Twisted Taipei mailboxes to be moved as crowds disrupt traffic

Want ChinaTimes, CNA and Staff Reporter 2015-08-12

People line up to have their photo taken with the now famous mailboxes
in Taipei, Aug. 9. (Photo/CNA)

Two roadside mailboxes in Taipei that have become a visitor attraction since they were bent to one side by strong winds from Typhoon Soudelor on Aug. 8 will be relocated after drawing so many people that traffic has been affected and nearby residents inconvenienced.

Chunghwa Post has decided to remove the mailboxes from service because the crowds lining up to have their photos taken with them have been disrupting traffic and disturbing residents, the company announced Tuesday.

The mailboxes, nicknamed "Xiao Hong" (Little Red)" and "Xiao Lu" (Little Green) by their fans, will be removed from their current spot on the intersection of Nanjing East Road and Longjiang Road on Aug. 13 and relocated to the entrance to the Postal Museum Taipei Beimen Branch, where they will be used as an exhibit, Chunghwa Post said.

A new mailbox will replace the damaged ones, the company said, adding that to mark the planned decommissioning of the mailboxes it has made a "smiling mailbox" commemorative seal. Post deposited in the twisted mailboxes in the period between 5 pm Wednesday and 5 pm Thursday will all be stamped with the seal so recipients can enjoy a little piece of history, Chunghwa Post said.

The decision to relocate Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu, however, has disappointed some of their online fans, who said "no one will pay attention to them" after they are relocated and called for them to be kept where they are.

The photo of the two twisted mailboxes has gone viral since being posted on the internet and Saturday. They were bent to one side by a signboard that fell to the ground during the storm in the early hours of the day, according to workers at a nearby convenience store.