Travel
Zoo animals brave the cold snap: chimps sip ginger soup, baby panda rolls on belly
The recent days of damp, chilly weather below 10°C have been unbearable, and zoo animals have reacted very differently to the cold snap. The Taipei City Zoo reported that since the cold front hit Taiwan on the 10th, the park recorded a low of 6.1°C. In addition to turning on heaters in many enclosures, the zoo staff even brewed ginger soup for the chimpanzees to keep warm. Meanwhile, the giant panda cub Yuan Zai gets more "excited" the colder it gets, sprawling across its perch and showing off its pale belly.
Take a trip to Nantou's Treasure Island Era Village – savor time and journey through olden days
Nantou’s Caotun Treasure Island Era Village has been dedicated to creating shared, cherished memories for Taiwanese people. It offers you a journey back in time, taking you back to the old streets and nostalgia of my parents’ generation. It’s a perfect place to bring the elderly along.
See the "Tattoo of God" in Hualien A spectacular 11-hectare rapeseed flower sea
Make the most of the final days of Lunar New Year and head to Hualien to see the "Tattoo of God"！The 11-hectare rapeseed flower sea and the 1,250-hectare flatland forest form, through aerial footage, the most dazzling and largest single-area landscape in the Huatung Valley.
Unforgettable hot breakfast – "Three Little Pigs" at Good Tree has the taste of homemade goodness
When was the last time you stopped to enjoy a proper breakfast? Exiting Liuzhangli MRT Station, slowly head toward Duenhua South Road. At the intersection of Section 3, Heping East Road and Anhe Road, you’ll find a low-rise building that stands out amid the nearby high-rises. Its bright decor and warm ambiance instantly lift your spirits as you step into "Good Tree."
Christmas Summer Night Market & Steam Train Santa Hunt: 6 Must-Do Christmas Activities in Melbourne
Want to soak up the most “fiery” Christmas vibes? Fly to Melbourne in the Southern Hemisphere ! Without snowmen and sleighs in the cold wind, Melbourne is still bursting with holiday cheer. The city’s exclusive Christmas festivities, riding the wave of midsummer heat, make your Christmas journey even more lively and wild.
Thank you, Taiwan！Han Travel invites Secret and ZE:A to perform as 3,000 pack the venue
The Korea Tourism Organization held the “Saranghae~ Taiwan！Best Friends Forever Concert” tonight (13th), aiming to promote tourism friendship between Taiwan and Korea and to show appreciation for Taiwanese travelers’ love for Korean trends. The event featured popular Korean groups ZE:A, Secret, idol singer Bii (Bi Shu Jin), as well as performance troupes JUMP and BIBAP Bibimbap Show, attracting nearly 3,000 attendees.
The Alishan Flower Festival Kicks Off on March 10 – 3 Recommended Routes to Enjoy the Mountain’s Blossoms
The Chiayi Forest District Office announced on the 12th that due to recent climate changes, the 2014 Alishan Flower Festival will start five days earlier, from March 10 to April 10.
The world’s best festival — Taiwan Lantern Festival — holds a trial lighting event on the 13th for an early preview
Dubbed one of the world’s best festivals by international media outlet Discovery, the Taiwan Lantern Festival is being held in Zhongxing New Village, Nantou County, for the first time. The event will officially kick off on the 14th. Organizers plan to hold a grand rehearsal starting at 5:45 PM on the 13th, featuring performances by the Ten Drums Art Percussion Group, Ju Percussion Group, and the Nantou Ethnic Dance Troupe. At 7:00 PM, there will be a trial lighting of the “Main Lantern Area,” followed by a three-minute fireworks display at the venue.
5 Must-Visit Spots in Karuizawa This Fall and Winter — Walk Around an 850-Year-Old “Shinano Tree” for Love Luck
Located in the eastern part of Nagano Prefecture at an altitude of 1,000 meters, Karuizawa is a famous summer retreat in Japan. When visiting here in the fall and winter, you must check out five top spots. In addition to enjoying the thrill of speed at Prince Ski Resort, which opens earliest, you can also visit the Hiroshi Senju Museum of Art to experience the moving fusion of paintings and nature. If you have time, consider hiking up from Old Ginza to Mikazukiyama Viewpoint, where the snow-covered Mount Asama lies right before your eyes.
"Grandpas Over Flowers" Fuels the "Taiwan Craze" Among Koreans Secret: Taiwan, the Food Capital
The "Korean Wave" continues to sweep across Taiwan. Tonight (13th), the "Shalom~ Taiwan ! Best Friends Forever Concert," hosted by the Korea Tourism Organization, will kick off at 7 PM. After a two-year hiatus, this tourism-friendly concert will feature a diverse performance lineup this year, including the Korean boy group ZE:A (Children of Empire), the girl group Secret making their first visit to Taiwan, idol Bii (Bi Shu Jin), as well as the renowned performance troupes JUMP and BIBAP Bibimbap Show.
High demand for flights to Kaohsiung; Air Busan: Resumes flights between Hualien and Busan
With the boost from Korean dramas and successful promotional efforts, the number of Korean tourists visiting Taiwan grew by 39% in 2013, and even surged by 80% in September. Lee Kyung-min, General Manager of Air Busan’s Taipei Branch, noted that given this strong performance, the airline is now considering launching a new route between “Hualien and Busan.” This would not only facilitate itinerary planning for Korean travelers combining eastern and northern Taiwan but also offer significant benefits for residents of eastern Taiwan looking to travel abroad.
Hehuan Mountain covered in 15 cm of snow; Wuling scenic area steps turn into "ski slope"
The cold wave struck with force. Starting from the 10th, Hehuan Mountain experienced the heaviest snowfall of the winter so far. In the afternoon, it was initially light and intermittent snow, but the snowfall intensified after nightfall, resulting in an accumulated snow depth of 15 cm on the mountain. The heavy snow stopped on the morning of the 12th, but if you want to go up to Hehuan Mountain now, you’ll need to install snow chains above Yuanshan Peak to get through.
Celebrate the Lantern Festival: Tamsui, Sanzhi, and Xinzhuang in New Taipei City host lantern riddle activities
The 15th day of the first lunar month is commonly known as the "Lantern Festival," also called the "Shangyuan Festival," marking the grand finale of the Lunar New Year celebrations. To celebrate the festive occasion, multiple districts in New Taipei City, including Tamsui, Sanzhi, and Xinzhuang, have organized Lantern Festival events, allowing the public to enjoy the fun of solving lantern riddles.
A time-honored roast goose shop that started as a street food stall, famous for its unique sugarcane-smoked flavor
Mite’s grandmother lived in the Songshan-Nangang area. He remembers that when he was a child and going to visit her, they would always stop by Nangang for some roast goose first. But it’s been quite a while since he last had roast goose. Taking the opportunity during the Lunar New Year, he decided to revisit this delicious treat. To his surprise, his usual spot “Eyeglass Roast Goose” was closed, so he tried the neighboring “Liangmei Roast Goose Experts” for something new. The food offerings at both shops are very similar—they must be long-time rivals.
Europe launches various rail passes for seamless travel in Greece and Italy
In 2014, European rail companies introduced several new rail passes, including the “Britrail South West Pass” for the UK’s southwest region, the “Greek Ferry Pass” for round trips between Greece and Italy, the “RENFE Spain Rail Pass” which includes reservation fees and can be printed online, and the “Eurail Czech Republic–Slovakia Pass.”
Japan’s mascot design “Taiwan
Japan designed the mascot "Taiwan Dar" specifically for Taiwan in gratitude for Taiwan's assistance following the Great East Japan Earthquake. After being introduced by Taiwanese media, it quickly became a hot topic among netizens. The number of likes on the "Taiwan Dar" fan page surged from just over 600 on the 6th to more than 25,000 within just a few days, and the official website even experienced multiple crashes due to the overwhelming traffic.
Colorful Highlights in the Cold Winter: Red and White Cherry Blossoms Dot the Lawn-Head Tea Garden
Heart. Have you traveled? It seems I haven’t gone anywhere, yet you might secretly ask yourself during a trip’s downtime, what did I come here for? Of course, I never got an answer... but gradually, the decreasing number of shutter clicks represents something, doesn’t it? A countdown... A starting point? An ending point?
Japanese netizens vote on "tasty but over-received" souvenirs – Pineapple cakes rank 10th
When traveling, people often bring local specialties as gifts for family and friends, but sometimes it’s always the same few items. Surely both the givers and receivers must be a bit tired of them by now? A Japanese website, “Mynavi News,” conducted a survey titled “What souvenir do you receive too often and start to get tired of?” to explore this sentiment.
Relax and rejuvenate for urban travelers – top-tier SPA now at The House of Aries
Espace Beauté EB SPA, under the Kanebo Cosmetics Group of Orient Beauty Enterprise, officially launched at The House of Aries Hotel on the 13th. This branch, built with an investment of tens of millions, is the group’s third global outlet, emphasizing premium services to help travelers and city dwellers heal their body, mind, and soul through spa treatments.
Warming up for the World Orchid Show: "Taiwan Da" braves the cold to practice dancing in a Tokyo park
The "2014 World Orchid Show" will open this weekend at Tokyo Dome, where the adorable mascot "Taiwan Da" will also appear to sing and dance, promoting Taiwanese culture. To ensure a perfect performance, despite the snowfall in Tokyo, on the morning of the 14th, Taiwan Da still braved the cold and appeared in a Tokyo park to practice singing and dancing.