Travel
Tainan Mashagou Music Festival Postponed to September 6th for Rescheduled Event
The "2014 Tainan Mashagou Music Festival," organized by the Tainan City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau, was originally scheduled for August 9th but was postponed due to the Kaohsiung gas explosion incident. Today (22nd), it was announced that the event will now take place on September 6th from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the original venue. The public is invited to join in the celebration.
Be quick if you want to buy tickets—Taiwan Railways sold 260,000 train tickets in just 9 hours during the Mid-Autumn holiday rush!
Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) began accepting phone, online, and convenience store ticket bookings for the 103rd Mid-Autumn Festival consecutive holidays (August 22 to September 9) at midnight today (22nd). In the first minute, 54,618 bookings were completed, totaling 100,453 tickets. By 9:00 AM today, a total of 148,818 bookings had been made, amounting to 260,608 tickets. The booking process went smoothly, and there are still available tickets on all lines during the consecutive holiday period.
Giant scoop plush toys & retro London street scenes – Xinyi District’s Christmas IG-worthy dating route
Want to soak up the Christmas vibe? Besides the bustling New Taipei City Christmasland, Taipei’s Xinyi District is also an unmissable spot for a festive date. Come December, romantic light displays illuminate the bustling streets, while department store Christmas trees compete in dazzling beauty. To snap all the holiday cheer at once, ETtoday News Cloud has rounded up four must-visit Christmas spots in Xinyi this year – gather your friends or your date and dive into the festive atmosphere right away.
Over 5,000 real shells used in restoration — Taisi Conch regains magnificent appearance
The Taisi Conch, standing 10 meters high and 25 meters wide, is a landmark of Taisi. The wall is adorned with uniquely beautiful reliefs of crabs and fish, but in recent years, over a thousand have been damaged by inconsiderate visitors. After nearly six months of restoration, the work was finally completed on the 20th, restoring the conch’s magnificent and vibrant exterior. It is worth mentioning that this restoration primarily used real shells, totaling more than 5,000 pieces.
Taipei’s Hidden Dessert Gem: The Popular Hokkaido Fresh Milk Roll Cake
It was only through a friend’s recommendation that I found this very low-key dessert shop tucked away in the alleys of Hulin Street — an area I rarely visit. I always thought there weren’t any particularly noteworthy eateries around there. But when I arrived at the address we’d agreed on and peeked inside, wow — while the decor wasn’t eye-catching, the simple space housed some pretty decent-looking pastries in the display case. It seemed worth a try!
Find out more about the world’s largest floating library, the Logos Hope, which houses 600,000 books
The world’s largest floating library — the MV Logos Hope — arrived at Keelung Port in Taiwan on the 22nd. Carrying over 5,000 types and 600,000 books, the ship officially opened its doors to the public on the 23rd. With its comfortable and spacious interior, many visitors took their children aboard during the weekend to read and shop for books. ETtoday EBC News Cloud also captured exclusive interior footage, giving those who haven’t visited yet a chance to take a look.
Charting a Life’s “Voyage”: The Sunflower Girls Return from a Successful Solo Canoeing Island-Circuit
How many children can paddle a canoe, battling the scorching sun and huge waves for hours each day, to complete a 1,200-kilometer island-circling journey? The “Sunflower Girls,” all under 18 years old, did just that. Once a group of unhappy and unfulfilled young girls, they accomplished an almost two-month-long canoeing island adventure on the 23rd, returning to their starting point—the banks of the Tamsui River.
"Travel by Forest Railway" Cruise Train Makes Maiden Voyage on September 10, Runs Weekly
Although the Alishan Forest Railway is not yet fully operational, its stunning scenery and unique rail experience continue to attract domestic and international travelers. Recently, Taiwan Railways (TRA) has planned to launch a cruise-style train service titled "Travel by Forest Railway," operating once a week on Wednesdays, with its maiden voyage scheduled for September 10. The round-trip fare is NT$480.
The toppings are generous without cutting corners—regulars have been coming here for thirty years.
I’ve recently been watching *A Bite of China*, and one episode happened to cover the theme of “Encounters,” featuring Taiwanese beef noodles. The line “In the tides of time, Chinese people use food to bridge the distance between their current home and their hometown” really struck a chord. I think beef noodles were likely created by veterans from the military dependents' villages who retreated to Taiwan during the turbulent war years, using their longing for home as inspiration.
China Airlines' 777-300ER Premium Business Class features fully flat 180-degree reclining seats, offering a first-class-like experience.
China Airlines' new 777-300ER fleet is scheduled to be delivered starting September this year. The Premium Business Class in the fleet not only provides each passenger with an independent and comfortable travel space and fully flat 180-degree reclining seats, but also includes a Sky Lounge that serves coffee, cocktails, bar snacks, and premium cup noodles. Passengers can enjoy a blend of Eastern and Western culinary cultures, while the bookshelf-like spaces on both sides will also offer a selection of Chinese and English books.
News Flash / Highly Anticipated by the Public – Boarding Opens After Midday Opening Ceremony
The world’s largest floating library, “Logos Hope,” has officially arrived in Taiwan. On the afternoon of the 22nd, Logos Hope docked at Pier 4 West of Keelung Harbor and is scheduled to hold an opening event at 12:30 PM on the 23rd. Originally, public boarding was set to begin at 3:00 PM, but as news of Logos Hope’s arrival spread, over 100 people had gathered at Pier 4 West early in the morning. To avoid keeping everyone waiting too long, the organizers announced that boarding would be opened as soon as possible after the opening ceremony.
Fell in love at first sight with this earthen house tucked away in the alley — Hualien’s “Alleyway Little Old House”
In this small alley, a few green potted plants are scattered beneath gray concrete walls, while an old bicycle is parked haphazardly nearby. Not far ahead, a low earthen house emits faint laughter. The atmosphere feels just like visiting grandma’s countryside home — as soon as you step inside, there are warm smiles, steaming hot food, and the overlapping greetings of elderly neighbors dropping by.
Differential tolling on the second weekend National Freeway 5 southbound still heavily congested
This is the second weekend of the trial differential tolling on National Freeway 5, but just like last week, severe congestion occurred. According to traffic information from the Freeway Bureau’s Traffic Information Center under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, traffic volume began to increase at 7 a.m. on the 23rd, and after 10 a.m., the speed of vehicles on the southbound section from Taipei to Toucheng never exceeded 60 km/h. Especially between Shiding and Pinglin Control Section, speeds were consistently below 39 km/h.
Is “Seafood Dish Caught by the Uncle Next Door Every Day” really a dish name?
Usually when I go to Kenting, my list of must-eat spots is pretty much the same few places—the rest I find just so-so. For me, South Bay is even more of a food desert. But this time, I did some new online research and came across this place in South Bay called 【Lost Little Octopus】, which had great reviews and a style I liked. So I booked a table for everyone to try it, and it turned out to be really delicious. I personally loved it, so let me share this European-style wine bar with a Mediterranean vibe first.
The Yilan Children's Festival Draws to a Close with Over 520,000 Visitors
The 51-day 2014 Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival came to a perfect end today (24th), with the closing ceremony held at 6:40 PM. It will be followed by the autumn highlight of Yilan tourism — the "Yilan Ageless Festival" — which will continue to enliven the local scene.
Beautiful yet deadly！ The untold secrets of Hawaii’s “Queen’s Bath”
Located on Kauai Island (also known as the Garden Isle) in Hawaii, Queen’s Bath is a stunning spot where visitors can immerse themselves in the shimmering blue waters, feel its rhythm, and watch adorable sea turtles wandering across the rocky outcrops. At first glance, Queen’s Bath seems like one of those rare travel destinations that offer a perfect chance to unwind—so naturally, everyone wants to check it out.
10 Travel Tips to Avoid Being a "Tourist Target"
As summer vacation draws to a close, it's the perfect time to avoid the peak season of group tours and embark on a backpacking adventure. When traveling abroad, unfamiliarity with the local environment can easily lead to getting lost, having no one to turn to, and becoming an easy "tourist target" for local criminals. A travel website offers 10 suggestions to help you avoid looking too much like a tourist and becoming a potential victim.
Japanese department store serves up "Funassyi" on a plate Netizens: How can something so cute be eaten?
The hugely popular unofficial mascot of Funabashi City, Japan — "Funassyi" — is now being served on plates as a variety of delicious dishes. Starting September 2, Shibuya PARCO is launching a limited-time "Funassyi's FUNA Café," where every dish features the expressive character of Funassyi. The adorable plating has left many netizens exclaiming: "How are we supposed to eat this?!"
Have you tried French-style beef noodles after having Sichuan and Taiwanese versions?
This holiday, I arranged to meet up with friends in Fengyuan, and one of the main reasons was to take them to try the ‘French-style beef noodles’ I had discovered before. We all decided to meet directly at the shop, and I had even made a reservation in advance because I was afraid there wouldn’t be any seats available during the holiday!
Seven “Yunlin YouBike” Stations to Launch Early on the 25th
Residents of Yunlin are in for a treat！ The “Yunlin YouBike” system, originally scheduled for completion in December, will now open seven stations for public bike rentals on the 25th, giving locals a chance to experience the convenience of YouBike ahead of time.