Since launching Banyan Tree Phuket in 1994, the Banyan Tree Group has reached its 20th anniversary. To show appreciation to Taiwanese travelers, today (the 25th), a total of eighteen resorts from across Asia have gathered in Taiwan for a joint presentation. Taiwan was chosen as the first promotional destination in Asia due to the Group’s recognition of the “quality” of Taiwanese travelers’ journeys. The event introduced global future plans as well as various services and facilities, highlighting the Banyan Tree Group’s emphasis on the Taiwanese market.
A first in Lantern Festival history!After a 12-year hiatus, the 2015 Taiwan Lantern Festival will once again be held in Taichung. Not only will Taichung host the Lantern Festival for the second consecutive year during the Year of the Goat, but this also marks the first time in the festival’s history that the same city has hosted the event for the same zodiac sign two years in a row. It is planned to feature a "three-lantern zones and two main lanterns" format, allowing the 2003 goat-shaped main lantern to reunite with a brand-new main lantern for the public.
Spring Airlines, a budget carrier from mainland China, announced on February 25 that following the joint decision by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Civil Aviation Administration of China to abolish the minimum airfare price limit late last year, it will offer tickets priced as low as 1 yuan (approximately 5 New Taiwan dollars) at 10 a.m. on March 9, kicking off its first major ticket sale event of the year.
Taiwan’s Only Glass Lantern Festival Gets an Extension Upward! The Hsinchu City Glass Lantern Festival was originally scheduled to end on March 2. Responding to public demand, the exhibition period has been extended to the end of March, allowing more people to experience and appreciate the beauty of glass art. The festival combines creativity, local culture, and folk traditions. Walking along the 388-meter-long “River of Glass,” visitors can view numerous glass-themed artworks.
Following Fukuyama Masaharu’s praise for Taiwan on his radio show last year, where he expressed his wish to become Taiwan’s tourism ambassador and encouraged fans to visit, the Tourism Bureau, after six months of planning and effort, has finally succeeded in inviting him to serve as Taiwan’s tourism goodwill ambassador. The goal is to spark a wave of interest among Japanese female fans to visit Taiwan through his influence.
The New Taipei City Government specially planned the “Pingxi Mini-Trip” event, allowing travelers to enjoy the fun of “seeing Yuan Zai in Muzha, eating tofu in Shenkeng, and releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi” all in one go through the connections provided by “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle.” They also specially featured panda cub “Yuan Zai” and her mother “Yuan Yuan,” filming four KUSO (quirky comedy) videos titled “Just Go,” “Just Eat,” “Just Play,” and “Sky Lantern.” The content is heartwarming and adorable.
Just three short days to visit three cities in the UAE and experience three distinct personalities: Dubai, like a young performer making their debut, showing off all their skills just to capture everyone’s attention; Abu Dhabi, wealthy yet reserved, practical without being ostentatious, like a well-off and understated neighbor; and Al Ain, a time capsule that has shut out all distractions and remains untroubled by the world.
Even without the boost from "My Love from the Star," the "Korean Folk Village" in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea — which preserves the lifestyle of the late Joseon Dynasty — is a must-visit destination for travelers exploring Korean history and culture, as well as the filming location of many famous Korean historical dramas.
Following her recognition as “Asia’s Best Female Chef,” chef André Chiang’s French restaurant L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Taichung has been named one of “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants” (ranking 24th), marking the first time a Taiwanese restaurant has made the list.
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City has been hailed by international media as a once-in-a-lifetime event and is a must-visit destination for many travelers from around the world. To help visitors enjoy Pingxi with ease, the New Taipei City Tourism Bureau and Lion Travel have launched the “Pingxi Mini Trip” tour, taking participants to three local communities—Shiding, Pingxi, and Jingmei. The itinerary also incorporates the most iconic elements of the festival: sky lanterns and round-shaped motifs, including a visit to the Sky Lantern Police Station and the opportunity for participants to release their own round-shaped sky lanterns.
The ‘Spring Blossoms’ Contemporary Floral Art Joint Exhibition will be held at Taichung Metropolitan Park starting March 1. Visitors are welcome to come and appreciate the displays.
A few years ago, the chocolate diet was popular in Japan; in the U.S., there was also a case of a man weighing nearly 200 kg who lost weight by eating chocolate, reducing his weight to 95 kg. Generally, because chocolate is high in calories, it is considered the enemy of weight loss. So how exactly is chocolate related to dieting?
As 2017 draws to a close, hotel booking website Hotels.com conducted a special “Dream Destination Survey” among travelers to compile a list of lifetime dream destinations and thrilling experiences. The survey revealed a surprising finding: up to 80% of travelers have a personal travel bucket list, with “seeing the northern lights” topping the chart, followed by “taking a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon” and “visiting Niagara Falls.”
A well-known street art piece, the Blue Print in Tainan City, was recently whitewashed without warning, drawing many sighs of regret. In fact, there is also a Blue Print in Taitung, hidden behind the Eslite Taitung Story House. This artwork was also created by artist Liu Kuo-Chang. Due to its secluded location, few tourists know about it, making it somewhat of a hidden gem — and it is currently the only remaining Blue Print in Taiwan.
Jing’er loves drawing, capturing the little moments of life and travel spots, turning these ordinary things into beautiful paintings; she also enjoys handicrafts, hoping to convey heartfelt messages through the warmth of handmade creations. She currently has a son, and ever since Yan’zai was born, she’s even more fond of personally preparing unique and exclusive happiness for her little one.
Niu Fang, an orangutan baby at Taipei Zoo, is now four months old and has grown her first four front teeth. She loves snuggling in her mother "Xiang Niu’s" arms and refuses to let go even when her mom swings through the trees by grabbing branches. What's more special is that her grandmother, "Qiu Xiang," is already 34 years old — a veteran animal who moved from the Yuanshan Zoo to the current location. The sight of this three-generation orangutan family enjoying time together is incredibly sweet and adorable.
The Taipei City Government’s Department of Economic Development has planned the 2014 Calla Lily Festival series of events, which will commence on Saturday, March 8. The event is expected to draw large crowds of flower enthusiasts traveling up the mountain, prompting traffic management measures around Zhuzihhu in Yangmingshan from March 8 to April 27 to alleviate congestion.
le bouquet Bread & Bakery (缤纷面包房) is introducing a selection of handcrafted treats this early spring, including six types of French biscuits: Breton shortbread, chocolate diamond sablé, plain diamond sablé, Earl Grey tea sablé, and chocolate fleur de sel sablé, as well as two shelf-stable small cakes: orange madeleine and chocolate madeleine, all freshly kneaded and baked by hand.
Just 24 hours after the famous blue print street art in Tainan was "whitewashed" on the 24th, new "graffiti" had already appeared. Locals discovered that the freshly painted wall was covered with offensive drawings, including nude images of women, sexual intercourse scenes, and vulgar English words. Passersby stopped to take photos and lamented how what was once a noble artwork has now turned into a dirty ruin.
The “Nangang Happy Family Day – Little Hands Holding Big Hands, Fun for Parents and Kids Together,” organized by Taipei City’s Nangang District Office, is scheduled to take place on March 15, 2014, in the auditorium on the 10th floor of the Nangang District Administrative Center. The event will include various sub-activities such as “Quick-Change Diaper Challenge for Families,” “Family Sing-Along Time,” “Happy Singing Friendship Competition,” and “Little Tea Masters.” The venue will also feature a children’s play area and interactive balloon performances.