The Taipei International Travel Fair entered its third day on the 9th. In addition to various discounts and giveaways offered by travel agencies to boost sales, many booths also featured on-site activities to attract visitors. For example, Tigerair Taiwan continued to draw three free airline tickets every hour, while other activities included free lucky bags and souvenirs, as well as hotel stays worth tens of thousands and free independent travel packages starting at just NT$1. Those looking to snag great deals or test their luck can check them out.
I love traveling. During the years I studied in Taiwan, I sometimes enjoyed pretending to be a sentimental "wannabe literary youth," wandering through various corners of Taipei to soak in the city’s unique cultural atmosphere.
Aside from various discounted goods, another major draw at annual travel expos is the wide array of freebies on offer. For those interested in Japanese rail travel, be sure to check out the Japan section. In addition to local tourism associations from across Japan, exhibitors such as JR East Japan, Keisei Electric Railway, Odakyu Electric Railway, Tobu Railway, and Hankyu Hanshin Group will also be present, offering attractive giveaways. Among them, purchase a “JR East Japan Pass” at the venue and receive an instant “Shinkansen E5 Series Model” — limited to 100 units.
Andong jjimdak is a simple yet time-consuming chicken dish. The cooking steps aren’t particularly difficult, and they bear some resemblance to the red-cooked chicken my mother-in-law loves to make by stir-frying chicken with soy sauce. However, due to differences in cooking methods and steps, the flavor isn’t entirely the same as that of Andong jjimdak. When I searched online for Chinese recipes, I found many shared versions that seemed to lean toward a Taiwanese style. When I first tried cooking following those, the result ended up closer to the Taiwanese version—essentially the red-cooked chicken my mother-in-law makes. Although the flavors were similar, it lacked the authentic Korean taste.
The caramel in these authentic glutinous rice balls from Hualien is undeniably sweet, yet that captivating aroma is simply irresistible. I had thought the "Five Tyrants" caramel glutinous rice balls were already delicious enough, but the authentic version offers a taste that’s truly astonishing. It’s the only ice dessert that left me wanting to order another bowl.
On the second day of the Taipei International Travel Fair, the high-speed rail’s 68%-off limited-edition lucky bags remained a hot commodity at the event, with all 750 available number tickets claimed within just 15 minutes. Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) stated that although the number tickets were distributed quickly today (the 8th), the overall order was much better compared to the previous day (the 7th).
Taiwan not only boasts a diverse culture but also rich natural beauty. In its latest report, the UK-based professional travel magazine Selling Travel named Taiwan as “Asia’s best-preserved hidden gem” and strongly promoted travel to Taiwan among British audiences.
Back when I hadn’t left Tainan yet, I actually didn’t know how interesting the streets and alleys here could be. A casual turn down one might lead you to a super popular or long-standing shop. After all, many alleyways are so small you’d never notice them. The two most interesting shops I found in the alleys were Xiao Haozhou Satay Hotpot and this place, Songzaijiao...
"Solo travel" has become a globally popular way to explore in recent years—no itinerary pressure, no disagreements with travel companions, and the freedom to see the world on your own terms. However, traveling alone in an unfamiliar country does come with certain risks. The Huffington Post recently reported on "8 ways to make solo travel safer," helping adventurous travelers enjoy their journeys while staying protected.
I’m truly passionate about Japanese cuisine, especially nigiri sushi and sashimi—they’re just amazing. If you often check my Facebook, you’ll probably notice I eat out at Japanese restaurants almost every other day. I love all kinds of Japanese food. Nowadays, the price range for Japanese cuisine is huge, from affordable options around 200 NT per dish to high-end sets costing several thousand NT. To enjoy delicious, satisfying, and worthwhile meals, you really need to compare and experience them carefully.
In recent years, skiing trips have become one of the main winter travel options on the Chinese mainland. Therefore, at this year’s Cross-Strait Taipei Travel Fair, several provinces in northeastern China not only shared the latest travel information with the public but also introduced many tour packages that combine skiing with hot springs and snow appreciation.
To promote Nantou’s hot springs, the Beauty Legs Princess from Nantou and the mascots of local tourist attractions held a promotional event today (November 9) outside Xinbeitou Metro Station in Taipei. In addition to featuring distinctive local Nantou cuisine and indigenous dance performances, the Beauty Legs Princess’s delicate skin served as living proof of the benefits of Nantou’s hot springs.
The first train of the nation's first "Kaohsiung Circular Mass Rapid Transit Light Rail" has begun trial runs today (November 9). Mayor Chen Chu announced that the Kaohsiung Light Rail has reached a new milestone, and it will be open to the public for visits from now until November 16.
Spontaneous itineraries often turn out to be the most memorable. Since we had a Taiwanese friend leading the trip to Nantou this time, we had no idea where we were headed beforehand (what a stroke of luck, XD). When we set off that morning, no one mentioned Forget-Worry Forest—it was only decided on the spot in the car. On top of that, the previous day had been a typhoon with wild winds and heavy rain, so we weren’t even sure we’d make it there.
After returning from a five-day trip to Lijiang, Yunnan, my memory card was already filled with over a thousand photos!! XD Just organizing these massive amounts of pictures truly made me relive the beautiful sights and that heavy-lidded feeling. Haha!! Many individual attractions resulted in one or two hundred photos each—excluding the figures of my travel companions, flipping through them one by one really gave me the feeling that I hadn’t expected this overseas trip to end so soon.
According to Tigerair Taiwan, the airline's approval process has entered the final stage. It is expected to officially launch the Taipei–Bangkok route in the week before Christmas (December 15–20) and plans to open ticket sales to the public in mid-to-late November.
Beitou is Taiwan’s renowned hot spring town, home to dozens of hot spring hotels, homestays, and bathhouses, with prices ranging from as low as a few dozen NT dollars for open-air hot springs at the Hydro Park to tens of thousands of NT per night at top-tier hotels. Among those famed for their “premium” pricing, Beitou Lihpi Hot Spring Hotel and Nikko Shisei Kagaya stand out as representatives.
You can get gifts just by taking the subway too. Recently, the Japanese yen has sharply depreciated, and many people are taking this opportunity to travel to Japan. For those visiting Tokyo, Tokyo Metro has small gifts for travelers from Taiwan. Starting November 4, simply share the event page and visit the commuter pass ticket office at Ginza Station (near Exit B2 of Ginza Station) to show the page and present your Taiwanese passport to receive an exclusive Tokyo Metro hand towel. But there are only 2,000 available, so they’re given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
On days when you’re not in Japan, is there a place you can take the MRT to and enjoy both the vibe of a traditional Japanese townhouse and a Japanese-style Western café? Yes — it’s Pearl Teahouse, right next to Bihu Park.
After months of preparation, the Markthal market in Rotterdam, the Netherlands' second-largest city, finally opened last month (October)! Walking through a building adorned with sci-fi-style fruit and vegetable patterns, "grocery shopping" becomes super stylish!