Jiqing Community - Christmas Lane Introduction
Jiqing Community's "Christmas Lane" originated from the "San Ai Church" when Pastor Lin Gongzhao moved the Christmas tree from indoors to outdoors on the eve of Christmas in 1999. The church members began to decorate their homes with Christmas lights, sharing good news with their neighbors. Gradually, more residents joined in due to the festive atmosphere, and with the efforts of community leader Huang Shengzong, carpenter Mr. Wen Yongyan, Associate Professor Pan Tongtai from Taipei City University of Science and Technology, Pastor Lin Gongzhao, and Pastor Hou Shuliang, the scale of "Christmas Lane" grew larger and gained more fame. Nowadays, decorating homes for Christmas has become a customary activity within the lane, with residents voluntarily starting to set up their doors as early as a few months in advance to design and create new decorations for the year. There is a mutual understanding among the residents to light up their displays starting from a week before Christmas until the Lantern Festival of the following year. The decorations on "Christmas Lane" are organized by household, complemented by different themed installations such as high-speed rail, cable cars, helicopters, and yellow ducks, with each household’s windows and yards showcasing the residents' meticulous designs. In 2014, Jiqing Community’s "Christmas Lane" was voted one of the "Top Ten Romantic Christmas Spots" in the country by online users.
