“Rainbow Six,” a multicolored crossing in Taipei’s Ximending (西門町) area that many tourists flock to for photographs, returned yesterday after a month of renovation, with its reoriented “TAIPEI” letters drawing mixed reactions from locals and visitors.
The crossing next to Exit 6 of Ximen MRT Station has been a must-visit photo spot for many visitors to the capital since it was installed in 2019 to mark Taiwan becoming the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.
Following media inquiries about the renovation, which began on July 8, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism on Wednesday said that repainting of “Rainbow Six” and reorienting the “TAIPEI” lettering were part of preparations for Taipei’s annual Pride parade scheduled for October.
Photo: CNA
That change would allow people to photograph the crossing with the Ximending shopping district — rather than the road and buildings across the street in its previous orientation — as the backdrop, the department said.
The work, during which the crossing was covered and many tourists left disappointed, was completed yesterday with the return of the rainbow crossing with brighter colors and the reoriented lettering.
Among those lining up to get a photo with “Rainbow Six” was Mitzia Perez, a Filipino working in New Taipei City who traveled to Ximending in the capital’s Wanhua District (萬華) for the food and to see the newly repainted crossing.
“This is very great because ... we can read [the letters] very clearly now compared to the past,” said Perez, who has visited Ximending several times since arriving in Taiwan for work half a year ago.
Regarding the new backdrop after the reorientation of the lettering, the 23-year-old said it was “just right,” as it now features Ximending, “the main reason why we come here.”
Asked about the previous backdrop, she said it was “kind of off,” because it was against the light, with buildings and traffic in the background that “don’t suit the style.”
After learning about the previous backdrop, first-time visitor Matthieu shared similar views as Perez, saying the buildings in it “don’t look as new.”
The new backdrop, which is a pedestrian street with no vehicle traffic, has buildings that “look a bit newer than the ones on the other side,” the 38-year-old Frenchman said, adding that he visited Ximending after reading online recommendations describing it as having a “vibrant” youth culture.
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