Travel
Mainland budget carrier Spring Airlines makes inaugural Shanghai–Kaohsiung flight on the 27th; round-trip fare with taxes under 8,000
The mainland budget carrier “Spring Airlines,” which had long been rumored to be entering the Taiwanese market, has finally made a move. The airline officially announced on its website the inaugural flight from “Shanghai to Kaohsiung” on October 27, with a one-way fare of 430 RMB (approximately 2,100 NTD).
A "family recipe" nearly lost from a five-star chef’s kitchen—premium turtle and duck tongues in the dishes
“A five-star hotel chef cooking with heirloom recipes? That’s incredibly heartfelt!” The yellowed pages of the recipe book can’t hide the marks of time. These are the precious words, spanning hundreds of pages, discovered 12 years ago by Chef Xu Wen Guang, known as “Guang Ge,” among his father’s belongings. They document the kitchen records of 1950s Cantonese cuisine. Even better, Chef Guang has now carefully selected 20 classic dishes from it, with the dish names unchanged, taken word for word from the original recipe.
Tainan Unveils 6 Hidden-Themed Buses to Delight Commuters
The Tainan City Government has promoted a bus rapid transit policy, categorizing the city’s buses into six vibrant themed lines: the Green Trunk Line’s Tumbler Bus, the Blue Trunk Line’s Seal Team 7 Bus, the Brown Trunk Line’s Animal Kingdom Bus, the Orange Trunk Line’s Fruit Bus, the Yellow Trunk Line’s Floral Bus, and the Red Trunk Line’s Cultural Architecture Bus. On the 2nd, the hidden-edition buses of each trunk line made their debut at the City Hall Plaza, giving the public plenty of photo opportunities.
The Taipei International Travel Fair kicks off on the 18th, featuring a newly added exhibition area on the 2nd floor of World Trade Center I for the first time
The annual large-scale travel exhibition – the 2013 Taipei International Travel Fair (Taipei ITF) – will take place from October 18 to 21. This year, a total of 900 exhibitors from 60 countries and regions will showcase their offerings simultaneously at Taipei World Trade Center I and III. The total number of booths has increased from 1,200 to 1,350, marking a 12.5% growth. For the first time, an additional exhibition area has been set up on the 2nd floor of World Trade Center I, designated as the homestay, hotel, and food zone, providing visitors with more choices.
The Mei Qi Theater is no longer... leaving only “grilled corn” coated in thick, savory sauce.
When I was a kid watching movies in Hualien, there was no Showtime Cinemas—just Mei Qi, Guo Sheng, and the second-run screenings at Grand Theater. After the movie, I loved stopping by to buy a fragrant charcoal-grilled corn cob. There were no fancy flavors, just the classic taste of traditional barbecue sauce. The sounds of tapping the bamboo skewer and brushing the corn still bring back those childhood cravings.
Lunch diners / Red wine-braised beef noodles with tender meat and tangy pickled cabbage
Located next to the Gongguan Cinema, Ai Jia Mian Beef Noodles uses a red wine braising method to enhance the flavor of the dish, as the alcohol helps remove the fishy taste and tenderize the meat. The shop features a boutique-style beef noodle interior, but its affordable prices have won over many customers. It also highly recommends its steamed dim sum in bamboo baskets and Hong Kong-style dim sum, perfect for small-eater girls to enjoy together…
The golden hues evoke harvest — an autumn café featuring pumpkins and sweet potatoes in its dishes
In Japan’s culinary world, there is a strict seasonal rule: “eat only what’s in season.” This means ingredients are not consumed outside their natural growing period. As Taiwan transitions into autumn and the city begins to feel cooler, nestled in a lane near Da’an District in Taipei, there is a café that garnishes coffee treats with sweet potatoes and blends pumpkin into warming salads, composing a simple autumn melody.
Japan's Marumichi Yakiniku Debuts in Taiwan: Fall in Love with Its Signature Next-Gen Diaphragm Meat
Meat lovers, rejoice once again — the renowned Japanese yakiniku chain Marumichi Yakiniku has arrived in Taiwan. Its Taipei branch is located in the bustling East District and officially opened on December 17. In addition to the usual beef cuts, Marumichi specializes in offal that’s less commonly found in Taiwan, such as beef heart, liver, and intestines. Among them, the much-loved diaphragm meat is not only available but also prepared as barrel-aged (tsubo-zuke) diaphragm — tender, juicy, and so delicious you won’t want to go anywhere else.
Japan’s Shizuoka unveils mascots, invites Taiwanese public to name Fuji-kun and Chatao-tei
The mascots exclusively representing Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture were born this year (2013). Energetic and charismatic, Mt. Fuji-kun and Chatao-tei are brothers. The Shizuoka Prefectural Government Office in Taiwan is specially inviting Taiwanese people to name the two mascots. The top two submissions that are selected will win great prizes such as round-trip flight tickets between Taipei and Shizuoka, and accommodation vouchers at a hot spring hotel on the Izu Peninsula.
Lunchtime diners / 99-yuan Japanese ramen that’s super affordable – loved by students and office workers
Today, Miss Lunch Girl came to Gongguan to find my Mr. Ramen. This bowl of ramen is only 99 yuan, making it the top lunch choice for nearby students and office workers. Some loyal customers have even filled up their punch cards and are here today to exchange them for fried chicken. The Japanese owner insists on serving the most authentic and affordable ramen, and rumor has it he has a secret weapon…
An autumn trip with a dog owner and his Shiba Inu — visiting the ruins of Sakura Castle from the Edo period
The withered beauty of autumn creates a breathtaking scene. Recently, a Japanese dog owner took advantage of a three-day holiday to bring his Shiba Inu, KABOSU-chan, to Sakura Castle Ruins Park, where they strolled through fallen leaves and admired the brownish-yellow foliage covering the grass. Prior to this trip, they visited the Yuuenji Temple in Chiba Prefecture to see the red spider lilies (“higanbana”), but unfortunately, most of the flowers had not yet bloomed, so they missed the chance to witness a sea of blossoms.
Thirty years of perseverance — the delicious taste of "Meat Uncle" wafts through the ancient city
"Meat Uncle" is synonymous with a decades-old eatery. Its authentic turkey rice has accompanied Tainan residents for nearly sixty years. Despite the passage of time, this humble tin-roofed shack still serves the same unchanged flavor — a shared memory for many in Tainan.
Get to New York in a second for Christmas！COMMUNE A7 creates a dreamy “ice-skating rink in the snow”
This Christmas, you can also experience the romantic atmosphere of skating in the snow！COMMUNE A7 in Taipei’s Xinyi District has created a magical ice-skating rink this holiday season, with scheduled “snowfall” throughout the venue, giving visitors a festive vibe reminiscent of Europe or America. Starting from mid-to-late December, COMMUNE A7 will also launch a variety of fun and diverse holiday activities, including pet Christmas costume events, singles meet-ups, as well as exciting performances by DJs, dancers, and Acapella groups, keeping the romance and joy going all the way into 2018！
Ouch, my wallet hurts again—Japan to introduce outbound tax starting Jan 7 next year: ¥1,000 per person
Ouch, my wallet hurts again—Japan to introduce outbound tax starting Jan 7 next year: ¥1,000 per person
Pick strawberries during the day and enjoy the night view at night！7 Attractions in Neihu, Taipei – A One-Day Trip Without Driving
Taipei residents don’t need to head to Yilan or Taoyuan for a one-day trip. Even in this bustling metropolis, there are plenty of great spots to relax and enjoy nature. With strawberry season here, farms in Taipei’s Neihu District have started harvesting, and besides picking strawberries, you can also plan a one-day trip around the area — hike trails, ride bikes, and take in the night view — all without the hassle of long commutes, offering amazing value for your time！
Female Chef Du Jiaying Shares Budget-Friendly Pastry Recipes: Belgian Waffles for Just 10 Yuan
Starting in October, electricity prices will rise by 8.49%, prompting businesses to hike their prices, with ice cream and biscuits seeing the highest increases of up to 25%. Du Jiaying, champion of the 2013 World Culinary King Taipei Championship in the team category, has publicly shared her cost-saving recipes. She explained that store-bought ice cream will go from 20 yuan to 25 yuan, but making it yourself costs only 12 yuan. Additionally, the top-selling nougat biscuit in group buys can be made for just 3 yuan — simple to prepare, budget-friendly, and reassuring.
Taichung Travel Expo / Evergreen Holidays Double Hotel 3-Day 2-Night 4-Person Package at an Ultra-Low Price of NT$9,999
The “2013 Taichung International Travel Expo” kicks off on the 4th and runs until the 7th at the Taichung World Trade Center. Evergreen Holidays Resort Group (EHR), combining its Yilan Evergreen Ocean Hot Spring Hotel and Taoyuan Evergreen Mountain Resort Hotel, is offering an ultra-attractive price of NT$9,999 for a 3-day 2-night stay at two hotels for four people. Evergreen Mountain Resort stated that the Yellow Rubber Duck is set to “visit” Taoyuan on October 26, and the hotel will leverage its prime location to provide visitors with the best duck-viewing experience.
Taichung Travel Fair / Taichung International Travel Fair Kicks Off on the 4th — Japan-Themed Area a Major Hit
The Taichung International Travel Fair grandly opened on the 4th, featuring participation from over 100 exhibitors and nearly 300 booths, making it the annual travel extravaganza of central Taiwan. The organizer, the Taichung City Travel Agents Association, stated that this year’s fair includes exhibits from multiple Japanese prefectural tourism bureaus, showcasing a Japan-themed area and autumn foliage tours. Thanks to the off-season, Southeast Asian travel packages are available for less than NT$10,000, allowing travelers to “hunt for treasures” at the fair.
Eyeing the online direct customer market: National airline launches Tokyo flights starting at NT$6,999
To continue rewarding online users and capture the direct customer market, the national airline has launched an online travel fair featuring 13 popular international destinations including Tokyo, and 15 cross-strait routes including Shanghai. Discounts can go as low as 30% off, with Taipei to Tokyo flights starting at NT$6,999. Travelers looking to snag cheap tickets for their trips may want to compare prices during this promotion.
All-You-Can-Eat Japanese Sukiyaki at Ichibanchi – Great Value for Big Eaters
I finally got the chance to visit Ichibanchi Sukiyaki, a restaurant that actually started in Taoyuan before expanding to Ximending in Taipei. I decided to come here after seeing highly positive recommendations on PTT, where users praised the quality of the meat.