Travel
No Car? No Problem – Taiwan’s Top 10 Happy & Fun Travel Itineraries Voting is About to Begin
Energy conservation and environmental protection have become a trend, so don’t forget to drive less and use public transportation more even when you travel. To promote travel via public transport, the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced on the 25th that this year it will select the “Taiwan Top 10 Happy & Fun Travel Itineraries.” Local governments will initially shortlist 13 one-day and two-day tour routes each, which will then be put up for public vote. In May, online voting will open for the public to compete and choose their favorites, encouraging love for public transportation through low-carbon travel itineraries.
Taipei International Spring Travel Fair Kicks Off 13 Travel Packages Available Daily at Special Price of NT$999
The 2013 Taipei International Spring Travel Fair will open tomorrow (April 26). The Taipei City Government’s Department of Information and Tourism, in collaboration with travel agencies, has launched 13 group and independent travel packages under the theme “Unfinished Journeys – Spring Fun,” which are available at special prices at the Taipei Pavilion of the fair. To boost sales, daily limited-time offers at NT$999 each are being featured.
Must-try in Lane 737 / Homemade steamed dumplings burst with savory broth, securing the top spot
A young woman named Meter, who grew up in Neihu, knows the area inside out. When she steps into the renowned food haven—Lane 737—it feels like walking into a “kitchen street.” Though not quite a night market, Lane 737’s street food has long been “famous far and wide.” Speaking of must-try snacks in Lane 737, Meter didn’t forget to recommend this shop famous for its custom steamed dumplings and xiaolongbao, which sees long queues every day.
“May Snow” Blooms Nationwide as Phoenix Trees Flourish & “Phoenix Tree Joy Festival” Kicks Off This Saturday
As spring arrives, phoenix trees across Taiwan are in full bloom. The New Taipei City Hakka Phoenix Tree Festival, themed “Phoenix Tree Joy,” will commence this Saturday (April 27). Five districts—Tucheng, Shenkeng, Ruifang, Sanchih, and Sanxia—are all hosting phoenix tree-related events. Keelung’s Phoenix Tree Festival will also take place at the Boy Scouts Activity Center in Nuannuan District. Across northern Taiwan, “May snow” is falling, creating a romantic scene.
Plum blossoms in Tucheng are in full bloom, welcoming day and night visitors to the mountains this weekend
The main event of the 2024 Hakka Plum Blossom Festival in New Taipei City will grandly kick off this weekend on April 27. The plum blossoms in the mountainous areas of Tucheng are about 60–70% in bloom. The Civil Affairs Section of the Tucheng District Office stated that this weekend, April 27, is the best time to view the blossoms, as the mountains will be covered in a spectacular sea of white blooms. On both April 27 and 28, in addition to the Exit 3 of Yongning Station on the MRT, a shuttle bus service will also be available from Exit 2 of Tucheng Station. The first bus departs at 7:00 AM, and the last bus from Nantianmu departs at 6:00 PM, running on a flexible schedule.
Taichung Fengjia Night Market’s Literary-Style Braised Delicacies: Choose from Over 80 Ingredients!
Is there anyone out there who loves Taiwan’s street food “braised delicacies stalls” as much as I do?! XD Probably because of my half-mainlander genes, whenever my mom cooked noodles when I was little, there’d always be a big plate of braised delicacies on the table for us to feast on. There aren’t many braised delicacies stalls that really hit the spot for me anymore, but this one in Fengjia Night Market—“Your Home My Home Braised Delicacies”—is one we often revisit!
Eating stone pot hotpot feels like doing an experiment!"Stir-fried meat with aromatic spices" warms the stomach perfectly in winter.
Stone Research Lab, which has four branches across Taiwan, specializes in stone pot hotpot. Founded just one year and two months ago in Taichung, the staff joked about the origin of the store: "We wanted to play on the homophone between 'Stone Research Lab' and 'laboratory,' using various culinary experiments to offer customers a fresh dining experience." Good news: from now until the end of February, show the ETtoday News Cloud app when you visit and get a free serving of Sichuan crispy pork slices with your meal.
Jet lag is such a nuisance—travel experts share “comfort tips for long-haul flights”
You can’t move around freely on long flights, and an even bigger headache is jet lag. According to foreign media research, World Cup athletes traveling abroad for matches have certain methods that may help alleviate jet lag, such as avoiding exposure to light, setting fixed sleep and wake times, engaging in regular activity, and staying hydrated. If you’re planning a trip soon, these tips might be worth considering.
Are Taiwanese people too obsessed with Japan? Actually, there are parts of Japan that people dislike!
Are Taiwanese people too obsessed with Japan? Actually, there are parts of Japan that people dislike!
Spring Travel Exhibition / Kinmen Sheds Its Military Past – Summer Surfing & Autumn Mooncake Gambling
Once a key military stronghold, Kinmen has shed its war-torn image while retaining its simple local charm, beautiful historic architecture, diverse natural ecology, vibrant folk activities, and wartime relics. In response to the Taipei Spring Travel Exhibition, being held at Taipei World Trade Center from now until the 29th, the Kinmen Pavilion is offering the latest “Glorious Summer Ocean Season” and “Mid-Autumn Mooncake Gambling” events, along with discounted travel packages. Visitors can also enjoy a wealth of giveaways, local specialties, and performances on-site.
Spring Travel Exhibition / Longest Queues Form for Tossing Divining Blocks to Pray for Safety Amulets and Interpret Fortune Sticks
The Taipei International Spring Travel Exhibition has kicked off, with exhibitors pulling out all the stops to attract visitors. Among them, one vendor isn’t offering discounts but instead hosting a “live prayer for safety amulets” event — anyone who tosses two divining blocks and gets a “sacred pair” can receive a safety amulet from Yuandao Guanyin Temple. The divining block toss area was packed with middle-aged women, with queues stretching nearly 10 meters. Some who didn’t get a sacred pair even lined up three times in a row just to secure a “travel safety amulet,” a limited-edition item exclusive to the exhibition.
Spring Travel Exhibition / Cashes in on Mother’s Day period High demand for meal vouchers at Spring Travel Exhibition
The 2013 Spring Travel Exhibition officially kicked off on the 26th. In addition to gathering various travel and hotel operators offering discount packages averaging as much as 60% off, the rush for meal vouchers was especially heated. Set meals originally priced at nearly a thousand dollars were slashed to just 599, featuring lobster, abalone, and Häagen-Dazs ice cream—great value for money, with long queues of buyers packing the venue.
Spring Travel Exhibition / Save Thousands by Traveling Before Summer – Wisteria & Firefly Tours Start at 70% Off
Haven’t had a chance to plan your trip this year? The 2013 “7th Taipei International Spring Travel Exhibition” kicks off today and runs until the 29th at Hall 1 of the Taipei World Trade Center. With 250 well-known domestic and international travel operators participating across more than 600 booths, including the governments of New Taipei City, Keelung City, Tainan City, Kaohsiung, Taitung, Penghu, Changhua, Taipei City, Kinmen, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City, and Miaoli, the event offers a travel carnival for planning trips and relaxing the mind and body.
Must-eat in Lane 737 / Slippery vinegar noodles stir childhood memories
The final must-try dish in Lane 737, highly recommended by Meter, is “Da Chen Ji Noodle Shop.” It’s said that Meter’s mom absolutely loves it and makes a point to stop by Da Chen Ji every time she visits Lane 737—as if you haven’t truly been to Lane 737 without trying it. In fact, Da Chen Ji Noodle Shop is also a vivid childhood memory for many locals in Neihu, and Meter recommends this shop to fellow travelers. When you’re in Lane 737, don’t miss this flavor!
Eagle-Watching Season is Here! Get Up Close with Eagles at Guanyin Mountain & Witness Migratory Birds of Prey
The annual “Guanyin ‘Watch the Eagles’” event, held at Guanyin Mountain from April to May, will kick off at 10 a.m. on May 4 in front of the plaza at Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center. This year’s event features eagle-watching eco-guided tours, raptor ecology lectures, a farmers' market, fun challenge and DIY activities, along with added live eagle-watching footage, a cultural tour of Guanyin Mountain, raptor ecology photography and specimen exhibitions, as well as lucky draws and quizzes.
Taichung consolidates 45 homestays — “Slow Travel Passport” promotes in-depth tourism
Taichung consolidates 45 homestays — “Slow Travel Passport” promotes in-depth tourism
A penguin climbs the Qigu Salt Mountain, prompting visitors to joke: “Is this Antarctica?”
A penguin climbs the Qigu Salt Mountain, prompting visitors to joke: “Is this Antarctica?”
Breaking News / HowToTrip Tour Group Involved in Accident in Zhangjiajie Due to Slippery Roads Caused by Rain
A tour group organized by HowToTrip (Lion Travel) was involved in a bus accident at noon on the 29th in Zhangjiajie, Hunan, due to slippery roads caused by rain. The accident resulted in three fatalities: tour leader Xie Anqi, tourist Zheng Fangbin, and tourist Mei Xuejuan. The group consisted of 13 Taiwanese tourists and one Taiwanese tour guide, with 11 suffering minor injuries and having been taken to the People’s Hospital.
India’s “Coffin” Tea Restaurant Unmarked Tombs Keep You Company at the Table
There is an extremely popular restaurant in India called “New Lucky Restaurant.” It is said to offer diners a unique kind of “luck” because it is built right in the middle of a cemetery, with several tombs even located along the walkways inside. To dine here, customers not only have to walk through the graveyard to enter the restaurant but also sit right beside the tombs—offering an extraordinary experience where life and death feel just a breath apart.
“Taiwan’s Green Gem” – Silky, Sweet, and Bursting with Summer Flavor
May officially marks the beginning of early summer. As the weather gets hotter, appetite tends to decline, prompting restaurants and hotels to adjust their menus and cooking methods according to the season and customer preferences. Among the must-try seasonal ingredients for food lovers in Taiwan every summer, “green bamboo shoots” are definitely at the top of the list.