Northstar

MAY-JUN 2018 55 MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS MCMAG-ASIA.COM • Hiking: Want to get a MICE group to unplug and immerse themselves in nature? Send them on a half- or full-day trip into one of Taiwan's magnicent mountains. Yangmingshan is located just outside Taipei and the promise of a post-hike soak at nearby Beitou hot springs should spur participants on. • Cycling: Taiwan's passion for the sport means it even boasts a 968km bicycle route circling the entire island. For an incentive groups with a more leisurely agenda, a bicycle tour around the mirror-like waters of Sun Moon Lake awaits just 90 minutes from Taichung. To add to the fun and bonding, split participants into teams and send them on a photo safari. • River Rafting: The Laonong River which ows through Kaohsiung channels groups of rafters through roughly 10km of intense rapids and winding waters. • Paragliding: Taiwan's mountainous landscape also lends itself well to this extreme sport. For maximum adrenaline rush, gutsy groups can try paragliding in Wanli (one hour from Taipei) or Nantou (one hour from Taichung). On a tandem paraglider, licensed pilots accompany each participant on a scenic 10-15 minute ight. Ramp up the activity level to engage delegates with unique spaces and adventure activities. WORDS BROOKE THIO Creative by nature UP FOR A CHALLENGE Groups that conquer together stay together, and Taiwan's great outdoors promises rewarding adventures for any risk appetite. Huashan 1914 Creative Park. PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES Titled the 2016 World Design Capital by the World Design Organization, Taipei's creative venues are often steeped in history. Huashan 1914 Creative Park, for instance, was converted from a winery, while Songshan Cultural and Creative Park was once an important tobacco factory. Both oer spaces for workshops, seminars, or product launches. Another conversion involves a military base: the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) will ocially begin operations in October this year. Within the clean, futuristic façade of Taiwan's new largest theatre complex are a 2,260-seat Opera House, 2,000-seat Concert Hall, 1,250-seat Playhouse, 470-seat Recital Hall, and an outdoor amphitheatre which seats 1,000. In the meantime, the new Kaohsiung Maritime Culture and Popular Music Center is taking shape on the banks of the city harbour, adding a 3,500-seat concert hall, six waterfront studio spaces, and a 12,000-seat outdoor theatre to the city's MICE scene. The Laonong River is an ideal place for river rafting.

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