All Nippon Airways (ANA) has teamed up with Japanese idol group AKB48 to hold a fan meeting in Taiwan on October 15. The AKB48 members will dress up as ANA flight attendants for the event, meeting fans in Taiwan, and online registration will open on October 6.
Incheon International Airport in South Korea has announced that, in order to accommodate the increasing number of passengers each year and to welcome the upcoming 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Terminal 2 will officially begin operations on January 18 next year. It will offer a variety of convenient facilities, allowing passengers to clear customs smoothly in just 30 minutes.
As autumn begins, it's also maple season in Korea, which lies at a higher latitude than Taiwan, and the country is gradually entering its peak foliage period. According to estimates by the Korea Tourism Organization based on data from the Korea Meteorological Administration, the most popular spots such as Seoraksan and Jirisan will start showing orange-red tints in the mountains by the end of September, followed by Naejangsan and Jirisan, where forests will be ablaze with red foliage by mid-October, offering breathtaking views.
TransAsia, set to launch flights to Bangkok by the end of 2014, will move one of its B22608 passenger planes to Tainan on October 4 for body painting. It is expected to return to Songshan Airport on October 13 as the first TransAsia "Bear-painted aircraft."
Since there are very few good ramen shops in Taoyuan, it wasn’t until Hai-Ba told me he had struck out three times coming from Taipei that I found out about this legendary ramen shop in Taoyuan — Taoyuan Ramen House Arashiyama. Of course, as someone quick to act, I dashed right over. When you get here, don’t hesitate and head straight to the indoor ticket machine. Doesn’t it feel like you’ve been transported to Japan? Just like in Japan, you order by pressing buttons — the only difference is the text is in Chinese, which I can read, haha!
Kaohsiung’s E-DA World experienced an unexpected power outage this afternoon (3rd). According to eyewitnesses, not only did the restaurant areas lose electricity, but amusement rides such as the Ferris wheel also came to a complete halt due to the blackout. There were reports of tourists being trapped, and some netizens even claimed that visitors were stuck in elevators.
That’s not a typo — typically, flying from Taiwan to Paris, the romantic city everyone dreams of, can cost around NT$50,000, but EVA Air is offering an unprecedented “surprise price” of just NT$25,229 all-inclusive for a direct flight from Taipei to Paris.
Thailand has been ranked among the world’s top ten most popular tourist destinations, renowned for its beautiful beaches loved by travelers. Recently, Thai authorities have launched a nationwide beach clean-up initiative, starting with the resort town of Hua Hin, with the primary goal of improving the quality of beach holiday tourism.
The Mr. Ace Burger in Yizhong Street is the only branch I hadn’t tried yet. I’ve been to the original Wuchang Street location and the Qianmei branch several times. They’re known for their hearty American-style burgers. When a friend heard they’d recently launched a business lunch, he invited me to check it out. Even though it was a weekday lunchtime, Yizhong Street was packed, and it took ages to find a parking spot. I’m guessing most of the crowd were students.
The Villa Herbs Restaurant is an elegant dining spot tucked away in a quiet alley in Liuzhangli. To me, it was a beautiful surprise. From afar, The Villa Herbs Restaurant looks like a holiday inn you’d expect to find in Hualien or Taitung, but it’s actually a gastropub with a European retro vibe—both romantic and classy.
Renowned for its ship-like architecture and infinity pool, Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands actually has another unmissable attraction for travelers: the daily music, light, and water show that takes place every evening. As night falls, the dark sky becomes the perfect canvas, with vibrant laser beams shooting into the heavens in sync with music, painting the night in dazzling colors.
Every winter, a group of special visitors comes to “stay” in Taiwan’s outlying island of Kinmen — the all-black “cormorants.” Yesterday (2nd), their figures were spotted again as they flew to Kinmen in small groups, heightening anticipation for the most stunning winter sight in Kinmen: “tens of thousands of cormorants returning to their nests.”
Taiwan's international tourist arrivals grew by 26% in the first half of the year, ranking among the top globally. Meanwhile, Alishan National Forest Recreation Area also set a new annual visitor record for over 30 years on October 2. As of 9:00 AM on October 2, 103 (2014), the number of visitors surpassed the previous historical high of 2,080,811 set in 101 (2012). By October 2, 103, the cumulative number of visitors had reached 2,086,275.
ANA All Nippon Airways has launched a Japan travel package for two in business class, with special fares of NT$18,500 per person for round-trip business class tickets from Taipei Taoyuan to Tokyo Narita. The ticketing deadline is until October 31, 2014.
A 30-minute trip takes you to see a different side of Taipei. Hidden within the bustling urban area, Tianmu Ancient Trail, commonly known as the “Tianmu Water Supply Pipeline Trail,” was originally built to supply water to downtown Taipei. Although most of its water supply function has been taken over by the Feitsui Reservoir, the large pipes still lie quietly in place, witnessing the past. Along the trail, you can enjoy panoramic views of the valleys and terraced fields between Guandu Plain and Shamao Mountain, making it one of the popular secret nature trails.
As the tourism industry continues to thrive, a global survey asked travelers about common issues they face, such as “Who does the armrest belong to?”, “Is it okay to take off your shoes on a plane?”, and “I need to use the restroom—how do I wake up my neighbor?” The article also invited etiquette experts to offer advice, so passengers don’t feel at a loss.
China Airlines’ first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was delivered in Seattle on October 3 local time in the U.S., and arrived at Taoyuan Airport at 9 p.m. on October 4. Unlike conventional aircraft cabin designs, this new plane incorporates elements of humanities, Taiwanese cultural creativity, and Eastern aesthetics, aiming to make passengers feel as if they’ve stepped into an "airborne Eslite Bookstore."
Taipei Metro’s Songshan Line is expected to open in November, completing the final piece of the metro network puzzle. A one-month free trial ride will be offered after its launch. In the future, it will only take 15 minutes to travel from Raohe Night Market to Ximending. However, passengers should note that after the official opening, the “Xindian–Tamsui” route will be discontinued, and other routes will also see minor adjustments.
The 18th typhoon of the year is heading toward Japan, affecting flight conditions between Taiwan and Japan. Cathay Pacific announced that due to the impact of Typhoon Bafeng on Japan’s weather, flights CI168 and CI169 between Taoyuan and Shizuoka on October 5 will be canceled, and the Taoyuan to Nagoya flight CI150 on October 5 will be postponed to October 6 at 05:00. Passengers are advised to confirm their flight information before heading to the airport to avoid missing their flights.
The commercial district around Hongik University (commonly known as Hongdae), famous for its art scene, gets packed with crowds every holiday. It's a hotspot for young people to hang out on dates and a must-visit area for tourists coming to Korea. In addition to its trendy shops and unique restaurants, summer brings a host of popular Korean ice cream brands setting up shop here.