Travel
Northern Japan’s Hokuriku Region Selected as One of Lonely Planet’s 2014 Best in Travel
Ranked alongside the Michelin Green Guide, the travel bible that nearly every backpacker owns — Lonely Planet — recently announced the “Top 10 Best Places to Travel in 2014.” Japan’s Hokuriku Region was the only domestic destination to make the list, ranking 4th and praised as “a place rich in cultural, historical, and natural beauty.”
Yoshino Mountain in Nara, Japan — A Romantic and Ethereal Cherry Blossom Landscape
Yoshino Mountain, located in the central part of Nara Prefecture, Japan, is renowned as Japan’s top cherry blossom viewing destination. It boasts 30,000 cherry trees of 200 varieties, including the Shiro-yama cherry. During the cherry blossom season, the mountainsides blanketed in blossoms combined with the surrounding mountain scenery create a breathtaking view, often described as "a thousand trees in a single glance." Yoshino Mountain is divided into areas such as Shimo-Senbon, Naka-Senbon, Kami-Senbon, and Oku-Senbon, with approximately 30,000 cherry trees planted across the mountain, earning its title as Japan’s No. 1 and also the birthplace of Yoshino cherry blossoms.
Buy a flight ticket for an overseas adventure – Latest discounted fares from China Southern Airlines
As 2013 draws to a close, many office workers planning to “use up” their annual leave are starting to map out their year-end travel plans. When it comes to traveling while saving money, purchasing flight tickets that suit one’s needs is naturally a top priority for many. To this end, China Southern Airlines has introduced special fare offers for the winter and spring travel seasons, targeting destinations such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Dalian, and Kathmandu.
Guanziling Hot Springs Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary — Soak in the Springs and Enjoy Delicious Food All in One Go
Guanziling Hot Springs is 100 years old this year. Known as the "World's Number One Hot Spring," it marks its centennial anniversary in 2024. The Tainan City Government has launched a Hot Springs Festival that combines food, music, and local specialty industries. Starting on the 16th, visitors can not only enjoy the hot springs but also attend hot spring concerts and receive complimentary Dongshan coffee and Nanliao i* citrus fruits.
Singapore Airlines resumes seasonal flights between Singapore and Athens
According to information from Singapore Airlines, between June 9 and October 9, 2014, the airline will reinstate a twice-weekly service between Singapore and Athens every Monday and Thursday to meet the demand during the summer travel peak.
End-of-Year Travel Deals: Buy One Night, Get One Night Free at HowToTrip’s Dongsen Mountain Forest Resort
Thanks to the Rubber Duck, more people have discovered Xinzhuang Township in Taoyuan County. The Taoyuan Land Art Festival is set to close on the 10th. In addition to the Xinzhuang Duck, other spots in Taoyuan such as Cihu Lake, Shimen Reservoir, and Daxi not only boast beautiful scenery but are also great for family trips. During this crisp autumn season perfect for travel, HowToTrip’s Dongsen Mountain Forest Resort is offering a wealth of end-of-year deals, including buy one night, get one night free, complimentary spa treatments, room upgrades, and no extra charges during peak seasons or holidays.
Like a blanket of white snow 2013 Miaoli Tongluo White Chrysanthemum in Full Bloom
If you visit Tongluo Township in Miaoli County now, you’ll see patches of snow-white dotting the grasslands, resembling a landscape covered in snow — a beautiful sight that heralds the blooming season of white chrysanthemums in this splendid autumn. The “2013 Miaoli Tongluo White Chrysanthemum and Taro Festival” invites everyone to come and enjoy this magnificent autumn scenery.
No need for printed paper documents — mobile apps can now be used to "check in" directly.
No need to print e-tickets or physical boarding passes — you can board directly using just your mobile phone. Hong Kong-based airlines have launched a mobile boarding pass service that works with iPhone and iPod touch. Simply download the app and you can check in offline.
Just watching isn’t enough anymore—Seoul unveils the Running Man Experience Hall!
Want to become a member of Running Man too? As an RM fan, don’t miss the “Running Man Theme Experience Hall” located in Insadong, Seoul, South Korea. In this space, you can experience the thrilling challenges you’ve only seen on TV—and feel the thrill of conquering them.
Ladies, let’s get moving — travel abroad together, I see You
After EVA Air appointed the “handsome hunk” Takeshi Kaneshiro as its brand ambassador, it significantly captured the attention of female travelers. To cater to women who love to travel, EVA Air also launched the “Lady Lady Travel Fun” series of trips. The most popular destinations include Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sapporo, and Osaka, while other cities such as Singapore, Shanghai, Macau, Beijing, and Bangkok are also highly favored by female travelers.
How can in-flight meals be made truly flavorful? A national airline hosts a creative cooking competition
How can in-flight meals be prepared to be the most flavorful? A national airline held the preliminary and final rounds of its “Creative Culinary Competition” yesterday (the 9th). Contestants used “localized, eco-friendly, and creative” ingredients to design and prepare in-flight meals, competing for a top prize of NT$50,000 and flight tickets. In the future, these innovative airline dishes may even be served to passengers.
Fairy-tale beauty The Xinshe Flower Sea and International Floral Carpet Festival make their grand debut
The Xinshe Flower Sea and International Floral Carpet Festival in Taichung kicked off on the 9th, attracting nearly 160,000 visitors on the first day to admire the blooms. In addition to the famous “Xinshe Flower Sea,” this year’s floral carpet festival features three major themed “floral carpets,” with the five-story-high “Magic Castle” becoming the center of attention. Many visitors were amazed, saying that entering the exhibition felt just as magical as stepping into Alice’s wonderland in a fairy tale.
Sun Moon Lake is absolutely stunning — cyclists from around the world can't stop praising it at Taiwan’s Cycling Festival
The 2013 Taiwan Cycling Festival kicked off on October 10th on the Sun Moon Lake Water Bicycle Trail, attracting over 1,200 cyclists from around the globe. In addition to a visiting group from Ehime, Japan, there were also participants from Australia and Canada. The unanimous sentiment among the riders was, “Sun Moon Lake is incredibly beautiful!” Many even said they’d love to come back every year.
It deflated again right before the final exhibition... The life of the Taoyuan little duck has been full of ups and downs.
The life of the Taoyuan little duck has been full of ups and downs. Right after its initial display, it was criticized for being "not cute" because of the three lines on its face (caused by overhead power lines). Earlier this month, an earthquake caused a power outage, leading to its "sudden demise from a backside explosion." The Kaohsiung little duck that came to support the event was then blown by the northeast monsoon, causing it to deflate and become wrinkled. Until the very end, it couldn’t rest in peace — at around 9 a.m. on the 10th, it suddenly deflated and drooped its head, almost turning into a pancake once again.
Last day: Taoyuan Yellow Rubber Duck Farewell Event to Kick Off in the Afternoon
The Taoyuan Yellow Rubber Duck exhibition has had a bumpy ride, but just two days before the end of its run, it was finally reinflated and “reunited with the public.” This afternoon (the 10th) at 3 PM, the deflation process will begin, marking its official farewell to Taoyuan. The county government will host a gratitude farewell event in front of the Hou Tang Lake exhibition site, where 300 duck-shaped balloons will be given out. The “Closing Night of the Land Art Festival” will then commence at 5 PM.
Exceptionally high value-for-money Japanese delicacies — Zhongli’s “Sit and Make” sushi shop crafts great food through sitting
The “Sit and Make” sushi shop is very small, barely squeezing in eight people if you push. But for some reason, I really felt the vibe — that cozy little-shop atmosphere reminiscent of a late-night diner, and naturally, also reminiscent of “Mánzhe Diē.” Eight people sit around a small U-shaped counter that serves as both the cooking station and the dining table. It has the warmth of a small shop, and you can see the chef’s craft up close — I love it.
International "Bird" Superstar the Black-faced Spoonbill Takes the Stage: Tainan Bicycle Ride Invites the Public to "Ride" Along
Even though the weather is gradually turning cooler, the winter migratory birds of the Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan regions continue to arrive in groups as usual to spend the season here. This year, over 1,000 black-faced spoonbills have already flocked to the protected area in Qigu District, Tainan. To welcome these international "bird" superstars, the Tainan City Agriculture Bureau will host the "102 Black-faced Spoonbill Conservation Season" sightseeing bicycle ride on the 17th, inviting the public to join in celebrating the black-faced spoonbill.
The last day The yellow duck will be deflated at 3 pm on the 10th
Thanks to favorable weather, the "Yellow Duck" that substituted from Kaohsiung to Taoyuan was finally successfully inflated on the 8th. On the 9th, it attracted a large crowd of visitors, with nearly 220,000 people coming to the duck exhibition area. However, it is a pity that the Taoyuan Land Art Festival will come to an end on the 10th. At the same time, due to the strengthening of the northeast monsoon, the organizing committee plans to conduct the deflation operation and bid farewell to the duck at 3 pm.
Diora Jing Hotel’s High-Value SPA – A Favorite of夯哥 Guo Renrong in Bangkok
Located in the Holiday Inn on Sukhumvit Soi 22 in Bangkok, it’s a well-known hotel-grade SPA. The therapists here are vastly different from those at street-side massage shops—every therapist here is trained and highly skilled. I’ve been here at least four times, and every therapist I’ve encountered has had excellent technique.
The hometown of Ferrero Rocher — the “CioccolaTÒ Turin Chocolate Festival” that brings together the essence of European chocolate
“If I could, I would borrow all the happiness in the world for you.” This classic advertising line for Ferrero Rocher chocolates expresses the joy of tasting chocolate. Known as the “chocolate capital” and also the hometown of Ferrero Rocher, the important northern Italian city of Turin hosts the major annual event “CioccolaTÒ Turin Chocolate Festival,” which gathers the finest European chocolates.