Travel
Yellow Rubber Duck Draws 10,000 Visitors on First Day in Taoyuan Public: "The duck's skin is so wrinkled"
The Yellow Rubber Duck made its debut today (26th) at Houhu Pond in Taoyuan. Just in the morning, 2,500 visitors flocked to the site, with the entire park estimated to have received over 10,000 people. Crowds gathered on the embankment in front of Houhu Pond, where the duck is located, to take photos with the full view of the giant duck. Some visitors expressed disappointment after seeing the duck, pointing out that not only was it quite dirty, but its surface was also wrinkled by the wind. "This small pond is simply not suitable for displaying the duck."
Taiwan opens new flight route: Japanese low-cost carrier to launch Kaohsiung-Osaka route
A low-cost airline is expanding its routes in Taiwan. The Kaohsiung-Kansai route will become Peach Aviation’s sixth international route. Starting January 18, 2014, Peach Aviation will connect the skies between Kaohsiung and Osaka, becoming the first Japanese airline to launch a Kaohsiung-Kansai route.
Coffee frappés and thick soups with dumpling elements? A memorable dumpling feast in Sanchong
This is Dingwei Zhizhi, a dumpling shop located in Sanchong. Last month, Xiao Hu organized a really fun “Foodie Group” event, which was also my first experience writing a blog. I have to thank Dingwei Zhizhi’s owners, Mr. and Mrs. Li Zhong and Wei Wei, who not only made this possible but also provided fifteen friends with a free taste of this amazing dumpling banquet. I’m sure everyone who attended had a great time that day.
Must-See: Capturing the Loneliness of the Yellow Duck – Three Classic Time-Lapse Artworks
The Yellow Duck craze has swept across Northern Taiwan. The “Polder Art Festival” in Xinzhuang, Taoyuan, is now on display until November 10. In addition to the Yellow Duck, the three major highlights of this art festival include Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s dotted artwork “The Footsteps of Life” and South Korean artist Choi Jeong Hwa’s “Lotus,” both of which have drawn large crowds. Some visitors used time-lapse photography to capture the three artworks swaying in the wind on the polder ponds, presenting a uniquely desolate beauty against the open land.
A New Paradise for Birdwatching: Migratory Birds Spotted Along the Dahan River Wetlands
As deep autumn arrives, migratory birds from high-latitude regions are gradually making their way to Taiwan for the winter. Now, eight wetland areas along the Dahan River in New Taipei City offer sightings of rare bird species, including the painted snipe, ruff, and black-winged stilt. Among these, the spectacle of large flocks of egrets returning to their nests at dusk is particularly breathtaking at the Xinhai Phase I Artificial Wetland and the Chenglin Artificial Wetland Ecological Reserve.
The hot spring season is here – Taiwan’s Hot Spring & Gourmet Carnival kicks off on the 28th
The 2013 Taiwan Hot Spring & Gourmet Carnival officially launched on the 28th in the Jinshan-Wanli Hot Spring area of New Taipei City. The event will run for nearly three months until January 20, 2014. The organizers have invited outdoor TV host Sasa and voice actor A-Song to serve as the event ambassadors. In addition, visitors can enjoy a soak in the hot springs while entering to win million-dollar prizes.
The New Year’s Eve dishes by a state banquet chef are here！First-ever “King of Vegan Soups” debuts
The New Year’s Eve dishes by a state banquet chef are here！First-ever “King of Vegan Soups” debuts
Shanzhuku Transforms into a Beautiful Park — Nangang Shanshui Green Ecological Park Officially Opens
Located in Nangang, the former landfill site known as "Shanzhuku" has become history. On the 27th, it officially reopened as the "Shanshui Green Ecological Park." Many facilities within the park utilize recycled resources, aiming not only to become a new landmark of Nangang and a new leisure option for residents but also to promote the importance of environmental conservation and resource recycling.
“The Most Precious Sponsorship!” Qi Bolin: A Short but Heartfelt Message, Gratitude for Life
“The Most Precious Sponsorship!” When I received this email, saw its subject line, and read through the letter, I was so moved I couldn’t speak. My heart ached, yet at the same time, I felt a warm current flowing through me. “How incredible something like this can exist in the world.” During the filming of *Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above*, there were many tough moments, but receiving such a heartfelt message from a friend—that “most precious letter”—has filled me with lifelong gratitude that I will always cherish.
Lacking the "artificial touch" – The down-to-earth Yellow Duck in Taoyuan
After the Yellow Duck was relocated to Taoyuan for exhibition, it sparked both positive and negative reactions. The Taoyuan County Cultural Affairs Bureau used aerial cameras to document the event. Visitors might want to view the exhibition from a different angle and height, as Taoyuan presents an exhibition centered around "land art." The duck leisurely floats among the local "paddy ponds," a distinctive landscape feature of Xinyi, offering a back-to-nature experience that is more therapeutic and aligns even better with the duck’s original intention of bringing joy to people.
Winter Illumination Festival Kicks Off in Mie Prefecture, Japan – A Spectacular Display of Colorful Lights
Known as Japan’s largest winter illumination festival, it opened on the 25th at “Nagashima Spa Land’s Nabana no Sato” in Mie Prefecture, Japan. Nabana no Sato is a large outdoor park themed around seasonal flowers and plants. Last year, under the theme of “Nature,” it used 7 million bulbs to create a magnificent spectacle, featuring not only the Light Corridor and the Light Sea of Clouds but also Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as one of the themes — with bulbs woven together to depict the beautiful seasons of Mount Fuji.
A French bistro serving Taiwanese goose meat – Le Pont’s flavors come from “vintage broth”
Nestled in a nearby alley of the Yongkang Street shopping district, Bistro Le Pont has become a popular spot among French cuisine aficionados. One blogger once described it as, “This isn’t France, but it feels just like a Parisian street.” Yet what truly sets Le Pont apart is its French-style décor paired with Taiwanese-style goose meat.
The Taoyuan Land Art Festival drew 330,000 visitors in just two days, with 200,000 flocking to see the little duck
Last weekend finally saw cloudy skies give way to sunshine, and the first two days of the Taoyuan Land Art Festival also welcomed a huge crowd. Some people even queued up as early as 6 a.m. just to get a close-up view of the little duck. Organizers reported that the total number of visitors to the entire exhibition area exceeded 330,000, with over 200,000 visiting the duck exhibit alone—proof that the little duck’s charm remains undiminished.
Kaohsiung LOVE Observation Deck – Gaze at Incredibly Stunning Scenery
The LOVE Observation Deck is located at the highest point in Kaohsiung, right next to the National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine. Today I came especially to visit this new attraction. By dusk, the place was packed with visitors coming here to relax and have heart-to-heart chats, as well as countless tripods. The LOVE Observation Deck in Kaohsiung is also one of the most beautiful spots for wedding photography.
Lunch options / Ramen, N< rice, side dishes — satisfying office workers' needs for under ¥100
Located near Banqiao Xinpuyi Station, the MRT eatery “Gochomei Ramen” offers a wide variety of dishes. In addition to ramen, there’s also N< rice and various set meals, catering to all your cravings in one stop. The highly popular pork bone ramen features premium Japanese pork bone broth and noodles with the perfect texture — rich, savory, and utterly addictive.
The "super-rich" crab congee hot pot features a unique cooking method and a deliciously sweet and savory taste—Xu Xudong’s favorite
Autumn is the best season for eating crabs, but there’s a hidden hot pot spot where you can enjoy plump crabs all year round. What’s even more special is that the owner simmers the broth with 14 types of grains, scallops, pork bones, and lean meat, and even "regulates" the order in which ingredients are added to the pot. Yet diners embrace these rules wholeheartedly—even Andrew Yeh, Chairman of Far Eastern Group, is a regular here.
A golden diamond duck worth NT$500,000 is won in a lucky draw — Mr. Tsai from Kaohsiung: “So lucky!”
The Yellow Rubber Duck exhibition in Kaohsiung has generated huge business opportunities. The Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau and local hotels and businesses launched a golden diamond duck raffle. Today’s draw revealed the lucky winner of the golden diamond duck worth over NT$500,000 — a man surnamed Tsai from Kaohsiung. When informed via live connection that he had won the grand prize, Mr. Tsai was initially in disbelief, exclaiming, “So lucky!”
Michelin-starred Chef André Chiang’s French Mentor to Guest Chef at S Hotel’s Nordic Restaurant HYG – Meal Price NT$5,000
It’s no longer rare for Michelin chefs to make guest appearances in Taiwan, but this time the Nordic restaurant “HYG” within Taipei’s S Hotel has invited the renowned French Michelin three-star chefs Jacques and Laurent Pourcel. Moreover, this twin-chef duo were actually André Chiang’s mentors twenty years ago—André trained under them at the Pourcel restaurant for five years.
Kaohsiung Lights Up！The 2013 Light Festival Features the Widest Light Display Area in Its History
The 2014 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival will expand its exhibition area, creating the widest street light decoration display in the festival’s history. It is scheduled to run from January 28 to February 23 next year. In addition to viewing the street lights, visitors can also enjoy lantern parades, fireworks, and performances by celebrities.
Australian cycling challenge in desert ends in tragedy: HowToTrip beauty stewardess and writer Lin Yaruo dies
Lin Yaruo, a former China Airlines flight attendant and popular travel writer, tragically died after being hit by a tourist bus while cycling in Australia. Australian diplomatic personnel have confirmed the news, and her parents are currently en route to Australia to handle the aftermath, expected to arrive at the accident site on the 31st.