Travel
Kaohsiung Hard Court Music Festival: Free Yacht Rides to Watch Band Performances at Sea
Catch the tail end of summer vacation!“The UBU Hard Court Music Exhibition” is making its first-ever move to Kaohsiung this year, extending the concert experience out to sea by creating a floating stage on a yacht. This event offers a double dose of rock music both on land and at sea, and even provides the public with free yacht rides to enjoy the performances. The lineup is stellar, featuring national treasure-level musical master Wen Xia alongside top Taiwanese indie bands such as Chairman, Kopoochin, and Fire EX., aiming to let attendees feel the unique charm of being their own “hard court.”
Fall Travel Expo Kicks Off as Public Rushes for Deals on Philippines & Autumn Foliage Tours
The 2013 Taiwan International Travel Expo, also known as the Fall Travel Expo, is being held from now until August 26 at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1. The event features major domestic travel agencies, foreign tourism bureaus in Taiwan, and local governments, all showcasing affordable travel packages for popular destinations. Travelers looking to snag deals amid the Philippines' reopening or book early for autumn foliage trips shouldn’t miss this opportunity.
The Tainan Madou pomelo festival kicks off on the 24th – enjoy fruit-filled fun in Pomelo City this weekend
This year, Tainan has combined efforts from three districts—Madou, Xiaying, and Daliao—to hold the Madou Pomelo Festival Industrial and Cultural Activity Season, which will launch with great fanfare on the 24th. On the 23rd, Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te led city councilors and district chiefs to conduct a special blessing ceremony in Madou District’s X... (location name garbled), praying for a bountiful harvest of pomelos this year. They also expressed gratitude for the fruitful harvest, vibrant sales, and strong market response.
A Deep Dive into Greater Taichung Communities: 8 Routes to Hidden Gems
The Community Deep Dive Tour is Here！ Starting October 24, the Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau is launching eight community-based in-depth travel routes to showcase the beauty of Greater Taichung. These include searching for bats in the Bat Cave at Toupienkeng, Taiping; soaking in the hot springs of Guguan while appreciating Atayal culture; and exploring eight hidden spots such as Dong’an Sanhua in Da’an. One-day trips start as low as NT$150, and a “Spend a Night in the Countryside” two-day tour is just NT$1,000.
Taipei has another Christmas photo spot to check out — an “golden cake hiding a fountain,” utterly dreamy
Is it a cake, a birdcage, or a girl’s dress? This year, Mandarin Oriental Taipei doesn’t focus on a Christmas tree but instead places an art installation above the square’s fountain. Countless golden fairy lights are densely strung together and adorned with blue snowflake lights that twinkle in the dark, attracting many visitors to stop and take photos.
New Romantic Way to Enjoy the Guandu Sunset: Taiwan’s Only Inland River Cruise, the “Queen”
The sunset over the Tamsui River is one of the must-visit attractions for many tourists coming to Taiwan. Besides strolling along the riverbank, taking a yacht to admire the sunset, or cycling along the embankment through the mangroves, what other new experiences are there? Taking a cruise might be a unique and refreshing travel option. Enjoy the sunset on the Tamsui River, sip wine, and savor delicious food in comfort, rekindling your love for the city’s laid-back charm and beauty.
So healing!! Strawberry cheese fondue hot pot & wobbly blue jelly
Located by Kaohsiung’s Love River, MORE WORLD International Riverside Restaurant has been open for over four years. Thanks to its prime location and delicious food, it’s beloved by both locals and tourists. The shop not only sells goods brought back by the owner from abroad but also features a ball pit that kids absolutely love. The owner even offers Zi Wei Dou Shu (Chinese astrology) readings for guests—making it quite unique. In summer, their signature ice cream hot pot and the newly launched Dragon Bone Hot Pot in winter are as visually appealing as they are tasty.
Will cross-strait flights hit new lows? Mainland budget airlines to launch in Taiwan next month
Business travelers across the strait will soon have more options. Mainland budget carriers Spring Airlines and Juneyao Air are expected to launch additional flights between Kaohsiung and Shanghai Pudong in September. While inaugural promotional fares have not been announced, the airlines have previously offered ultra-low prices such as 99 RMB on domestic routes, which is something to look forward to.
Among Japan’s Top Four Airlines – Low-Cost Peach Aviation Achieves Impressive Results
No market for low-cost airlines? Peach Aviation, which entered Taiwan just last (2012) October, has now secured a spot among Japan’s top four airlines. Moreover, Peach Aviation CEO Shinichi Inoue stated that the airline’s current business model is not only growing steadily as expected, “but may even start turning a profit one year earlier than anticipated.”
Taiwan’s instant noodle king! Annual sales nearly match the height of Taipei 101
Taiwan’s instant noodle king! Annual sales nearly match the height of Taipei 101
Haixia Eco-Tour: Experience the Beauty of the "Ends of the Earth"
The Axqyi Ancient Trail, renowned for its "breathtaking sea views," has become a popular tourist destination in recent years. However, few know that the trail starts in Haixia Village, located at the southeastern tip of Hengchun Peninsula in Mudan Township. Haixia Village has long been celebrated as the most beautiful "Ends of the Earth" and has recently been actively promoting eco-tourism. By combining traditional Amis fishing culture, visitors can take bamboo rafts and use cast nets to fish, offering an authentic tribal life experience.
There’s always something new every day. At 8%ice, not only can you enjoy ice cream with your mouth, but also feast your eyes on it.
Yongkang Street in Taipei is famous for its array of ice cream shops. In this highly competitive market, if your flavors aren’t unique, it’s hard to win over customers. Take “8%ice Ice Cream Specialty Shop,” for example. Aside from its regular offerings like genmaicha (roasted brown rice green tea), salted black sugar, and blackcurrant rose, the shop introduces a different flavor of soft serve every day, attracting many new customers with its distinctive tastes.
Taiwan’s High-Quality Tourism Bus Yunlin Beigang Prayer Line Begins Service – Free Rides Now Available
Traveling around Taiwan just got even easier. To celebrate the official launch of the Yunlin Beigang Prayer Line, free trial rides are being offered from now until September 15. The route stops at various tourist attractions along the way, with 12 round trips available daily. Simply by taking the bus, you can immediately save NT$380 in transportation costs.
Yellow Rubber Duck Arrives in Port – Kaohsiung Cruises Offer Extended, Up-Close Viewing
The highly anticipated Yellow Rubber Duck will make its way into Kaohsiung on September 19, expected to attract over 3 million visitors. “Boat cruises to see the duck” are bound to be in high demand. Both public and private cruise operators in Kaohsiung have added more sailings and launched special viewing packages. The duck-viewing boats will get especially close to the giant duck, with extended stoppage times to allow visitors prolonged, up-close enjoyment. Passengers will also receive an LED-light Yellow Rubber Duck souvenir.
Vegetarian alert！All-you-can-eat herbal vegetable hot pot in Kaohsiung with 3 refreshing broths
Do you enjoy eating vegetables? Is your knowledge of vegetables still limited to common types like cabbage, water spinach, sweet potato leaves, and cauliflower? The Boiling Pot from Taitung’s Indigenous Garden completely shatters your perception of greens—dozens of organic, native edible herbs are lined up at the buffet bar, dazzling and overwhelming. In this grand garden of forageable plants, you’ll feel like Granny Liu from Dream of the Red Chamber, finding everything fresh and extraordinary.
Fighting for Greenpeace for the long haul – An inside look at the Rainbow Warrior’s cabins
The Rainbow Warrior has been involved in countless environmental battles, starting with anti-whaling efforts, then moving on to anti-war campaigns, combating global warming, and preventing environmental destruction around the world. Taiwan is no exception — here too there are fearless warriors tirelessly working to make this beautiful island even better.
The Lishan Hotel is so beautiful it captivated a Japanese girl, who decided to stay and work there.
Taiwan’s highest palace-style hotel, the Lishan Hotel, officially began operations in February this year. The charm of its traditional Chinese palace architecture, with its classic vintage appeal, was irresistible even to a Japanese girl. Ota Chisayo from Hokkaido, Japan, was deeply enchanted when she first visited the Lishan Hotel in early December last year, and decided to stay and work there. She can now serve as a competent tour guide.
A childhood favorite for locals in Yilan – the ultra-popular shaved ice sold 1,000 bowls a day
When visiting Luodong in Yilan, you definitely shouldn’t miss Luodong Night Market. Among its many stalls is an ultra-popular shaved ice shop that locals describe as “something we’ve eaten since childhood.” Loved by residents and a must-try spot for visitors alike, it’s said to sell over 1,000 bowls on a single summer day.
A great pet-friendly spot to clear your camera memory—Yunshan Water in Hualien is like a fairyland.
“Is this really Taiwan?” Most first-time visitors to Yunshan Water in Hualien can’t help but exclaim in amazement. Describing it as a “heaven on earth” or a “utopia” is no exaggeration—the vast stretches of lush woods and grasslands, along with a mirror-like lake reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, create such a beautiful and pristine haven. The best part? It’s “free to visit,” and pets are welcome too, so you can all relax together and take plenty of photos to max out your camera memory.
Top 10 Most Stunning Swimming Pools in Taiwan – Overlooking Taipei 101 with Breathtaking Infinity Views
As summer draws to a close, many hotels are offering special summer-to-autumn promotional rates. ETtoday EBC News has specially compiled a list of “Taiwan’s 10 Best Hotel Swimming Pools.” Whether you’re lounging high above the city with sweeping nighttime views, splashing around in valleys, by poolsides, or next to the sea, or swimming in a pool that blends into a storybook world, these 10 amazing pools are sure to offer the perfect late-summer escape from the heat.