Travel
Taiwan Lantern Festival revealed early: Fengyuan Railway Station transformed into a dreamy pastry house
The 2015 Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held in Taichung. Today (27th), the design and planning details of the Fengyuan Lantern Area were unveiled first, featuring local pastries and lacquerware as themes. Fengyuan Railway Station will be turned into a dreamy pastry house, allowing visitors to step into a fantastical world of desserts.
Only once a year $2,000 lets you eat all-you-can-eat turkey, lobster, and king crab
December each year is the most anticipated end-of-year season. In addition to various Christmas discounts and events, there's also an interesting holiday abroad called Boxing Day — a final day of store-wide sales, often featuring extremely low prices. The Regent Taipei continues this tradition by offering four dining time slots on December 26th. For just NT$1,980 + 10% (50% off), each guest can enjoy unlimited access to braised turkey with eight treasures, lobster, king crab, as well as other buffet station dishes.
A Hidden Gem Even Locals in Tainan Might Not Know: The Lush Scenery of Shuangchun Coastal Recreation Area
This took me so long to finish because this newly discovered secret spot was just too beautiful—I took way too many photos. Just picking the photos took forever; the angles were all pretty similar, but it was so hard to choose XD. After adding the watermark, it still didn’t feel right—somehow the original watermark seemed too distracting for this set of photos—so I ended up redoing all of them with a new watermark. That finally looked better~
The number of flights to offshore islands during the 2015 Lunar New Year holiday increases by 3%; tickets go on sale December 16
The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced that, based on past passenger flight demand patterns, the 2015 Lunar New Year holiday aviation transport period will run from February 13 to February 24, totaling 12 days. The Lunar New Year air traffic management plan will continue to focus on offshore island routes including Penghu (including Qimei and Wang’an, but excluding the Makung–Kinmen route), Kinmen, and Matsu, all of which will be subject to unified booking controls.
A white carpet paved with oversized popcorn • The chrysanthemums in Miaoli are at their most beautiful blooming period
In the transition from late autumn to early winter, while admiring the desolate beauty of fiery red maple leaves, the beautiful chrysanthemums in Tongluo Township, Miaoli, have already spread the most gorgeous white carpet across the land, quietly waiting for visitors.
Tainan Food Festival Event – Upload Your Sweet Photo at an Ice Cream Parlor to Win Prizes
Upload a sweet photo taken at an ice cream parlor for a chance to win a prize！ The Tainan Food Festival event has begun and will run until December 31. Just upload photos of couples, sweethearts, childhood friends, or others on a date or meet-up at one of the 34 ice cream parlor-themed partner stores during the 2014 Tainan Food Festival to the Facebook fan page “Tainan Food Guide.” The first 50 entries that fit the theme will each receive a “Tainan Historic Site Phone Stand.”
Japan’s Largest H&M Store Opens in Kyoto on the 29th
Japan’s largest H&M store is set to open on the 29th in Kyoto’s Shijo-Kawaramachi area. This will be the brand’s 46th store in Japan, but its first in Kyoto.
Kinmen’s old-time comic book shop also sells shaved ice！Red beans are creamy with rich toppings
Strolling along Kinmen’s Model Street, I visited in October thinking it wouldn’t be too hot, but even at noon the sun was blazing. Not knowing where to go, I wandered to Sheng Li Ice Shop, guided by a friend. From the outside, it looks just like the comic book stores of my childhood—back then, comics cost 5 NT dollars to read inside the store, and you paid based on how many you read. I could immerse myself in the world of comics.
Crazy deal: Fly to Daegu for just NT$1,300 to eat silkworm pupae and pufferfish — over 50% cheaper than Seoul
Daegu has long served as a hub on the Korean Peninsula, giving its cuisine a distinct identity separate from both the north and south. Its unique inland flavors developed partly because food preservation was difficult in the past, and merchants frequently passed through the city. As a result, traditional dishes often feature bold pickled, salty, and savory flavors. The emphasis is on richly seasoned marinades, intense taste, and long shelf life—whether it's sauces, pickles, soaking brines, or dressings, all are robust and deeply aromatic.
Jimmy Liao Makes an Appearance in Xinyi District！Taipei Streets Transformed into a Galaxy Fairy Tale World
Visiting the streets of Taipei’s Xinyi District always brings something new, and recently, the buzz has been about the eye-catching Jimmy Liao installation art. Sponsored by a well-known real estate company and prepared over the course of a year, it officially opened to the public on November 1, 2014. Featuring characters drawn by Jimmy Liao from his stories, Pingzi shares this exhibition that fans of Jimmy Liao won’t want to miss.
Odakyu Electric Railway Launches Free Wi-Fi in Hakone, Available Even on Pirate Ships
Japanese railway company Odakyu Electric Railway announced on the 27th that it will launch "odakyu Free Wi-Fi" for tourists visiting Hakone starting December 1. The service will be available at major Odakyu stations in the Hakone area, and can even be used on Hakone pirate ships.
Learn a few phrases before traveling abroad — master Japanese, Korean, and Thai in just 5 minutes
Before going abroad, there are many preparatory tasks: packing luggage, exchanging money, checking the local weather... In fact, apart from these, having basic knowledge of the local language before your trip can truly enrich your journey. In reality, learning simple communication doesn't require spending money or finding a native speaker for language exchange — just a few taps on YouTube, and you can learn several words and basic greetings within 10 minutes.
Does Ibaraki Airport in Japan have Taiwan routes? Revival Airlines: Still under evaluation
Ibaraki Airport in Japan recently announced in bold letters on its official website: “December 31, 2014 — Ibaraki–Taiwan Revival Airlines charter flight confirmed.” The site also listed multiple travel itineraries to Taiwan, leading many people to wonder: “Will Revival Airlines ever fly to Ibaraki in the future?”
2014 Tainan Christmas Light Festival – Five New 3-Meter-Tall “Sword Lion Guardians” Added
The “2014 Tainan Christmas Light Festival” is about to kick off. In addition to the traditional main Christmas tree display at the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, this year features more illuminated areas and decorations. The most unique addition is five Sword Lion Guardians provided by Zhigang Metal Co., Ltd., which aim to bless Tainan and bring peace.
Millions of colorful lights illuminate the night: Japan's top 10 winter light displays voted by the public
Every winter, cities across Japan are adorned with millions of vibrant lights, with ever-changing themes and dazzling illuminations that turn urban nights into daylight. If you're overwhelmed by the variety of themes and wondering which light display is the most worthwhile, the following "Top 10 National Light Displays Ranking" selected by 4,300 night view connoisseurs from the Japan Night View Tourism Promotion Office might serve as a reference.
Huar She Business Hotel Opens with Flight Attendants Joining the Launch; First Wave Gives Away 100 Flights to Offshore Islands
Huar She Business Hotel, located near Fuxinggang MRT Station, began its trial operation on November 17 and officially opened on November 27. Flight attendants from its parent company, Far Eastern Air Transport, also came specially to "boost the event." In addition to offering limited-time promotional rates, Huar She Business Hotel is also running a check-in lottery for flight tickets.
Mind-blowing experience: Chat and take photos up close with inmates at the “happiest prison in the world”
Normally, suspects who commit crimes and are sent to prison must endure the punishment of losing their freedom and live almost in complete isolation. But this prison on Palawan Island in the Philippines might just shatter your expectations. The “Happy Prison Farm” is an extraordinarily unique facility where inmates aren’t locked up—they’re free to roam outdoors—and the prison even offers free tours for visitors, allowing them to chat and interact closely with the prisoners.
Hello Kitty Heads to Mainland China: Zhejiang's First "Hello Kitty Park" to Open on New Year's Day
The mainland's first theme park centered around the world’s most popular lip-less cat, "Hello Kitty," — Hello Kitty Park — held its completion ceremony on December 28 in Anji, Zhejiang. It is expected to officially open to visitors on New Year’s Day 2015. This marks the first time the theme park has expanded outside Japan.
A holiday destination in the eyes of Koreans – leisurely enjoying the sunrise and sunset along the coastline
Taking advantage of Korea’s consecutive holidays in May, we spontaneously planned a two-day, one-night trip to Anmyeon Island for the couple. The reason we chose Anmyeon Island was because the drive wasn’t too far (about three hours from Seoul). But, as they say, man proposes and God disposes – due to the holiday rush, it took us nearly six hours to get there.
A Surprising Fusion of Flavors: Tainan’s A Long Yi Mian (Handmade Noodles) with Fragrant Burdock Noodles
A Long Yi Mian incorporates burdock and carrots into their noodles—a unique fusion rarely seen in Tainan. The taste is surprisingly good, which is why the shop always attracts many food enthusiasts.