The 36th annual Lukang Dragon Boat Festival series of events, officially launched yesterday (30th) at the Fuking Granary with a press conference held by Changhua County Government, includes an international dragon boat invitational, festive folk activities, and traditional craft performances. Locals and visitors alike are invited to experience Lukang’s cultural heritage and historic landmarks.
You don't have to gear up and travel all the way to the "Five Great Mountains" to go hiking. The Jiantan Mountain Nature Trail, located within the Taipei metropolitan area, can be reached by taking the MRT to Jiantan Station, then walking toward the Grand Hotel Taipei until you reach the entrance next to the Jiantan Bus Stop. With just a light backpack and a relaxed mindset, you can hike uphill while enjoying panoramic views of Dajia Riverside Park and the stunning sights of the Grand Hotel Taipei along the way.
To attract more Korean travelers to visit Taipei on independent tours, the Taipei City Government’s Department of Information and Tourism participated in the “2013 Korea International Travel Fair” (KOTFA 2013) on the 30th and promoted the “Fun Taipei” independent travel discount package to Korean visitors. On the first day of the expo, many attendees eagerly played with Taipei City’s “All About Taipei” magic cube mini-game, creating a lively atmosphere.
Aside from San Francisco, San Diego, located in southern Orange County, has also become one of the must-visit destinations for travelers, thanks to the perfect blend of California sunshine and Mexican exotic flair.
With summer vacation here, parents are sure to want to take their kids out for some fresh air. But to ensure both children and adults have a fun and boredom-free time, many travel agency operators note that when it comes to domestic family travel, interactive experiences are the top choice. Although summer is peak season for most amusement parks, leisure farms offer a blend of educational and entertaining activities, as well as hands-on DIY workshops, making them ideal for family outings.
Stepping into this shop feels incredibly relaxing and carefree, as if you’ve unexpectedly earned an afternoon of leisure. After shopping, all you want to do is casually sip a drink and enjoy some light bites. The small storefront of “CUPIDON Bit 'Qiu Café Western Restaurant” is quietly nestled within the fashion floor of a department store. If you don’t happen to pass by, you might never discover this delightful Belgian waffle shop that boldly embraces a “new-style business model.”
Taiwan Railways will launch four distinctive cruise-style train tour packages in spring (April to June) next year. These itineraries include visits to popular spots such as the Bishiliyan Jimmy Liao Art Park, Renshan Botanical Garden, Changhua Fan-Shaped Roundhouse, Yilan Push-Pull Train, and Taitung Railway Art Village. The all-inclusive cruise-style train packages cover transportation, meals, lodging, attraction visits, and guided tours with dedicated staff—making them an excellent choice for busy individuals who don't have time to plan their own trips.
With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, hotels are showcasing creative and unique zongzi flavors. Domestic hoteliers are preparing the “Imperial Supreme Golden Zongzi” for the upcoming holiday, combining imperial wellness concepts with local ingredients. This special treat is offered to guests staying and dining during the festival, giving them the one-of-a-kind experience of tasting “gold” in their zongzi.
Summer is the season for mangoes and lychees, but have you ever wondered what delicious desserts can be made by combining the two? One business has launched the “Lychee Aroma Mango Cake,” adding more variety to sweet treats.
Modern life is hectic, with people buried in work and finding it hard to take time off for travel. But carving out a “half-day of leisure” on a holiday is still very much doable. Located in Tucheng, the “Rhododendron Park” is perfect for hiking—even when it’s not rhododendron season, the scenery remains captivating. A stone stream called Shipailiao Creek meanders gently along the hiking trail, and the forest’s phytoncides and the sound of flowing water offer hikers a moment of tranquility away from the hustle and bustle.
Works by French Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir will be on display at the Library and Information Building of the Palace Museum starting May 25. The exhibition is divided into six major themes: Women in Hats, Women, Flowers, Countryside and Music, Southern France and the Mediterranean, and Physical Expression. A total of 65 pieces showcase the beautiful landscapes and figures under the brush of the "Master of Happiness."
When it comes to Taipei’s landmarks, everyone will chorus that it’s Taipei 101. Therefore, in collaboration between the Taipei City Government’s Department of Information and Tourism and Taipei 101, the online photography exhibition “101 Encounters of Taipei with 101” was held. Photography enthusiasts pulled out all the stops to integrate 101 with various scenes, further highlighting the inseparable bond between Taipei and the skyscraper. Even the 101 building standing tall amidst natural scenery was captured in stunning beauty.
The Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival kicks off on June 1st. Recently, visitors can head to Taitung to not only experience and watch hot air balloons take flight at Luye Plateau but also plan a fun two-day, one-night trip to enjoy a pleasant weekend.
To welcome the peak summer travel season, hotels are rolling out discounted stays to capture the domestic tourism market, slashing prices to around 50% off and incorporating “family-friendly” elements to promote bookings, allowing families to enjoy weekend hotel getaways with their kids.
When it comes to "ice," it means summer has arrived. On scorching summer days, ice is an indispensable treat to beat the heat, but are you tired of the usual traditional shaved ice or store-bought popsicles? A domestic portal site held the "Taiwan’s Top 10 Local Ice Desserts PK," running from May 10 to May 23 over a two-week period. It gathered and screened 27 specialty ice desserts across Taiwan, and through online voting, selected the top ten local ice desserts. Among them, "Tamsui Lychee Osmanthus Ice" was a big hit with netizens.
It’s that time of year again—time for zongzi and dragon boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival! To create a lively and fun celebration for the people of Kaohsiung, the city’s Department of Economic Development has specially subsidized the Sanfeng Middle Street and Liantan Pond areas to host the “Zongzi Love Kaohsiung: Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival” marketing event for the two commercial districts. As part of the Sanfeng Middle Street activities, Chef Ah Ji will be on-site demonstrating how to wrap zongzi and teaching the public how to prepare the festive dish using ingredients from the district.
"Twenty-five years ago, my dad took pictures of me as a child under the Xiluo Bridge; twenty-five years later, my husband took my wedding photos at the same spot. Both are the most important men in my life." Everyone knows that taking wedding photos is a huge project, yet Youyou, nicknamed the "Iron Lady of Xiluo," managed to complete the arduous task of an island-wide selfie wedding shoot all on her own—with just her husband and their Shiba Inu. From styling, hair and makeup, to planning the itinerary, finding spots, and taking the photos, she did it all herself.
Throughout history, there have been countless ways to make a wish—temples are often crowded with worshippers, and wishing wells are always filled with coins. But in Taichung, there’s a special spot: walk up the overpass next to Fengyuan Railway Station, and you’ll be greeted by a sea of “locks.” Alongside the usual padlocks, you’ll find heart-shaped locks, cute animal-themed ones, even motorcycle locks and handcuff-style locks. Every lock, big or small, bears someone’s heartfelt wish.
To promote “New Taipei City green bamboo shoots,” the New Taipei City Government Agriculture Bureau collaborated with a department store to hold a sales event at the main entrance on the first floor of the plaza. They launched a limited-time 30% discount flash sale on green bamboo shoots and invited renowned chef Lin Rong to demonstrate special bamboo shoot dishes. The event received an enthusiastic response.
The 2013 Taiwan International Hot Air Balloon Festival, organized by Taitung County Government, has officially kicked off. Today (1st), the county government had applied for a “Hot Air Balloon Fly Over Taitung City” event in the early morning, but it was canceled due to wind direction. However, the tethered balloon display and experience were still carried out, much to the delight of visitors who eagerly took photos and videos. County Magistrate Huang Jianting expressed hope that the plan could be realized in the future.