Travel
2014 De Yuan Pi Dutch Village Children’s Fun Festival — Clowns Arrive on May 17
Following the success of the “Tainan Truly Spring — Twin Ponds Horse Year Play” event launched during the Lunar New Year holiday in scenic areas, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors and not only boosted local tourism development but also successfully promoted Tainan’s distinctive scenic spots and diverse tourism offerings, the Tourism Bureau plans to continue promoting regional tourism. In mid-May, it will launch the nine-day 2014 De Yuan Pi Dutch Village Children’s Fun Festival, aiming to draw crowds and enliven the community.
Limited daily supply: thousand-layer pastry and Antarctic Circle tears at this Tainan French patisserie
Stroll through the Left Bank – French patisserie Celso P
Doraemon’s “Anywhere Door” appears on Huashan Grassland – Open it and instantly arrive in Hong Kong?
How did Doraemon’s magical Anywhere Door end up on the large lawn of Huashan Creative Park? As part of the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s annual campaign “2014 Hong Kong Fun,” an outdoor creative event gave Taiwanese the chance to experience the fun of “stepping through a door and arriving in Hong Kong.” A pink door was placed on the lawn for the public to try out. The organizers also gave away Hong Kong flight tickets every day – lucky participants who opened the door to a pleasant surprise had the chance to fly to Hong Kong for a trip right away.
The Oscars of the Travel Industry: 2014 WTA Kicks Off Across Regions
The 2014 WTA opening ceremonies will be held successively starting in May across the Middle East, Africa & the Indian Ocean, Central & South America, North America & the Caribbean, Asia & Oceania, and Europe. The winners from each region will go through a final round of voting to determine the ultimate champions. This is the highest honor in the travel industry, and the winners will be announced at this year's WTA Grand Final night.
The biggest summer travel fair kicks off next month – Save up to NT$10,000 on accommodation!
The largest summer travel fair, the “2014 Taipei International Travel Fair,” will be held from May 23 to 26 at Hall 1 of the Taipei World Trade Center. It will feature domestic travel agencies, overseas tourism bureaus in Taiwan, airlines, five-star hotels, and more. This year’s deals include accommodation discounts as low as 42% off, with hotel meal vouchers available at 31% off. Xu [name obscured] from the Taipei Travel Agents Association stated that the scale of this year’s event has once again expanded, with 500 exhibitors and a total of 1,200 booths.
Breaking News / Virgin Australia denies hijacking rumors
Australia’s low-cost airline “Virgin Australia” was rumored to have a plane hijacked on the afternoon of the 25th Taiwan time. According to Indonesia’s Metro TV, the flight had already landed safely at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Virgin Australia later issued a statement on its official Weibo account, clarifying that there were passengers causing a disturbance onboard, and confirmed that all passengers and crew are safe.
Camellia Blossom Trail & Vast Painted Rice Fields – Taichung’s Camellia Blossom Season Kicks Off on the 27th
A vast painted rice field has now appeared in Waipu District, Taichung City. Coupled with the upcoming Camellia Blossom Season this Sunday (the 27th), visitors can head to the local observation deck to not only admire the painted rice fields but also enjoy the beautiful sight of camellia blossoms blooming among the treetops.
Feeling pumped up on the Grand Line... with a cup of coffee, of course!
Taking the MRT from the Bannan Line to the Wenhu Line heading south, I’m finally heading to PEG again!
Youth Travel Experience in Jiaxian – Deep Interaction with Local Families
The value of rural life is an experience that urban dwellers seldom encounter deeply. To offer young people a uniquely meaningful travel experience that combines local immersion with hands-on work, the Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau, in collaboration with the Jiaxian Love Township Association, Jiaxian Image Business District Promotion Association, and Guanshan Community Development Association, is organizing a six-day, five-night youth work camp from April 29 to May 4. Ten participants will be selected to engage in in-depth interaction with local host families.
Film / The world’s longest, fastest, and wildest three zipline experiences
Combining speed, height, and all things fragile, the safety equipment may seem incapable of holding your body—but ziplining is arguably one of the most thrilling outdoor activities around. Yet while zipping through the air, you’ll always get to pass some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth. But where is the best place to risk it all on a zipline? From 50 meters underground to 300 meters high in the sky, here are the longest, fastest, and wildest zipline experiences from around the globe.
Have you tried pan de muerto? A global search for iconic festival foods
Every country has its own representative festival foods. Just as Taiwan eats mooncakes during Mid-Autumn Festival and spring rolls during Qingming Festival, Vietnam enjoys sticky rice cakes for Lunar New Year, while other nations savor cakes, breads, and various treats. Understanding a country’s food culture is often the quickest way to grasp its customs. Let’s take a look at the unique traditional foods enjoyed during international festivals.
Kaohsiung MRT announces schedule for “Snoopy Painted Train,” running from now until August
The globally beloved cartoon character—Snoopy—is turning 65 this year! The “Snoopy Painted Joyful Train,” which began operating on the Kaohsiung MRT starting April 3, will continue to provide passenger service until the end of August. To allow more people the chance to ride the adorable Snoopy train, Kaohsiung MRT has also specifically published the painted train’s schedule on its official website.
A breathtaking hidden gem that's not easy to reach！ Near Gaoxiong’s West Bay — “Little Nature”
A so-called hidden gem refers to an enchanting paradise or an out-of-the-way utopia that’s hard to access. Gaoxiong’s West Bay also has such a hidden scenic spot — “Little Nature.” It has no official address and requires navigating a rugged path to get there. It’s said that students from Sun Yat-sen University used to come here for leisure or gatherings after class. The area preserves abundant ecological landscapes, like a living encyclopedia. When visiting, be sure to stay safe and take care to preserve the environment.
Foguangshan attracts 8 million visitors annually; “Harvard Sightseeing Bus” to start shuttle service in June
Foguangshan is not only the largest Buddhist temple in Taiwan but also a major tourist destination in Kaohsiung. Since the completion of the Buddha Memorial Center, it has drawn an increasing number of visitors, setting a record of 8.23 million visitors last year. To address the growing crowds, the Kaohsiung City Government’s Department of Transportation has decided to establish a “Harvard Sightseeing Express Bus Route” for Foguangshan, scheduled to launch in June.
New Changchun Bridge and Chunhui Bridge in Taroko Open to Traffic; Changchun Shrine Recreation Area Reopens
Since October 2013, Taroko National Park had temporarily closed the Changchun Shrine Recreation Area to carry out bridge reconstruction work due to the aging and disrepair of the Changchun Bridge and Chunhui Bridge. After more than half a year, the project was finally completed on the 25th, and both pedestrian and vehicle traffic reopened at 8:00 AM on the 26th.
Still crazy about Thunder God Chocolate? The hottest thing in Japan right now is actually "rare sugar"
When ordinary people mention specialties from Kagawa Prefecture in Japan, they might think of "Sanuki Udon," ranked as one of Japan’s top three udon noodles. But besides Sanuki Udon, there's now an even more popular product — "rare sugar" — which has become the new favorite souvenir from Kagawa.
Grand Hotel Taipei’s 62nd Anniversary & Online Shopping Festival – Up to 37% Off Accommodation
May 10 marks the 62nd anniversary of Grand Hotel Taipei. Coinciding with the completion of renovations in its guest rooms and Golden Dragon Restaurant in Taipei, the hotel is launching its highly popular “Anniversary Online Shopping Festival” flash sale event. It offers discount accommodation vouchers starting from 37% off at its Kaohsiung branch, discounted combo meal vouchers starting from 69% off for dining at Grand Hotel Taipei, and 50% off vouchers for the Elite Standard Room, allowing guests to stay in the newly renovated rooms at special prices.
Taipei-Long Beach Flight Suspended AirAsia: Full Refunds for Tickets, Visas, and Accommodation
AirAsia, which had originally planned to launch direct flights between Taipei and Kalibo in Long Beach in mid-April, announced the suspension of the route just days before departure. As many passengers had already purchased tickets and booked hotels, the news sparked widespread discussion among travelers. AirAsia has officially announced its refund policy.
Xinyi Eel Pasta Old Shop Has Been Stir-Frying for 50 Years — A Perfectly Balanced Sweet, Sour, and Spicy Delight
Since both are famous local snacks with their own unique strengths, each shop has its own distinct flavor. I thought I had found my favorite after trying Ah Jiang, Ah Yuan, and Chi Er, but one day I stumbled upon a strong online recommendation for a low-key gem on Datong Road — 【Xinyi Snack Shop, the Eel Stir-Fry Expert】. Naturally, as someone with an inexplicable love for eel pasta, I just had to make time to check it out on Datong Road.
International Booking Website Survey on Environmental Awareness: Only 40% of Guests Willing to Pay More for Green Hotels
Earth Day is just one day, but actions to protect the environment and love the planet shouldn’t stop there. A well-known international booking website released a global survey on travelers’ environmental awareness. The results showed that although most travelers prefer eco-friendly hotels, they are not willing to pay extra for them.