Travel
Century-old Shimen stone-terraced fields blooming with cosmos flowers are breathtakingly beautiful
The Shimen Songshan Terraced Fields are built using volcanic rocks from Yangmingshan and are the only stone terraced fields in Taiwan, boasting a history of over 100 years. From the “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage” spot along the Tudi Gongling Trail, visitors can take in the entire view of the Songshan Terraced Fields. From now until the end of June, the cosmos flowers planted in the terraces are in full bloom—a perfect time for tourists to visit and enjoy the scenery.
Dress up as anime characters and get 100 NT discount on park entry — E-DA Theme Park’s Ita-Con Festival kicks off
E-DA Theme Park’s Ita-Con Festival has become an annual pilgrimage event for anime and itasha fans. This year (2014), it will take place this Saturday and Sunday. Visitors who dress up in complete cosplay outfits of any anime character can enter the park at a discounted price of 100 NT, while the general public can also enjoy a special ticket offer: two people enter together, with the second person paying just 100 NT.
The World’s Smallest LEGO-Style Airport: Let Peach Aviation Land at Your Home
Japan’s low-cost carrier “Peach Aviation” not only uses eye-catching peach and purple tones on its aircraft, but its merchandise also features a consistent pastel pink and purple color scheme. Among the most eye-catching items is the “Peach nanoblock,” which lets you assemble a miniature Peach A320 aircraft using the world’s smallest building blocks. In addition to the plane, you can also build a control tower and flight attendants—super cute.
Chase the Tropic of Cancer this summer!“Spring Police Station & Sabah Stone Pillars” – Must-Visit Spots in Hualien
The Tropic of Cancer is like a precious necklace around the Northern Hemisphere, passing through 16 countries including Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, with Formosa—Taiwan being one of them. The Tropic of Cancer runs through Xiashia Village in Shuishang Township, Chiayi County; Wuhe Village in Ruisui Township, Hualien; Jingpu Village in Fengbin Township; and Huzi Islet in Penghu. Among these, Ruisui Township in the Huatung Valley area is like the homeland of the Tropic of Cancer.
Fusion of Min-style architecture with modern design evokes heartfelt cultural connection at Tainan Crystal Hotel
The Tainan Crystal Hotel, which began trial operations on April 26, may not look particularly eye-catching from the outside. However, upon entering, guests are served a cup of handmade winter melon tea in a handcrafted ceramic mug — made personally by staff at a kiln, each mug bears the signature of its maker. The shaky, wobbly brushstrokes may seem imperfect, but they truly bring out a delightful sense of hospitality.
Enjoy dining discounts at Jingzan Hotel before the end of August: 32% off dim sum and complimentary gifts on set menus when spending over a certain amount
Chenglv Tourism’s professional brand hotel, Chenglv Jingzan Hotel in Taipei Luzhou, and its F&B brand, Jingzan Banquet Plaza, are celebrating the hotel’s win of two awards from the renowned international travel website TripAdvisor. To show appreciation to customers for their support and to offer great food and accommodation, they are launching summer dining promotions from July 1 to the end of August — enjoy 32% off all Hong Kong-style dim sum and receive a $2,000 gift voucher when your private room set menu order exceeds $8,000.
Fight the summer heat together, north and south alike! Book stays at L’Amitié Beitou and Grand Formosa Regent Kaohsiung before the end of September to enjoy special discounts.
L’Amitié Beitou Hot Spring Hotel is currently offering a special “Serene Summer Getaway” promotion from now until September 30. For a couple’s mini-trip, on weekdays, the minimum cost per person starts at just NT$5,280 + 10%, and two people can travel together to enjoy the offer. Similarly, in late September, Grand Formosa Regent Kaohsiung is launching the “Summer Harbor View 235 Stay Package.” Before the end of September, guests staying in city-view rooms at the preferential rate for locals can upgrade to a romantic harbor-view room for an additional NT$235 per room.
Top 10 Favorite Vacation Islands Chosen by Netizens – Boracay in the Philippines Wins First Place
A domestic web portal conducted a poll for the “Top 10 Vacation Islands in Southeast Asia and the Pacific,” with candidate islands being those reachable within a six-hour flight, totaling 33 islands. Netizens were invited to vote for their favorite island, and in the end, Boracay in the Philippines was voted the best vacation island.
Photos of Kaohsiung Light Rail train released; eight-in-one card reader supports four types of cards
The Kaohsiung Light Rail, currently under active construction, has recently unveiled photos of its first train. In addition to its bright green exterior as shown in earlier design sketches, the most impressive feature is the eight-in-one card reader installed on the train. Once officially operational, passengers will be able to ride using four types of cards, including EasyCard and iPass.
Have a Fun Summer Vacation: Free Admission for Children Under 12 at Shoushan Zoo
Summer vacation is here！To celebrate the season, Shoushan Zoo has launched a new night-time visiting activity. From the 28th until August 31st, the "Shoushan Nights Adventure" series of events will be held, with free admission for all children under 12 during this period！
Committed to bringing good coffee to the locals, Pinzang Coffee doesn’t want to leave Keelung
Speaking of which, a few days ago, the sound of meowing suddenly came from Pinzang Café in Keelung. At that time, the owner and customers searched the shop but couldn’t find the source of the meowing. It turned out that two little kittens had fallen into a drainage ditch connecting the warehouse and the apartment behind the café. The staff had to put in quite an effort to rescue the two kittens. By the time they were saved, the kittens had meowed themselves hoarse and were too weak to even make a sound.
Tendō City: Hometown of Shogi and Hot Springs — Bring Home a “Left Horse” for Good Fortune
Japan’s 14-year-old “shogi prodigy” Fujii Sota achieved 29 consecutive wins, breaking a 30-year-old record and sparking a nationwide “shogi fever” in 2017. In Taiwan, the movie *March Comes in Like a Lion* also piqued public interest in the game. To truly immerse yourself in shogi culture, you must visit Tendō City in Yamagata Prefecture.
Even a 3-year-old can ride it – Paris’s public bikes are super family-friendly
Cities with public bicycles are nothing new these days. But recently, the Paris government has introduced an interesting and thoughtful facility: public bikes that even 3-year-olds can ride. It’s the world’s first bike-sharing service designed specifically for children.
The 18-meter-tall Janfusun mascot "Lucky Dog" and its Little Lucky Army appear in Zhongli
The "2014 Zhongli Parent-Child Carnival," held in Zhongli City, kicked off on the 21st at the local Zhongzheng Park. In addition to traditional markets and large-scale themed amusement facilities, the mascot of Janfusun World — the 18-meter-tall Lucky Dog, along with the Little Lucky Army — also made a special appearance at the park to spend a relaxing weekend with visitors of all ages.
What happened to the mini skirts? Skirts worn by Skymark Airlines flight attendants get longer than promised
What happened to the ultra-short mini skirts? Japan’s low-cost carrier Skymark Airlines announced earlier this year that with the introduction of new aircraft this year, its flight attendants would also don new royal blue uniforms paired with super short mini skirts that sit 25 centimeters above the knee. But on the 14th, the day of the new plane’s maiden flight, the beautiful flight attendants dressed in their new uniforms were seen wearing skirts that were longer than expected.
Daily-chain udon noodles follow B-grade cuisine style – Curry udon under NT$100
I don’t have any particular fondness for udon noodles, probably because they always make me feel like I’m not getting much for my money – just a few quick slurps and it’s gone. Otherwise, I actually really love the unique elasticity and chewiness of the noodles themselves. Who would’ve thought that after the wave of chain ramen shops flooding Taiwan, even [Marugame Seimen], a chain udon shop, has made its way to Taiwan?
More flights and currency appreciation boost tourism: Taiwan and South Korea aim for 1 million mutual visits this year
According to an earlier report by China Times today, at the Taiwan-South Korea Tourism Exchange Association yesterday (20th), the Tourism Bureau stated that with the gradual launch of new routes and increasing flight frequency, there is a chance to reach the goal set by both sides this year of achieving a combined total of 1 million mutual visits.
A giant shark lurks beneath the waterfall waiting to hunt – 3D art by Figure Dragon debuts in Yizhong commercial district
Su Chia-hsien (pen name: Figure Dragon), the world’s first Chinese 3D spray painting artist, following the overwhelming response to his 3D artwork "Good Luck Taipei" exhibited in May at Taipei City Hall MRT Station, is now bringing his creativity to Taichung’s Yizhong Commercial District. Four large, fun pieces will be on free display in the area from today until July 20.
Hot Air Balloon Festival Unveils “Lucky Pants” Design; Public: “Hilariously Funny!”
Summer is the perfect time for travel and also the best season for hot air balloons. The “Taiwan Hot Air Balloon Festival,” held at Luye Gaotai in Taitung, is in full swing. The festival recently kicked off with 18 colorful and creatively designed hot air balloons taking to the skies to welcome visitors, sparking a balloon-chasing craze. The event’s organizer, Taitung County Government, continues to roll out new balloon designs to attract travelers.
Don’t toss those peels just yet — watermelon removes toxins, pineapple fights inflammation
According to a recent report by Dailymail, Sarah Schenker, a leading UK nutritionist, said that many vegetable and fruit peels actually contain more nutrients than the flesh itself. They are rich in high concentrations of protective compounds like antioxidants and dietary fiber. Want to know which peels offer what nutrients and how to cook them? Keep reading below.