Travel
One more body found at Fujian river plunge site; 4 tourists to return home this evening
Regarding the HowToTrip tour group river plunge accident in Fujian, the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation issued an updated report on the afternoon of the 24th. The group includes tourists Gu Yaling, Fang Xiaofeng, Huang Shan, and Yang Kun, along with their family members, who are set to return home tonight. Other discharged passengers are currently having their passports reissued with assistance from the Tourism Bureau, the Taiwan Affairs Office, and the travel agency, as their passports were lost.
New Light Ferry Terminal Officially Opens – All Residents of Kaohsiung Can Ride for Free on May 24 & 25
With the opening of the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center, the brand-new cruise port—“New Light Ferry Terminal”—has also officially commenced operations. To celebrate, Kaohsiung Harbor Transport Co., Ltd. is offering all residents of Kaohsiung free rides on the “New Light Ferry Terminal to Qijin Ferry Terminal” harbor cruise route on May 24 and 25, simply by presenting their ID.
Fujian river plunge accident: identities of two victims Lin Taiping and Tong Azhu confirmed
On the 23rd, a tour bus operated by Wufu Travel Agency plunged into a river in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, China. On the 24th, the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation announced the latest search and rescue updates regarding the seven missing tourists. Among the seven missing individuals, the bodies of two tourists have been found: Lin Taiping (male, 68 years old) and Tong Azhu (female, 46 years old). Search and rescue efforts for the remaining five missing persons are still ongoing at the scene.
Ice Cream Craze Heats Up: A Japanese-Style Ice Cream Shop in an Unassuming Corner of Kaohsiung
This year’s ice cream craze continues to heat up, leading to a surge in the number of ice cream shops. Almost around every corner or in an unassuming part of the city, you’ll find a Japanese-style ice cream shop beckoning you. On this particular day, after finishing a work meeting with a client, I dropped by 外公家 (Grandpa’s Home) across from HanShin Department Store and discovered that many new shops had opened in Lane 235, Section 3, Zhixing Road. Walking in, I found two small stores—one was a matcha specialty shop, and the other was this [Nikko's 'Ice Cream Sundae Specialty Shop'].
Ultra-Luxury at Its Finest: 12 Unique Features of Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Shortly after its official opening on May 18, Mandarin Oriental Taipei instantly became the most prestigious luxury accommodation
The Marina Bay Loop in Singapore – the world’s most beautiful slow-running track!
From day to night, Marina Bay in Singapore is the most beautiful and magical bay in the world. Being able to run around this entire loop on foot is the most special experience of any trip—simple yet profound. Along the way, there’s bright sunshine, a gentle sea breeze, and the bold cityscape of dream-chasers. I felt the grand ambition and spirit of a nation, and this was also the most fulfilling journey I had in Singapore.
Hurry and find EVA Air now — summer travel fair deals make going abroad a breeze!
During the Taipei International Travel Fair, EVA Air is launching the “EVA Holidays – Book Now GO!” promotion, featuring eight of the most popular destinations: Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, and the Gold Coast. Carefully selected hotels have reserved rooms, allowing you to book and confirm your trip on the spot at the fair — fast, convenient, and instantly satisfying. Plus, a 2-day, 1-night trip to Hong Kong starts from just NT$6,500.
President Reagan once mistook it for a nuclear missile base!“Fujian Tulou” is a must-visit destination for travelers to China
On the evening of the 23rd, it was reported that a tour group organized by Wufu Travel Agency for “Fujian Xiamen Tulou and Gulangyu” had an accident where members fell into the Jiulong River, which was shocking and heartbreaking. It is understood that the original itinerary included a visit to “Yongding Tulou,” but due to heavy rain and warnings of mudflow at the site, the plan was changed to “Hua’an Tulou.” Unfortunately, the accident occurred on the way there.
Built and destroyed, destroyed and built again—The 10 Most Beloved Cities of Film Directors to Wreck
Global warming and extreme weather have been hot topics around the world in recent years, and with them has come a surge in disaster movies. In many of these films, well-known cities across the globe are frequently obliterated, rebuilt, destroyed, and reconstructed by the sweep of a director’s hand... Let’s take a look at which global metropolises are most “favored” by directors, who just can’t resist giving them a good smash-up.
Penghu’s Siji Islet and Other “Southern Four Islands” to Become Taiwan’s Ninth National Park Next Month
Do you still remember the breathtaking blue wonderland “Zao Long” on Penghu’s Siji Islet? Located south of Wang’an in Penghu, the four southern islands—including Siji Islet—are renowned for their striking basalt formations and extensive surrounding coral reefs, which support rich marine and terrestrial ecosystems. To preserve this environment, the Ministry of the Interior has decided to designate the Southern Four Islands as Taiwan’s ninth national park, named the “Penghu Southern Four Islands National Park.”
Germany’s “DAS PARK Hotel” Pipe Hotel – Pay What You Want
How much would you be willing to pay to stay in a room with just a small lamp, a bed, and even—shaped like a pipe? Unlike many hotels that have set base rates, Germany’s pipe hotel “DAS PARK Hotel” doesn’t specify prices. Guests can simply leave whatever amount they feel is fair when they check out.
City-designated historic site "Kishu-an" restored to become Taipei’s first literary arts exhibition venue
“Winding streets, meandering rivers, and the fate-twisted old house.” These 15 short words encapsulate the tumultuous history of Taipei’s city-designated historic site “Kishu-an.” This nearly century-old Japanese-style building, after a 10-year restoration costing NT$16.5 million, finally transformed into the “Kishu-an Literary Forest” on the 25th, reopening to the public for free and becoming Taipei’s first literary-themed arts and cultural space.
Hidden gourmet gems in Daxi only known to foodies – A heartwarming scene of cooking together across generations
I can’t remember how long ago my good friend Willie mentioned to me that there’s an amazing little eatery in Daxi, Taoyuan. The head chef there used to work at a five-star hotel, and the food he makes is absolutely delicious. I was skeptical and teased him about it for quite a while before he finally agreed to take me to Daxi for a sniff of this place. What an ungenerous friend.
Tainan’s “2014 Baihe Lotus Festival” Kicks Off & 27 Wooden Wanderers Appear Among the Flower Seas
The annual “2014 Baihe Lotus Festival” has commenced in Tainan’s Baihe District, known as the “Lotus Town.” As 2014 symbolizes a lifetime of love, this year’s lotus festival spans an expansive area of 350 hectares. The Baihe District Office has also set up large installation artworks of baby lotus and lotus seed pod mascots, creating a sweet and joyful atmosphere of blooming happiness.
Tokyo Skytree Celebrates Its 2nd Anniversary with a 4-Show-a-Day Light Display
Marking its two-year anniversary in May, Tokyo Skytree has launched limited-edition merchandise in collaboration with Disney. From now until June 1st, the “Tokyo Skytree Light Show” will be held every evening, showcasing a stunning mix of special light displays from past festivals lighting up the Tokyo night sky.
The homely-style "Opposite Stone" – enjoy soba noodles with autumn scenery and a full riverside view
After the exhausting but picturesque journey of admiring the maple leaves at mountain temples, it’s time for a well-deserved meal and rest. Without any prior plans, I wandered down the mountain toward the station and stumbled upon a restaurant that looked inviting. I remember passing by Hōju Bridge in the morning and seeing this large rock on the right: next to the Opposite Stone was a house with huge windows, which turned out to be the very place I ended up dining at. The restaurant is also called "Opposite Stone."
A volcanic elevator descends 100 meters deep, revealing Icelandic magma chambers that look as if they've been washed with rainbow-colored paints.
Thrihnukagigur, located just outside Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, is gearing up to open its third season of volcano tourism. On the Inside the Volcano tour, through an opening approximately 12 feet in diameter, visitors will descend 400 feet into the dormant magma chambers of Thrihnukagigur (a network of molten lava and volcanic gas deposits, measuring tens of meters to kilometers in diameter, formed at depths of around 1 to 13 kilometers underground).
Be a Malaysian for a day – Weekend challenge includes F1 racing, laksa, and air ticket raffles
Taipei’s Summer Travel Exhibition kicked off with a bang at World Trade Center Hall 1, and today (24th), the Xinyi vivocity pedestrian area also embraced a strong Southeast Asian vibe. Hosted by Tourism Malaysia, the “2014 Malaysia Tourism Year: Asia’s Charm Up Close” experience event featured an F1 racing simulator, coconut bowling, beanbag toss, and a life-sized proboscis monkey mascot — Malaysia’s iconic animal — for photo ops with visitors. Completing all the activity stations entered participants into a lucky draw, with the grand prize being a free round-trip flight to Malaysia. The Saturday afternoon was filled with joy and excitement.
A brown bear waving hello, a bizarrely curled owl – 9 stunning unexpected travel sights
National Geographic held a photography competition, and BuzzFeed selected 9 of the entries that are especially fun – like a brown bear raising its paw as if to say hello, or an owl striking a hilarious pose while grooming its feathers. Beyond these playful shots, there’s also the touching sight of two Australian women over eighty who swim together at the beach every day. This mix of amusing and heartfelt moments makes the competition wonderfully diverse and captivating.
Developed cellulitis in Rwanda — bravery suddenly became the only option
After crossing the border into Rwanda, I walked a few streets before I began to feel a sharp soreness in my left foot. Although I kept telling myself “no way, no way, no way,” by evening it had swollen to the same size as during my previous infection — identical symptoms: warm, swollen, and painful. I couldn’t accept that I might not be able to walk again.