Travel
New Discovery: The "Red-Legged Fairy" Fiddler Crab in Penghu
New Discovery: The "Qingluo Wetland" in Huxi Township, Penghu County, discovered last year a new record species of Taiwanese fiddler crab commonly known as the "Red-Legged Fairy" (in Taiwanese Hokkien), the "Callichirus elegans." Through DNA identification, its true identity has been confirmed, finally rectifying the long-standing misidentification as the "Uca crassipes." During the summer vacation, which coincides with the fiddler crab breeding season, visitors can go to admire various types of fiddler crabs.
Wild Dune Night: Enjoy Music with the Sea Breeze and the "Queen"
"Wild Dune Night" will kick off on August 2nd and run for two consecutive days. Featuring performances by singers Ji Xiaojun, Gao Huijun, and tenor Wang Dian—who won first prize at the Singapore Vocal Competition—the event will present an international-level musical feast right beside the iconic Queen's Head. This marks the first time the Yehliu Geopark has held a concert within its grounds, allowing visitors to enjoy moving melodies with the sea breeze in their hair and take in the nighttime view of the Queen's Head.
Taipei City and Hamamatsu, Japan Sign Sister City Agreement to Exchange Urban Charms
The most famous attraction in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, is Lake Hamana, which draws a large number of tourists from around the world every year. Today (31st), Taipei City and Hamamatsu City signed a tourism exchange sister city agreement. Hamamatsu Mayor Yasuyuki Suzuki, along with a delegation of city council members, and Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-pin formally signed the contract in the Taipei City Council chamber.
Algal Fun on Peace Island: Spicy & Healthy Seaweed Stinky Tofu Hotpot
Visiting Peace Island in Keelung, you can see waves crashing against the wave-cut platform, where a few mothers can be spotted bending over to pick fresh seaweed. This is a unique sight on Peace Island. Thanks to the constant sea breeze, the island boasts an abundance of algae. The restaurant "Algal Fun" at Sea Corner Paradise on Peace Island makes the most of this resource, using seaweed as a main ingredient to create dishes like seaweed stinky tofu and seaweed juice, attracting many visitors.
“Smiling Express” to launch next Spring Festival — New Taiwan Rail Commuter Trains Offer High Speed and Frequent Service
Following the Puyuma Express, Taiwan Railways has introduced another new train: 296 newly purchased EMU800 series commuter electric multiple units (EMUs), which can reach a top speed of 130 km/h — 20 km/h faster than current models. The front of the train features a yellow curved design resembling a smile, prompting Taiwan Railways staff to nickname it the “Smiling Express.” The first batch of 16 EMU800 commuter EMUs arrived in Taiwan in late August, with plans to enter service by next year’s (2014) Spring Festival.
I found you！The super cute “Hide-and-Seek Girl” in Ban Tou Tsuo, Xingang, Chiayi
“I found you!” The internet-famous “Hide-and-Seek Girl” koji pottery is located in “Ban Tou Tsuo,” Xingang, Chiayi. Since 1998, the Ban Tou community has been promoting community development through “koji pottery art.” It now not only hosts the “Ban Tou Koji Tile and Cut Paste Art Village,” but also features the large-scale riverside mural “Hometown Seasons” by renowned domestic mosaic master Chen Zhongzheng. Visitors can also take a special garden tour bus to explore the community’s koji pottery creations.
Stay healthy this Winter Solstice with glutinous rice balls and organic chrysanthemum greens—delicious and wholesome!
Stay healthy this Winter Solstice with glutinous rice balls—nourish your body while celebrating togetherness!
EVA Air launches Xining route, becoming the only Taiwanese airline to fly to Qinghai Province
EVA Air/Uni Air today (1st) launched the Taipei Taoyuan–Xining route. To celebrate the new route, a maiden flight ceremony was held at Taoyuan Airport. The new destination extends the airline’s reach into the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region, making EVA Air the only Taiwanese carrier flying to Qinghai Province. This route will be operated using the brand-new A321-200 aircraft.
Only those with a strong heart can handle this — a cliffside swing that takes you straight to the opposite mountaintop.
Remember how, as a kid, you had to compete with your friends for a turn on the swing at the playground or park? In Ecuador, South America, there’s an adult-sized version of the “La Casa del Arbol” swing that tests your guts and courage. Here, just one gentle push sends you soaring with the exhilarating feeling of ruling the world.
Gold Diamond and Triumph Night Markets packed to capacity; city government urges use of MRT Triumph Station Exit 2
The nation’s largest Gold Diamond and Triumph Tourist Night Markets opened at the end of July, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and boosting the local economy in Kaohsiung. However, the opening of the night markets has also had an impact on surrounding traffic and the environment. On the 1st, the Kaohsiung City Government stated that in order to provide tourists and local citizens with a high-quality shopping experience at the tourist night markets, it will strengthen enforcement against violations around the markets. The public is encouraged to take the MRT and transfer to the free shuttle bus, or use city buses such as Route 168 to reach the night markets.
A New Healthy and Budget-Friendly Way to Explore: Ride Ubikes Around Taipei in Search of Delicious Food
Due to the increasingly severe issue of global warming, the Taipei City Government launched the “Ubike Smile Bikes” green transportation initiative in March 2009. Ubikes are not only convenient but also help you save money while staying healthy through exercise. There are numerous Ubike rental stations across Taipei, including those in Datong, Wenshan, Wanhua, Zhongzheng, Nangang, Da’an, Songshan, Zhongshan, and Xinyi districts.
Better than Uncle Jiangnan? Taiwan’s First “Neighborhood Chief Drum Team” Debuts at Transit Hub
Taipei City Hall Bus Station looked very different today—what caught visitors’ eyes were a giant clown and two towering Roman warriors. It turned out to be the annual “Ludong Fringe Festival” from Luodong Township in Yilan County making its first-ever promotional appearance in Taipei. This year’s theme, “Ever-Changing Floral Splendor,” brought an artistic flair to the usually bustling transit plaza.
More Real Than VR Training—Pikachu Joins the Fun!
More Real Than VR Training—Pikachu Joins the Fun!
Top 10 Global Food Destinations Include Taipei, Where Xiaolongbao Is the Most Recommended Dish
The food blog Bunkycooks has selected the world’s top 10 food destinations, and Taipei has made the list. The blog believes that Taipei offers some of the best soup noodles, dumplings, and other foods in the world, and specifically highlights xiaolongbao (steamed pork buns) as the most popular street food snack.
Explore Taiwan’s “Peach Blossom Land” in Taoyuan – Taste President
Taoyuan, this beautiful land of peach blossoms, boasts not only the Minnan and Hakka culture along Daxi and Sankeng Old Streets, but also the rich landscapes of the North Cross-Island Highway, as well as the hidden gardens that were the retreats of the Chiang presidencies. It is endowed with many unique tourism resources. Especially in recent years, the “Two Chiangs Cultural Park” has attracted over 3 million visitors annually. In addition, there are diverse local experiences such as military dependents’ village tours and industrial experiences, drawing large crowds of tourists.
Hidden Gem Snack “200-Item Menu” Astonishes – Everything Tastes Amazing
Walking along the streets of Taipei’s East District, you’ll mostly find Western restaurants or casual tea shop meals, but for budget-conscious young professionals looking to eat well without breaking the bank, such expenses can be tough to manage. In fact, there’s a low-key snack shop that has been operating in bustling East District for over a decade, open 24/7 all year round, with a menu featuring as many as 200 items – ensuring even the most thrifty foodies won’t get bored, no matter how often they visit.
This bizarre pizza shop is insanely delicious — Li Fangyu reveals her hidden gourmet gems in Kenting
My first stop took us to a low-rise, foreign-run exotic cuisine shop in Manzhou. This exotic eatery was actually introduced to me by a foreigner who runs a surf shop — he brought me here to his friend’s place during my last visit to Kenting for an interview. Though it’s grandly called an exotic cuisine shop, I’d say it feels more like a friend’s home in Central or South America. You’ll see a short, shabby old house surrounded by tropical plants.
It’s here! The "mythical bird" – one of only 50 in the world – spotted in Matsu
The extremely rare "mythical bird," with only 50 individuals known to exist worldwide, has been sighted in Matsu – six of them, to be exact! At 9 a.m. yesterday (31st), a bird-watching boat set off from Matsu. About 30 minutes later, it arrived at "Tiejian Island," this year's (2013) largest gathering site of terns. After circling the island three times by sea, the bird-watchers spotted six endangered "Chinese crested terns" among the thousands of spectacular birds.
【Paris. Life】A super long layover*3. Finally, I can smell Paris in the air!
Because I bought super cheap plane tickets So the price of being cheap is a layover*3 06.16 13:20–16:00 Taipei–Bangkok (3hr 40min flight) 06.16 23:35–00:05 Bangkok–Abu Dhabi (6hr 30min flight) 06.17 02:10–07:35 Abu Dhabi–Paris (7hr 25min flight)
Writing love declarations on the street? Experience the romantic “City of Love” in Tainan this Qixi Festival
The “City of Love” is in Tainan！Tainan’s Qixi Carnival kicks off on August 3. On the opening day, a “Street-Closing Gala” will be held at the Tainan Hall Square, featuring performances and creative market activities. Couples can use chalk to directly graffiti on the road surface and write their little love messages. The event also offers a “100 Ways to Hold Hands” photo activity where couples can take pictures within a specially designed dreamy lace photo frame and post them online.