TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Environment on Thursday launched a pilot version of its “Cool Map” platform, a digital tool designed to help residents locate nearby cooling zones amid intensifying heat waves.

The map currently features about 1,700 designated cooling spots across three demonstration cities, including Taipei, New Taipei, and Tainan. These publicly accessible sites range from air-conditioned indoor venues to shaded outdoor areas, intended to offer temporary relief from high temperatures, according to CNA.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of urban heat islands, which occur when densely built city areas retain heat more than surrounding rural regions. The ministry’s approach centers on four key principles: enhancing water and vegetation coverage, improving ventilation, increasing shade, and promoting energy-efficient building design.

Taipei currently hosts over 800 of the listed sites, while New Taipei and Tainan each offer between 400 and 500. The program will be gradually extended to cover all six major municipalities before being rolled out nationwide.

By enabling location services, users can search for cooling zones within a 500-meter radius on the platform.

Listings include information such as the availability of air conditioning, seating, drinking fountains, barrier-free access, and restrooms. For privately operated venues, business hours are also provided to assist with route planning.

Examples of cooling locations include Taipei’s Daan Forest Park, Youth Park, and Guangci Charity Park Social Housing; New Taipei’s water parks, Yingge Ceramics Museum, and Fuzhong 15; and in Tainan, the Anping Tree House and Tainan Art Museum.

The platform will be regularly updated with new locations, and all six major municipalities have been invited to participate. Officials hope that other counties and cities will gradually join the initiative, allowing the program to expand nationwide and create a comprehensive network of cooling zones.