Jiqing Community - Christmas Lane Introduction
The "Christmas Lane" of Jiqing Community originated from the "San Ai Church," where Pastor Lin Gong-Zhao moved the Christmas tree from indoors to outdoors before Christmas in 1999. The church members began to decorate Christmas lights at their doorsteps and share good news with neighbors. Inspired by the festive atmosphere, more residents in the lane joined in over the years. With the efforts of Jiqing Community village head Huang Sheng-Zong, carpenter Mr. Wen Yong-Yan, Taipei City University of Science and Technology Associate Professor Pan Tong-Tai, and pastors Lin Gong-Zhao and Hou Shu-Liang, the scale of "Christmas Lane" grew larger and its reputation spread. Now, every year around Christmas, it has become a customary festive activity for every household in the lane to set up Christmas decorations. Each December, residents spontaneously begin decorating their doors, with some even planning and creating new designs or installations months in advance. There is a mutual understanding among the residents to start lighting the decorations from the week before Christmas until the Lantern Festival of the following year. The decorations in "Christmas Lane" are organized by "households," incorporating various themed installations, such as high-speed rail, cable cars, helicopters, and yellow ducks, with careful designs at every window and courtyard. In 2014, Jiqing Community's "Christmas Lane" was voted as one of the "Top Ten Most Romantic Christmas Destinations" in the country by netizens.
