Travel
The Fourfold Creek Hot Spring Festival Kicks Off & the Hot Spring Old Street Closes for a Parade
The 2013 Fourfold Creek Sightseeing Hot Spring Festival officially opened on the 16th at the Hot Spring Branch of Checheng Elementary School. In conjunction with the lively opening parade event, Section 199 of the County Road from Hot Spring Bridge to Guangfu Bridge will be closed to traffic, and the hot spring old street will also be decorated with Japanese-style lanterns and street scene installations.
"Flower Air" Flight Attendant Cheerleaders Make Their Debut – Pink Suitcases Join the Dance
The first-ever "flight attendant cheerleading squad" formed by a domestic airline made its appearance this (17th) evening during the halftime break of the Korea vs. China match in the Asia Professional Baseball Championship. Performing for three minutes, the flight attendant cheerleaders entered the field pulling pink suitcases, capturing everyone’s attention with their eye-catching presence. They then used their luggage handles to bust out high-energy dances on the field, drawing screams from the crowd.
See pandas strolling through flower fields: The stunning white chrysanthemum sea in Tongluo, Miaoli
As deep autumn arrives, the chrysanthemums in Tongluo, Miaoli are in full bloom. The chrysanthemum sea spreads across terraced fields, creating a breathtaking snowy mountain-like view from afar. The Tongluo Farmers' Association has specially created panda installations named "Yuanyuan" and "Yuanzai," attracting many visitors to stop and take photos. In addition to white and yellow chrysanthemums, the surrounding fields of Jiuhu Leisure Agriculture Area—where the flower sea is located—are also dotted with colorful daisies. The blooming period lasts until early December.
A Floral Celebration – 42 Hectares of Vibrant Blooms Greet Visitors at Qiaotou
Not to be outshone by the Xinshe Flower Sea, the first major flower-viewing event in southern Taiwan, Kaohsiung’s Qiaotou Flower Sea kicked off on November 23 at Qiaotou Bamboo Forest Park. The two-day “A Floral Celebration” event invites the public to admire a colorful sea of flowers spanning 42 hectares, featuring vibrant blooms such as cosmos, sunflowers, and zinnias. The event also includes flower-themed concerts and street performances.
The Four Creeks Hot Spring Festival Kicks Off; Mascot Onion Baby Makes First Street Parade Appearance
The two-month-long 2013 Four Creeks Sightseeing Hot Spring Festival kicked off in high spirits on the 16th. With installation art street decorations and a lively street parade warming up the atmosphere, the festival was officially launched. Pingtung County Government has continued to offer attractions such as herbal beauty hot springs, free massages, free shuttle buses to the hot spring area, a 300-year-old eggplant tree as a wishing tree, and bundled discount packages that include tribal tours of Mudan Township, inviting both domestic and international tourists to the southernmost part of the country to “admire the beautiful scenery, taste delicious food, and soak in beautiful hot springs.”
Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism & Product Exhibition: Kaga Yuzen & Wajima Lacquerware Come to Taiwan
From now until November 19, the government of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan, in collaboration with Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taipei Xinyi New World A11, will host the “Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism & Product Exhibition.” In addition to Ishikawa’s local cuisine and time-honored traditional crafts, the 6F Cultural Hall will feature special performances by traditional artists showcasing drumming, fue (Japanese flute), and Japanese dance — all unique to Ishikawa Prefecture — offering those who haven’t visited yet a glimpse of the area’s cultural performing arts.
New Taipei City’s Joyful Christmas Town – Adorable Transparent Bear Bus Makes Its Debut
Beware of bears on the loose!* The 2013 New Taipei City Joyful Christmas Town event kicks off with its lighting ceremony on November 22. Leading up to the event, an extra-large transparent “Joyful Christmas Bear Promotion Bus” will be roaming around the Greater Taipei area. The bus is loaded with 400 Christmas souvenir bears and snowman Santa Clauses. When you’re out shopping, don’t forget to look up — festive bear surprises might be just around the corner.
Travel Alert: Eastern Sabah in Malaysia Upgraded to Orange; Western Coast Remains Grey
A Taiwanese couple, Mr. and Mrs. Hsu, were recently murdered in Sabah, Malaysia. Starting immediately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Bureau of Consular Affairs has raised the travel alert level for the eastern part of Sabah to "Orange," advising the public to avoid non-essential travel there. Currently, most tour packages to Sabah offered by domestic travel agencies are focused on the western region near Kota Kinabalu, the state capital, which remains at the safe "Grey" alert level, so those tours will continue as scheduled.
"Thailand-Loving" Affordable Thai Cuisine – Enjoy Authentic Thai Flavors
Recently, I heard that Sheraton’s externally invested restaurant, "Thailand-Loving A ROY DEE by SUKHOTHAI," finally grandly opened on the B1 floor of Taipei’s Breeze Center. As a sister brand to SUKHOTHAI, it is naturally managed by Thai chefs and maintains a certain standard. However, it differentiates itself from SUKHOTHAI by targeting a more affordable market segment (with prices roughly 30% lower than those at SUKHOTHAI).
Right on the dot like clockwork—Hawaiian Airlines ranks No. 1 in on-time performance across the U.S.
Hawaiian Airlines, which launched its first flight in Taiwan just this July, has achieved remarkable aviation milestones this year. With an almost perfect on-time rate of 95.5%, it earned the title of "No. 1 Most On-Time Airline in the U.S." and has held the top spot in the U.S. airline industry for nine consecutive years. Out of 5,831 flights, only 4 were canceled, earning it the honor of "Lowest Flight Cancellation Rate." Additionally, the airline introduced "Extra Comfort Economy" class to enhance cabin quality.
Mainland tourists account for nearly half of global luxury goods purchases; China to become top travel spender by 2016
A mainland luxury goods report reveals the astonishing purchasing power of Chinese tourists, who bought 47% of the world’s luxury items, spending a total of $102 billion on them. Additionally, as the global economy remains sluggish, China is rising rapidly, and the Global Business Travel Association predicts it will surpass the U.S. as the world’s largest business travel spender by as early as 2016.
Pelosser's Self-Roasted Coffee Shop — Customizable Coffee for Guests to Freely Mix and Match
Pelosser Coffee Shop, which can be reached by walking about 500 meters from Exit 2 of Xiaonanmen Metro Station, moved here due to the expiration of its previous lease. This relocation also provided an opportunity to re-plan its operational direction, allowing us to witness the further evolution of a self-roasted coffee shop.
Kaohsiung Yancheng Rice Cake City – Simple, Satisfying Nostalgic Flavors
In 1928, the Kaohsiung City Government moved to this district’s Rongcheng area (the former site of the old Kaohsiung City Hall), and in the 1960s, Yancheng was once the most populous district in Kaohsiung. Though times have changed and the bustle has faded, many old-time snack shops from Kaohsiung’s past are still hidden here. The only issue is that prices aren’t as wallet-friendly anymore. As for this [Rice Cake City], I’d wanted to try it for over a year. That Lunar New Year, I happened to pass by and was shocked to find an outrageously long line.
Taiwan’s tallest Christmas tree in New Taipei’s Kids’ Christmas Town lights up on the 22nd
New Taipei City’s Joyful Christmas Town will officially open at 6:30 PM on November 22. In the Kids’ Christmas Town, visitors can see Taiwan’s tallest Christmas tree, standing at 35.5 meters. On November 23 and 24, there will also be performances under the theme “Kids’ Christmas, Joyful Stage.” Other upcoming activities include “A Kid’s Stroll,” a Christmas circus parade, and the Winter Wonderland for mischievous kids — making it a large-scale amusement park where adults can relive childhood memories and children can play to their hearts' content.
I love Taiwan so much!! Mr. Matsukawa Shu from Japan has visited Taiwan 88 times in 37 years
Mr. Matsukawa Shu, 67, is a Japanese "Ojisan" (uncle) who is absolutely crazy about Taiwan. He fell in love
Hidden in a Simple Courtyard: Authentic Ukrainian Restaurant "Balagov" Tantalizes the Taste Buds
Enjoy Ukrainian cuisine without leaving Taiwan ! Nestled in the unassuming city of Yilan is an authentic Ukrainian eatery — "Balagov." Chef Serhiy moved thousands of miles back to his wife’s hometown in Yilan in pursuit of love, bringing along the flavors of his homeland. Signature dishes such as pork and carrot stewed rice (similar to risotto) and "varenyky" (Ukrainian dumplings), plus most of the spices imported directly from Ukraine, offer an genuinely Ukrainian taste that has diners raving.
EVA Air’s Winter Sale with Eurostar
EVA Air has launched a new winter sale themed around the City of Love — Paris. The offer includes a 5-day, 2-night Paris vacation package featuring flight tickets, hotel accommodation, and an L’Open Tour bus pass, starting from NT$26,888 (excluding tax).
Taiwan’s Cycling Tourism Highly Recommended – British Media Praises “World-Class Standards”
The London-based British newspaper Metro featured a full-page report highlighting how Taiwan’s cycling tourism is beloved by international visitors, praising the island’s well-developed cycling infrastructure that meets world-class standards, along with its comprehensive bike rental system across Taiwan, which even includes specially designed hotels for cyclists.
Aerial view of crimson leaves: Crimson foliage sprouting between skyscrapers in Tokyo’s urban jungle
As autumn sets in, temperatures across Taiwan have turned chilly, while in northern Japan’s Tokyo area, recent days have seen mercury dip below 10°C. After sweeping through on the cold autumn winds, beautiful sights of maple leaves turning clear yellow and red have begun to appear around Tokyo. Reporters ascended the Tokyo Skytree and captured the stunning scenery of Tokyo’s maple leaves from high above. Rows of maple trees, shot through telephoto lenses, appear as tiny clusters of red foliage—offering an especially delightful surprise.
Honoring "a giant who influenced the world" — Steve Jobs' childhood home listed as U.S. historical site
With his signature black turtleneck, faded jeans, and sneakers, his appearance at Apple product launches once held the world in suspense, eagerly awaiting what new change he would bring. This giant dedicated to changing the world — Steven Jobs — has had his childhood home designated as a protected historical site by the United States in recognition of his achievements and contributions.