Travel
Expert-guided tours / Hands-on crafts & fairy-tale chats — have fun exploring New Taipei City
To celebrate the arrival of 2013, this time Qingqing will take readers to the expansive New Taipei City. Visit sightseeing factories for hands-on crafts, chat about fairy tales at Tonghua Garden Restaurant, and enjoy quality family time together!
Six wildly popular movie filming locations: The Descendants and Skyfall trend on search lists
The most promising movies to spark a travel boom in 2012. The results show that George Clooney’s film The Descendants topped the list, with the enchanting beaches of Hawaii and the island of Kauai serving as the film’s settings. Since the movie’s release, the area has seen a significant surge in popularity. Compared to January 2011, traveler searches for Hawaii on the site jumped by 282% in January 2012.
Heartbreaking: The "Survivors on the Golden Brick" of Huaguang Community: Government, do you hate us?
"After her child’s account was frozen, the government pressured her to demolish the house herself. But after the demolition, Mother Pan could not endure the relentless pressure and passed away on January 9th—this is the first case of the government driving someone to death." At Huaguang Community in downtown Taipei, local resident Mr. Li led a group of "outsiders" during their weekly "community walk" activity. Standing in front of Shengyuan Soy Milk, Mother Pan’s former home, he shared stories about the community.
Eric Tsang releases sky lanterns in Pingxi for blessings, accompanied by 10 beautiful models for a shared celebration
Taiwan’s unique local customs and culture are truly astonishing！ Hong Kong’s TVB network is hosting its first large-scale Spring Festival Gala, which will be broadcast simultaneously in Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia on New Year’s Eve. The network has also deployed its top actors and actresses to various locations to assist with filming outdoor segments. The Taiwan segment is led by Eric Tsang, Bowie Tsang, and King Kong as hosts. They arrived in Taiwan on the 27th to film on location, with their first stop being Pingxi Shifen Station to release sky lanterns for blessings.
Praise the heavens. Mainland tourist: It’s such a pity Taiwan wasn’t ‘reclaimed’ by the Communists back then.
The most popular phrase of 2012 was “the most beautiful scenery in Taiwan is its people,” which readers are no stranger to. Recently, however, a mainland tourist visiting Taiwan bluntly stated: “It’s such a pity Taiwan wasn’t ‘reclaimed’ by the Communists back then.”
Top Travel Destinations for Taiwanese During Lunar New Year: Tokyo Favorite Abroad, Taipei Tops Domestically
With the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday upon us, many people have already planned domestic and international trips, kicking off the first major travel season of the year. Hotels.com, based on the search habits of Taiwanese travelers, has released the most popular tourist attractions for Taiwanese during the Lunar New Year. Compared to last year's holiday, there has been a significant increase in the willingness of Taiwanese to travel abroad this year, with Tokyo once again topping the list of overseas destinations. Domestically, Taipei City takes the crown as the most popular destination, followed by Kaohsiung.
Amazingly stylish—the fashion TCM master Tian Yimin reveals her secret to youthful skin with bird’s nest.
When people first see Tian Yimin on stage as a “professional traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner,” they’re often stunned: “How can such a young and beautiful woman be a professional TCM doctor?” In fact, Tian Yimin, who looks under 25, is already 34 years old and the director of a TCM fashion clinic. Known privately as the “Fashion TCM Guru,” she has not only successfully crafted a modern, fashion-forward image for TCM practitioners but also personally practices beauty therapy through food.
Spring Cherry Blossom Getaway: Peach Aviation Taipei-Osaka Flights from NT$1,680
Planning a cherry blossom trip to Japan but haven’t made any plans yet? Peach Aviation, Japan’s first low-cost airline, has launched a “Spring Getaway” promotion. Place your online order between 1 PM on January 30 and February 6 to enjoy Taipei–Osaka one-way flights starting from NT$1,680. Travelers interested in a post-holiday escape should take advantage of this opportunity.
Youth Expeditions Worry-Free on Funding – Dream Map Offers NT$200,000 Subsidy per Person
Wish to go on a youth expedition but lack the funds? Continuing the success of the 2012 Dream Map, the Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation is hosting the Dream Map initiative again in 2013. It encourages young people to take the lead, step out of Taiwan, boldly pursue their passions, identify social issues that interest them, propose self-directed learning plans, travel abroad to observe and learn, and embark on an intellectual journey as global citizens.
Travel Weekly / International Book Fair "The Smurfs" Make an Appearance & Blooming Flower Fields Are All the Rage
The most significant event in the north this holiday is likely the annual book fair. With Belgium as its theme, the exhibition showcases contemporary literature, design, and classic exhibits from Belgium, along with appearances by "The Smurfs." In the south, the Phoenix Tree Flower Sea and Anding Flower Sea Festival are also not to be missed. Make the most of the last holiday before the Lunar New Year and head out for a stroll!
Step into Morocco’s blue mountain town — Immerse yourself in the dreamy atmosphere of Chefchaouen
If Casablanca is a passionate man, then Chefchaouen is the most romantic one. Having just returned from Greece, having seen the world’s most acclaimed sunset and most beautiful city, weiwei didn’t actually find the beauty of the Greek Aegean Sea particularly impressive.
New Taipei Metropolitan Park – Experience the Joy of Feeding Sheep
Within the Greater Taipei metropolitan area, there are two small sheep farms located at the New Taipei Metropolitan Park in the Erchong Floodway of New Taipei City and the Fuzhou Riverside Park in Banqiao, home to families of goats numbering 10 and 5 respectively, of varying sizes. On weekends and holidays, families visiting the green fields can not only interact closely with the flock of sheep but also let their children experience the joy of feeding them firsthand.
Pan Anbang passes away suddenly; Penghu residents mourn: His old home had just been adorned with Spring Festival couplets bearing his name
Singer Pan Anbang popularized Penghu with his song "Grandma's Penghu Bay." The county government transformed his former residence in Duxing 10th Village, ingeniously incorporating military dependents' village architecture, into a landscaped garden. Many tourists visit Penghu specifically to pay homage at Pan Anbang’s old home. The Penghu National Scenic Area Administration had just put up Spring Festival couplets at the entrance, inscribed with his name, but less than two days later, news of his passing was announced, leaving many deeply saddened.
"Grandma's Penghu Bay" Becomes a Thing of the Past; Penghu’s Sunshine and Beaches Tinged with Sorrow
“Penghu Bay, Penghu Bay, where I had so many childhood dreams, where my grandma leaned on her cane, gently holding my hand. Sunshine, sandy beach, ocean waves, cacti, and an old sea captain.” The song “Grandma's Penghu Bay” by entertainer Pan Anbang made Penghu one of the top three destinations in Taiwan that mainland tourists most want to visit. The scenes described in the song are also must-see spots for many visitors to Penghu. However, now they carry a faint tinge of sorrow due to Pan Anbang’s passing.
The world’s second-largest festive carnival—Curved Line’s Colorful Pingxi Sky Lanterns Shuttle Bus
The Pingxi International Sky Lantern Festival, once selected by the international Discovery Channel as the “world’s second-largest festive carnival,” attracts large crowds of visitors every year. To provide travelers with an alternative to train travel, this year New Taipei City has partnered with Taipei Bus to launch the “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle—Muzha Pingxi Line,” offering convenient and seamless sightseeing transit services.
One-Day Only Event: "Tokyo Tower One Piece Tower" Free Entry on New Year’s Day
As the new year begins, to help travelers fully enjoy their holiday, "Tokyo Tower One Piece Tower" has announced that both adults and children can enter for free on New Year’s Day. If you’re in Tokyo for the countdown, don’t miss this must-visit spot that will delight any One Piece fan.
Anime fans, take note: "Tokyo One Piece Tower" offers free admission on January 1, 2018!
Anime fans, take note: "Tokyo One Piece Tower" offers free admission on January 1, 2018!
Grab it now: Yilan Hot Spring Hotel’s Unbeatable Six-Meals-One-Night Stay Deal – Feast to Your Heart’s Content
As the cold winter gradually comes to an end, spring is just around the corner. The warm and blossoming season not only brings the most ideal travel weather, but also allows you to unwind and recharge your energy for a brand new year of hard work.
Enjoy Ippudo ramen and Gong Cha milk tea on board the cruise ship—cruise line collaborations spark new excitement!
In recent years, cruise tourism has become increasingly popular, with more people choosing to travel abroad by sea instead of flying. The continuous innovation in cruise ships has also provided travelers with a wider range of options. Beyond ship size and onboard facilities, cruises from around the world offer diverse dining experiences due to varying food cultures. In recent years, offerings have expanded to include bubble tea, wood-fired pizza, and celebrity chef restaurants, allowing passengers to enjoy a rich culinary experience at sea just like on land.
Special Valentine's Service: Couples Visiting Bangkok Airport in February Can Enjoy "Fast-Track Immigration"
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner—have you decided where to go with your loved one? The Tourism Authority of Thailand, Airports of Thailand (AOT), and the Thai Immigration Bureau have joined forces to promote the February Love Month campaign, offering couples a fast and convenient immigration experience at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Anyone traveling to Thailand in February 2013 can apply on-site for fast-track entry via the “Premium Lane” upon arrival in Bangkok.