Travel
Find Happiness in Linkou – Bonheur Café Creates Wonderful Moments
Compared to the hustle and bustle of Taipei, the suburbs of Linkou feel peaceful and serene. On Wenhua 3rd Road, rows of residential buildings line the street, with a scattering of shops operating on the ground floors. Among them, “Bonheur Café” is a newcomer to the area. Officially opened less than two months ago, it has already won over the taste buds of locals with its high-quality coffee and spirit of sharing happiness. It’s even attracting visitors from Taipei who make the trip specifically for it.
The Three Big Names of Zongzi at Nanmen Market: Nanyuan, Lijia, and Hexing
Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, Nanmen Market outside Taipei Metro’s Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station becomes packed to the brim, especially the long queues at the traditional zongzi shops Nanyuan, Lijia, and Hexing. These three shops mainly sell the long-shaped Huzhou-style zongzi. With slight differences in texture and flavor, each has its own loyal following. Come Dragon Boat Festival eve, they usually sell out very quickly, leaving those who didn’t get in line disappointed. Come and find out what secrets these three time-honored shops hold.
Fireflies light up the suburbs: Sparkling fireflies spotted in Old Zhuangli, Nangang
As summer approaches, fireflies are lighting up various parts of Taiwan. Recently, a large number of fireflies, known locally as "fire gold beetles," have appeared in Old Zhuangli, Nangang District, Taipei City. Every evening after dark, fireflies can be seen fluttering around areas such as the Osmanthus Waterfront Trail, the Osmanthus Suspension Bridge Trail, and the Tea Plantation Demonstration Site Trail. Zhang Ruifang, the head of Old Zhuangli, announced that a special guided exhibition on fireflies will be held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on May 3rd at Old Zhuang Elementary School. The public is welcome to join in the fun and enjoy the firefly spectacle.
Desserts Take the Fashion Runway: Luxury Bags, Necklaces, and Perfumes Become New Elements
Taipei’s Le Méridien Taipei has partnered with international fashion brand Marc by Marc Jacobs for the first time to create a series of desserts inspired by luxury bags, bracelets, and perfumes, presenting the concept of "desserts as a runway." Fu Runpei, Deputy General Manager of Le Méridien Taipei, said this is the first afternoon tea in Taiwan to combine luxury branding with desserts. In the future, the hotel plans to launch new products annually from a global perspective, offering fresh viewpoints to meet the needs of diverse customer groups.
Chiayi KANO Story House: Transport Yourself Back to the Real Movie Scenes
The Taiwanese box office hit *KANO* surpassed NT$300 million, and although most theaters have stopped screening it, the film’s shooting locations remain popular destinations. The Chiayi City Business District Culture Promotion Association has set up the KANO Story House at “Alishan Forest Recreation Village,” the filming site of Coach Kondo’s dormitory in the movie. Since its opening on April 30, the venue has offered free admission for a full month, allowing visitors to relive the inspiring scenes once again.
China Airlines' new Boeing 777 aircraft to debut in September 18T Large screen plus WiFi service
Attention aviation enthusiasts! China Airlines announced today (30th) that its new fleet of Boeing B777-300ER aircraft is scheduled to be delivered this September. The new planes will be equipped with a next-generation in-flight entertainment system, featuring an 18T high-definition large screen. In addition to watching movies, listening to music, and playing games, the system now offers new features such as social chat, digital magazine browsing, real-time news access, duty-free shopping, and more. Passengers can also enjoy in-flight WiFi services.
Is it really that bad? The "Why Not?" exhibition exclusively features works that have been repeatedly rejected.
Art exhibitions typically showcase popular pieces, but not every artist’s creation gets displayed. Taipei Artist Village has curated the "Why Not?" exhibition, dedicated to showcasing works that have repeatedly been turned down. The organizers say this gives artists a chance to exhibit their overlooked creations, while visitors can share why they think certain works struggle to be shown — with these comments posted next to the pieces.
The Golden Gate City God Parade: Watch the Live Stream & Win Flight Tickets
The “2014 Golden Gate City God Festival & Wudao Religious & Cultural Tourism Season” will reach its climax on May 10 with the Wudao City God Parade. The Kinmen County Government will provide a live stream service so that friends from both home and abroad can also enjoy this grand event.
Hawaii Dreamy Fun Mission Gives Away Air Tickets – Five Days Left to Break 10,000 Votes
Since its launch in mid-April, the “Dreamy Fun Mission” online campaign by the Hawaii Tourism Authority has received an enthusiastic response. In just two weeks, it has attracted hundreds of participants and garnered over 10,000 votes, while the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Facebook fan page has surged to more than 8,000 followers. Contestants are going all out with creative strategies to compete for round-trip air tickets between Taipei and Hawaii, as well as a grand prize of NT$100,000.
Super Sweet: Five Chocolate-Themed Hotels Around the World
“Chocolate” is one of the universal languages of the world—not only smooth and delicious, but also soothing to the soul. There aren’t many chocolate-themed hotels in the world yet, but CNN has rounded up five of them, featuring chocolate-inspired room designs, chocolate spas, and more. Eating chocolate is no longer surprising—it’s practically become part of everyday life.
UK Village with the Longest Name in the World Implements Full Smoking Ban — Not Even Outdoors Allowed!
“Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch” (hereinafter referred to as Llanfairpwllgwyngyll), this 28-letter-long string is not a spell, but the full name of a well-known village in the UK. Its name is not only the longest in all of Britain, but also the longest village name in the world. Recently, it has drawn renewed attention due to the implementation of a “village-wide smoking ban” policy!
Celebrating 40th Anniversary: Shibuya Temporarily Transforms into Hello Kitty Kingdom
Attention travelers planning to visit Japan during the holiday break—Sanrio is celebrating Hello Kitty’s 40th anniversary with special merchandise and events at various locations in Shibuya until May 6. These include limited-edition bags, clothing, photo opportunities with Kitty, and more, turning Shibuya into a Hello Kitty city.
Nei Shuangxi Nature Center Opens Educational Experience Course & Invites Kids to Explore Flora
The Nei Shuangxi Nature Center has launched a brand-new parent-child themed course, “Forest Floral Tales,” in 2014, which will kick off on May 18. It invites parents and children from third to sixth grade elementary school to observe flowers, learn about their structures, and gain an in-depth understanding of how flowers reproduce in nature and their ecological functions.
Have you ever tried handmade braised pork intestines stuffed with yellow soybeans? A hidden gem under the Kaohsiung Road overpass
It’s obvious at first glance that these intestines are handmade and stuffed — the sizes vary. Typically, a grilled sausage and intestine stall like this would hang a big bunch of sausages right at the entrance. But instead, the shop piles the intestines up inside the counter. Based on that, I’m guessing their signature item must be the intestines stuffed with yellow soybeans.
It's not just about the beauty of tung blossoms—experience a "tea" light travel journey in Hakka villages!
When thinking of traveling to Hakka villages, the first thought might be the tung blossom season, where flowers bloom white like snowflakes. But Hakka tea is the best reason to make travelers stay longer. From “Oriental Beauty Tea,” “pounded tea,” to “kumquat tea,” these are all distinctive teas rich in Hakka cultural charm.
The Fulong Sand Sculpture Festival kicks off on May 3rd — World-class "sand" artists create a world in every grain
The 2014 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival will officially open this Saturday (May 3rd). This year, 30 sand sculptors from 17 countries have been invited to present the theme “An Incredible Journey of Wonders.” Through 71 sand sculptures, visitors will journey through time and space on Fulong Beach, experiencing classic adventures such as “Zheng He’s Voyages to the Western Seas”!
A fusion of Eastern and Western cuisines — HowToTrip Associate Director Liu Zhenhao: Taiwan is a culinary melting pot
Liu Zhenhao, currently Associate Director of the Food and Beverage Department at HowToTrip Crystal Hotel, has been in the hospitality industry for over 20 years and has closely observed the eating habits of Taiwanese people. He said, “Taiwan is a culinary melting pot.” About twenty years ago, the flavor profiles of different Chinese regional cuisines were quite distinct — for example, Shanghai cuisine, Cantonese cuisine, and Teochew cuisine were largely separate from one another. But in recent years, Taiwan’s food and beverage industry has become increasingly customized.
Sunlight filtered through stained glass turns blue—like being inside an underwater St. Stephen's Church.
In this city, there are only two highlights: Mainz Cathedral (Mainzer Dom) and St. Stephen's Church (Stephanskirche). Mainz Cathedral, built from thousand-year-old ochre-red sandstone, is the essence of 12th-century Roman architecture. With this unmistakable landmark in sight, I finally reached the church. After walking around it for a while, I found the entrance tucked away in an unassuming spot.
Victoria Hotel Launches Four-Colored Zongzi for Dragon Boat Festival
This Dragon Boat Festival, Victoria Hotel introduces handcrafted creative zongzi made with natural ingredients that give the glutinous rice different color variations. Paired with the natural hues of the ingredients, the zongzi come in four colors—black, green, red, and yellow—to showcase a blend of traditional and innovative flavors. Each set includes 8 zongzi across the four varieties, priced at NT$980 per box. Orders placed before May 20 enjoy a 10% discount.
Lunchtime Delights / Zhipei Pig Intestine Vermicelli and Fried Rice in Muzha – Loved by All Ages from 7 to 70!
Foodies in Muzha, rejoice！ Today, Lunch Girl takes a break from downtown Taipei and heads deep into Muzha to uncover local eats. With bright floor-to-ceiling windows, eye-catching signage, and a spacious, clean dining environment, 《Zhipei Pig Intestine Vermicelli and Fried Rice》 attracts a remarkably wide range of customers every day – from 7-year-olds to 70-year-olds...