Travel
Countdown to the opening of the Kenting Music Festival – Spring Scream stage under construction
The 2014 Kenting Music Festival runs from the 3rd to the 6th, with the 4th and 5th expected to be the most crowded days. This year there will be a total of 6 venues hosting 7 concerts, spanning locations from Wuliting Airport, Nanwan, Kenting Street all the way to the parking lot of Eluanbi Park. The Pingtung County Police Department’s Traffic Division stated that mobile surveillance cameras will be deployed to crack down on traffic violations at any time, and urged the public to obey traffic rules.
The Cross-Strait Rural Leisure Tourism Carnival Kicks Off – Delicious Food and Fun Activities Promote Tourism Exchange
The "Cross-Strait Rural Leisure Tourism Carnival," jointly organized by Taiwan and Fujian Province, was held on April 1 at the Flying Cow Ranch in Miaoli. In addition to multiple booths showcasing local leisure agriculture products from Taiwan, several leisure agriculture operators from Fujian Province also participated in Taiwan, giving the public a better understanding of Fujian's tourism highlights. Both sides also arranged performances including indigenous dances, traditional Hui’an dances, and romantic tea-picking dances, which delighted the attendees.
A Historical Landmark Tour in Taichung: Xingwu Hall, Fourth Credit Cooperative, and The Green Light Project
Taichung is a city rich in multicultural heritage, with many hidden corners boasting remarkable historical landmarks. In this article, I’ve decided to connect several spots that exude a “historical tour” vibe, allowing you to spend a full day exploring these fascinating places.
50-Year Tradition: German Couple Decorates a Tree with 10,000 Easter Eggs
In Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland, decorating trees with ornaments before Easter or Christmas has been a centuries-old tradition. And every year before Easter, Volker Kraft’s apple orchard in Saalfeld, Thuringia, Germany, always becomes a tourist attraction — and this year is no exception. As early as 1965, Kraft first hung 18 Easter eggs on his small apple sapling. As the tree grew over the years, so did the number of eggs. By 2012, his sturdy apple tree was adorned with more than 10,000 eggs. However, Kraft, now in his seventies, says he won’t be adding any more this year.
Rediscover the long-buried memories of residents by “accidentally” encountering the Blue Print in Taitung City.
The popular “Blue Print” attraction in Tainan was painted over earlier this year, leaving visitors disappointed — yet many also discovered for the first time that there’s a hidden version of the Blue Print in Taitung. Some travelers even “stumbled upon” it here, experiencing both surprise and a sense of ease.
Singapore Airlines promotes Southeast Asia travel with flight deals and free River Wonders tickets
To allow travelers to better experience the rich local cultures of Southeast Asia, Singapore Airlines has partnered with Changi Airport Group (CAG) and Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) to launch a promotion for group travel of two or more people to Southeast Asian destinations. The offer includes fares starting from S$1,230.80 for Singapore, S$1,586.80 for Brunei, S$1,633.80 for Cambodia, and discounts for a total of 33 destinations including Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Riverbank white clover resembles a snowy scene; New Taipei City won’t mow it for now
As seasons change, spring has quietly arrived, marked by fluttering butterflies and blooming flowers. Recently, wild white clover has blossomed in large patches across riverside parks such as Xinyi Flood Diversion Happy Water Park and areas along the Tamsui River between Chongyang Bridge and Double Arch Bridge, creating a view from afar that looks like a blanket of frost.
Singapore’s “Infinity Pool” – Floating 200 Meters High with a View of the Million-Dollar Night Scenery
Before the Lunar New Year, I gave myself the gift of a solo trip to Singapore. The entire journey was my own personal adventure. Every scene along the way was so peaceful, yet when I held those moments in my heart, they felt incredibly powerful. Being honest with myself at every step didn’t tire me out, and every solo selfie was taken using a tripod (no fear of public judgment).
It felt like we had the whole place to ourselves—our first skiing experience at an Olympic venue at the Alpensia Resort in Korea
The InterContinental Alpensia Pyeongchang Resort was essentially built to help secure the bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, so the slopes here are truly world-class. This is also one of the few resorts in the world where you can actually experience Olympic-level skiing. Jennifer mentioned that normally the ski resort would open around the end of November, but Alpensia has been mostly closed off to prepare for the Olympics. There were barely any other people around today, so we could pretty much have the place to ourselves—giving us a slight taste of what it's like to be at the Winter Olympics.
It’s been 5 months — the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain in Seoul reopens!
Seoul’s famous Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain has finally reopened in April after a five-month hiatus. Currently, it performs three shows on weekdays and six on weekends. The artificial floating island at Banpo Hangang Park, where the fountain is located, is also one of the filming locations for *Avengers: Age of Ultron*, which is currently being actively shot around Seoul!
150,000 Eel Fry Released into Xincheng River in Yilan
With clean rivers and high water quality, the Fisheries Agency and Yilan County Government collaborated to obtain Japanese eel fry. On April 1, County Magistrate Lin Congxian and elementary school students released 150,000 eel fry into Xincheng River, aiming to instill environmental conservation values in children.
New Taipei Sightseeing Factories Celebrate Children's Day by Recruiting Junior Tour Guides
In celebration of Children's Day, two sightseeing factories in New Taipei City — Ivette Ice Cream Dream Factory and Hsu Hsin-Wang Ceramics Memorial Museum — are recruiting junior tour guides. Children will guide visitors on Children’s Day (the 4th), and through prior training and their own explanations, they can gain a deeper understanding of the industries’ characteristics and significance.
Visit Gaomei Wetlands to admire the intertidal zone & walk on boardwalks to avoid straying into the “core area”
The scenic Gaomei Wetlands in Taichung attract numerous visitors, but many forget it’s a protected conservation area and often wander into “restricted zones.” In 2013 alone, 46 people violated the rules, resulting in fines totaling NT$2 million. In response, the Taichung City Government recently completed the installation of wooden boardwalks, allowing the public to observe the wetlands’ intertidal flora and fauna up close while also helping to protect the ecosystem.
Kenting Forest Recreation Area covers 400 hectares with no smoking zones Smokers dissatisfied
All national parks, national nature parks, designated scenic areas, forest recreation areas, and park green spaces across Taiwan have implemented a no-smoking policy except in designated smoking zones since April 1, with no grace period. However, in the forest recreation area within the popular southern Taiwan tourist destination — Kenting National Park, which spans over 400 hectares, not a single smoking zone has been set up, drawing public criticism that the enforcement is “excessive.”
Kinmen becomes a mine-free island as the "Mine Clearance Task Force" retires, and a memorial exhibition hall is established
The Kinmen "Mine Clearance Task Force," established in 2007, officially retired today (the 2nd), marking Kinmen as a truly mine-free island. The task force, which aimed to clear a total of 95,806 mines and munitions within seven years, has successfully completed its mission. The inauguration of the "Mine Clearance Task Force Memorial Exhibition Hall" on Mount Taiwu adds special significance to this milestone.
"April Snow" Falls Amid the Urban Jungle — Floss Flowers Bloom on Baishi Lake Suspension Bridge
In the warm spring of April, "April snow" is falling over Baishi Lake in Neihu. On the treetops around the Baishi Lake Suspension Bridge and Tongxin Pond area, dense clusters of floss flowers are blooming vibrantly along both sides of the walking trails, resembling untouched white snow. The Taipei City Bureau of Urban Development also recommends that you take advantage of the weekend and head here to admire the "April snow."
The Pingxi Line and Japan’s Enoshima Electric Railway: Free one-day ticket exchange extended to 2015
Taiwan Railways’ “Pingxi Line” and Japan’s “Enoshima Electric Railway” launched a joint marketing campaign in May 2013, combining the mountain and coastal railway tourism features of both lines. By offering free exchanges of one-day passes, the initiative aimed to attract more visitors from Taiwan and Japan to explore each other’s destinations, achieving remarkable results. As such, both parties have specially discussed extending the exchange period.
Taichung’s Famous Pastry Shops Join the Ice Cream Battle with Taro Flavor
The highly renowned A’Cong Shi Pastry Shop in Dajia is also joining this wave of the ice cream battle, launching taro ice cream made from Dajia’s specialty taro. As a taro lover, how can you miss it? It’s said to be the first taro-flavored ice cream in Taiwan.
Celebrate Children's Day – Hello Kitty Funfair at Maokong Gondola Launches on 4/4
Children's Day is here. From April 4 to 6, Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation is hosting the Hello Kitty Funfair at the outdoor plaza outside the Maokong Gondola Zoo Station. The Kitty mascot meet-and-greet and photo session will kick off on the 4th, limited to the first 70 visitors who purchase fair tickets, and on the 5th and 6th, the same perk is available to the first 35 ticket buyers only. The event will also feature the sale of Hello Kitty and panda-themed EasyCards, along with other limited-edition merchandise.
The Kaohsiung MRT’s “Snoopy Painted Train” is now in service – Kids ride free on Children’s Day in Snoopy costumes
The globally beloved cartoon character Snoopy (SNOOPY) is turning 65 this year！ To coincide with the upcoming Children’s Day, Kaohsiung MRT has launched a Snoopy painted train just before the holiday. On April 4, all children under 12 years old and general public wearing SNOOPY outfits can ride the Kaohsiung MRT for free！