Taipei's Two Major Parks Bloom with Globe Amaranth for Qixi Festival, Reflecting the Many Faces of Love Amid Urban Landscapes

As Qixi Festival draws near, not everyone in the city has someone to hold hands with. Some are preparing to confess their love, others still wait for an answer that will never come, and some have already learned to walk alone, accompanied only by memories. Recently, Taipei’s Daan Forest Park and 228 Peace Park have been adorned with a romantic new look, as purple, pink, and white globe amaranth flowers bloom in the summer breeze, adding tenderness to the bustling urban scenery and reflecting the many facets of love.

The blossoms have become love letters written across the city, while camera lenses capture the diverse expressions of romance.

Entering 228 Peace Park, visitors are greeted by vast fields of globe amaranth blooming before the octagonal pavilion, where vivid flower clusters contrast beautifully with historic architecture, monuments, and ancient trees. The lens captures a sea of summer blooms, but beyond the frame, some may walk side by side, while others stand before the flowers, remembering someone who once promised to see them together but never showed up.

Daan Forest Park also welcomes Qixi with colorful floral displays, featuring globe amaranth planted around MRT station entrances and garden beds. Bees and butterflies flit between blossoms, and flower heads sway gently in the summer wind, inviting hurried commuters to slow down and offering couples, families, and friends a scenic urban corner for strolling and photography.

Globe amaranth, known locally as 'Yuan Zai Hua' (round flower), carries deep symbolic meaning — its enduring color resembles a stubborn, unwavering wait.

According to the Taipei City Department of Parks and Street Lighting under the Public Works Bureau, the commonly named 'globe amaranth' gets its nickname from its resemblance to round, plump tangyuan (glutinous rice balls). What appears to be a spherical flower is actually formed by multiple layers of hard bracts, with tiny true flowers hidden discreetly within the crevices.

Globe amaranth is heat-resistant, drought-tolerant, and boasts a long blooming period. Even under the scorching summer sun, it retains its vivid colors, earning it symbolic meanings of completeness and longevity. Yet while flowers can preserve their hues, emotions may not withstand the test of time. Promises made with the firmness of globe amaranth may still scatter into years of unmet expectations.

Some enter the flower fields hand in hand; others walk beside memories alone.

By arranging purple, pink, and white blooms to create romantic depth, the Department hopes citizens can enjoy a Qixi flower-viewing date without leaving the city. Whether walking hand-in-hand with a lover, spending time with family, or sharing summer moments with friends, everyone can form personal memories amid the blossoms.

Visitors can reach Daan Forest Park via the Daan Forest Park Station on the Tamsui-Xinyi MRT Line, exiting through Gates 2 to 5. For 228 Peace Park, take the NTU Hospital Station, exiting at Gate 1. The Department reminds visitors not to step on flower beds or pick flowers, so this romantic scenery can be enjoyed by more people.

Flowers will bloom again next year, but some people, once missed, remain only in memory. A camera can capture the most beautiful moment of full bloom, but it cannot stop a love that has already turned away. This Qixi, if there’s still someone willing to walk into the flower fields with you, perhaps don’t wait for next time.