Iconic Taipei rainbow crossing returns with reoriented letters

Taipei, Aug. 9 (CNA) "Rainbow Six," a rainbow crossing in Taipei's Ximending shopping district that many tourists flock to for photos, returned on Saturday after a month of renovation, with its reoriented "TAIPEI" letters drawing mixed reactions from locals and visitors.

Located next to Exit 6 of Ximen MRT Station, the crossing has been a must-visit photo spot for many visitors to the capital since it was installed in 2019 to mark Taiwan becoming the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

Following media inquiries about the renovation, which began on July 8, the city's Department of Information and Tourism said Wednesday that the repainting of "Rainbow Six" and reorienting the "TAIPEI" lettering were part of preparations for Taipei's annual Pride parade in October.

That change would allow tourists to photograph the crossing with the Ximending shopping district -- rather than the road and buildings across the street in its previous orientation -- as the backdrop, according to the department.

The renovation, which saw the crossing covered in black and left many tourists disappointed, concluded on Saturday with the return of the rainbow crossing in brighter colors and with reoriented "TAIPEI" letters.

"This is very great because the letters we can read it very clearly now compared to the past," said Mitzia Perez, who has visited Ximending several times since coming to Taiwan for work half a year ago.

Regarding the new backdrop after the reorientation of the "TAIPEI" letters, the 23-year-old told CNA it was "just right," as it now features Ximending, "the main reason why we come here."

Asked about the previous backdrop, she said it was "kind of off" because it was against the light, with buildings and traffic in the background that "don't suit the style."

After learning about the previous backdrop, first-time visitor Matthieu shared similar views with Perez, saying the buildings in it "don't look as new."

The new backdrop, which is a pedestrian street with no traffic, has buildings that "look a bit newer than the ones on the other side," the 38-year-old Frenchman said, adding that he chose to visit Ximending after reading online recommendations describing it as having a "vibrant" youth culture.

Echoing Matthieu, Krystal Smith from Belize told CNA that the new backdrop captures both the people and the street, saying, "It's like being in New York with all the people around."

Smith's friend, 42-year-old Taiwanese Alex Liang (梁文憲), however, said he prefers "the old one," as it had The Red House -- a historic landmark built in 1908 during the Japanese colonial period -- in the background.

He later added, however, that both backdrops are good, as they each represent the Ximen area in their own way.