Travel
A young owner chases dreams with passion — a coffee shop becomes a dream factory
Usually, when we’re walking around, we tend to subconsciously notice shops like specialty roaster cafes. If we happen to come across one and have some free time, we’ll pop in for a cup of coffee. Around last year, I noticed a sign at Yuanshan MRT Station that said “specialty coffee.”
Taichung BRT express buses to launch in July; iBike to follow
The puzzle of public transportation in Taichung City is being pieced together bit by bit. Like a metro system, the express bus (BRT), which has two-carriage trains to carry passengers, has completed its first phase on the Blue Line and will begin operations this July. Meanwhile, the Taichung Public Bicycle System “iBike,” currently under development, has been confirmed to be managed by the same vendor as Taipei’s YouBike—Giant Manufacturing. Two demonstration stations are also set to be completed in July.
April Snow Falls at Bagua Mountain – Enjoy the Romantic Poetry of Tung Blossoms with a Picnic Under the Trees
Every year between April and May, the beautiful tung blossoms can be admired in central and northern Taiwan. Their petals drift down like snow, hence the name "April Snow" or "May Snow." But don't assume you can only see this tung blossom snow in Miaoli – the Bagua Mountain range in Changhua also bursts into bloom around this time every year and has recently become a popular spot for flower viewing.
Welcome the Penghu Fireworks Festival – Far Eastern Air Transport Launches “Taichung–Makung” Route
Travelers in central Taiwan, your wait is over！ Following the earlier launch of the “Taichung–Kinmen” route, Far Eastern Air Transport has opened the “Taichung–Makung” route on the 12th, just before the Penghu Maritime Fireworks Festival. With two round-trip flights per day, the new service is expected to serve nearly 250,000 passengers annually.
Complete borrowing and returning in just 3 seconds！ Pingtung’s public bicycle system “Pbike” to launch in October
Pingtung’s long-held wish to establish a public bicycle system will finally come true this October. On the 11th, the Pingtung County Government announced that the future public bicycle system in the county will be managed by the experienced Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation and will be named “Pbike.”
No 3G? No worries！Taichung’s new express buses now offer free WiFi service
With the increasing number of tourists visiting Taichung, the city’s Transportation Bureau launched a “Free Bus WiFi Program” this year. The service has already been activated on two new express bus routes — “154 Dajia Express” and “156 Daya Express.” Passengers can simply search for the network “TCBUS” and connect without a password. The plan is to extend free WiFi access to all seven new express bus routes by the end of June.
Beef brisket soup made with American beef — the texture lacks chewiness but boasts a sweeter, richer taste.
In every city, the moment when morning light breaks is when I feel most alive in traditional markets. If you’re traveling to Tainan, this old city, in the morning you can kick off your day deliciously with pork rice, vegetable zongzi, or savory congee. Ah — almost forgot about beef soup too！
Limited-time seven-day offer: Mainland Chinese airlines launch round-trip routes starting from just 5,500 yuan
China Southern Airlines announced that from April 16 to April 22, it will offer discounted fares on eight routes including Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Nanning, Guilin, Zhengzhou, Changsha, and Wuhan, with round-trip fares starting from 5,500 yuan.
Absolutely must visit these places – 8 global coffee capitals including Melbourne and Singapore make the list
Coffee beans were first improved and cultivated by Arabs in the 15th century, and since then they have rapidly spread to almost every desk-bound corner of the world, becoming one of the most popular beverages globally. Recently, CNN selected 8 cities around the world that are perfect for coffee drinking. Some are hailed as coffee capitals, while for others, coffee is even more essential than water — the reasons are as varied as can be, but the common denominator is that you’re guaranteed to find great coffee here.
The kapok blossom path resembles a dreamy wonderland, painting the sky in a fiery red.
The red flowers bloom all along the kapok path, and the long street seems to be on fire... Kapok blossoms across Tainan have gradually entered their peak blooming period, with those along Taiwan’s Poetry Road, in Jiangjun District, and even by the highway ablaze in vivid crimson. In this transitional season between spring and winter, those who love the red of kapok must not miss out. Set aside your work and immerse yourself in nature for a poetic flower-viewing journey, indulging in the boundless beauty of nature’s crimson splendor.
The era of carrying handfuls of documents is over United Airlines launches a brand-new Android app
United Airlines has announced the launch of a newly designed app for the Android platform, featuring functions such as boarding passes, membership cards, and a travel wallet, allowing travelers to say goodbye to the inconvenience of carrying multiple physical documents and quickly access flight information.
Celebrity Chef Waki Yutoshi Visits Taiwan – Water-Free “Centrifugal Tofu” More Silky Than Eggs
Waki Yutoshi, who defeated Chinese Iron Chef Chen Jianyi in a Japanese Iron Chef competition with Chinese cuisine and was hailed as the “new generation of food god” by Chen, is serving as a guest chef at the Sheraton Taipei Hotel from now until April 14. He is collaborating with Chinese restaurant head chef Gao Gang to develop a new menu. Waki Yutoshi said the menu focuses on traditional Shanghai cuisine, and he has also specially brought delicate centrifugal tofu, which is combined with French truffles and Japanese snow crab roe to create the “Thunderball Aromatic Steamed Egg,” elevating the dish’s complexity.
China Southern Airlines plans to launch flights to New York and Frankfurt starting June
China Southern Airlines announced that it will implement its summer-fall flight schedule from March 30 to October 25, 2014. In response to passenger demand and seasonal characteristics, the airline plans to open over 70 new routes this season, including continued development of services to regions such as North America and Europe.
Tulip seas bloom across Kyushu as over 500,000 tulips flourish
You don’t have to go to the Netherlands to enjoy vast fields of tulips. In Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, up to 100 varieties and approximately 530,000 tulips are now in full bloom. From now until April 20, the “Tulip Festival” is in full swing, painting the prefecture with a vibrant sea of tulips.
Spend Christmas Eve at Taipei Fuhang Hotel – The authentic Finnish Santa Claus will personally deliver gifts
The authentic "Finnish Santa Claus" will visit the vibrant Christmas market at Taipei Fuhang Hotel from December 20 to 24. During this period, Santa will also appear in the outdoor square to hand out gifts. Guests in the hotel can take joyful photos with Santa, and the photo activity will be paired with donation and book-giving initiatives. On Christmas Eve, there's a highlight event: customers who book the Christmas Warmth Stay Package and stay on December 24 will have Santa personally deliver a surprise gift to their room.
Shuangxi Station Becomes a “Joggers’ Paradise” – Shower Right After Your Workout!
In recent years, sports such as road running and cycling have grown increasingly popular in Taiwan. The New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau announced the day before yesterday that it plans to add facilities such as showers and lockers at the bicycle rental station near Shuangxi Station, transforming Shuangxi into a “joggers’ paradise”!
The annual 7-day cherry blossom tunnel at the Osaka Mint Bureau is now in full pink bloom!
Japan is currently in the midst of "pink explosion" season！ One of Osaka’s most highly anticipated cherry blossom spots, the Osaka Mint Bureau, will open its fully blossomed "Sakura Corridor" (hana no tsutsumi) exclusively for these seven days only—from today until the 17th. Visitors can enjoy the spectacular sight of over 130 varieties of cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Sublime performance: Fulfilling dreams and promoting the beauty of Taitung — Indigenous children from a flash mob in Taipei Main Station
In the bustling hall of Taipei Main Station, on April 13, a group of Indigenous children from the Kati Tribe in Zhiben, Taitung, suddenly appeared and began singing loudly while performing traditional dances, attracting travelers to stop and watch. Toward the end of the performance, the children shouted, “Welcome to Taitung.” The roughly 10-minute flash mob not only fulfilled the children’s small dream of traveling to Taipei but also showcased the “most beautiful scenery” unique to Taitung.
Breaking News / Explosion at New York Manhattan Bus Terminal, Tourism Bureau: No Reports of Affected Taiwanese Tour Groups
An explosion occurred earlier today at 6:30 AM US Eastern Time on December 11 at the “Port Authority Bus Terminal” in Manhattan, New York. The latest update from the Tourism Bureau states that no reports have been received from tour operators regarding affected Taiwanese group tourists.
Asia’s largest cruise ship “Explorer of the Seas” makes its first visit to Kaohsiung on the 15th
A giant ship enters port！One of the world’s top 10 and Asia’s largest cruise ships, the “Explorer of the Seas,” will make its first visit to Kaohsiung Port on April 15, bringing 3,000 tourists from Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China to explore the city. The Tourism Bureau recommends that the public head to the Gaotai Tower at Hongmao Port after 9 a.m. to watch or photograph the ship entering the harbor; those wishing to capture the ship docked by the port can take photos at Shoushan Martyrs’ Shrine between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.