Travel
No need to fly 10 hours away—authentic Malaysian laksa in New Taipei, plus seafood barbecue!
Located in Banqiao, New Taipei, Mengga Seafood Grill is opened by celebrity Lin Daoyuan. The restaurant sources fresh seafood directly from fishing ports every day and sells out daily. Recently, in collaboration with Ai Cheng during the winter season, they introduced hot pot dishes to offer customers more diverse culinary options besides the signature seafood skewers.
Skateboarding or flying a plane? 5 Unique Ways to Kill Time at Airports Around the World
What can you do to kill time while waiting for your flight at the airport, besides browsing duty-free shops or playing with your gadgets? The foreign website “dealchecker” has compiled a list of unique entertainment facilities available at international airports worldwide. Here are five of the more interesting ones.
Two weeks to go: Japan waives taxes on food & cosmetics over ¥5,000 from Oct 1
Attention travelers to Japan: The Japanese government will launch a new tax exemption system in just two weeks. According to Japanese media reports, the new tax exemption policy for international tourists will take effect on October 1, with a threshold of ¥5,000 and the addition of categories such as food, beverages, medicines, and cosmetics to the list of tax-free items.
No need to pay for hot springs or foot baths in Beitou and Yangmingshan — here’s your free hot spring guide
As temperatures drop across Taiwan, there's nothing quite like a hot soak in the cold winter months. Aside from luxurious onsen resorts, did you know that Taipei actually offers free public hot spring baths? ETtoday News Cloud recommends the “free foot spas” and “free hot spring pools” in Taipei’s hot spring hubs — Beitou and Yangmingshan. Enjoy the coziest winter experience without spending a dime.
Dapeng Bay Unveils "Bay Loop Bicycle Path" – Cycle to Admire the Lake and Sunset Glow
Renowned for its unique natural oxbow lake scenery and ecological environment, Dapeng Bay has now developed a bay loop bicycle path suitable for cycling races, leisure activities, and environmental education. Among its highlights are the "Bicycle Path Landscape Bridge Pavilion," which offers views of wetland ecology, and the "Shared Water Intake Pool," perfect for sunset viewing—two of the most eye-catching recreational spots along the route.
Kaohsiung’s Basilica of the Holy Rosary — A Rare Sight of Gothic and Romanesque Spired Architecture
We’ve long heard of a historic century-old church in Kaohsiung called the “Basilica of the Holy Rosary,” also known as the Rose Mary Church. Aside from its long history, it features spired architecture in the Gothic and Romanesque styles that are rare to find in Taiwan. In 2001, it was ranked first nationwide in the Taiwan Historic Buildings Hundred Selection poll. We’ve always been interested in such buildings, and even though we’re not parishioners, we simply had to come pay our respects.
Gray-faced Buzzards Are Here！Their Unique Soaring Style Captivates—Cycle to Watch the Eagles in Manzhou, Pingtung
The annual must-see gray-faced buzzards of southern Taiwan are coming again this year！The Kenting National Park Headquarters, in collaboration with local communities, has launched a series of eagle-watching events that have garnered an enthusiastic response from many bird enthusiasts. This year (2014), the “Eagles Soar, Winds Chase” Manzhou Eagle-Watching Series will be held on October 10 and 18. This event will follow the eagles' flight paths by bike, weaving through the trails of Manzhou to visit their key take-off and landing spots, offering a variety of unique experiential activities.
Backed by Aaron Nieh First Ulai Canyon Super Half Marathon Opens Registration on the 16th
To promote the new tourism concept of “Running Holidays,” New Taipei City Government has scheduled the first “Ulai Canyon Super Half Marathon” to take place at 7:00 AM on December 27 in Wulai District. This event allows all those who “travel for running” or “run for traveling” to experience a running adventure vastly different from city street jogs. Online registration is expected to open at 10:00 AM on September 16 on the New Taipei City Tourism website.
Shuangxi Park in Taipei City – Free Weekend Experience: Ride a “Giant Water Lily” on the Pond
Want to see the famous “giant water lily,” known for its large leaves that can support a person’s weight? Besides locations in Taoyuan Guanyin or Tainan Baihe, there is now a new option. The Taipei City Government’s Parks Department has cultivated 85 giant water lilies at Shuangxi Park. Now, visitors just need to walk into Shuangxi Park to see the giant lily pads covering the pond’s surface, and by signing up, they can even experience the fun of sitting on a giant water lily.
The government subsidies NT$15 million — Travel to Penghu and Kaohsiung is now the cheapest ever
To revitalize the tourism industries of Kaohsiung City and Penghu County, the two local governments along with the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications launched a variety of promotional offers and campaigns on the 15th, allocating a total of NT$15 million in vouchers and discounts to attract domestic travelers.
The mountaintops are covered with a red carpet as Hokkaido enters its autumn foliage season — Daisetsuzan begins to turn red.
Autumn foliage season has arrived. The earliest crimson leaves in Hokkaido, Japan, have started to show on the branches. According to Weathernews, a Japanese meteorological news company, the leaves in the Kurodake area of Daisetsuzan, Hokkaido, this year (Heisei 103 / 2021) are among the earliest to change color in the past 10 years. Travelers who visit Hokkaido in the near future may have the chance to witness the stunning sight of mountainsides blanketed in red leaves.
Nichi-Funeyama Takoyaki Main Store at Fengjia Night Market — A Never-Ending Queue for This Nostalgic Japanese Snack
Taiwan is a land where diverse international cuisines converge... but each foreign dish takes on a local twist to suit Taiwanese tastes... Steaks and burgers aside, I think the earliest foreign snacks introduced here were probably takoyaki and crêpes. After all, there’s always some suddenly viral snack that pops up in every era... From Portuguese egg tarts onwards, it’s been a common sight...
Thoughtful design！Singapore’s “HALAL” Muslim-only tableware recycling stations
Singapore is a country with a diverse range of ethnicities and faiths, and there are quite a few Malays who follow Islam and adhere to its teachings by not eating pork. As such, in addition to promoting the practice of “self-service tableware recycling” at local hawker centres, special recycling stations have been set up exclusively for Muslims as a sign of respect.
Hoffman’s “Moon Rabbit” caught fire; the rabbit’s head and limbs turned to ashes
The Taoyuan Land Art Festival officially came to a close on September 14, but Hoffman’s popular artwork “Moon Rabbit,” which drew large crowds, was tragically destroyed by fire today (September 15). The once adorable figure is now reduced to just the rabbit’s body, with its limbs and head completely turned to ash.
Juicy explosion alert！Cheesy spicy steak that pulls apart & chocolate bag bursting with molten filling returns after 4 years
When you think of steak, what’s the first restaurant that comes to mind? With 17 years of history, TASTY Steak now has over 40 branches across Taiwan. Recently, the brand refreshed its interior by removing partitions and replacing them with spacious, bright round tables. The menu has also been revamped, featuring the return of classic appetizer “Shrimp & Asparagus” and dessert “Chocolate Bag Ice Cream,” along with the launch of a new “Cheesy Spicy Steak” aiming to win over diners’ taste buds.
"Best at Saving Money" Ranked Second in the World – Taiwanese Travelers Spend NT$4,037 per Night on Accommodation
A well-known hotel booking website recently released the global hotel price trends for the first half of 2014 and conducted an in-depth analysis of the travel habits and preferences of Taiwanese travelers. Among the 32 surveyed countries, Taiwanese travelers continued their cost-conscious trend from 2013, ranking second in the world with an average nightly spending of NT$4,037 while traveling abroad – a frugality that should not be underestimated, only surpassed by travelers from Malaysia.
Overlooking the “New Three Major Night Views of the World” – 16 Must-Visit Observation Decks as Voted by Japanese Netizens
Want to spend a romantic evening with your partner, gazing at the city’s sparkling lights from a high observation deck? It’s a classic date spot for many couples. The Japanese website “MyNavi Woman” asked netizens to vote for their top 16 recommended night view observation decks. Here we introduce them starting from No. 16.
A must-try on a remote-controlled day: Taichung’s popular brown sugar boba fresh milk with a rich aroma
Who says you can’t enjoy an ice-cold “brown sugar boba fresh milk” when it’s freezing cold? XDXD The colder it is, the more you crave it—kind of like wanting ice cream in winter~ But honestly, that day we were heading back from Harbor Sports Park to the city, and we had no idea how chilly it was in East Taichung @@ I stood in the crowd, battling the biting wind, but powered through with sheer willpower (aka hunger) to line up for this somewhat famous “Little Happiness Brown Sugar Boba Fresh Milk”!
It’s the perfect season to savor plump, succulent crabs — top five-star hotels roll out autumn crab dishes
For food enthusiasts, autumn is the best time to enjoy crabs, when they are at their plumpest and most flavorful. To cater to crab lovers, many hotels have launched a variety of autumn crab dishes, allowing diners to choose according to their personal preferences.
Win round-trip air tickets for two to Hokkaido HowToTrip launches new website version
The popular Japan travel website “HowToTrip Japan,” frequently referenced by many travelers heading to Japan, serves users in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Wakayama. To enhance its services, the site held a press conference on September 16. President Yoshihara Koichi announced the launch of “HowToTrip Hokkaido,” and invited actress Guo Shuyao to share her travel experiences. A commemorative online event was also launched, with the grand prize being a pair of round-trip air tickets to Hokkaido.