Travel
Dried up for 40 years! The "largest in East Asia" Beitou century-old bathhouse is refilled with hot spring water again
Pouring a ladle of hot spring water may seem easy, but for the Beitou Public Bathhouse, it has been a 40-year journey — with 25 of those years seeing the site reduced to ruins. Local elder Grandma Chen recalls: “My impression of this place was overgrown weeds, like a haunted house. Thankfully, it was those kids and that petition letter back then...”
Spooktacular Greetings: The "Spooky" Gifts Are Here, and the Costumed Little Duck Also Appears at Shoushan Zoo for Halloween!
With Halloween approaching, Kaohsiung’s Shoushan Zoo is hosting a “This ‘Spooky’ Gift Costume Carnival” on Sunday, October 27, to let both adults and children fully immerse themselves in the Halloween atmosphere. Visitors dressed in Halloween monster costumes can enter the zoo for free, and on the day of the event, a costumed “Shoushan Little Duck” will also appear in the zoo to celebrate Halloween with visitors.
Michelin two-star chef makes debut — Authentic kaiseki cuisine now available in Taiwan
With increasing exchanges between Taiwan and renowned international chefs and restaurants, not only have more Michelin-starred chefs been making guest appearances in Taiwan, but many are also collaborating with local eateries by sending their disciples to work here. This year, the Far Eastern Shangri-La has even partnered with Japanese Michelin two-star chef Kazuo Takagi, who took over the IBUKI restaurant, now renamed ibuki by TAKAGI KAZUO, serving the most seasonally beautiful and delicious Kyoto cuisine.
Bye-bye！A 19-hour journey — Singapore Airlines to retire its longest flight in November
Singapore–New York, the world’s longest non-stop flight, will be discontinued next month. Due to factors such as rising fuel prices and the global economy, Singapore Airlines has announced that this 19-hour route will be retired from service, along with the Airbus A340 aircraft that operated the longest flight.
Yellow Rubber Duck Floats into Taoyuan – Xinwu Residents Kindly Remind: Don’t Litter
The joy and lively atmosphere brought by the duck have left the local community both excited and apprehensive. A local resident, Ms. Huang, has taken to Facebook to compile and share the best routes for duck viewing, along with a thoughtful reminder about a speed camera on one section of the road. She also hopes visitors won’t litter, as it makes the hard work of environmental volunteers even more difficult.
Hidden gem pizza spot where time flies — thin, crispy crusts and seafood that "dances" on your tongue
"In a busy life, it's sometimes good to slow down and savor the moment." As soon as you step into this pizza shop in Banqiao District, New Taipei City, you can feel the leisurely pace of savoring time. It's a great place for a gathering or chat with friends. The shop serves Italian-style pizzas with thin, crispy crusts that are delicious. Even though it's tucked away in an alley, many customers still flock here for the aroma.
“Just doing what I can is enough” — The vitality in the hands of an Amis woman
Early in the morning, with a light drizzle falling, I drove south along the East Coast and stopped near the coastal Amis tribe’s sea festival site. The host of Savalu Coast warmly welcomed me as I prepared to start a whole day of work with a hangover. After surveying the surroundings, I was drawn to a scene: an Ina (the Amis word for woman) was weaving inside a house, with threads neatly aligned in parallel on the loom.
The wind weakened & the yellow duck in Taoyuan was successfully inflated & will make its official debut on the 26th
Under the force of the northeastern monsoon, inflating the yellow duck in Taoyuan had been a bumpy ride. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the engineering team, they took advantage of the weakened winds today (24th) and began inflating the duck at 9:30 AM, completing the process by 9:45 AM. The yellow duck will officially meet the public on the 26th.
Lunchtime diners / Affordable sushi with amazing value for money at just around NT$200 per meal
Who says eating sushi has to break the bank? “Tsukiji Fresh Fish,” which became popular from Hsinchu Science Park to Taipei, specializes in high-value yet affordable sushi dishes, with an average price of just NT$200. The most basic option, the “Signature Tsukiji N<,” includes three types of fish—tuna, swordfish, and salmon—offering thick, rich, and tender bites that keep you coming back for more.
Mastering noodles, congee, and stir-fried meats: Hong Kong’s Ho Hung Kee earns Michelin one-star recognition for five consecutive years
Ho Hung Kee, a Hong Kong restaurant with over 60 years of history, has not only received Michelin one-star recognition for five consecutive years but has also won numerous awards, including the Annual Food Grand Award and the Gold Award for Wonton Noodles. In addition to its signature wonton noodles and dry fried beef chow fun, its congee is also highly praised.
Strolling Through Kyoto’s Old Streets in a Kimono – As If Transported to the Edo Era
Coming to Kyoto, a city with numerous World Heritage Sites and traditional architecture, of course you should experience wearing Japanese traditional attire. “Sanpo” means stroll in Japanese, and somehow, kimono experiences have become an incredibly popular activity for travelers in Kyoto.
Northern Goshawks Have Arrived: Traffic Control in Tainan’s Beimen District to Avoid Disturbing Bird Habitats
Vast flocks of northern goshawks soar over fish farms and sea dikes, dancing in the sky—how could you miss such a spectacular sight? To provide undisturbed habitats for migratory birds and a birdwatching-friendly environment for the public, Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan Coastal Scenic Area will implement traffic control in Beimen District from the 25th until November 15.
Eat, drink, bang the table, and cheer out loud—cross-dressing princesses and knights crash a medieval feast in London!
Ever fantasized about dressing up as a princess or knight and experiencing a medieval banquet while studying European history in class? In London, UK, there’s a restaurant that makes this dream come true. The Medieval Banquet is a themed dining venue inspired by medieval London, where you can enjoy your meal while following the performers through time—feasting on meat and drinks in full swing!
Taiwanese street food makes its way into five-star hotel buffets — stinky tofu and Fucheng rice cakes are now on the menu
Taipei’s Wanhua district welcomes a new landmark, the Taipei Caesar Metro Hotel (Caesar Metro Taipei), operated by the Caesar Hotels chain, which officially opened on November 24. The hotel’s Baiyan Buffet has launched a selection of local Taiwanese night market snacks starting today, featuring a special “made-to-order” section that offers quintessentially Taiwanese dishes such as Shenkeng stinky tofu, Gangshan mutton hot pot, Fucheng rice cake, black pepper steak on iron plate, Yilan satay squid soup, and crab roe monkfish tofu.
Hengchun Folk Music Festival: Relive Classic Folk Tunes Starting the 26th
The 2013 Hengchun Folk Music Festival will take place from the 26th to November 3rd on the Hengchun Peninsula. It will feature performances by Taiwanese Golden Melody Award-winning artist Xie Ming-yi (谢铭祐), the Seahorse Band, and many local performance groups. Additionally, there will be folk singing competitions on the 1st and 2nd, encouraging participants and performers to make friends through song and get to know Hengchun through its music.
Affordable "Thick-Cut" Sashimi – Foodies Exclaim: "Such Great Value!"
The deliciousness of sashimi lies in the freshness of the ingredients, but when it also comes with "thickness," the satisfying taste is easy to imagine. The area around Taipei Main Station, catering to the needs of students from the nearby cram school street, has become a hub for affordable eats. This specialty store for sashimi and donburi (rice bowls) is highly praised by foodies who say, "You can enjoy sashimi without spending a fortune—it's such great value," thanks to the generous "thick-cut" slices served to customers.
Reducing disturbance to local residents: The yellow duck in Taoyuan will not be open at night
The yellow duck in Taoyuan is set to make its official debut tomorrow. As Xinyi is close to the coastal waters of Taoyuan County, the strong northeast monsoon is generating winds as powerful as those of a mild typhoon. Visitors planning to check it out should be well-prepared with warm clothing, windproof gear, and rain protection. Additionally, to minimize disruption to local residents, the duck will not be open in the evening, and there will be no lighting facilities, so those hoping to take “night shots” of the duck should reconsider.
Shuanglian Street Braised Pork Rice, Side Dishes & Premium Rice – Really Delicious Even Outside Meal Times
Shuanglian Street Braised Pork Rice offers mid-range, reasonable prices. Overall, the tables are clean and the floors aren’t sticky. It feels even more comfortable when you avoid peak meal hours. We just happened to be craving this nostalgic old flavor, so Xiong and Miao braved the heavy rain to come here – we had to eat here even outside of regular meal times!!
"Train Hospital" Taipei Railway Workshop to Relocate by Year-End; Railway Culture Carnival to Be the Grand Finale
The "Taipei Railway Workshop," which has never been open to the public and is known as the "Train Hospital," will be completely relocated to the Taoyuan Fugang Base by the end of this year. The grand finale of the first-ever Taipei Railway Culture Festival, organized by the Taipei City Cultural Affairs Bureau this year, will be a carnival event held at the Taipei Railway Workshop site on October 26. The full day of exciting activities includes a birthday celebration for the old workshop.
Lunchtime crowd / Sino-French fusion goose cuisine – A delightful mix that draws Hong Kong foodies in pilgrimage
Huh—isn’t this a French restaurant? Why is the menu filled with traditional Taiwanese dishes? “Le Peng Xiaoguan” in the Yongkang Street area combines French-style decor with classic Taiwanese snacks, offering a refreshing twist. The signature dish, “Tea-Smoked Goose,” is marinated to perfection, with tender bones that melt in your mouth. The owner’s homemade “Goose Fat Scallion Sauce,” drizzled over soft and chewy white rice, fills the air with aroma—you might just end up eating an extra bowl or two.