Travel
Explore Taipei’s oldest stratum – A fun-filled family educational trip to Beitou’s Guizikeng Environmental Education Park
Want to challenge tasks and create memories together as a family? The Soil and Water Conservation Section of Taipei City Government’s Public Works Department will host an environmental education event at the Beitou Guizikeng Soil and Water Conservation Park on October 5th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM — “Ah Gui’s Time Travel: Exploring Guizikeng.” Free registration is now open and will end at 1:00 PM on October 2nd.
Crystal Banquet Hall Has Welcomed 30,000 Couples in 10 Years; Top 5 Wedding Songs Revealed
Crystal Banquet Hall, under Shanghai Countryside Catering, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, it has launched the “Darling, Let’s Celebrate!” series of events, inviting couples who have previously held their weddings at Crystal to return and celebrate their anniversaries. Attendees can also receive dining vouchers worth thousands of yuan from Shanghai Catering, champagne, and other gifts. Crystal Banquet Hall has also generously revealed the top five most popular Chinese and English wedding songs among newlyweds.
A couple shivers at 6°C, sharing a scarf — only to witness such a breathtaking spectacle
Located within the TOMAMU Resort in Hokkaido, besides featuring Tadao Ando’s Water Chapel, Forest Pools, ski slopes, and an indoor wave pool with constant temperature, the most unique attraction is taking a cable car to view the spectacular sea of clouds. Many visitors arrive as early as 4 a.m. to catch the moment the sun rises above the sea of clouds. They wait in the chilly 6°C weather, while the site’s guardian, the “Sea of Clouds Sage,” forecasts the daily probability of seeing the sea of clouds based on weather conditions.
The tender and smooth texture of the authentic Fenyuan Traditional Meatballs is complemented by a savory and rich sauce that highlights the delicious filling.
It’s rare to find someone visiting Fenyuan who hasn’t stepped into Miaodong Night Market (which actually opens during the day too). In fact, some tourists come here just for it. I’ve been in Fenyuan for about five years now, and I’ve pretty much tried all the well-known old shops and snacks here. Sometimes when Wei De and I can’t decide what to eat, we’ll still drop by. But I rarely venture in on weekends—the crowds are absolutely crazy.
Guam Shopping Festival kicks off in November, spanning Christmas and New Year
The Guam Shopping Festival will run from November 1, 2014, to January 12, 2015. In addition to the year’s biggest discounts at various shopping malls, the Guam Visitors Bureau has consolidated special offers and perks exclusively for overseas travelers across the island. By taking full advantage of these deals, visitors can not only save money but also earn rewards, with an expected influx of over 270,000 inbound tourists.
Taichung bus new route 133 launches in October, connecting Dali and Wufeng directly to the high-speed rail
The Taichung City Government’s Transportation Bureau has recently launched a new bus route “133,” which departs from Taichung’s Wuri High-Speed Rail Station, travels along Zhongshan Road and Wenxin South Road, and finally reaches Chaoyang University of Technology. The route officially began service on October 1, linking together the bus networks of Wuri, Dali, and Wufeng.
Made with Local Crops: Pingtung’s “Golden Bicycle” Stuns
Pingtung County’s Cycling National Highway Flower Season has set up a “Golden Tree” in the corridor of the main exhibition area featuring 1,600 pandas at Pingtung County Stadium Park. The installation uses a large number of cut Phalaenopsis orchids, creatively arranged with various materials to create six three-dimensional “golden trees” covered in yellow blooms, along with a “golden bicycle.” As Pingtung is a major producer of various flowers, eight types of locally grown crops from the county have been selected this time to offer visitors a uniquely eye-catching experience.
Hidden gem gone viral thanks to an Apple wallpaper: Biei Blue Pond’s dreamy Tiffany blue
The world-renowned breathtaking scenery of “Biei Blue Pond” (青い池, Aoiike), in July 2012, was set as the default boot-up desktop for the MacBook Pro by Apple and is also one of the official preset 15 wallpapers. With Apple’s endorsement, the beauty of the Blue Pond became an overnight sensation, turning into the most popular hidden spot in recent years.
A must-visit for stationery lovers: Tsutaya Books opens its second store in Hakodate, Hokkaido
Everyone knows about the Daikanyama Tsutaya Books in Tokyo, one of the world’s 20 most beautiful bookstores, but I only had half a day in Tokyo and didn’t have time to visit it before heading to the newly opened Tsutaya Books in Hakodate. This branch in Hakodate just opened last year and has a very modern look overall. Its location is somewhat suburban, and transportation isn't very convenient—I imagine most residents of Hokkaido probably drive here.
New hidden gem for a relaxing spring outing in Eastern Taiwan: Hualien’s “Lake of Forgetfulness” to open to public on the 6th
There’s a new spot to explore in Hualien. Located at the foot of Mashishan Mountain in Guangfu Township, Jili Pond has been transformed over three years of development by Hualien’s Soil and Water Conservation Bureau into a dreamy new retreat where green waters reflect the blue sky and verdant mountains—and it officially opens to the public on December 6.
Chef André Chiang’s Octaphilosophy Farewell Menu at RAW Singapore – Recreated at RAW’s Third Anniversary in Taiwan
On October 10, 2017, Chef André Chiang announced in Singapore that Restaurant ANDRE would close on February 14, 2018. In the final months, the restaurant would only serve a curated selection of 24 of the most perfect dishes from the past eight years—dubbed the Octaphilosophy Farewell Menu. To give Taiwanese food lovers a chance to experience it too, a special encore performance was held at RAW’s third anniversary in Taiwan, featuring an even more exceptional set of 26 meticulously crafted dishes inspired by the Octaphilosophy.
It only costs NT$60 from Luzhou to Taoyuan Airport – Airport MRT shuttle bus to launch at end of October
With the construction of the Airport MRT line expected to be completed by the end of 2015, the New Taipei City Department of Transportation also plans to launch an “Airport MRT Pilot Shuttle Bus” in mid- to late October to provide passenger services. Travelers will be able to take the bus from Xuhui Junior High School Station on the Luzhou MRT line to Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of Taoyuan Airport, with a one-way fare capped at NT$60. Taking a taxi for the same route would have a fixed fare of around NT$900, making the price difference a whopping 15 times. For those who are not in a hurry or have no special needs, the shuttle bus is a more economical option.
Bamboo-woven Christmas trees adorn Tainan’s night sky!“Blessings of Bamboo” resembles a mysterious magic circle
Taiwan’s only bamboo-woven Christmas tree makes its debut！Its design shatters your conventional image of a Christmas tree. Named “Blessings of Bamboo,” this eight-meter-tall tree stands in the plaza of Xinying Cultural Center. Crafted by bamboo artist Xu [name unclear], it combines traditional bamboo craftsmanship with modern structural techniques. Its unique design features a snowflake motif, with the tree’s white body emitting a soft glow that rises into the night sky, creating a fantastical atmosphere reminiscent of a fairy tale.
I want to go to both places—Hawaii and Hokkaido in 9 days for just 75,000 yuan!
With its crystal-clear blue waters and sunny palm trees, as well as thrilling land, sea, and air activities, Hawaii is a dream vacation destination for many. In Asia, Japan’s Hokkaido is equally popular, charming visitors in all seasons—whether with spring cherry blossoms, summer greenery, autumn foliage, or winter snow. EasyGo Travel has launched a “Hawaii + Hokkaido” travel package that lets you experience Hawaiian hospitality aboard Hawaiian Airlines, offers shared airport transfers for both destinations, and arranges stays at four-star or higher hotels throughout. The trip is available for groups of just two people.
Escape from a bad relationship here—the only hot spring village in Osaka, like stepping into the world of Princess Mononoke
Located in Izumisano City, “Inunakiyama Onsen” is Osaka’s only hot spring village and a popular destination for winter soaks and weekend nature trips. In addition to soaking, visitors can walk along the forest trail starting at the entrance of the hot spring village all the way into the mountains, where waterfalls and streams wind through lush greenery—like entering the world of Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke. Deep in the mountains, there's also a deity enshrined that's said to ward off bad romantic luck. Want to escape a toxic partner? Consider a visit here too.
Step out of your room and you’re on the beach ! Thailand is the “country with the most seaside hotels in the world”
Thailand has become a top holiday destination for travelers worldwide, and its stunning beaches have also become the hottest spots for hotel clusters. The Thai Seaside Club ranked Thailand as the “world’s most renowned seaside resort destination,” with 1,270 seaside hotels, guesthouses, and resorts—topping the list. It leads the second-place United States (1,016 hotels), Mexico (943 hotels), and others.
Quirky, Fun, and Instagram-Worthy: A Complete Guide to Taiwan’s 20 Must-Visit Painted Villages
Recently, painted villages have been popping up one after another across Taiwan. Some feature traditional art styles, while others showcase adorable character designs. Some are hand-painted stroke by stroke by village chiefs alongside their sons, while others are created by professional artists. Regardless, these colorful murals have brought a lot of vibrancy to the villages. ETtoday Eastday Travel Cloud has compiled information on 20 painted villages across Taiwan. For those interested in painted villages, why not take some time to visit them one by one?
How to eat authentically at Oktoberfest? The German general manager of Dynasty Hotel shows you how
October marks the globally renowned "Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany." During this period, locals not only take to the streets in celebration and enjoy beer together but also prepare an abundance of delicious food to share with family and friends. The festive atmosphere is as lively as Taiwan’s Lunar New Year celebrations. Turgem Klemm, the German general manager of Dynasty Hotel, recommends that Taiwanese visitors pair a glass of beer with traditional German dishes during this season to fully immerse themselves in the joyful spirit of Oktoberfest.
Kyoto Future Capsule Hotel – Stay for a Night for Just Over NT$1,000
9 HOURS is a capsule-type hotel with a highly futuristic, high-tech interior design, which is quite popular among young backpackers both in Japan and abroad. I’ve stayed in many private and capsule-type accommodations in Japan, and personally, I really like this type of affordable and convenient lodging.
TransAsia Airways offers two-person Penghu tour with free accommodation and scooter rental starting from NT$3,091
TransAsia Airways announced that from October 1 to January 31, 2015, passengers holding a TransAsia Airways boarding pass can enjoy a discounted rate of NT$1,440 for a double room at Penghu Yalin Hotel and Fengjia Hotel, originally priced at NT$3,600. Additionally, renting an eco-friendly electric scooter comes with a special offer: rent for two days and get the first day free.