Travel
The public's favorite "Top 10 Hot Pot Restaurants of 2014" are out — Ding Wang and Wu Lao Guo, say goodbye!
With temperatures dropping sharply, hot pot is the perfect way to warm up your stomach. A well-known web portal today (12th) announced the public's favorite "Top 10 Hot Pot Restaurants of 2014." After a 17-day voting period, the top spot went to the 50-year-old veteran hot pot restaurant "Taiwan Power Lijin Pickled Mustard & White Meat Hot Pot." The second and third places were awarded to "Zhan Ji Spicy Hot Pot" and "This Pot Royal Secret Collection Hot Pot," respectively. Meanwhile, Ding Wang and Wu Lao Guo, which faced food ingredient controversies this year, did not make the list.
News Flash / Vietjet’s Inaugural Flight Taipei–Ho Chi Minh City – Flight Attendants Perform Flash Mob at Airport
Vietnamese low-cost airline Vietjet officially launched flights between Taipei and Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of the 12th, providing weekly service on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays for passengers from Taiwan and Vietnam. During the inaugural ceremony, Vietjet also announced that it will soon open new routes connecting Taichung and Kaohsiung to both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, offering travelers more travel opportunities at the lowest fares.
Hot Springs + Medical Aesthetics + Health Checkups in One: Taipei International Healthcare Travel to Open
Providing medical and health checkup services in a hot spring hotel? This brand-new business concept is set to surprise travelers. Entrusted by the Taipei City Government, the Beitou Health Management Hospital and the Beitou Sir Hotel have jointly built the “Taipei International Healthcare Travel,” which took six years and 700 million NTD to construct. It is expected to officially open on December 20, 2014, becoming Taiwan’s first tourist hotel integrating health checkups, medical aesthetics, and hot springs.
Best job ever: Hourly wage over NT$5,000 as hotels recruit women to hand out candy on Christmas Eve
Following the huge attention drawn by “The Best Job in the World,” Taiwanese hotel operators have launched the “Best-Paid Christmas Eve”! Offering an ultra-high hourly wage, you can earn NT$5,000 per hour just by spending one hour handing out candy with Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Taipei Caesar Park said it hopes to recruit two girls to spread the festive Christmas cheer, and will also throw in a European-style Christmas feast on Christmas Eve.
Mystery Shoppers Take Action to Review Homestays!“Friendly Homestays” Adds 75 New Listings, Removes 25
As tourism in Taiwan continues to grow in popularity, ensuring the quality of homestays—embodying the hospitality spirit of Taiwanese people—is more important than ever. The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications recently selected 75 new “Friendly Homestays” that are beloved by both domestic and international travelers, blending the personal touch of hosts with regional characteristics. These include the highly booked “Dayu Hiyori” in Jiaoxi and the Korean-owned “Window to the Sea” in Hualien.
Free shuttle buses on Saturdays and Sundays along three routes to accommodate crowds during the Christmas Season in Wanjin
To manage the large influx of visitors during the Christmas Season in Wanjin, Pingtung County Government has launched a shuttle bus plan starting December 13, offering free rides along three routes every Saturday and Sunday. Yan Fenglan, head of Pingtung County’s Tourism and Communications Department, said that this year the shuttle buses will run as far as Pingtung Railway Station. Out-of-town visitors can take the train and then transfer to the shuttle buses. Visitors are welcome to make use of this service.
Explore Beijing and Save NT$20,000 Now！ Madame Tussauds and Five-Star Hotels All on Discount
The Dongcheng District Tourism Association of Beijing came to Taiwan on the 13th to promote the “Cool Fun Tour of the Imperial City” benefits brochure, which contains discount coupons from over 70 Beijing merchants. Following the guidebook to explore Beijing can save you more than NT$20,000.
The outside is more eye-catching than the inside: globally popular colorful aircraft designs that are both adorable and stylish
To attract passengers' attention, in addition to competing on ticket prices, airlines have also gotten creative with their “aircraft livery,” not only building brand image but also generating buzz to entice travelers to open their wallets just for a photo with these planes. CNN recently reported on several globally renowned airlines with particularly striking aircraft designs. Here we’ve rounded up eight of them — next time you buy a ticket, keep an eye out for a chance to fly on one of these.
A Special Way to Welcome the First Light – Chase the Sunrise in a Hot Air Balloon
How do you want to welcome the first light of 2015? Head to Taitung’s Dulan or Sanxiantai? Now there’s an even more special option — greeting the first ray of sunlight from a hot air balloon. Sky Aviation and China Aviation have both launched hot air balloon sunrise experiences, allowing you to enjoy a breathtaking sunrise high above the ground.
Can sea of clouds be sold? Japanese sightseeing bus operator launches 'Sea of Clouds Bottle' at Takeda Castle
Among Japan's Top 100 Castles, Takeda Castle in Hyogo Prefecture is renowned as the "Castle in the Sky" for its breathtaking view atop a hill, often appearing to float above a sea of clouds in autumn. But can this beautiful sea of clouds actually be sold? According to a report by the Asahi Shimbun Chinese website, this "sea of clouds" will be bottled and go on limited sale at specialty stores starting December 1.
Visiting a Singaporean roti shop without buying roti? Discover the marvelous taste of satay bee hoon.
Satay bee hoon was the most amazing dish I’d ever tried. I never imagined satay and rice noodles could be combined so perfectly. Just how incredible can Singaporean food get? Let’s find out together.
A hidden gem of an old-house dessert shop tucked away in an alleyway — featuring new desserts every week
Recently, a new shopping mall was discovered under construction behind Taichung Railway Station, along with an upcoming Le Méridien hotel. The once bustling central district, once the city’s development hub, has been in decline for a long time but is finally starting to see new signs of commercial revival. Actually, things aren’t too bad right now — though quiet and somewhat desolate, the area still retains many of the old flavors of traditional Taichung, and the people who never left this neighborhood…
Taiwan’s hottest breakfast chain: “Dan Dan Burger” crowned the “
Breakfast shops of all kinds can be found everywhere in Taiwan. Whether it’s Chinese sesame seed cakes with fried dough sticks, egg pancakes, sandwiches, or hamburgers, you’ll find them all. Utilizing big data from the internet, online temperature meter DailyView has compiled a list of Taiwan’s top ten most popular breakfast shops, with “Dan Dan Burger” taking the top spot as the so-called “Breakfast King of Southern Taiwan.”
A must-visit for couples: The stunning night view of Anapji Pond in Gyeongju
Gyeongju, a city in southeastern South Korea, is known as an "open-air museum," with quaint historic relics scattered throughout the urban area. It is the country's most historically rich city and also its most romantic former capital. Among the city’s most famous romantic spots is "Anapji Pond," which Korean couples call a "must-go dating destination." Under the glow of soft evening lights and the bright moonlight, the gentle reflections on the lake surface are breathtakingly beautiful.
The Taroko Express direct train from Taitung will continue operating, with additional stops at Hualien and Yuli stations.
TRA’s special Taipei–Taitung Taroko Express trains, added from Mondays to Thursdays, will not be discontinued. Originally scheduled from September 11 to December 11, TRA announced on the 13th that, considering overall travel demand, the special service will continue from December 15 onwards on Mondays to Thursdays. While the original route was a non-stop journey from Taipei to Taitung, two new stops—Hualien and Yuli—will now be added, with no change to the total travel time.
Breaking News: The World’s First LINE Café to Open in Bangkok
Messaging apps aren’t just for apps anymore — they’re breaking into the café business too. Instant messaging platforms have become essential in modern life, and soon you’ll not only be able to meet their popular characters while chatting, but also see them in real life. A well-known messaging app is set to open the world’s first official café in Bangkok, Thailand, spanning 3,600 square TN. Currently under preparation, it is expected to open in 2015.
Popular Pig’s Blood Soup on Changji Street in Taipei — incredibly soft, tender, and bouncy without any fishy taste
That day we were heading to the Taipei Arena to watch the “King of Pop Aaron Kwok – Dance Legends Concert.” My younger sister Tingxuan, who rarely comes up north, and I, along with Wenshan — three folks from Tainan — had recently seen the pig’s blood soup at Changji Street ranked third among Taipei’s top ten street snacks on “Foodie Warriors.” Even many food bloggers had sung its praises. So, the three of us made a special trip to give it a try, Up～
Catching a wild "Little Zhang Junning"? Both Far Eastern and TransAsia flights have her making appearances
To make the visuals more pleasing, many airlines also select their most striking flight attendants to be the stars of their annual calendars, and these stewardesses’ “celebrity looks” often become hot topics of discussion. In the 2015 calendars released by Far Eastern Air Transport and TransAsia Airways, there is one “Little Zhang Junning” flight attendant in each, said to resemble celebrity Zhang Junning, sparking a unique “Little Zhang Junning rivalry.”
Only 200 “Snoopy-painted YouBikes” are available and hidden in rental stations across Taipei!
Snoopy will make a surprise appearance on the streets of Taipei! To celebrate Snoopy’s 65th birthday, in addition to the Snoopy exhibition currently touring around Taiwan, this time it has also teamed up with Taipei’s YouBike to launch a limited edition of 200 “Snoopy-painted YouBikes” for the public to ride!
Santa Claus rides his sleigh through the windows – Taichung Prefectural Hall’s Centennial 3D Light Show Debuts
With Christmas just around the corner, festive cheer is in the air everywhere. To celebrate the holiday season, Taichung Prefectural Hall will present a 20-minute “Building ‘Light’ Taichung 3D Light Show” on three consecutive Saturdays starting now, featuring a special Christmas and New Year edition story that will make weekend evenings in Taichung even more magical.