Travel
Beginner’s Guide to the Trade and Culture Creative Night Market – Don’t Miss the Grilled Squid and Dice Beef
We highly recommend this grilled squid stall!! This vendor caught our eye right away—the squid looked super fresh. The long queue and the speed at which the squid was being restocked made it seem even fresher. Standing nearby, I was completely enveloped by the aroma—it was mouthwatering. Each squid costs 40 NTD, or three for 100 NTD.
It felt like stepping into a history textbook — the ancient city of Ephesus left me in awe.
This Aegean cruise journey has filled my heart with countless exclamations, and this stop is definitely one where the number of gasps is beyond count. As the vehicle slowly climbed up the mountain road, I was surprised to find that this was the final retreat of the Virgin Mary — the House of Virgin Mary.
Can Angry Birds be eaten? Must-buys at the baking exhibition: 4 uniquely shaped and flavored pineapple cakes
Pineapple cakes have almost become the top souvenir in Taiwan. In recent years, they’ve evolved into sourer varieties made with local pineapples. Not only that, last year they generated over NT$10 billion in revenue for Taiwan. Beyond Taiwan, they’ve also become one of the most popular souvenir items across Asia. In addition to early fillings like winter melon paste and local pineapple jam, newer versions now come in various fillings and shapes. Bite into a pineapple cake and savor a taste of Taiwan’s traditional yet innovative flavors.
Decide your happiness with a mobile phone? The super-popular "Happiness Snack Vending Machine" at the Taipei Bakery Show
Is happiness a choice? The "2014 Taipei Bakery & Gourmet Food Exhibition," which opened on the 11th, not only lets you choose — but offers up to 20 kinds of happiness to pick from. In addition to gathering 114 popular queue-worthy shops from all over Taiwan, this year’s bakery exhibition also introduced a Happiness Snack Vending Machine. Visitors can simply scan a QR code with their smartphones to receive a free snack that they feel best represents happiness.
World’s 61st – Global Cost of Living Survey: Taipei more expensive than Dubai
According to Mercer’s latest “2014 Cost of Living Survey,” which benchmarks against New York City and examines the cost of living in 211 cities worldwide, Angola’s capital Luanda has retained its title as the world’s most expensive city for the second consecutive year, while Taipei ranks 61st globally, moving up one spot from last year.
Attention to dot lovers！Yayoi Kusama’s painted bus runs daily from Shinjuku to Matsumoto
Attention, dot lovers—the painted dot bus by Yayoi Kusama is on the road！Designed personally by Yayoi Kusama, who hails from Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture, this painted dot bus is named “Yayoi Kusama’s Fantasy Blossom.” The bus body features Kusama’s iconic polka-dot design style. Starting July 8, it runs daily from Shinjuku to Matsumoto. Travelers planning a trip to Matsumoto may want to check it out.
Who says train bento meals are just average? The super generous Shinkansen "Makunouchi" bento will blow your mind!
Tokyo Station is a hub that gathers most types of bento meals. Bento from various cities across Japan can almost all be found here, making it a great starting point if you're looking to dive into the world of Japanese railway bento. Among the many types of Japanese train bento, the "Makunouchi bento" is a classic style. From a Taiwanese perspective, it’s like a high-end sushi bento!
Kobe Launches New Free WiFi Service – Connect at 3,000 Hotspots Starting Late July
Kobe City, known for its “Million Dollar Night View,” will launch “Kobe Free WiFi” from the end of July to attract more tourists. Visitors can pick up a card at designated locations within the city to access free internet at 3,000 hotspots across Kobe.
The Summer Sea Festival at Dongshi Fishing Port Kicks Off – 16 Days of Non-Stop Fun in Chiayi
While the Gongliao Sea Festival in the north hasn’t ended yet, Chiayi’s “Dongshi Fishing Port Summer Sea Festival” kicked off with a bang on the 12th. On the evening of the 12th, after Chiayi County Magistrate Chang Hua-kuan, dressed as Lady Gaga, shot Cupid’s arrow into a giant LED heart symbolizing love and hope, she officially declared the start of the romantic 16-day Summer Sea Festival event.
Banqiao Sushi Creative Cuisine Seafood N
About a month ago, I heard from our “Diva” that a new Japanese restaurant had opened at the intersection of Wenhua Road and Hansheng Road, and since both she and Bird Guy gave it good reviews, I’ve been wanting to give it a try. After all, Japanese cuisine has always been one of my favorites, and it’s been ages since my “I-can’t-survive-without-nigiri” condition flared up (laughs).
Is Luffy’s Room abattoir going all out? A “neon” phenomenon appears over Tokyo after the typhoon
Is One Piece’s Trafalgar Law using his Room—abattoir again? Or is Sakura activating a hidden key to dark power under her master’s command? Just recently ravaged by Typhoon Neoguri, Tokyo witnessed a massive “neon” arc in the sky around dusk on the 11th. Resembling a barrier, it glowed with an orange-red halo and formed a perfect semi-circle across the horizon. The unusual sight, captured by Japanese netizens, quickly went viral on Twitter.
Don’t worry about rising prices—early-bird discounts on mooncakes from 5 hotels are now live for Mid-Autumn Festival
Eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival has been a longstanding tradition passed down through generations. Not having a mooncake feels almost like not celebrating the festival at all. To attract customers, hotels have launched early-bird promotions. Wu Guande, chairman of Taipei’s Pastry & Cake Industry Association, previously noted in an interview that this year’s mooncake prices are only expected to rise slightly—by about 2% to 3%. Booking early could help you avoid these price hikes.
Mainland Chinese independent travelers gain access to 10 more cities; departures possible as early as August
The number of tourists visiting Taiwan has been hitting record highs, surpassing 8 million in 2013. Recently, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced the fourth wave of mainland cities approved for independent travel to Taiwan. The official list has now been released, including 10 cities such as Harbin, Guiyang, Wuxi, and Nanchang, with departures expected to commence as early as August.
Experience the ultimate coastal adventure—effortlessly explore the top 3+1 must-visit seaside spots in Tainan.
The Mid-Autumn Festival in 2013 offered a four-day holiday. I didn’t want to travel far from home or endure the crowds and traffic jams. Tainan has several seaside attractions that I often visit. This time, I planned a trip that avoids traffic congestion and ensures maximum enjoyment—a journey filled with knowledge and local charm… “Experience the ultimate coastal adventure—effortlessly explore the top 3+1 must-visit seaside spots in Tainan.”
Beat the summer heat: Discover seven free water play squares across Taiwan
With temperatures soaring and the weather scorching, everyone is heading to where it’s cool, making water-based attractions the hottest spots. But theme park tickets often cost NT$500–600 — here’s how you can stay cool and save money at the same time.
Bento made with Kobe steak！ It's okay if it gets cold — it can even be reheated automatically without a microwave.
A reheatable bento?! Is it heated by the shop owner, or do I need to microwave it somewhere myself?! The fact that it can be heated is really something special. Just for that, I have to see what this bento really looks like. Once I got it and opened it — well, it was a little bit plain, to be honest. It had the main dish, sides, and rice — nothing unusual, but also not very appetizing.
What to eat when you can't sleep? Red dates, lotus seeds & 6 foods for a good night's sleep
It’s already the hottest period of summer — the dog days. Many people experience insomnia or waking up in the middle of the night due to the heat. In fact, getting quality sleep is crucial for your health. Poor sleep may lead to mood swings, slow reactions, headaches, and difficulty concentrating. Recently, China’s Phoenix News compiled a list of six types of food that can help you sleep soundly through the night — including vinegar, apples, and lotus root — allowing you to drift off without relying on medication.
Street-side spicy oden stall Dim lighting, casual but very relaxing
For a while, at the intersection of Xiaodong Road and Changrong Road in Tainan, several oden stalls would pop up every midnight. These were all temporary street-side stands, with one stall at each corner of the intersection. They’d just set up a few small tables and chairs on the sidewalk and start business. Back then, no matter which corner you went to for a plate of oden, you’d inevitably have to wait in line for ages. Eventually, they all disappeared without a trace. It seems one of them moved to Changrong Road and became a proper shop called 【Spicy Li’s Oden】.
Egg-flavored? Egg Dog? Only in Kinmen can you try this hidden gem of a dish
Although Kinmen is only about a one-hour flight from Taiwan, it has its own unique local snacks and cuisine. Aside from the Cantonese-style congee where the rice grains are barely visible after long cooking, I also found many types of noodles that piqued my interest.
World War I Centenary: London Landmarks Including Tower Bridge to Go Dark for One Hour
The brutality of World War I left a deep scar in history. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the war this year, the UK has decided to hold a "Lights Out" event on August 4. Major landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, and the National Theatre will turn off their lights for one hour.