Travel
Sean Lien Visits Hong Kong to Promote Taipei and Independent Travel, Chen Wenqi Appointed as Image Ambassador
Taipei Mayor Sean Lien visited Hong Kong on the evening of the 10th to participate in a tourism and travel exhibition, promote independent travel in Taipei, introduce tourist attractions to market Taipei’s tourism industry, and invited veteran media personality Chen Wenqi to serve as an image ambassador. Chen will recommend off-the-beaten-path attractions, with the goal of attracting more Hong Kong residents to visit Taiwan for tourism.
Affordable Michelin-style Hong Kong-style dim sum and silky pork liver noodles—must-try eats at Wai Kee in Sham Shui Po
Sham Shui Po, an old district in Hong Kong, is a place full of local flavor where many residents gather to enjoy authentic and delicious specialties. It offers affordable yet tasty options such as rice noodles, wontons, and curry fish balls, providing a rich culinary experience that’s hard to forget. The Travel Magazine reporter visited this spot to introduce some of the must-try local Hong Kong snacks, including Tim Ho Wan and Sun Hing Cafe. When you visit Hong Kong, don’t miss out on tasting the food here.
The Tropic of Cancer at 23.5°N also passes through Penghu ! Weekend lighthouse lighting and sunset viewing on Fishing Village Island
The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications is hosting the "Taiwan Summer Solstice 23.5" event, and the Penghu National Scenic Area Administration, an outlying island destination, will also hold the "Taiwan Summer Solstice 23.5: Penghu Fishing Village Island Light-Up & Music Feast" on the evening of this weekend (June 21).
Local Lunch Spot in Tainan: Juicy Shrimp Rice with Duck Eggs and Sausage
In MJ’s memory, many of Tainan’s street foods are related to shrimp—like shrimp rice balls, shrimp rolls, and shrimp rice. Among them, shrimp rice is especially rare elsewhere. On MJ’s food adventure trip to Tainan with friends many years ago, shrimp rice was one of the must-try snacks. The first time she had it was at Ai-Zai Cheng Shrimp Rice on Hai’an Road, and it was truly mind-blowing. Maybe it’s just that the first time you try something, it always tastes the best—because when she went back to Ai-Zai Cheng later, it didn’t seem as good.
Summer Carnival to Be Held in Kaohsiung with Hotel Discounts up to 55% Off
Following the positive public response to the summer tourism campaign brand – Taiwan Summer Solstice 235, this year (2014), the focus has shifted to international marketing. Under the concept of “The Emerald on the Tropic of Cancer – Taiwan,” the campaign integrates elements such as coolness, tranquility, and energy-saving summer activities, and has expanded its scope.
This angle offers an even more stunning view of Beinan Boulevard and Heaven’s Road. From Daguanting Pavilion, you can take in 175 hectares of farmland.
Is your impression of Taitung’s Beinan Boulevard limited to the straight road stretching toward the Central Mountain Range and the S-shaped Heaven’s Road? Few people know that from this hidden viewpoint at “Daguanting” observation deck, you can fully admire 175 hectares of rice paddies. The vast, boundless expanse instantly refreshes the mind and lifts the spirit—even on rainy days, it’s a breathtaking sight.
Handmade Pizza on Taiwan’s Easternmost Isle: Less Variety, More Heart from the Owner
During this trip to Orchid Island, I stayed at the homestay "Tears of the Sky" in Dongqing. The owner told me that a delicious pizza shop had recently opened quietly in a corner of Dongqing. Having visited Orchid Island for a few days before, I had already tried the famous (Dongqing Mei Ya Mei), the tasty (Mermaid and Cat), and the famously "ultra" unique (No X No Seat), so I decided to head to this pizza shop—Yama’s Sweet Potato Garden Handmade Pizza—for a feast.
99 jagged rocks form a crown-like ring around it—Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak is simply breathtaking!
Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak is a massive volcanic rock formed by an undersea eruption 100,000 years ago. Over time, as sand and stones accumulated, it became connected to the land of Seongsan and Sinhyeon-ri districts, forming a walkable marine parasitic crater. The peak is encircled by 99 sharp rocks that resemble a crown from afar. The sight of the sun slowly rising above Seongsan Ilchulbong at dawn is truly awe-inspiring.
A white "Doraemon"? No, actually his name is "Toranomon"
Huh? Isn't this Doraemon? But there's something a little different—he's all white except for a few black stripes, and he has these cool ears that Doraemon doesn’t have. Could he be Doraemon’s brother? Actually, no. This is the mascot of Tokyo’s newly built mixed-use complex "Toranomon Hills," named "Toranomon."
CNN reports the world's 25 most popular theme parks — Tokyo Disneyland ranks 2nd
According to a recent report by CNN, theme parks have seen very high growth rates in recent years, particularly in Asia, which has shown the most impressive performance. The top 20 themed amusement parks have grown by 7.5% since 2012. Among all theme parks, Disney parks are the most popular, attracting the highest number of visitors. The Disney park in Florida topped the list of 25, while others such as Tokyo, France, and Hong Kong Disney parks also made the cut. Other notable entries include Universal Studios, Hong Kong Ocean Park, and South Korea’s Everland. With summer approaching, let’s take a look at what other parks made the list?
Must-try traditional snacks on Daxi Old Street: malted peanut candy, Japanese-style tofu cheese
Just as I was about to head off to Hualien and Taitung, something came up and I had to make a quick trip to Taipei instead. Before that, I managed to finally write about all the places I’d been meaning to post about — and this is the last one, XD. I rarely find myself in Taoyuan or Hsinchu, probably because I grew up in Hsinchu and just don’t have strong feelings about the food and fun spots around there. It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe (it’s kind of a secret!).
World Rainforest Music Festival to Kick Off for Three Days Starting June 22 in Kuching
The annual World Rainforest Music Festival is set to take Malaysia by storm, running for three consecutive days from June 20 to 22. Musicians and music enthusiasts from around the globe will gather in Kuching to celebrate and immerse themselves in music amidst nature. Booking websites have also launched special pre-festival discounts in response to the event.
Money laundering isn’t illegal and even gives you a hundredfold return? A golden torii gate stands in front of Japan’s wealth-seeking shrine
Money laundering isn’t illegal? You read that right—it really isn’t illegal. In Japan, there are two shrines that not only help worshippers attract wealth, but it’s said that “laundering money” here will result in your wealth being returned a hundredfold in the future.
The Louvre ranks first among the world’s 20 most popular museums, while the Palace Museum comes in at 13th.
The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and AECOM have released the latest rankings of the world’s top museums. The Louvre in Paris, France, took the top spot, followed by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., and the National Museum of China in Beijing in second and third place respectively. The National Palace Museum in Taipei, home to a rich collection of historical artifacts, ranked 13th — the best performance by any museum in Taiwan.
National Museum of Marine Science & Technology welcomes summer vacation; Keelung residents get free entry on Wednesday mornings
The National Museum of Marine Science & Technology is gearing up for summer vacation. Starting in July, in response to feedback from the majority of visitors, the museum has adjusted its closure day from Tuesday to Monday. This change also corrects the free admission time for Keelung residents and introduces other new discount measures.
Targeting the young market: Leyan launches an urban fashion wagyu yakiniku bar, soft opening on December 8
At the end of 2016, Leyan Wagyu Specialty Store shifted its focus from Taichung to Taipei’s premium yakiniku market. After opening the Ren’ai branch, 2017 saw the brand unveil the newly designed “Leyan Urban Wagyu Bar,” combining urban fashion with a stylish vibe. Targeting a younger demographic, it enters Taipei’s East District—a top-tier food battleground—and began its soft opening on the evening of December 8, with the official launch on December 15. The venue offers Japanese A4 and Australian 9+ wagyu.
Eighty-Eight Balaz Seeds, MATZKA, and 15 Other Bands Make a Strong Comeback at the Ocean Music Festival
The 15th edition of the New Taipei City Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival is set to take place from July 9 to 13. In addition to hosting various themed events this year, the festival will especially invite bands that once shone on the Ocean Music Festival stage—such as Eighty-Eight Balaz Seeds, MATZKA, and Suming—to return on the first day of the event, bringing back the passion and outstanding performances from the past 15 years.
Tainan’s “Linde Department Store” to reopen on the 14th; Taiwan’s only cultural and creative department store unveils its new look
The “Linde Department Store,” preserved intact since the Japanese colonial period, will reopen on the 14th. On the morning of the 11th, it was unveiled for the first time, along with two old display cabinets that have returned “home.” The Linde Department Store is scheduled to open at 6 p.m. on the 14th. It will house a total of 18 specialty counters, but due to limitations in building structure and space, crowd control measures will be implemented—no more visitors will be admitted once the number inside exceeds 470.
Hong Kong Travel Expo opens on the 12th; Kaohsiung promotes four major tourism routes
The Kaohsiung delegation to the 2014 Hong Kong Travel Expo departed from Kaohsiung International Airport’s Terminal 2 this (11th) to attend the event. The delegation aims to showcase the “10 Reasons CNN Loves Kaohsiung” to visitors from Hong Kong and Macau through four major tourism routes in Kaohsiung, as well as food, scenic attractions, and experiential tours such as a one-day farmer or fisherman rural experience, hoping to make them fall in love with Kaohsiung at first sight.
Run on soft white sand—the ultimate racing trip at Australia’s “Whitehaven Beach”
Can you imagine running on the world’s most famous pristine white beach? On June 21st, the race event at Whitehaven Beach in Australia lets runners dash along its soft, fine sands across a 7-kilometer stretch of coastline—surely one of the most unforgettable running experiences of your life.