Macau’s newest luxury shopping mall, Sands Plaza, has officially opened its third phase. With the completion and launch of Phase III, the mall’s operational area will increase significantly by 70%, expanding the total retail space to 400,000 square TN. Thirty-six new retail stores have moved into Phase III of Sands Plaza, and an additional 15 restaurants and retail outlets are set to open before the end of the year.
To me, Tokyo Tower is a very familiar sight because Japanese dramas used to feature it all the time—it’s a landmark of Tokyo. And you definitely have to come here at night; the illuminated Tokyo Tower is absolutely stunning. I must admit, when I looked up at it from below, I was truly moved by that magnificent sea of lights on the tower. It really felt like a fan pilgrimage.
The Taiwan Railways Administration’s (TRA) Puyuma “Super Non-Stop Train” will continue operating for an additional three months. On the 2nd, TRA announced that since launching the non-stop direct service between Taipei and Taitung, average seat occupancy has consistently reached 80–90%, prompting the decision to extend the service starting from the 11th.
Taichung's public bicycle system "iBike" will soon have new rental stations added. On the 3rd, the Taichung City Transportation Bureau announced that the three stations set up since July at the City Government, Qiu Hong Valley, and Feng Chia University have seen very high usage rates. Therefore, it has been decided to add six more rental stations before the end of October, with plans to complete a total of 20 stations by the end of the year.
Many people make lists of all kinds of must-have items before traveling abroad, but experienced backpackers with rich travel backgrounds say that the “plastic food storage box,” found in almost every household, is actually an incredibly useful travel item.
The New Moon Bridge is a distinctive scenic bridge spanning the Dahan River, connecting Banqiao and Xinzhuang. On either side of the bridge lie the culturally artistic Banqiao 435 Art & Culture District and the 300-year-old historic charm of Xinzhuang Old Street. It also links to the Dahan River bicycle path, making it a newly popular attraction.
A ground service tow truck at Taipei Songshan Airport reportedly lost its brakes and collided with a plane. This afternoon (4th), Mandarin Airlines flight AE957 from Songshan to Wenzhou, originally scheduled to depart at 8:00 PM, was involved in an incident where a ground service vehicle at Songshan Airport apparently suffered brake failure and struck the front left side of the aircraft, causing damage to the fuselage skin. The flight was originally set to depart Songshan Airport at 4:25 PM and arrive in Wenzhou at 5:45 PM. As a result, the departure has been delayed by approximately 3.5 hours, and the 33 passengers on board have been provided with meals at the airport.
The third Asia-Pacific Cultural Day, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is set to warmly kick off on September 6 and 7 at Huashan 1914 Creative Park. The Malaysian pavilion will feature live demonstrations on making traditional Malay kites, offer traditional costumes from various ethnic groups for visitors to try on and take photos in, showcase exquisite handmade crafts, and serve the most authentic Malaysian desserts and white coffee in the food area. It's a perfect opportunity to experience Malaysian culture without leaving the country.
The Southern Taiwan second-class historic site “Kaoping Old Iron Bridge,” which celebrated its centennial in 2014, has been revitalized by the Kaohsiung City Government to showcase its renewed charm. A skywalk has been added atop the old iron bridge and officially opened this Saturday (the 6th). In the future, the public will be able to walk along the former railway tracks and enjoy the breathtaking 120-hectare expanse of the Kaoping Wetlands’ scenic beauty and ecology from above.
Travelers heading to Japan, please note: The Tourism Bureau issued a dengue fever alert for Tokyo today (4th)! The dengue fever outbreak continues, with 19 new cases reported in Tokyo Metropolis, Wako City, Chiba City, Saitama City, Narita City, and Matsudo City. To date, the total number of cases has reached 22. The onset dates range from August 16 to 28, and all affected individuals had visited or were near Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, with most having been bitten by mosquitoes.
Located at the intersection of Chenggong Road and Wenxian Road, Sushi Academy used to be a steakhouse. Just over a month ago, the ownership changed, turning it into this eye-catching sushi spot. Boge often passed by, hesitating about whether to try it, until one day a friend highly recommended it after dining here. That’s when I decided to give it a go. And honestly, “once you try it, you’re hooked” perfectly describes my relationship with Sushi Academy—I come here twice a week!!!!
Emirates Airlines announced that from November 1 this year to October 31, 2015, it will launch the latest round of promotions for its Dubai Stopover package. This package includes a Dubai visa, with the permitted Dubai stay extended from the current 36 hours to 48 hours, as well as discounted rates at over 84 renowned hotels and serviced apartments.
Want to take in Taichung Port’s advanced port facilities and enjoy scenic views of the central Taiwan seaport? The observation platform on the 3rd floor of the Taichung Port Passenger Service Center has been open to the public for free daily starting today.
Recently, the Tainan City Tourism Bureau set up five pipe house camps on the playground of Ganglin Elementary School, which became a hit due to their unique design. Now Hualien has its own pipe houses too!A special homestay in Ji’an Township, Hualien County, has recently built three distinctive pipe houses, with cartoon patterns painted on their exterior walls, creating a unique and novel look that has gone viral online. The homestay owner, Yung-lin Weng, said, “The pipe houses are very popular—bookings for holidays in October and November are already fully booked.”
When it comes to rice balls in Zhushan Town, aside from those at Miaokou, you can’t miss the popular Zhushan rice ball, located next to Yuanlin Bus Station. This decades-old Zhushan Treasure Island Rice Ball shop also doubles as an ice cream parlor. Who would have thought that rice balls could make this place so wildly popular in Zhushan, even earning it the title of Best Beloved Snack? When visiting Zhushan, you simply must try this flavor.
Shanghai Pudong IFC Mall celebrated the 65th anniversary of the Peanuts comic strip with an exhibition featuring Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. The event included an 8-meter-tall giant Snoopy balloon, over 2,000 Snoopy plush toys, and many uniquely designed Snoopy characters. The exhibition ran for two months starting in September.
Recently, Taiwan’s food and beverage scene has quietly embraced a Thai trend. Following WOO CAF and Nara Thai Cuisine, another Thai brand has been introduced to Taiwan. Cheevit Cheeva is a dessert and ice shop from northern Thailand, specializing in Korean-style snow ice (Bingsu) infused with Thai flavors. Its signature melt-in-your-mouth texture is its biggest highlight. The entire store, with its white base and wooden furniture, feels like stepping into a café in northern Thailand. Cheevit Cheeva is currently in soft-opening phase.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, it’s not just in Taiwan where festive spirit is in the air — Singapore’s Chinatown is also brimming with holiday cheer. Visitors to Singapore right now can see over 3,000 colorful lanterns hanging along several main streets in Chinatown, complementing the already vibrant facades of the historic buildings. This makes the area, a hub for the Chinese community, even more captivating both during the day and at night.
Korean visitors to Taiwan continue to hit record highs. To attract more Korean tourists, Choi Jung-sik and Ivy Chen, the Tourism Bureau’s endorsers for the Korean market, had close interactions with Korean travelers this afternoon (the 5th), leading them in experiencing Taiwanese indigenous culture and millet & mango sticky rice cuisine, highlighting Taiwan’s unique charm.
The celebrity Li Fangyu celebrated her birthday in Guam at the end of August, staying at a new hotel opened by a Taiwanese friend, enjoying a sunny vacation with blue seas and skies. She especially recommends a ramen shop that’s even better than those in Japan, with portions that are huge. She particularly loves extra-spicy dan dan noodles—even when the spice makes her tear up and sniffle uncontrollably, she can’t bear to put down her chopsticks.