Travel
Rewrite the ending of Kuma and Badou's story！Xitou Monster Village launches the "Tosheng Gate" escape room
"During Taiwan’s Japanese colonial period, on the night of August 22, 1913, having been released back into the forest, Badou and Kuma missed their grandfather Matsubayashi Katsuichi so much that they decided to sneak back to his house to visit him. However, they found their grandfather under attack by terrifying monsters. To save him, after an intense battle, they finally drove the monsters away, but Badou sacrificed himself in the process, while Kuma, severely injured, fled into the forest and never returned...。"
Celebrating the Approach of 10 Million Visitors: Japan Gives Out "Arashi" Handkerchiefs to Welcome Travelers
In 2013, the number of overseas tourists visiting Japan has repeatedly hit record highs, and is set to reach the 10 million mark by year’s end. To express gratitude for the enthusiastic support of international visitors, the Japan Tourism Agency has once again enlisted the services of Arashi—the tourism ambassadors since 2010—who will launch a welcome campaign starting December 1 at six major airports: Haneda, Narita, Kansai, Chubu, New Chitose, and Fukuoka.
Romantic! 600,000 Lights Illuminate the Night – Sendai’s “Festival of Light” Opens in Japan
As Christmas draws near, not only in Taiwan but across Japan, heartwarming winter festivals are kicking off. In Sendai City, the “Festival of Light” is lighting up 600,000 lamps along the streets from now until December 31st. Walking down the streets surrounded by this vast sea of beautiful lights is an incredibly romantic experience.
Ring in the New Year in the Embrace of the Harbor – Kaohsiung Countdown Fireworks Cruise Opens for Booking on the 12th
To allow the public to comfortably enjoy the spectacular 2014 Kaohsiung Countdown Fireworks Show against the backdrop of the nighttime harbor scenery, the Kaohsiung Harbor Ferry Company will operate two sightseeing cruise trips on the evening of the 31st. This enables people to avoid the crowds and admire the dazzling 214-second fireworks display over Dream Mall from the beautiful Kaohsiung Harbor this year.
Florida Mermaid Water Park – Live Ballet Underwater Show
After Disney’s animated film “The Little Mermaid” was released in 1989, the innocent Ariel became the classic image of a mermaid. However, many people don’t know that as early as 1946, there was already an amusement park in Florida, USA, called “Weeki Wachee Springs,” where you can see real-life “mermaids” gracefully swimming underwater and performing synchronized water ballet. The spectacular shows fulfilled the public’s desire to see mermaids in person and created a huge sensation at the time.
Christmas season is here！ 5 reindeer appear at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
With the Christmas season upon us, Eslite Spectrum Songyan has launched the “Carnival 'New Wave'” Christmas installation exhibition. Six cross-disciplinary artists were specially invited to create five uniquely crafted wooden reindeer and a wooden Christmas tree display. These five eye-catching reindeer are stationed in five different corners of Eslite, becoming new hotspots for visitors to take photos and share on social media.
The Beatles appear at Victoria Peak in Hong Kong, strolling across the Abbey Road zebra crossing
The legendary British band The Beatles made an appearance in Hong Kong, stepping onto the Avenue of Stars at the Madame Tussauds Hong Kong on Victoria Peak, and walking across the Abbey Road pedestrian crossing inside the museum. This year (102) marks the 50th anniversary of the release of The Beatles’ first album, *Please Please Me*. The wax figures of the four band members—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—are touring the world, meeting fans in Hong Kong with their new looks.
They're everywhere！The “secret spots” to see the adorable Little Yellow Duck are melting hearts
The countdown has begun for the exhibition of the Little Yellow Duck at Keelung Harbor！As the grand finale, the Keelung City Government has planned “five key duck-viewing areas,” boosting business for nearby hotels. Taking advantage of the duck craze, hotels have launched “Little Yellow Duck-themed rooms,” where everything from the entrance, beds to bathrooms is decorated with ducks, making people exclaim “so cute.”
A jade worth ten thousand yuan on special for one thousand? Quality Assurance Association: Beware—the cost is still coming out of your pocket.
《《Ettoday Eastday News Cloud》 recently received a reader’s letter describing an unpleasant shopping experience during a group tour to Beijing, China, organized by a well-known travel agency. The reader stated that although the issue was ultimately resolved through “a refund and return of cash,” with no actual loss incurred, they still hoped to share their experience to warn others and avoid ruining their trip.
Singapore Airlines Student Scheme: Free checked baggage allowance to New Zealand, Australia, and Europe increased to 40kg
To show consideration for students’ hard work, Singapore Airlines has launched a new student free checked baggage scheme. Passengers departing from Taiwan to study or participate in working holiday programs in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe can enjoy a 40kg free checked baggage allowance when purchasing a one-way or round-trip economy class ticket (valid for six months or more) on singaporeair.com and providing relevant supporting documents.
Enjoy free gourmet food！ The Kaohsiung Mullet Culture Festival kicks off on the 14th
The Mullet Culture Festival in Qieding District, Kaohsiung, will begin at 10 a.m. on the 14th at Xingda Harbor’s Lover’s Wharf. In addition to activities such as a bike tour of Qieding, a mullet culture exhibition, and a mullet sales rush, limited-edition golden mullet rice noodles will also be prepared for the public to enjoy.
The Yellow Rubber Duck in Keelung Opens on December 21st – Traffic Control to Be Implemented in Front of Marine Plaza
After traveling through Kaohsiung’s Glory Harbor and Taoyuan’s Xinzhuang Pond, the Yellow Rubber Duck has completed its four-month tour around Taiwan and will finally arrive at Keelung Marine Plaza on December 21st. On the opening day, Zhongyi 1st Road, which borders the exhibition site at Marine Plaza, and Gangxi Street in front of Keelung Railway Station, will be closed from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with traffic control measures in place.
Through millennia of vicissitudes, the ancient city of Jiaohe has transformed into the most beautiful of ruins.
“The two sandy rivers converge, a city perched by nature atop the waters. Precipitous cliffs and towering walls mark perilous heights, while desolate platforms and ruined sites have weathered countless springs and autumns.” This poem was written by Chen Cheng of the Ming Dynasty during his diplomatic mission to the Western Regions, as he passed by Jiaohe. The “Ancient City of Jiaohe” is situated on a willow-leaf-shaped plateau where two rivers meet, resembling an isolated island. Over two thousand years ago, the Cheshi people established their capital here. Today, only broken walls remain, allowing later generations to imagine the prosperity of those bygone days.
The Maple Leaves at Aowanda Are at Their Peak Red — Take the Bus to Enjoy the Foliage Without Traffic Jams and at a Lower Cost
The maple leaves at Aowanda are in full "red" glory now. As winter deepens, visitor numbers to Aowanda Forest Recreation Area for autumn foliage viewing have also peaked. Since December, the area has set a new record of nearly 10,000 visitors in a single day. The Nantou Forest District Office recommends that the best time to admire the foliage is mid to late December. Travelers are encouraged to take advantage of a local “strategic alliance” of multiple bus operators heading up the mountain — it’s convenient, fast, and comes with a NT$150 discount on park entry fees on holidays.
Visiting Keelung to See the Yellow Rubber Duck — The Nearest Restroom Is Still 300 Meters Away
The Yellow Rubber Duck is set to arrive at Keelung Marine Plaza on December 21. Originally, plans called for setting up a total of 500 portable toilets around the exhibition area to provide convenience for visitors. However, the Keelung City Government has now discovered that due to the limited space available for duck-viewing, the nearest restroom is still 300 meters away at the Dong San and Dong Si docks — making it far from convenient for visitors.
Ring in 2014: A Complete Guide to New Year’s Eve Events at Taiwan’s Top 10 National Scenic Areas
As 2013 draws to a close, it’s once again time for the world to welcome 2014 together. The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has compiled information on sunset farewell events, New Year’s Eve galas, and sunrise welcoming activities taking place across 10 national scenic areas nationwide. There are exciting events throughout Taiwan, and the public can take advantage of the New Year’s holiday to embark on a journey of bidding farewell to the old and greeting the new.
Tax-free shopping for all purchases over 5,000 yen in Japan to be implemented as early as 2014
Japan plans to raise its consumption tax from 5% to 10% next year, which is expected to drive up prices. With Tokyo having won the bid to host the 2020 Olympics, the Japanese government aims to attract more foreign tourists and boost consumption by expanding tax exemption on all goods purchased by foreigners—not just electronics and clothing as before. The new policy could take effect as early as 2014.
TLC’s star host explores Taipei’s mysterious tunnels at Yuanshan — Samantha Brown: The engineering is impressive
The Tourism Bureau and the “Crazy About Taiwan” series have joined forces to invite 10 internationally renowned travel show hosts or celebrities to spark double hosting chemistry with Janet. Guests have included Bob Blumer, Ian Wright, and Denise Keller. This time, Deputy Director of the Tourism Bureau Liu Xilin personally led TLC’s star host Samantha Brown and Janet to explore the presidential-exclusive secret tunnel, as well as visit the Yuanshan Guesthouse and taste the imperial-style red bean cake.
Darling Harbour in Australia is super romantic!! Super cute Santas celebrate Christmas
To welcome Christmas, Darling Harbour in Australia has transformed into a joyful Christmas city. The Sydney government has placed numerous adorable large inflatable Santas on the docks and surrounding buildings of Darling Harbour, not only making the entire area more romantic but also adding a lot of festive cheer to the holiday season.
New Director of Northeast Coast National Scenic Area Administration: The Ocean Is Part of Life
Fang Zhengguang, the new director of the Northeast Coast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration under the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, assumed office on December 9. He emphasized, “The ocean is part of the lives of Taiwanese people.” People’s daily lives are closely connected to the sea. Therefore, in addition to government education and awareness campaigns, he also advised the public to cultivate correct and safe aquatic activity concepts. Establishing sound attitudes is essential to understanding the ocean, getting closer to it, and coexisting with it.