Travel
San Shang Qiao Fu’s Taiwanese
The Taiwanese chain of beef noodle restaurants, San Shang Qiao Fu, expanded to Japan at the end of 2014, opening its first outlet in Tokyo. The store emphasizes a Taiwanese flavor, offering not only its signature beef noodles and spare rib rice but also a variety of Taiwanese side dishes and bubble tea. The well-known Japanese food review site Tabelog has accumulated over 30 reviews, with an average rating of 2.96 out of 5. Many users commented that the broth was too light, the prices were slightly high, but the bubble tea was delicious.
Wishing someone “Happy Birthday” in advance brings bad luck? 9 things you don’t know about German culture
Germans have long been known for their precision and pragmatism. People often associate Germany with beer and Mercedes-Benz, but a HuffPost article titled “Things You Don’t Know About German Culture” might change your previous perceptions. Here’s what the report says.
Another "unqualified traveler" incident? Offensive graffiti found at Meiji Shrine torii gate in Japan
Another case of a "disgraceful Taiwanese traveler"? Mr. Lai and a Japanese friend were visiting Meiji Shrine in Tokyo when they discovered the Taiwanese profanity "XX娘" carved into a 40-year-old wooden pillar of the shrine's grand torii gate. His Japanese friend even asked him what those three characters meant, leaving Mr. Lai extremely embarrassed. When photos of the incident spread online, they sparked widespread outrage, with many condemning such behavior as unworthy of being called "Taiwanese."
Japan’s Huis Ten Bosch Hosts “Masquerade Party” – Dance the Night Away in Style with a Mask!
Nagasaki’s Famous Theme Park “Huis Ten Bosch” Is Holding Its Largest Masquerade Party Yet! From now on, the park will be filled with masked guests wearing a variety of stylish masks, mingling and greeting visitors. Additionally, from the 30th until February 10th, a masquerade party will be held every night in the park, with each entrant receiving a complimentary mask.
Officially establishes Taichung branch; Far Eastern Air: Preparing to fly to Osaka and Nagoya
In light of the booming tourism market and the overall balanced development across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, Far Eastern Air announced today (January 26) the official establishment of its Taichung branch. In the future, in addition to providing more direct services to residents in central Taiwan, the airline will also use Taichung as a departure point to expand routes to Northeast Asian destinations such as Osaka and Nagoya.
Kaohsiung’s Xingfu River Blooms in Full Glory – Lantana, Bougainvillea, and Firecracker Vines Stretch Along the Banks
Both sides of Kaohsiung’s Xingfu River are entering their peak flowering season. In addition to the vibrant blooms of creeping lantana and bougainvillea, the eye-catching firecracker vines have begun to appear, radiating the youthful vibrancy unique to early spring. The city government invites visitors to come enjoy the flowers, take a stroll, or ride a bicycle along Xingfu River. Benches are available on both banks for short breaks, allowing you to slow down anytime, soothe your busy mind, and leisurely soak in the joyful blossoms heralding good fortune along Xingfu River.
Take a half-day trip to Beimen – Explore the Salt Belt and Visit the Former Home of a "Mystical Painter"
Aside from Jingzijiao Salt Field and the Crystal Cathedral that went viral last year, what else is there to do in the Beimen area? Starting today, the South-Eastern Coastal National Scenic Area Administration Office offers free guided “Salt Belt Half-Day Strolls” every day. These walking tours take you deep into the Beimen region to uncover the human stories hidden within the ruins of the oldest tile-pan salt fields and discover more of Beimen’s hidden beauty.
AirAsia cancels all flight fuel surcharges starting today; flights to Australia now save you 2,940 yuan
Due to the drop in international fuel prices, AirAsia announced that starting January 26, 2015, it will eliminate fuel surcharges on all seats across all its flights, including those of AirAsia X long-haul, Thai AirAsia X long-haul, and Indonesia AirAsia X long-haul. For example, passengers flying from Taipei to Kuala Lumpur can now save 1,290 yuan in fuel surcharges per one-way trip.
Even celebrities love this flavor！ Enjoy the renowned Australian brand VIIA CAFFE here.
A friend suggested we continue our gathering for afternoon tea at a newly opened café nearby, and I happily agreed to join. They led our group to “VIIA CAFFE,” located on Guangfu South Road in Taipei City. Just about 100 meters from Exit 1 of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall MRT Station and near CTS, it often attracts many celebrities and public figures.
Countdown begins！Taitung's Longly Boulevard rapeseed fields — golden velvet blankets spread across the land
A glistening sea of yellow rapeseed flowers, like a golden velvet blanket covering the valley farmlands—how can such beauty fail to captivate? The countdown is on for these seasonally limited, breathtaking rapeseed fields in Hualien-Taitung Valley. Especially in Chishang Township, Taitung, you can still witness vast stretches of blooming rapeseed covering both sides of Longly Boulevard. To capture those radiant yellow views at their most stunning, now is the last chance.
Tainan’s Painted Village Featured on CNN: Hu Cuo Liao in Shanhua Transformed by Cartoons
The beautiful scenery of Taiwan’s painted villages has also made it onto the international stage. In recent years, more and more painted villages have emerged across Taiwan. Starting with the earliest Rainbow Village in Taichung, to the more recently popularized Cow Painted Village in Changhua and the 3D Cat Painted Village in Chiayi, all have captured the attention of travelers. And now, Hu Cuo Liao in Shanhua District, Tainan—a painted village themed around cartoon characters such as Doraemon and Totoro—has recently gained international recognition, with even foreign media outlet CNN Travel covering the phenomenon.
Kyushu Pancakes Make Their Debut in Taiwan – Koji Murakami: “I Want to Bring a Sense of Sweet Happiness to Taiwanese People”
When convenience stores start selling Belgian Liège waffles, it’s not hard to notice that more and more people are falling in love with pancakes. The Greater Taipei area is also home to many delicious pancake shops. On the 27th, yet another pancake shop will open in Taipei City—but this one serves Japanese Kyushu-style pancakes made with pancake mix crafted from seven types of grains sourced from Kyushu. The shop also insists on not using emulsifiers or aluminum-based leavening agents, aiming to deliver both peace of mind and healthiness.
Special snacks at Su’ao Railway Station — Smoked fish offal with a unique sauce
Su’ao is a seaside town with many seafood restaurants, but this small shop is famous for its fish offal and has been in business for decades. The unique fish offal is truly unforgettable. What is fish offal? It’s the smoked internal organs of fish, offering a very distinctive flavor.
The scars of war etched in history！ The Asan Bay Overlook in Guam, Memorial Wall Restoration Complete
A Pacific War Memorial Wall (Asan Bay Overlook Memorial Wall) overlooking the beautiful bay at Guam’s Asan Bay Overlook has just been restored recently. A memorial ceremony was specially held on January 16 to allow attendees to mourn the heroes who fell during the Pacific War.
Girls-only special offer: W Hotel launches women’s stay package & serves an age-defying Martini
Female friends staying together can also enjoy year-round discounts. From February 1 to December 30, Taipei W Hotel is launching its first-ever “GIRLS GETAWAY 好事成三” ladies’ stay package for groups of three, starting from NT$11,400 per night.
Altea, a White Wonderland — A Delightful Artistic Getaway with a Blue-Roofed Church
A Spanish friend told me that his favorite Mediterranean town is Altea. The entire town is white, with ups and downs along the slopes—you can stroll up toward the hilltop. There’s an iconic building with a blue roof, and in the square by its entrance, many hipsters, artists, and designers set up stalls to sell their crafts in the evening.
Limited to 108 days only！ Japan’s Universal Studios brings together four major anime attractions — 15-meter Attack on Titan has arrived
Experience Japan’s four major anime and video game franchises — Neon Genesis Evangelion, Attack on Titan, Resident Evil, and Monster Hunter — transformed into the most thrilling real-life encounters yet！ Universal Studios Japan has launched a brand-new entertainment theme, “Universal Cool Japan,” from now until May 10, available for a limited 108-day period. Travelers planning a visit to the park can look forward to an extraordinary sensory adventure unlike any other.
The gold mine train station at the retro-looking Gold Museum actually houses a public restroom?
To allow visitors to experience the original mining transport culture, the New Taipei City Gold Museum creatively combined the historical ambiance of railways and mine carts, giving the restroom at the No. 5 Pit of the Honshan Mine a complete exterior makeover. By incorporating key elements of an old train station, what was once just a place for answering nature’s call has been transformed into a nostalgic “Light Railway Station” exhibition space showcasing heritage artifacts.
Travel with Totoro in the Ancient City: The "Catbus" Arrives at the "Hometown of Stars" in Tainan
Tainan has added another painted village to its collection. Known as the “Hometown of Stars,” Dajia District in Tainan has themed its murals around the classic cartoon character “Totoro,” incorporating other beloved characters such as Yuanzai and Peter Rabbit, creating a vibrant cartoon-painted village. Additionally, a Dajia Totoro Bus Stop has been set up to invite travelers to take photos and create lasting memories.
The Kuitan Hot Spring Experience Pool will be temporarily closed from January 26 to February 3.
To provide travelers with better services, the Kuitan Hot Spring Experience Pool is currently undergoing facility improvement works. For the safety of visitors, the pool will be temporarily closed from January 26 (Monday) to February 3 (Tuesday), 2015.