"What does snow look like? I really want to see it!" Over 30 years ago, when I was just 8 years old, my dad heard my New Year's wish and took me up to Hehuanshan. We had no car and no money, so we traveled from Banqiao, stopped over in Nantou, then took a bus to Qingjing. After walking a bit and climbing some stone steps, we were already drenched in sweat. All we saw on the ground were dirty patches of scattered snowflakes. We were too exhausted to reach the summit. "Let’s go home—I’ll make snow for you to see!" Back home, he opened the freezer of our Dawlton refrigerator, scraped off the frost, put it in a bowl, and said, "This is snow."
Budget airlines have captured the Taiwanese market with their low fares, bringing 840,000 passengers to Taoyuan Airport as of last September. However, consumer disputes involving budget airlines have also been on the rise. An investigation by the Consumers' Foundation found that besides the unclear information on most budget airline websites, some airlines do not even accept ticket cancellations or charge high handling fees.
Nature is full of endless imagination and surprises. Recently, large "frost flowers" have been spotted on the Arctic Ocean — beautiful, spiky white "flowers" scattered across the sea surface, creating a magical sight akin to sugar crystals falling from the sky, leaving all who see them in awe.
Traveling to and from the bustling Taipei city center, it’s easy to spot numerous coffee shops of all sizes, standing like commas in the city, offering busy pedestrians a moment to catch their breath. And USA Today’s travel news section once ranked Taipei among the top 10 best cities for coffee tasting. But this “coffee wave” isn’t limited to Taipei—it has spread across many cities in Taiwan, where you can always find cafés with their own unique styles.
Sometimes the best care isn't words, but a kind of taste-based attention. Ferran Adrià put it most aptly: "When one is ill, the best comfort is food." If you catch a cold in a foreign land, nothing compares to a cup of ginger tea or a bowl of warm congee; tasting a familiar flavor in an unfamiliar place feels as heartwarming as meeting an old friend abroad.
Critics say it was the director and cast that made Hong Kong film *A Simple Life* a miracle winner of multiple international awards, but I believe the tender and moving master-servant relationship portrayed in the film is also one of the reasons for its success. Some say such relationships only existed among the older generation and are rarely seen today, yet I encountered just that at Golden Phoenix Café.
Opposite the valley rises a mountain shaped like an inverted triangle, while on the left slope, rows of red houses are scattered. These buildings are the shrines of Musashi-Mitake Shrine and the over twenty shukubō (pilgrim lodgings) that offer accommodation to shrine visitors.
Rue216 French Bistro may not be large, but it’s a cozy spot frequented by regulars and a favorite haven for young professional women unwinding after work over a glass of wine and small bites. What makes Rue216 so appealing isn’t just the tall, handsome owner Alex, but primarily its classic Southern French home-style cuisine paired with the relaxed bistro atmosphere that makes everyone feel instantly at ease—so much so that guests often don’t want to leave once seated.
In 2012, the new-era business magazine Ppaper Business selected the world’s top 10 theme parks. Among them, Hokkaido’s Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, with its “snow” theme and multifaceted expressions such as ski slopes of varying levels, the ICE VILLAGE, the Ice Chapel, and the Polar Village, vividly showcased the unique culture and scenery of a snowy country, earning favor from the judges. It was also a key filming location for the Japanese drama “White Love.”
Did you plan what to do on the first weekend of 2013? This week, ETtoday News Cloud has selected three uniquely themed exhibitions for you — dive into the world of Doraemon, experience the pain and forgetting after Japan’s 311 earthquake, or enter a vibrant candy wonderland full of sweetness and happiness. Why not choose an exhibition that suits your style during the holiday and step into another dreamlike world?
The "icefalls" of Jiuzhaigou on the mainland are stunning. Photography enthusiast Huang Chaoge captured a series of breathtaking winter scenes in Jiuzhaigou under temperatures below minus ten degrees. Among them, the Nuorilang Waterfall has transformed from flowing water to a solid state, creating a stunning "icefall scroll." Meanwhile, the Panda Waterfall, where pandas are often seen playing, has entirely frozen into towering ice pillars—majestic and awe-inspiring.
There are plenty of great noodle shops in Seoul, offering everything from cold noodles, hot noodles, jjajangmyeon (Korean black bean sauce noodles), to pasta... But among them all, the “Bounce God” restaurant located on Daehak-ro serves up a “soul-stirring delicacy” that is truly unforgettable — the “soul-tempting creamy noodles.” Visitors heading to Ehwa Village or Naksan Park might want to slow down and try this popular dish loved by nearby university students.
Night markets in Taiwan are a must-visit for many tourists. They offer a countless array of local Taiwanese street foods, essentially a gathering place for traditional delicacies. In addition, there are also plenty of fusion-style "East-meets-West" creations, such as teriyaki pork belly buns and peanut butter ice cream. However, when foreigners bring their "hometown flavors" directly into Taiwan's local night markets, the result is an even richer taste of authentic international cuisine.
There’s absolutely none of the grandeur of a five-star hotel—it looks more like an art gallery, as if you’ve wandered into a painter’s studio. That vast, appalling expanse of shattered columns and crumbling walls, masterfully transformed by Neri&Hu, the design firm co-founded by Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, is infused with postmodern installation art flair, strikingly reminiscent of the provocative techniques of shock artist Damien Hirst.
Almost every movie star who visits Barcelona has stayed at Hotel Arts. Penélope Cruz, Bono, and Eric Clapton are just a few among the many celebrities who have checked in. A few years ago, Woody Allen stayed at Hotel Arts while filming his Spanish movie *Vicky Cristina Barcelona*.
The most anticipated New Year holiday of the year is just around the corner. Are you ready for some fun? From February 1 to February 24, Hong Kong Disneyland will launch a brand-new Lunar New Year celebration, using the pure gold color that symbolizes wealth and good fortune. Starting with “gold,” the park presents a golden festive event.
In every corner of life, a cup of coffee and a simple interaction create the most delightful experience. This is the heartfelt message Starbucks aims to share with its customers—from the moment you step inside, the ambiance is designed to be the most comfortable.
The beautiful and colorful cherry blossom season is here again this year. The entire Taiwan Route 7 has been dyed a vibrant pink as cherry blossoms bloom along the way. Among them, Qilan Resort on Taiwan Route 7, which sits at a lower elevation, sees its mountain cherry blossoms bloom first, followed by the pink cherry blossoms. People don’t have to drive a long way and get stuck in traffic to visit Wuling or Taichung – just pass through the Xueshan Tunnel and head toward Taiwan Route 7. In less than 10 minutes, you’ll be greeted by a sea of blooming cherry blossoms.
To coincide with the increase in direct flights between Taoyuan and Komatsu to daily service, Ishikawa and Fukui prefectures have launched the “Hokuriku Week in Taiwan” event in Taiwan. The event will run from 10:30 AM tomorrow (the 11th) to 7:00 PM on January 13. In addition to live performances by the Gyōjinjō Taiko drum group, travel consultations, and Japanese sake tastings, the event offers a touch of warmth amid the cold weather.
Plan a getaway during weekends or long holidays, whether it’s a spring flower tour in Maoluku, cherry blossom viewing and hot springs in Guguan, harbor sightseeing in West Bay, or a fun-filled adventure in Kenting. A resort operator has launched a special accommodation promotion. From now until April 30, two people staying on weekdays pay just NT$1,949 per person, originally priced at NT$8,228 per room — equivalent to a 4.7-fold discount. Additional perks include no extra charge for two people on holidays and complimentary upgrade to a 4-person room on weekdays.