Travel
Welcome the first light of the new year at Golden Dragon Mountain on New Year's Day, and ring the prayer bell at Chiang Kai-shek’s Former Residence
The 2015 New Year’s Day holiday will feature a consecutive four-day golden break. The Tourism Bureau’s Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration has specially recommended an intellectual and cultural mini getaway — join the 2015 Sun Moon Lake Golden Dragon Mountain First Light event, explore a hidden gem known among photographers, then head to Qinglong Mountain to ring the prayer bell at Chiang Kai-shek’s Former Residence and the Ci’en Tower, admire the blooming plum blossoms all over the garden, and get ready to embrace the new year.
A Grand Gathering of Unique Tribes: “Face Tattooing & Traditional Attire” to Be an Indigenous Person for a Day
Experience indigenous life right in Taipei city. Today (26th), a vibrant tribal event kicked off at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei. Jointly organized by the Council of Indigenous Peoples and the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the event “Welcome to Be a Tribe Blogger, Welcome to Visit the Tribes” brought together for the first time featured tribes from all six major scenic area management centers across Taiwan, showcasing the diverse cultures of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples.
In coordination with Taipei’s New Year’s Eve event, 24 nearby YouBike stations will suspend service.
To accommodate the Taipei New Year’s Eve Countdown Party, the surrounding YouBike stations will also be subject to traffic control. The restrictions will be implemented in two phases, so those planning to ride YouBike are advised to stay informed.
Traditional beef noodles in Shoufeng Township – the beef melts in your mouth, and the broth is mild and slightly spicy
I’ve known about this Qiao Xifu Noodle Shop since I was a student over ten years ago, but back then my student budget couldn’t stretch to beef noodles. I usually just got braised pork rice from Auntie Qiu to get by. It wasn’t until the owner of Xiaoyuwa Homestay recommended it that I finally remembered this place and got to try the beef noodles. How on earth did I survive back then... haha.
Both sides finalize schedule and restrictions for Lunar New Year charter flights; Shanghai routes see 57% increase
The Civil Aeronautics Administration announced that personnel from aviation authorities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait recently held a communication meeting to discuss specific arrangements for 2015 Lunar New Year charter flights. Both parties agreed that the 2015 Lunar New Year charter flight period will run from February 5 to March 5. Taking into account the needs of passengers and airlines on both sides, there will be no limit on the total number of additional flights, and the first batch of Lunar New Year charter flights will be approved by January 5.
A Hidden Gem Near Taipei’s Ningxia Night Market—Hello Kitty Fans Will Never Want to Leave
I received an invitation to stay at 191 Hotel this time, and since I had business in Taipei anyway, I thought I’d check it out. Located on Nanjing West Road, it’s about a 10–15-minute walk from Zhongshan MRT Station, and you’ll pass by Ningxia Night Market along the way. With the recent opening of the Songshan MRT Line, it’s also just a 10-minute walk from Beimen MRT Station. However, the hotel entrance is tucked away in an alley...
Four Renowned Musicians Take the Stage – The "Winter Love Ballad" Composed for the Lanyang Museum
This year, the Lanyang Museum launched the "Lanyang Museum Four Seasons Music Festival," featuring three seasons of beautiful melodies—indoor classical music in spring, jazz in summer, and ethnic music in autumn—that filled the museum with vibrant tunes. This weekend, starting December 27, the museum will present the "Winter Love Ballad" concert, inviting folk music master Jian Shangren, Golden Melody singer Wang Hailing, composer Chen Mingzhang, and soprano diva Xu Jingchun to perform two consecutive weekends in the afternoon at the Lanyang Museum.
Taiwan Railways' New Year Commemorative Ticket Set "Ten Complete and Ten Perfect" is Now Available
Train tickets carry countless railway stories, and it has been over 120 years since their inception. Taiwan Railways has carefully designed a commemorative platform ticket set featuring station names starting from one to ten as namecard-style tickets. These stations are: Toucheng, Ershui, Sanmin, Sijiaoting, Wudu, Liukuaicuo, Qidu, Badu, JiuZantou, and Shifen.
Must-eats in Toucheng: Longji Beef Noodles and Grandpa’s Bomb Scallion Pancakes that sell out in just 20 minutes
I’d long heard about an incredibly popular Longji Beef Noodles shop right in front of the Toucheng Railway Station in Yilan. Not only is it open for lunch only, but after queuing up for a number, you often have to wait over half an hour—and there’s even a chance it’ll be “sold out, come back tomorrow” within two hours. With its huge popularity and beloved taste, Longji Beef Noodles was even voted “Number One among Yilan’s Top 100 Snacks.”
Experience the thrill of “boat jams” at Thailand’s floating markets — Bargaining tip: start by cutting the price in half
Seeing traffic jams is nothing special — “boat jams” are where the fun is at!
Evergreen’s new container ship “EVER LUNAR” to join Far East–Persian Gulf route in January
On the 26th, the Evergreen Group held a naming ceremony for the “EVER LUNAR,” the seventh “L-type” vessel built by CSBC Corporation, Taiwan, at its Kaohsiung shipyard. The ceremony was presided over by Evergreen Group’s Vice Chairman Ko Li-ching, and the bottle-breaking ceremony was performed by Ms. Lin Mei-chun, who offered blessings for the new ship’s smooth voyages and full loads on every trip. The new vessel is scheduled for delivery next January and will be deployed on the Far East–Persian Gulf route.
Glossy, crispy, chewy, and with a faint smoky aroma—roast goose is an absolute must-try in Hong Kong.
The deliciousness of Hong Kong roast goose has long been famed, and Nang Kee Roast Goose in Sham Tseng stands out as one of the best. A friend even described it as tastier than many well-known roast goose shops—a sublime roast goose experience you can’t miss in Hong Kong.
A world of snow—magical and fun！6 Must-Visit Winter Festivals in Korea
Known as the “country of festivals,” Korea hosts exciting events throughout the year in every season. But what winter festivals are a must when the country is blanketed in snow? The Korea Tourism Organization recommends six major winter festivals in regions such as Gangwon-do and Gyeonggi-do, all themed around snow, snow games, and ice fishing for travelers to explore.
Flight delayed? Don’t worry—Tokyo Narita Airport’s 9-hour rest capsule hotel has you covered
According to a report by the UK’s Daily Mail, this capsule hotel at Tokyo Narita Airport, called “9h nine hours,” features rows of capsules alongside changing rooms, showers, and a lounge, offering travelers delayed flights or those arriving on early morning flights a chance to rest briefly.
Civil Aviation Administration Director Shen Qi to Retire in January Next Year; Rumor Says Transport Research Institute Director Lin Zhiming to Take Over
Shen Qi, the current director of the Civil Aviation Administration under the Ministry of Transportation, is set to retire upon reaching the mandatory retirement age in mid-January 2015. Although the official successor has not yet been announced, it is rumored that Lin Zhiming, director of the Ministry of Transportation’s Transport Research Institute, will take over the role.
Discover the everyday delight of delicious food: a popular cold noodle stall hidden in the market
The search for the most everyday satisfying flavors often lies in the most unassuming corners of traditional markets within the city. Even though I've lived in Taichung for over five years now — and you might say I’ve eaten my way through countless streets and alleys with all the food reviews I’ve written — the truth is, no, I haven’t. That’s because this 【Sun Ji Sichuan Cold Noodles】 is tucked away along Daya Road, a road I pass by almost every two or three days...
Is traveling to tribal villages the only way to truly experience Taiwan? Come be a “tribal” traveler!
“I think coming to Taiwan without visiting tribal villages is like not coming to Taiwan at all!” said Tourism Bureau Director-General Xie Weijun with a smile. Unlike typical sightseeing, tribal tourism emphasizes in-depth experiences, allowing visitors to truly engage with indigenous communities and immerse themselves in their way of life—such as appreciating indigenous artwork and trying DIY handicrafts. During his own visit, he spent as long as an hour at just one site.
Who’s sitting inside the giant pineapple in the deep mountains? A must-visit pineapple pavilion in Beitou for SpongeBob fans
SpongeBob SquarePants, beloved by children, lives in a huge and adorable pineapple house. But the “giant pineapple house in the deep sea” doesn’t only appear in the SpongeBob cartoon — visitors to Beitou District can also see a golden-yellow pineapple pavilion in person.
Three-phase traffic control in Taipei on New Year's Eve; use public transport to avoid congestion
On the evening of December 31, the Taipei New Year’s Eve Countdown Party 2015 “Taipei is Burning” will be held in the Xinyi Planning District. Due to the large crowd expected, the Taipei City Department of Transportation will implement a three-phase traffic control starting at 7:00 PM on December 31 around the Xinyi Planning District. The third phase of the controlled area includes the region enclosed by Guangfu South Road, Zhongxiao East Road, Lane 236, Section 5, Zhongxiao East Road, Songde Road, Zhongxiao Road, Keelung Road, Songren Road, and Zhuangjing Road.
A magical world appears in a department store — a pasta restaurant with an eye-catching full-wall bookshelf
Can you feel like you’ve stepped into a Harry Potter movie scene in an Italian pasta restaurant inside a department store? Inside TaiMall in Taoyuan’s Taoyuan District, there’s an Italian restaurant featuring a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, embracing a low-key yet luxurious décor style. Spoons hanging above the bar and drawers of various sizes make it feel as if you’ve stepped out of the shopping mall world and into another magical space.