So you’re planning a Taiwan trip and you’re looking for other language immersion activities besides language camps?
Perhaps you want something for your kids to do on weekends when they have time off from camp or you’re not in the country long enough to attend a language camp. Well you’ve come to the right place!
(be sure to check out the local library while you’re in town! We loved this free activity that helped us preview books)
We recently returned from a two month visit in Taiwan. After looking around, talking to other local parents, here are my top 6 Taiwan trip activities.
Take a Class with Local Kids
During our Taiwan trip, I signed my daughter up for ballet class and she loved it. The classes were ninety minutes each time, much longer than classes in America for four year olds.
There are lots of classes to choose from. Most are similar to ones in the States, they range from dance, music, art, kung-fu, cooking to basically anything you can think of.
You probably do need to ask a local to help you communicate with the schools or look online for you if you’re unfamiliar with where you’re staying. You can even try just walking around the area where you’re staying to find a class.
Tip: Most cram schools will offer other classes besides English such as art. Cram schools are easier to spot.
Class Options for Your Taiwan Trip:
Some more well known schools with locations throughout Taiwan:
- 雲門舞集舞蹈教室/Cloud Gate Dance Studio: Well known modern dance company in Taiwan offering various dance classes for kids with multiple locations.
- 朱宗慶打擊樂教學系統/Ju Percussion Music School: percussion classes for kids. Perfect for the more active Chinese learners. They offer 50 minute classes for kids three and up. They even have classes for older kids and adults as well
- 救國團/China Youth Corp Local Community Center: Taiwan’s own version of YMCA. It’s been around since the 50s. Each district/neighborhood has its own community center offering a wide range of classes for both kids and adults. From mama and kids yoga, dance, art…there’s lots to choose from. The link above will take you to their page for courses and sign up.
Some Other Interesting Classes to Check Out on Your Taiwan Trip:
- Soccer: FC ROCK 磐石足球俱樂部
- Dance Soul: Taipei’s hip hop school. Many of the teachers here either dance in or help choreograph Mando Pop music videos. They also teach K-pop dance routines for the K-pop loving parents out there.
- Nice Day Cooking Classes for Kids: they also offer lots of other fun classes and camps as well! When looking for cooking classes, use the keyword 親子烘培
- Corny Chicken Theatre: Acting classes for older grade school kids 11+
- 圓臉貓 Nature walks and hands on learning with local teacher
Play Cafe: Stay 樂待親子共融空間
This beautiful play cafe is not only aesthetically pleasing (it looks more like a upscale cafe for moms) but the local workers at this cafe will actually play with your kids!
Not only that, you can schedule to have your nails done or a hair cut for your kids during your time there.
The entrance fee is 359NT ($12 USD) for an adult and same for a child older than one. A 60NT ($2 USD) cleaning fee is charged per adult. Babies to one year is 150 NT ($5 USD) for three hours.
A drink is included in the price.
You can bring food there or Uber/Food Panda food there as well. You’re not required to eat their food.
You can either bring your own socks or buy socks there. Adults are required to wear socks like most indoor play areas in Taiwan but the children don’t have to.
As always, they’ll take your child’s temperature (make sure they don’t have a fever) and disinfect their hands before entering.
- Details
- They have two locations:
- No. 305, Jiankang Road, Songshan District Taipei City/台北市松山區健康路305號
- age range: there isn’t an age limit, but from what I’ve heard from other parents it sounds like a place more appropriate for kids younger than 4 years old.
- cost: 359 NT (around $12) per person. This includes adults and children above one years old for 3 hours. For children younger than one, it’s 150 NT ($5) for 3 hours.
- Extra services (reservation recommended)
- children’s hair cut is 700NT ($23 USD)
- manicure 200-2400NT ($7-80USD)
- reservations: call 02-2768-3038 or line: @stay2018 or FaceBook message, or via their website
Here’s another indoor play space to check out: Hsin Yi Family Square. They also offer lots of interesting parent-child classes for toddlers.
Visit a Local Parent Child Centers in Taiwan 親子館
Immerse your child with other local children at Taiwan’s own parent-child centers or locally know as 親子館.
These are free indoor play areas for local families.
You do need to make a reservation beforehand in order to get a spot.
The registration process requires Chinese so would be best to have a local help you register.
Children’s Crafts & Activities in Department Stores
During your Taiwan trip, be sure to stop by the children’s floor at department stores such as Mitukoshi (新光三月), Sogo and Eslite (誠品). There are many crafts and other hands-on projects available with local instructors.
These activities cost an average of 500NT ($15 USD) or more. They’re not super cheap (depending on what your definition of ‘cheap’ is I guess) but the activities are interesting and taught by locals in Mandarin Chinese.
Most department stores have clay art, painting and lego classes. See video below from 李小妹與潔西卡媽咪 for a glimpse into what these classes entail:
During the class, you’re free to shop around and come back when your child’s done. Typically the class will last for at least 20 minutes or more depending on the type of craft/activity.
The Eslite Spectrum Songyan Store/誠品生活松菸 (No. 88號, Yanchang Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110/110台北市信義區菸廠路88號) has really interesting and fun activities.
Here’s a highlight and info on a few:
- glass blowing (Kun’s Crystal/坤水晶 for ages 5+ around 1000NT or $30USD for 20-30 minutes)
- leather craft (Hsu + Daughter more suitable for older kids)
- jewelry making and screen printing (in Bloom, more suitable for older kids)
Be sure to check that location out if this seems like something your kids would be interested in.
Go to a Live Kid’s Show in Taiwan
One of the best things about a Taiwan trip is the option to attend a live kid’s show such as Ciao Hu or watch a Disney movie in Mandarin Chinese.
Below are some sites where you can find information on live shows and movies throughout Taiwan and links to purchase tickets:
- 年代售票：only in Chinese
- 兩廳院賣票：some information in English
- 九歌兒童劇團/Song Song Song Children’s & Puppet Theatre: some information in English. I linked their FaceBook page because they’re more active here.
- If Kids Taiwan: only in Chinese
- Vieshow Cinemas: one of the largest movie theater chains in Taiwan. You can also purchase tickets at the nearest convenient store. If you use a Citibank credit card to book tickets you get a 40% off discount on weekdays and 17% off on weekends.
Tips for Purchasing Tickets
I would recommend that you purchase your tickets for popular live shows like Ciao Hu early. I was considering taking my daughter to the Ciao Hu live show, but unfortunately by the time I found out about the event, the only seats left weren’t that great.
Price of Tickets
Prices for the Ciao Hu live show ranged from 400NT (about $13 USD)/ticket to 1300NT (about $43 USD)/ticket. Another show by a children’s theater group was only 250NT (about $8 USD).
Spend Time with Relatives and Local Friends
Perhaps this sounds like, duh! But I sometimes forget this really important option. If you have relatives in Taiwan or local friends, take time to hang out with them and their children.
Building these relationships is an imperative part of encouraging the minority language. The main reason why we use language is to communicate and to relate with others.
This is one of the main reasons why I’m still bilingual despite the fact that we immigrated to the States when I was eight years old.
Visit a Farm in Taiwan
There are lots of family friendly farm experiences available in Taiwan from planting a rice paddy, strawberry picking, shrimping, making noodles and more!
Here are some sites to make booking these hands on farm experiences easy:
- Mami Love 媽咪愛 parenting site (site in Chinese)
- Klook (site is in English)
- Here’s a popular one parents have enjoyed, noodle making.
- Rice paddy experience in Yilan
Other Great Resources for Visiting Taiwan with Kids
- Taiwan with Kids Activities: Visiting the Taiwan Library
- Things To Do In Taipei With Kids from Mama Baby Mandarin
- Final Money Tally for Taiwan Trip 2019 from Mandarin Mama
- 10 Items I Make Sure to Pack For Our Trips to Taiwan from Guavarama
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