Travel
Could the Alishan Forest Railway become a World Heritage Site? International experts are optimistic
The Ministry of Culture today invited international World Heritage experts to visit the Alishan Forest Railway. New Zealand railway expert Paul Mahoney stated that the Alishan Railway has the right to be recognized as a World Cultural Heritage site.
From Kaluluan to Sanxiantai: Sharing Driftwood Art with the Winds of the Pacific
Writing has always been a way to instantly return to the present—a form of memory that’s incredibly fast. Every time I look at the photos I’ve taken, no matter how impressive they are—or aren’t—they’re memories of me standing on that very land. That memory is what it is today, but it will absolutely be different the next time I come.
Fans must see this: The world’s tallest “Snoopy” appears at Hong Kong Harbour City
Since its debut in 1950, Snoopy’s adorable appearance has been loved by fans all over the world. From July 16 to August 12, 2014, Hong Kong’s Harbour City will host the “Dreams Take Flight” Snoopy Art & Lifestyle Exhibition, inviting multiple master artisans to present a diverse range of Snoopy-themed artworks, including the world’s tallest Snoopy sculpture. This makes Harbour City a wonderland of childhood joy and dreams during the event period.
High-altitude rock climbing and laser tag—Liuying Infantry Experience Camp brings you close to military life
This summer, there’s a more intimate and interactive attraction in Kinmen—“Liuying Infantry Military Experience Park”! The former Gongyi Engineer Battalion, Company 1, a decommissioned military camp from the war era, has transformed into the perfect spot for high-altitude challenges, self-testing adventures, or fun-filled laser tag for families.
First Launch of Sword Lake Mountain Beihai Little Hero Themed Room – Pirate Life for Just NT$7,820
Sword Lake Prince Hotel celebrates the official opening of the "Beihai Little Hero" themed rooms, offering an introductory room rate promotion from July 1 to December 31. Additionally, the "Family Trip – Kids Stay Free" package is available, with two-day-one-night stays starting at NT$6,888 on weekdays.
The giant three-legged horse from Sanyi relocates to Keelung — "dismembered" and bidding farewell at a farewell party
Yilan’s wooden horse “YoYo Rock” bid farewell to Sanyi Township today (16th) as it was invited to be exhibited at Keelung Ocean Plaza. Moving a two-story-tall, 4.5-ton wooden horse is no easy task. The Sanyi Township Office disassembled the horse into three parts — the head, tail, and body — and hired a flatbed truck for the move. Huang Hsi-yung, magistrate of Sanyi Township, said that lending out the Sanyi wooden horse aims to add a touch of childlike charm to Keelung and also attract more tourists.
Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum offer an 8% discount combo ticket, saving NT$150
Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum have partnered on the “I Love Taipei – Past Meets Present” campaign. Until the end of June 2015, the joint combo ticket between the two attractions is available at an 8% discount. From July 1 to June 30 of next year, the combined ticket for the Taipei 101 Observatory and the National Palace Museum is only NT$600, down from the original price of NT$750 (an 8% discount).
Top 20 Most Popular Museums in the World: Taiwan’s National Palace Museum and National Science and
Which museum in the world is the most popular? The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) recently released its 2013 rankings of the world’s most popular theme parks and museums. In the “Top 20 Most Popular Museums Worldwide” list, two museums
The Shen-Ao Pingxi Line is now officially connected — enjoy a hassle-free trip along Taiwan’s most scenic railway branch
The Shen-Ao Line, known as “Taiwan’s most beautiful railway branch,” and the popular Pingxi Line were officially linked and opened to traffic today (July 16). In the future, travelers can take the Pingxi-Shen-Ao Line to easily explore the mountain-town charm of Pingxi and the seaside scenery of Shen-Ao.
The world's longest suspension bridge that withstood the Great Hanshin Earthquake
The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, the world’s largest span suspension bridge, is also a famous sightseeing spot in the Kobe area. Xiao Sheng, who studies engineering, naturally had to visit this world-class bridge when he came to Kobe.
Osaka Unveils "Harry Potter Painted Train" – Only 15 Minutes to Universal Studios
Asia’s first-ever "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" has finally opened at Osaka Universal Studios, attracting numerous magic fans eager to make a pilgrimage. JR West has launched the "Harry Potter Painted Express," which runs every Saturday from July 26 to September 27, departing from Shin-Osaka Station and making no stops en route to take visitors straight to Universal Studios.
Don’t lose out in style or spirit—Pingtung’s “P-Bike” makes its debut with 3-second bike pick-up and return
Taipei has U-Bike, Kaohsiung has C-Bike, and now Pingtung has P-Bike Up too！The public bicycle rental system P-Bike, designed for the people of Pingtung, was developed by the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation (KRTC) which completed the bicycle frame design. It was publicly unveiled on the 16th. With its “3-second pick-up and return” feature, P-Bike signals Pingtung’s future as a low-carbon, livable city.
The Summer Palace "City in the Mountain" of King Rama IV of Thailand – Faded Walls and Tiles Still Retain Their Charm
On the way from Bangkok to Hua Hin in Thailand, you’ll pass through Cha-Am. Here in Cha-Am, there’s a summer palace built by King Rama IV of Thailand as a mountain retreat. It’s built in the mountains like a castle, hence the name “City in the Mountain.” As you’d expect from a summer retreat, it’s located in the mountains and requires a cable car to reach the top. You could hike up if you wanted, but I’d recommend saving your energy—there are plenty of stairs to climb in the palace itself XD.
Step into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as a Muggle – Travel agencies offer “guaranteed entry” to attract customers
If you’re joining a tour group, you can first confirm with the travel agency whether entry to the “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” is guaranteed. Huang Li-wen, PR manager at Cola Tours, said that domestic travel agencies offering packages for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter usually provide travelers with “guaranteed entry” within a specific time slot on their preferred travel date. This saves you the trouble of buying tickets and waiting in line, allowing you to make better use of your travel time.
Chinese travelers love their smartphones — their average daily usage while abroad reaches 3.6 hours, second only to Thailand and South Korea
Chinese travelers love using their smartphones, even during international trips, where their screen time exceeds the global average. Smartphone addiction among them ranks just behind that of travelers from Thailand and South Korea. Over 30% of Chinese people openly admit that a trip wouldn’t be perfect without their phone. To stay connected and “share their travels” at all times, 40% of Chinese travelers usually rent a portable Wi-Fi device before going abroad. Meanwhile, nearly 30% of Taiwanese travelers’ first action upon arriving at a hotel is to connect their phone to the Wi-Fi and take photos or videos of the room.
Hong Kong’s new landmark: 20-story Ferris wheel “Central Eye” to open as early as October
The Central waterfront in Hong Kong is set to unveil the nearly 20-story-tall “Central Ferry Wheel” as early as October this year. Visitors can take a slow ride on the Ferris wheel and enjoy the Victoria Harbour scenery from various angles. Operator Swiss AEX originally planned to begin operations in September, but construction has fallen behind schedule due to weather conditions. The team is now working at full speed, and the attraction is expected to draw one million passengers annually.
Taiwan Railways adds 2 more Puyuma train services; sales start at 0:00 AM on the 18th
Taiwan Railways has just made major schedule adjustments, and although the number of Puyuma train services between Taipei and Taitung has already been increased, demand still exceeds supply. Therefore, Taiwan Railways announced today (the 17th) that it will add one additional round-trip Puyuma train service between Shulin and Taitung from the 21st to the 24th, with seat reservations opening on the official website at 0:00 AM on the 18th. Passengers who haven’t managed to get tickets are advised to seize this opportunity. Taiwan Railways also stated that it will dynamically add more services based on booking demand.
Taichung Metropolitan Opera House "Emerges" – Its Streamlined Curved Facade Is a Real Eye-Catcher
Rated by international media as one of the "World’s Nine New Landmark Buildings," the Taichung Metropolitan Opera House is now in the final countdown to completion. Recently, after the scaffolding was removed from the southern facade, the beauty of its streamlined curved walls, set against the deep blue sky, left passersby amazed, and they are eagerly anticipating the opera house’s imminent “emergence.”
Old Pig and SpongeBob appear in the train carriages！High-speed rail and industry partners create a family-friendly train
Today (17th), well-known cartoon characters such as SpongeBob, Old Pig, and Rilakkuma all made appearances in the high-speed rail carriages, delighting the children！It turns out this is a collaboration between domestic travel agencies and the high-speed rail operator to launch a summer-exclusive “Family Train,” even the huge and amusing “High-Speed Rail Bear” showed up, creating a cute and joyful atmosphere.
The Takeshi Kaneshiro Effect: Visiting the Yilan Literature Museum Will Soon Be Limited to Just 3 Minutes
The charm of the “Asian heartthrob” is irresistible. Not long after Takeshi Kaneshiro’s 4G commercial for a telecom provider officially aired, the Yilan Literature Museum — the main filming location — has been flooded with large crowds of fans every day. As a result, the museum has been packed no matter when visitors go, forcing the venue, which previously had no limits on visitor numbers or visiting time, to announce that starting immediately, entry will be limited and visits restricted to just 3 minutes.