Travel
How generous of them！He brought his own Costco meat for hotpot, and the staff even helped plate and serve it.
How generous of them！He brought his own Costco meat for hotpot, and the staff even helped plate and serve it.
Flame & Fluorescent Party – 5,000 Free Fluorescent Accessories at Taitung’s New Year’s Eve Countdown
Taitung’s largest New Year’s Eve event, the “2014 Taitung County New Year’s Eve Party Show,” is set to transform the International Landmark Square into a massive party. Not only will popular singers such as Da Mouth, Huang Yee-ling, and Pan Yue-yun perform live, but 5,400 free fluorescent accessories including wristbands and glasses will also be given out. Coupled with fire dance performances and a spectacular 6-minute “Dance of Flames” fireworks show, Taitung will become a “firefly-lit” New Year’s Eve celebration.
Old Chai Café: A Coffee Journey to the "Starting Point of Stories"
Nestled in the Beitou Special District, Old Chai Café deliberately avoids the wide roads and opts for a quiet alleyway to create a serene atmosphere. I visited on a pleasant afternoon—not a completely clear sky, but certainly the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up in a café and never leave. The café’s decor isn’t overly elaborate or minimalist, yet every corner reveals the designer’s thoughtful touches.
“Rainforests, ancient cities, cuisine, and sports” – The 2014 Malaysia Tourism Year is set to kick off
According to statistics from the Ministry of Transport’s Tourism Bureau, the number of outbound travelers this year has reached a new high, and visitor numbers to Malaysia are also expected to exceed 250,000. The 2014 Malaysia Tourism Year will officially launch in January, bringing together green tourism, cultural experiences, and sports activities. With a full calendar of themed festivals and events throughout the year, Malaysia promises to offer the world a fresh travel experience.
Stay at Sweden’s Icehotel – Spend the Night with a Polar Bear
When traveling in Nordic countries, after freezing all day outside, everyone looks forward to curling up in a warm room. But Sweden’s “ICEHOTEL” is surprisingly popular — attracting over 50,000 visitors each winter to sleep in an icy wonderland, making it one of the region’s most beloved tourist attractions.
"Caramel Sashimi" melts in your mouth – an exceptional value at -55°C sashimi
"Fresh, delicious, and great value" – -55°C Sashimi, located on Section 4, Xinyi Road, serves sashimi dishes that embody these three qualities. The simple and bright environment makes dining here especially comfortable. Owner Peng Lüfan says, "As long as sashimi is fresh, it’s bound to be tasty, but what’s even rarer is that we offer great value."
New Year's Eve madness: Maokong Cable Car extends operating hours, traffic control in Maokong
Every New Year's Eve, tourist spots across Taipei that offer great views of the spectacular fireworks show at Taipei 101 are always packed with people. Among them, several hiking trails in Maokong have been listed as one of the city’s 19 best spots to enjoy the 101 fireworks. To ensure smooth traffic on the mountain roads in Maokong, the Taipei City Department of Transportation will implement traffic control on roads leading to the Maokong area on December 31.
The American donut craze hits Taiwan — Krispy Kreme’s original glazed is irresistibly crispy and sweet
Since mid-year, there have been constant rumors about Krispy Kreme entering the Taiwanese market. To be honest, I’m not much of a dessert person, and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve even grown wary of sweets. But there’s always been something about Krispy Kreme that I can’t quite let go of — it’s just that I couldn’t get it in Taiwan.
So cute！Red-nosed reindeer Rudolph appears in Taoyuan
Red-nosed reindeer Rudolph appears in Taoyuan！Twelve reindeer of different sizes and three Christmas trees in gold, white, and pink are on display in the first-floor lobby of the Taoyuan Cultural Affairs Bureau. From now until January 5, red-nosed reindeer Rudolph and his reindeer friends will be here to meet the public.
27,000 shopping merchants offer discounts together – Korea Shopping Festival to kick off
The 2014 Korea Shopping Festival is coming up strong! From January 3 to February 16, 2014, spanning 45 days, this will be Korea’s biggest annual shopping celebration. This edition of the festival is being jointly organized with merchants that are popular among foreign travelers. Over 27,000 shopping merchants, accommodation facilities, and tourist attractions will offer discounts of up to 70%.
Strategic Prime Location Now Boasts Two Hotels: The Living Room by Hyatt Officially Opens
The Living Room by Hyatt, under the Hyatt Group, grandly opened on the evening of the 27th in Taipei’s Xinyi District. The launch event was attended by numerous celebrities and distinguished guests. The opening ceremony was presided over by Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng, Tourism Bureau Director-General Shen Wei-chun, Hyatt Group founder Cai Chen-yang, and Hyatt Space Chairman Lai Ying-li, who unveiled the hotel’s launch with a glowing diamond symbolizing its “Diamond-Level Green Building Certification,” marking a spectacular inauguration. This achievement also makes the Hyatt Group the only company in Xinyi District to own two hotel brands.
Just "push a little" to enjoy the Flower Expo, and you might even win a Reunion Edition YouBun Card.
Starting today, the Action Dream Pavilion in the New Taipei Expo Park, the Taipei Robot Museum (operating until December 31, 2013), and the Taipei Botanical Collection Garden now offer EasyCard ticketing services. With one card for the MRT, exhibition halls, and YouBike, it’s more convenient than ever. From January 1 to January 31, 2014, those who purchase tickets with an EasyCard may also have a chance to win a limited-edition “Taipei Expo Park Hong Yi EasyCard – Reunion Edition.”
The women-only floor is such a thoughtful design ! The newly opened Sendai Washington Budget Hotel
Solo female travelers often worry about safety when journeying alone without companions. Sendai, the largest city in Japan’s Tohoku region, has recently welcomed the new “Sendai Washington Hotel.” Not only is it affordable and perfectly located, but it also features a “Women-Only Guest Floor” tailored for female travelers. Additionally, there are three one-of-a-kind themed rooms inspired by Miyagi Prefecture. With its considerate and distinctive design, the hotel was almost fully booked shortly after opening !
"New Year's Eve Trilogy" Lights Up Tainan City – Annie Yi and Yoga Lin Join the High-Energy Performances
This year, Tainan City Government has launched the "New Year's Eve Trilogy." After bidding farewell to the last sunset of 2013 at Jingzijiao Salt Fields near Beimen, the highlight of New Year’s Eve—the most eco-friendly and lively "2014 Tainan FUN Happiness" countdown party—takes center stage. Enjoy high-energy performances by artists like Annie Yi, Yoga Lin, and Sodagreen, then head to Erliao in Zuozhen to welcome the first sunrise of 2014. Bathed in the morning light, make wishes for an even smoother new year.
Combining LED light sculptures and 3D animations – The Nantou Sand Sculpture Art Festival opens in January
The sand sculpture art festival, on hiatus for a year, is back again. As the 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival was held in Nantou, a special sand sculpture lantern area was planned. Sixty sand sculptures of various designs will be exhibited starting January 25, 2014, at the high ground along the Maoluo River. The event will also feature LED light sculptures and 3D animations, presenting spectacular light shows and three-dimensional projection performances.
Keelung’s Yellow Duck is filthy – another scrub planned for the 28th morning
After the Yellow Duck went on display on the 21st of this month, it became a “dirty duck” due to black smoke from nearby boats burning diesel, along with the impact of the northeast monsoon and consecutive days of rain. Even the bath given by the organizers on Christmas Day failed to remove all the stains. Earlier today, the organizers announced they will give the duck another “bath” on the morning of the 28th.
Singapore Airlines unveils new SilverKris Lounge in Sydney, offering laksa in a “homey” setting
Singapore Airlines has officially unveiled its newly redesigned SilverKris Lounge at Sydney Airport, as part of its recent global upgrade initiative for airport lounges. The new-concept SilverKris Lounge incorporates thoughtful “home-inspired” design elements. In addition to providing relaxing spaces, the lounge also features specially designed business pods. It will gradually introduce signature Singaporean dishes such as laksa and mee siam.
Hehuan Mountain and Keguan Pass blanketed in heavy snow and ice — visitors exclaim they've never seen anything like it
A cold front continues to hit Taiwan, with high-altitude areas across the island resembling giant freezers on the 29th. The central region around Hehuan Mountain maintained temperatures around minus 5°C throughout the day, dropping even further to minus 8°C or 9°C after nightfall. Travelers reported that snow chains are now required on the Central Cross-Island Highway past Kunyang, with thick snow and fog blanketing the mountainous area — so cold that even inside their vehicles, their feet were shivering.
Rubber Duck Takes a Bath — The Process of Turning "Black-and-White" Fully Revealed
After its first ineffective bath on the 25th, Keelung’s Yellow Rubber Duck underwent cleaning again on the 28th. This time, an eco-friendly detergent was used, and the results were significantly better — the cleaned parts regained their shine. Due to the lengthy cleaning process, only “half” of the duck was washed on the 28th, turning it into a “black-and-white” figure. Some visitors who came to see the duck used time-lapse photography to capture the bathing process. After the video was uploaded to the official Facebook fan page of Keelung’s Rubber Duck, it received widespread attention.
Yellow Rubber Duck Puts on Another Bath Show – Black-and-White Hero Turns Tricolor Duck
After the yellow rubber duck in Keelung turned into a dirty duck, the exhibition organizers finally decided to give it a bath on the 28th. Unfortunately, the job was so huge that only one side was cleaned. The public joked that the duck had become a “black-and-white hero.” On the 29th, they gave the duck another bath. In the morning, they spent two hours scrubbing the middle part. As a result, compared to the previous day, the clean right half darkened again, the middle became bright, and the unwashed parts remained dirty — turning the duck into three colors: black, gray, and yellow.