Taipei Youth Activity Center

(02) 2343-2388
17, RenAi Rd, Sec 1, Taipei
Hours: 9 am-10 pm Parking available.
www.y17.com.tw

--- By Claire Tyrell Translated by Picker Chen

Open five years now, Y17 is certainly one of the best equipped youth activity centers I've seen. While primarily offering a positive focus for young people, the facilities are open to everyone to use and include a wide array of activities: sporting, educational and leisure. Membership is free, and allows you discount on all activities.

Surely one of the most impressive sights is the high- standard 12-meter-high rock climbing wall. With a double overhang, this provides a challenge even for those experienced, and lessons with an instructor are offered on weekends for beginners who want to enjoy this fast-growing discipline. For lessons, booking ahead is required and the cost of using the wall is NT$300-400/half hour. Also on this floor is the VR room providing 100 computers and online gaming.

Another sight that blew us away was the huge two-level skating plaza, the largest indoor skating area in Taiwan. With fun lighting and difficult slopes to maneuver, even "big kids" will find that tiredness will come before boredom does. Blades and safety equipment are available for hire, and lessons are also on offer here.
On the newly-opened fourth floor, there is an extensive schedule of dance, yoga and aerobics classes throughout the day. Although predominantly for adults, some children's classes are also offered after school hours. The full schedule is on the website.

This 10-floor building also contains a Chinese restaurant, snack bars, shops, comic reading room and fantastically cosy area for renting and watching DVDs, holiday classes, and large areas that can be rented for conferences, show performances and parties (which can be catered from the restaurant). Movies are also shown on weekends.
If you've never visited Y17, check out the website and I can guarantee you'll wonder what you have been doing with your time until now!