei City (新北市金山區重和里名流路1-7號)
Telephone: (02) 2659-6888
Web site: www.tienlai.com.tw
Prices: NT$16,000 for a room for two. Day trip specials include lunch and access to hot springs facilities for NT$1,190 plus 10 percent service charge
Wulai Spring Resort (烏來湯溫泉會館)
Address: 36 Laka Rd, Wulai Dist, New Taipei City (新北市烏來區啦卡路36號)
Telephone: (02) 2661-6161
Web site: www.wulai-spring.com.tw
Prices: Rooms are fully booked, but you can still visit the public baths for NT$500 per person
Spring City Resort (春天酒店)
Address: 18 Youya Rd, Beitou Dist, Taipei City (台北市北投區幽雅路18號)
Telephone: (02) 2897-5555
Web site: www.springresort.com.tw
Prices: Rooms are fully booked, but the public baths are open from 9am to 10pm for NT$800 per adult and NT$550 per child. Private bath and spa rooms are open 24 hours a day starting at NT$600 per hour for adults, NT$400 for children. No reservations. Guests served on first-come, first-served basis
Villa 32 (三二行館)
Address: 32 Zhongshan Road, Beitou Dist, Taipei City (台北市北投區中山路32號)
Telephone: (02) 6611-8888
Web site: www.villa32.com
Prices: Rooms are fully booked, but public baths are open. Packages are available for a day visit that include a meal and hot springs, at NT$2,550 for lunch or NT$3,550 dinner, plus 10 percent service charge. Reservations required
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