With winter arriving (though this year’s winter hasn’t been particularly cold), the cherry blossom season is just around the corner, making it an increasingly great time to head outdoors. As winter progresses, you often see people sharing stunning photos of bald cypress trees online. In Yunlin, I used to only know about the ones in Gukeng Guilin, but this year I stumbled upon another impressive spot in Linnei. There’s also an irrigation channel nearby that adds to the scenery. Without further ado, I grabbed my camera and headed out.
Spending money to pick up trash is also a pleasure — the Chufengbi Beach Cleanup Volunteer Holiday has been fully booked for seven consecutive years
SenSen Shopping’s spring online travel fair kicks off and runs until March 31. Domestic travel packages feature “NT$100 Five-Star Tours,” allowing you to explore famous Taiwanese attractions like Yilan, Yangmei, and Eastern & Western Taiwan at less than NT$1,000. For overseas trips, there are “NT$1,000 Five-Star Tours” and special deals with NT$100 off every day. With spring in full bloom, now is the perfect time to seize the “Spring Travel Fair” discounts.
When it comes to famous date-worthy scenic cafes in Taichung, MITAKA 3e CAFE is definitely at the top of the list. Nestled on the mountainside behind Providence University, it’s a go-to spot for many university students on dates. The Totoro bus stop at the entrance has also become a pilgrimage site for many travelers. With the bald cypress trees currently enjoying a surge in popularity, this forest cafe is supremely romantic both day and night.
The Qingming holiday in April is the only extended break in spring. Taipei’s Westin Taipei, known for its East-meets-West style, is launching three highly discounted stay packages, with rates starting as low as NT$3,388 per person for a 5-star hotel experience. Take this opportunity to relax and unwind in a peaceful retreat right in the heart of Taipei City during the holiday.
In the eyes of the Japanese, aside from baseball being the national sport, cycling is also an important national pastime. It’s common to see families cycling together on weekends, and local governments often organize various events inviting people to come together and enjoy biking. On March 24, the “Hamamatsu Cycling Tour” held in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, saw a total of 1,700 participants.
A China Airlines employee, while visiting their hometown in Taitung during the Lunar New Year, stumbled upon a camera that had traveled over 8,000 kilometers from Hawaii. The memory card contained 200 photos, most of which featured a blonde, blue-eyed girl. After two days of cross-ocean searching, the owner was found — Miss Lindsay Crumbley Scallan from Georgia, USA, is the rightful owner of this "Life of Pi"-style drifting camera.
Houtong in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, was originally a historic coal mining site, but the cats of Houtong, treated kindly and feeling especially safe and affectionate, have outshined the area’s historical association with monkeys. The place, once known for its “monkeys,” is now famous for its “cats.” The fame of the “Houtong Cat Village” has gradually spread, attracting large numbers of visitors to Houtong, including many international tourists who “cross the sea to see cats.”
Perhaps tired of designing luxury goods, or wanting to make design more accessible to everyday life, or simply to sleep in until a natural wake-up time — whatever the reason, on a dazzling fireworks-filled New Year’s Eve, designer Sophie decided to open her own shop. Faramita, located in Datong, Taipei, was born amid the festive atmosphere of welcoming the new year.
March 23 is Earth Day, and 11 hotels under Yunlong Tourism Group’s five major brands in Taiwan will jointly participate in the “Earth Day – Yunlong One-Hour Lights Out” campaign. The Regent Taipei, Silks Club, The Grand Hotel (Xinzhuang, Taoyuan, Hualien, Kaohsiung), Twin Towers Hotel (Miaoli, Taichung, Chiayi), and CTBC Hotel System (Zhongli Hotel, Zhongxin Business Hotel in Xindian) will collectively turn off the exterior lighting of their buildings from 20:30 to 21:30 on Earth Day evening.
If you’re planning to shop at a weekend market in Thailand, it’s no longer just about exploring Chatuchak Weekend Market during the day. Located near the Bang Sue Railway Yard, the “Railway Weekend Market” (Talat Rot Fai), set in unused warehouses provided by the Thai State Railway, now offers a new night-time experience starting from 6 PM.
Eating it five times a week? The “ultra-mixed dish” every ex-soldier knows
BiYang Container Market – Celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day on Zhengxing Street in Tainan
Don’t miss the final burst of deep autumn red—head to the mountains to chase the maple hues! When maple leaves begin to turn, Gongbei Temple always draws crowds of foliage enthusiasts. But thanks to its many different trails and viewing spots, it never gets too crowded. Although this year’s foliage isn’t as vibrant as in past years, visitors can still enjoy a serene, almost Kyoto-like autumn atmosphere before the leaves fall. It’s the perfect time for a scenic outdoor excursion.
There’s a kind of vacation that doesn’t involve shopping, sightseeing, or chasing floral views. It’s more like this: putting on your simplest clothes, lying on the grass in the guesthouse, leaning against a tree trunk as you bask in the scent of fresh grass. Sunlight filters through the leaves and lands right on the book in your hands. In front of you is a crystal-clear light blue ocean and a pure white sandy beach, and right next to the shore sits a “blood-red swimming pool.”
Speaking of the Jin Yue Waterfall in Nanao Township, calling it a “hidden paradise on Earth” is absolutely fitting. With its crystal-clear stream, refreshingly cool sensation, and that mysterious yet intimate connection with nature, this is the “Jin Yue Waterfall,” nestled within the mountainous area of Jin Yue Village.
Watching the sunrise at Alishan, seeing dazzling fireworks at Taipei 101—how do you want to spend this romantic New Year’s Eve with someone special? Lihpao Land in Taichung has launched a limited-edition “Greeting the First Light of 2018” Ferris wheel sunrise package, taking you up over 300 meters high to greet the first rays of dawn, making the first day of 2018 truly unforgettable.
Promoted by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the star-rated hotel certification program held its 9th star-rated hotel plaque award ceremony on the 27th. This time, 100 hotels received star ratings, setting a new record high. As of this round, a total of 376 hotels have become star-rated, with a combined room inventory of 40,246.
Modern people are paying more and more attention to the nutritional content of breakfast, but relatively neglect the importance of breakfast drinks. Dr. Liu Yili, known as the "Beautiful Dietitian," believes that choosing the wrong breakfast drink not only fails to provide the body with the nutrients it needs for the day, but may even burden the body!
Does staying at a good hotel always have to cost a fortune? Based on factors such as price, online reviews, location, cleanliness, and unique features, the Taiwanese website yam蕃薯藤 recently selected Taiwan’s top 10 youth hostels, all priced under NT$1,000 per night for a single room. These hostels offer distinctive cultural experiences and beautiful surroundings, serving as great options for backpackers.