Travel
Celebrating Women’s Day: 5 Tourist Factories in New Taipei City Offer Special Promotions
To show appreciation to hardworking moms and women, five tourist factories in New Taipei City have launched special promotions for International Women’s Day. Female visitors to the Liuzhuan Tianxia Art Museum will enjoy a 20% discount on admission tickets, while the Yvette Ice Cream Dream Factory, Hongzhou Ceramic Tile Tourist Factory, and Yumeiren Maternity Wear Tourist Factory are offering free DIY experiences for the first 100 female visitors. VIG Cake House Pineapple Cake Dream Factory is providing free guided tours for the first 100 female guests.
Best time to view cherry blossoms in 2014: The season begins in Fukuoka in the last week of March
Cherry blossom trees are not only abundant in Japan but also densely planted across the country. For most of the year, they quietly serve as green foliage, but starting in March, the blossoms begin to bloom. The cherry blossom season kicks off first in the warmer southern part of Japan—Okinawa—and then gradually moves northward. Parks, streetsides, mountains, and rivers—all the way up to Hokkaido—are enveloped in a sea of blooming cherry blossoms.
Indonesia AirAsia becomes new SkyTeam member, launches Jakarta-London route in May
Indonesia AirAsia announced on March 5 that it has become the 20th member of SkyTeam and the alliance's second Southeast Asian airline. With its addition, Jakarta becomes another gateway to Southeast Asia within SkyTeam, adding 40 new destinations to the alliance's network.
Taipei also has a strawberry season – 9 sightseeing strawberry farms in Neihu open for fruit picking
The Bureau of Industrial Development stated that the opening event of the Neihu Strawberry Season will be held at 9:30 AM on March 8, 2014 (103 year in Taiwan calendar), at the strawberry farming area on Bishan Road in Neihu District. The site will feature agricultural product stalls, along with organic farming promotion efforts, including an organic produce section and vendors who are preparing to join organic production selling their goods. Locally grown organic vegetables, strawberries, and seasonal produce from high-quality Neihu farmers will be available, allowing Taipei residents to enjoy strawberry picking while also purchasing organic vegetables.
Experience being a "Cheon Song-yi" as Jianhu Mountain creates a billion-star sky—free entry for women
The Korean drama "My Love from the Star" swept across Asia, and Jianhu Shan World has simulated the vast starry sky by launching a new attraction, "North Sea Starry Sky," allowing visitors to see stars even during the day. It is expected to become a new romantic spot for couples. Using the principles of lighting and mirror reflection, along with 720-degree ultra-realistic cosmic craftsmanship, it creates billions of stars and auroras. Stepping inside gives you a fantastical feeling of traveling through a sea of stars, as if entering the world of the Korean drama’s leading couple.
Hualien’s Ji’an “Amigo” Handmade Thin-Crust Pizza Offers High Value to Capture Market
Liu Min-an, who previously ran Western-style bakeries and Italian cuisine in Taipei, returned to his hometown to open “Amigo” Handmade Thin-Crust Pizza in Ji’an Township, Hualien County. To celebrate the new opening, half-price specials are available from the 9th to the 11th.
Mainland reality show "The First Time in Life" films in Penghu; Wang Renfu and Ji Qin feed sheep
The mainland parent-child reality show "The First Time in Life" collaborated with the Tourism Bureau to film a celebrity family travel program in Penghu, featuring Hong Kong actress Christy Chung, mainland celebrities Xiao Shenyang, model Xu Chong, as well as Wang Renfu and Ji Qin. Except for the Wang Renfu family, it was everyone’s first time visiting Penghu, Taiwan, and they also hoped to showcase Penghu’s beauty through the show’s lens.
You can soak in an onsen while riding the Shinkansen! Yamagata Shinkansen’s “Foot Onsen Train” launches in July
Japanese people love soaking in hot springs—not just at home, but now even on the Shinkansen too. East Japan Railway Company recently announced that the Yamagata Shinkansen, which runs between Fukushima and Yamagata, will be transformed into a “foot onsen train.” Starting this summer in July 2014, it will operate as a temporary weekend service between Fukushima and Shinjō.
A must-visit for all Gong Yoo’s wives: the dreamy coastal scenes of Juwonjin Beach, where the romance of “Goblin” unfolds
The Korean drama “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” (aka “Goblin”) aired in late 2016 and became a massive hit across Asia, propelling many filming locations to instant fame and making fans yearn to step into those iconic romantic settings. Among them, the coastal breakwater at Juwonjin Beach is where the male and female leads first met. With its romantic and picturesque seascape, it creates a dreamy atmosphere reminiscent of “the voice of the sea,” breathing new life into this small harbor and making it a must-visit spot for fans.
China Airlines recruiting 120 domestic pilots — no experience required
This isn’t a flight attendant recruitment drive. China Airlines plans to recruit 120 domestic pilots in 2014, with applications now open. Candidates who have scored 650 or above (with at least 300 in listening) on the TOEIC English proficiency test, or hold an equivalent English qualification, can apply even without flying experience. China Airlines stated that it will soon hold campus recruitment events at over 10 universities and colleges nationwide, and is looking forward to seeing talented individuals take on the challenge.
Jeremy Lin: Praying for the passengers, families, and friends of the missing Malaysian flight
Malaysia Airlines held its third press conference at 15:30 on March 9 beside Beijing Capital International Airport, providing an update on the missing Boeing 777 aircraft en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. In addition, NBA Rockets player Jeremy Lin posted on his personal Weibo account saying, “Praying for the passengers, families, and friends of the missing Malaysian flight.” Many civil groups and Facebook fan pages have also been praying for the passengers of the missing plane.
Traveling 500 Years Back: Turns Out the Macaron Is from Syria
The French dessert known as the macaron, famed as the "nun's bosom" for its crisp outer shell and soft, sweet yet slightly tangy interior along with its luxurious packaging, has become a global sensation in recent years. In fact, the macaron was born over 500 years ago in Syria. It only gained popularity in France after a French writer defined its "essence." The current trend involves adding savory elements to create foie gras and caviar macarons.
Buy Xiamen Airlines tickets and get a high-speed rail ride for free – Round-trip trips starting from Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung from just NT$2,399
China-based Xiamen Airlines has launched a limited-time “Buy Air Ticket, Get High-Speed Rail Ride” promotion to reward travelers from central and southern Taiwan. There are two package options: one departs from Taoyuan to Quanzhou on March 20 and returns on March 23, and the other departs from Taoyuan to Quanzhou on March 27 and returns on March 30. For travelers departing from Taichung, the round-trip fare is NT$2,399; from Tainan, it’s NT$3,899; and from Kaohsiung, it’s NT$4,199. All prices include round-trip local high-speed rail tickets and are exclusive of tax.
The flowers are blooming！ Over 55 varieties and tens of thousands of peonies are in full bloom at Shanlinxi until May
The peonies are in bloom！ The peonies of Shanlinxi in Nantou are renowned far and wide. The floral season kicks off today, with the park featuring 55 varieties of bright red and pink peonies, totaling tens of thousands of blossoms. The blooming period will continue through mid-May. The Shanlinxi Forest Ecological Park stated that the peacock auxiliary lantern “Exotic Birds in Brilliant Competition,” which received high praise at the recent Taiwan Lantern Festival, is also on display here. Visitors can enjoy the flowers during the day and the lanterns at night.
A global hub for technology, design, and cuisine—Taipei is chosen as the perfect 3-day city break destination!
Taipei’s “small joys” go international — the renowned aviation magazine Hemispheres has selected Taipei as a “Three Perfect Days” city. In addition to a dedicated feature, Taipei also graces the cover of the issue. Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and Fuhang Soy Milk are highly recommended, with the magazine describing Taipei as “a global hub for technology, design, and cuisine.”
With faces all aglow, the popular egg pancakes at Chen Gen’s Tea Spot near World Trade Station waft tempting, crispy aromas.
I can’t remember who first told me about Chen Gen’s Tea Spot, but at least seven or eight people have mentioned it to me—especially when the topic turns to egg pancakes. That day, I went with the mindset that I might have to wait a long time or even not get any at all. Sure enough, there was a crowd packed at the entrance, unable to get in. After asking around, luckily, the wait was only about ten minutes.
Find an excuse to escape in spring & stroll along the calla lily path to admire pure white romance
Located in Beitou District, New Taipei City, Zhuzihhu sits at an elevation of 670 meters in the valley between Datun Mountain, Qixing Mountain, and Little Guanyin Mountain. Known for cultivating Penglai rice, it introduced white calla lilies in 1969 (the 58th year of the Republic of China). In recent years, the Zhuzihhu Calla Lily Festival has been held annually, with the 2014 edition themed "Dream, Calla Lily. Dream Field," kicking off on March 8. The calla lily blooming season typically runs from March to the end of May each year.
The Central Weather Bureau has issued a 【Heavy Rain Special Alert】 as northern Taiwan will experience wet and cold weather on the 9th.
From tonight to the early morning of the 9th, due to the passage of a frontal system and the subsequent southward movement of a cold air mass from the mainland, temperatures will drop again. Tonight to the early morning of tomorrow, the low temperature in the north will be around 12 to 13 degrees Celsius, while other regions will see lows of around 14 to 17 degrees.
Boracay Island, Philippines — Surprise Appearance of a “Bikini Mermaid”?
On the 4-kilometer stretch of white sandy beach at Boracay Island, one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations, a “bikini mermaid” has made an unexpected appearance? And this mermaid was lying on the sand, wearing an alluring bikini on the upper half and swaying a fish tail on the lower half, instantly capturing the attention of all visitors.
Cherry Blossom Update / Tianyuan Temple’s Cherry Blossoms Hit by Storm — 80% Bloom Blown Away, Leaving Only Half
The cherry blossom season at Tianyuan Temple in Tamsui is an unmissable event for blossom enthusiasts and photography lovers every year. However, due to the recent frontal system affecting northern Taiwan, the cherry blossoms at Tianyuan Temple have been battered by wind and rain, impacting their condition. According to the temple management, as of March 10, the blooming had reached about 80%, but strong winds that morning blew away nearly 30% of the blossoms within just half a day.