Taiwan, This Month: October 2026

This is the October 2026 edition of Taiwan, This Month, OQUA’s selection of things worth making room for. Details were checked against the linked sources on September 26. The calendar reaches beyond Taipei; this first edition’s two outings are in Taipei, with a Tainan date to plan ahead for.

A campus you can explore

The official Open House programme lists Children’s Science Day in Taipei on October 3, the Taipei campus open day on October 17, and the southern-campus open day in Shalun, Tainan, on November 14. Organisers say about seven in ten activities need no advance registration. The rest may require individual registration and a draw. Check the activity, not just the date, before promising someone a place.

Open the activity catalogue and choose one main event, then something nearby. Leave room to get between them. The Taipei site is at 128 Academia Road, Section 2, Nangang. Use the event’s access instructions for your chosen day. We have not assumed that every session has the same hours, language or entry conditions.

The useful booking task this month is to check those limited-capacity sessions now. A calendar reminder to review the organiser’s registration page will serve you better than a copied deadline that has quietly changed.

Buy the right kind of persimmon

At the fruit stall, ask which variety you are buying and whether it is ready to eat. Orange skin alone does not answer either question. Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture guide distinguishes sweet persimmons from astringent varieties that require treatment before eating. It places Jiro’s usual harvest from late September to mid-October; Fuyu generally follows in November and early December. Actual availability varies.

A few ready-to-eat fruit are enough for a first purchase. Wash one and cut it into wedges for the table. If you want a crisp fruit today, say so rather than buying a soft variety and expecting it to behave differently. Our seasonal food guide gives this small shopping decision a place in the wider year.

A Saturday that ends before you are tired

Start with the morning market, then move indoors when U-mkt opens. Our Wanhua half-day walk connects Dong Sanshui Street Market, U-mkt and Bopiliao. It includes a route link, opening windows, a spending allowance and a shorter wet-weather version. There is no requirement to finish at a famous restaurant.

Go on Saturday for this particular plan. The cultural venues close on Mondays, and individual market stalls keep their own schedules. If rain becomes heavy, shorten the walk to U-mkt and a meal nearby. An outing should not become a test of how long you can stay damp.

One thing to keep using

Before buying a new umbrella for the season, look at the one by the door. A broken mechanism and a torn canopy may be treated differently by the repair provider. Our repair directory starts with published service policies for umbrellas, sandals and bags, with costs and waiting times where operators provide them.

Choose one item to ask about, photograph the damage and request the total cost including shipping. Repairing something you already like can be a satisfying small job. You do not need to turn the entire cupboard into a project.

Keep this page useful

Save this address for the current edition. The month and checking date are written at the top so you can tell whether its event information still applies. For a weekly selection, OQUA Flow brings together the stories worth returning to. Event organisers remain the source for cancellations, registration and last-minute changes.