Travel
Is the Harvest Festival becoming a tourist attraction controversial? Tourism Bureau: Respecting tribal development intentions
Currently, none of the eight tribal tourism itineraries promoted by the Tourism Bureau include the Harvest Festival. All routes are designed with respect for indigenous culture in mind, and in the future, the Bureau will widely solicit opinions from all parties and indigenous tribes, continuing to approach the matter from a "respectful" perspective and considering clearly distinguishing between "festivals" and "performance events."
Cut your travel expenses in half instantly—eat leftovers that are both authentic and a chance to make foreign friends!
Still wondering how to enjoy the most authentic meals while traveling? Eating at a local’s home is the way to go. Recently, a new app called Piqniq has emerged, allowing people who love cooking but often have leftovers to post their extra dishes online. Others can then claim the surplus meals through comments. Currently, the app enables users to share free work meals, and there are plans to let chefs sell their food to strangers in the future.
"Love Returns After Many Years" Premieres at Taipei Film Festival; Director Attends Panel Discussion
Thai cinema experienced a golden age in the 1960s and 1970s, declined in the 1990s, but has made a strong comeback in the past decade. This resurgence is due to the Thai government's renewed strategic focus on the film industry, emphasizing quality refinement and offering incentives such as tax reductions to encourage foreign films to shoot in Thailand. This year, during the 2014 Taipei Film Festival...
Want to attend the Gongliao Ocean Music Festival? New Taipei City launches one-day tours and shuttle services
To make it easier for visitors wanting to attend the 2014 Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival, New Taipei City Government has partnered with Lion Travel to launch the “Summer Ocean Festival Wild Daliu & Jinshan One-Day Tour” and the “Taipei–Kaohsiung Shuttle Ocean Festival.” These packages allow participants to enjoy the stunning natural wonders of Yehliu and the old streets of Jinshan while also joining in the excitement of the music festival.
Rats keep you company while you drink coffee in a dungeon Netizens respond: Super cute!
Drinking coffee at a pet café is no longer a novelty. Now, there’s a café where rats keep you company in a dungeon — a true test of your courage. According to the UK's Daily Mail, a “rat café” has recently opened in a London dungeon. The report states that the idea for the café was inspired by Japan’s popular “cat cafés,” aiming to overturn the dark and negative image of rats in the public eye and show visitors that rats can also be warm and fun.
Mandarin Airlines launches direct flights between Kaohsiung and Lijiang on the 3rd
To coincide with the peak summer travel season, Mandarin Airlines has launched its first direct flight route from Kaohsiung to Lijiang, Yunnan, starting on the 3rd. In the future, travelers from Taiwan will no longer need to endure the nearly six-hour transfer journey from Kunming to Lijiang.
Hey girls and guys! The world’s largest Korean culture and tourism expo—K-wave, bibimbap tasting, and Korean traditional costume try-ons!
Experience authentic Korean culture without flying to Korea! This weekend, the largest “Korea Culture & Tourism Expo” ever will be held at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 3. With free admission, fans of Korean culture in Taiwan are highly anticipating it. On the 2nd (today), the event organizer, the Korea Tourism Organization, also held a press conference at KOREA PLAZA to give the public an early look at the highlights and exciting activities of the “Korea Culture & Tourism Expo.”
Overwhelmed: Xiaoliuqiu Welcomes Over 10,000 Visitors Daily, Two More Ferries to Join from September
It’s packed out again this summer vacation season. In recent years, Xiaoliuqiu has become an ultra-popular off-island travel destination, drawing crowds of tourists every day. Just waiting for a ferry at Donggang can take over two hours. To handle the massive tourist flow, Pingtung County Government plans to add two more passenger ferries starting in September.
Detecting brain waves: British Airways tests high-tech 'Happiness Blanket' to sense passengers' emotions
The Happiness Blanket uses fiber-optic sensors to measure passengers' brain waves. The color of the blanket changes between red and blue based on how relaxed or tense the passenger is. A red blanket indicates the passenger is feeling stressed, while blue means they are relaxed. This works similarly to a mood ring, except this happiness blanket is backed by science！
Popular Queued Foods at Zhongyuan Night Market – American-Style Charcoal-Grilled Steak for Just NT$200
A friend of mine opened an American-style authentic charcoal-grilled steak shop in the Zhongyuan Night Market area. I went to support them while visiting Taipei and heard that this kind of American-style charcoal-grilled steak has been really popular in Taoyuan lately. Who knew everyone was moving toward more natural flavors? With less sauce and more healthiness, the original taste really brings out the quality of the meat.
TransAsia Airways launches flights to Quanzhou and Guiyang, bringing cross-strait routes to 29
Following the launch of chartered tourist flights between Taichung–Zhangjiajie and Kaohsiung–Lanzhou in June, TransAsia Airways added two new scheduled routes—Taoyuan–Quanzhou and Taoyuan–Guiyang—as well as a chartered flight between Kaohsiung–Yichang in July.
Far East Shangri-La Launches First Five-Star Family Restaurant
The first five-star family restaurant in Taiwan has opened its doors. Shangri-La’s Far Eastern International Hotel, Taipei, has specially collaborated with the renowned toy brand “Banana George” to create a “Kids Fun Zone” play area at Far East Café (6F) from July 5 to August 17. The space features a variety of educational games, fun toys, and a dedicated dessert station for children. During the event period, prices remain unchanged with added value—lunch starts at NT$740+10%, dinner at NT$790+10%.
Watch the moon and count the stars in bed – ultra romantic glass villas in Yilan and Hualien
How long has it been since you last took a relaxing trip? Even your accommodation shouldn’t be overlooked on a great getaway. In recent years, glass-themed resort homestays have become popular in Taiwan. With warm sunlight streaming across the bed or bathtub, guests can relax amidst the natural scenery surrounding the homestay. These dreamy and photogenic glass villas have become a top accommodation choice for couples and best friends traveling together.
Come listen to the Toilet Bowl Choir sing at Tokyo’s “Toilet Exhibition,” which explains the life of poop
Have you ever wondered what we would do with our pee and poop if there were no toilets? Japan, with its unique bathroom culture, is currently hosting the “Our Poop and the Earth’s Future” exhibition at the Miraikan (Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) in Odaiba. The exhibit explores the journey of poop, and visitors can even become excrement themselves by sliding down a 5-meter-high giant toilet slide to see where poop goes after it’s flushed.
Admire the beauty of Helsinki – this is the place to be
It’s the peak of summer, and perhaps travelers are looking to head to a Nordic country to escape the scorching heat. Below are six of the best spots to take in the views of Finland’s capital, Helsinki, as compiled by blog.visithelsinki.
Japanese Inn "Aji no Yado" Promotes Abroad with First Stop in Taiwan to Convey Aesthetic Spirit
The "Aji no Yado" alliance, which emphasizes the aesthetics of Japanese accommodations, is conducting its first overseas promotional campaign this year (2014), choosing Taiwan as its first destination. It aims to promote the most authentically Japanese inn experience and spirit to the people of Taiwan through travel and nuanced interpretations across various cultural and artistic fields.
Explore Tribes and Natural Ecology: Wulai Fushan Leisurely Travel Starts
The New Taipei City Government’s Tourism and Travel Bureau launched the “Wulai Fushan Leisurely Travel” event in April this year, introducing August departure sessions for the summer vacation season.
Yilan Children's Fun Festival Kicks Off This Weekend — “Upside-Down Water Maze” Transforms into a Pink Pterosaur
This year’s Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival will kick off this weekend. The organizing committee opened the water play facilities for experience today (the 3rd) in the morning, offering free entry to friends from low-income families within the county and institutions serving vulnerable children and youth. In addition to the two major attractions, “White Waves Galore” and “Wingslide Water Slide.”
Explore the habitat of the salamander deep in the mountains — Guanwu Forest Recreation Area reopens
Miss the breathtaking views of the Holy Ridge, sea of clouds, and giant trees in the “Guanwu Forest Recreation Area” of Shei-Pa National Park? After being severely damaged by Typhoon Soudelor last year and subsequently closed for repairs, Guanwu welcomes the summer vacation season by reopening parts of the area to visitors. You’ll also have the chance to venture deep into the habitat of the endangered salamander and get up close to its living environment.
AirAsia announces the establishment of AirAsia Japan, set to launch flights in May 2015
AirAsia announced today (July 3) that after a year of preparation, it will sign a shareholder agreement with Japan's e-commerce leader Rakuten Group, Octave Infrastructure Fund, aircraft leasing group Noevir, and sports goods retail chain Alpen. The company plans to raise 7 billion yen to jointly establish AirAsia Japan, with the goal of resuming flights before summer 2015.