Travel
World's Third ALESSI Cafe Opens at Banqiao Big City in Taipei
The global third branch of the Italian culinary café “Cafe at ALESSI store” officially opened today (29th) at Banqiao Big City in Taipei. The Cafe at ALESSI store, which specializes in Italian cuisine and coffee, was born from the fusion of the lifestyle kitchenware brand ALESSI and the concept of dining, using exclusively its own brand of tableware.
The ultra-complete "2015 Taiwan Lantern Festival Traffic Guide" takes you on a smooth journey through Taichung’s three major lantern zones.
The "2015 Taiwan Lantern Festival" will grandly kick off in Taichung on February 27, with three major lantern zones planned: the Fongyuan Miaodong Commercial Area, Taichung Park, and the Wuri High-Speed Rail Special Zone. To help visitors enjoy all three zones with ease, the Taichung City Government Transportation Bureau has unveiled the "Lantern Festival Traffic Guide," ensuring all tourists can have a great time.
French-style afternoon tea with European palace charm & delicate rose tarts
A few days ago, a friend messaged me saying she had changed jobs—she’s now working at a new French patisserie and invited me to come try their sweets. The moment I heard “French patisserie,” I thought of exquisite plating and layered flavors. How could I miss it? So I rounded up a few fellow dessert lovers via Facebook and headed over together.
Just 19 seconds—delicious, crispy eel noodles served in an instant!
There are many choices for stir-fried eel pasta in Tainan, and every local has their favorite spot. After trying the recently super-popular Eyeglasses Eel Pasta in Tainan, a friend recommended this expert in stir-fried eel to me, saying they personally think it’s even better than Eyeglasses. And after trying it myself, what did I think? It’s really, really delicious~~~~ Otherwise, I wouldn’t have written this post to recommend it!!!
Zhang Kaijun takes you on a Tokyo flash shopping spree — fun, shopping, and afternoon tea all in one go
"Tokyo Flash Shopping Guide," by Zhang Kaijun. Carefully selected must-visit stores & must-buy items across 13 popular districts, helping you make the most of your limited travel time by covering all the hottest, must-have products in one go.
20,000 pink cherry blossoms will soon bloom — First look at traffic control for the “2015 Taichung Xinshe Cherry Blossom Festival”
The Taichung Xinshe Cherry Blossom Festival will kick off on February 8. Pink cherry blossoms are already starting to emerge on the branches, attracting many visitors. In anticipation of the large crowds expected to flock in during the one-month long cherry blossom season, the Xinshe District Office and the Dongshi Police Precinct have recently completed the installation of traffic control facilities, aiming to provide the public with a comfortable and safe space to enjoy the blossoms.
Conveying social enterprise concepts in an old-school way: Sishe Nan Village hosts a “Retro Party”
On January 31, a “Retro Party” will take place at Sishe Nan Village, using a retro market and costume party format to deliver the core ideas of “social enterprises” in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere—reconnecting with the original mission of social enterprises: helping one another and solving social issues. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in polka dots or overalls to support this pro-social enterprise event, where they can also sample Zhongliao oranges and experience the flavors of local agricultural produce.
Authentic Osaka-style okonomiyaki with richly flavored special sauce and mayonnaise
After leaving Nara, the car gradually approached Namba Station. Exiting from Exit 15 of Namba Station and walking for a few minutes, we spotted the very familiar king crab model—long-awaited Dotonbori was finally here, Up！ From morning till afternoon, we had only been eating bread to tide us over, and everyone could no longer hold back. We decided to have a big meal to make up for the long walk today. The first stop was to try Tsukiji Honten's Hiroshimayaki (okonomiyaki) at Tsuruhashi Fūgetsu...
Is Taiwan’s budget airline market starting late? Guan Xu: Passenger numbers will multiply within five years
To put it precisely, a budget airline is like a Western meal — all the add-ons are side dishes and desserts, everything depends on what the passenger wants to enjoy after ordering the main course. Guan Xu, CEO of Tigerair Taiwan, said that in the future, Tigerair Taiwan will offer more “main course” options. “It all depends on where Taiwanese want to fly, and we’ll plan routes accordingly.”
Stroll along the golden metasequoia-lined path at Kaohsiung’s Aozihdi Forest Park
On a sunny day, I found an excuse to slip away… I had “inspected” the metasequoias at Aozihdi Forest Park several times, just waiting for them to turn red. Since holidays here are packed with people resting, it’s not the best time for photos. I seized a moment to duck out of work; that day’s beauty was mine and my shadow’s alone—my bear friend was stuck at the office.
Are traditional home-style Taiwanese dishes disappearing? Chef Ah Rong: It’s not that no one knows how to make them—it’s just too labor-intensive
As more people opt for steak or Japanese cuisine, are Taiwan’s traditional multi-course banquet dishes—known as “home-style skillful dishes”—gradually vanishing? Jiang Wenrong, head chef of Yongcuiting at the Beitou L’Hotel-Elysée Hot Spring Resort, explained that these disappearing skillful dishes aren’t necessarily unknown to chefs. The problem is that they require too much labor, so nowadays few are willing to make them. Most places simply buy semi-finished products and finish the cooking, which results in a loss of authentic flavor. To address this, the Beitou L’Hotel-Elysée Hot Spring Resort has specially invited Chef Jiang Wenrong of Yongcuiting to curate and launch the “Lost Skillful Home-Style Dishes” multi-course banquet, now available to diners.
New Highlight in Muzha Travel: Take a Bus into the Mountains to Visit the "U-Theatre"
A joint initiative by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Taiwan Good Foundation under the Northern International Light Spots Project has introduced shuttle buses connecting various light spot venues. Following the existing weekly Wednesday route from “Taiwan Good, Store” to “Shi Yang Shan Fang,” this year sees the addition of a new direct route from “Taiwan Good, Store” to the Muzha-based “U-Theatre,” offering a half-day “Mountain Visit with the U-People” experience. The program officially launched in March and will depart on the third Friday of every month, inviting the public to head into the mountains for a taste of tranquility within Taipei City.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner — hotels and restaurants scramble to cash in on the romantic season
As February 14 draws nearer, hotels and restaurants are rolling out a variety of Valentine’s Day packages and limited-edition offerings to tap into the romantic market.
Fall in love with this land of wonders: A 24-year-old Hong Kong man films an island-wide short film to introduce Taiwan to the world
A Hong Kong boy fell in love with Taiwan. He traveled around the island, filmed a video, and even submitted it to a tourism bureau competition. A 24-year-old Hong Kong boy named Jiang Junxian (Andy) fell in love with Taiwan’s warm hospitality. He spent four weeks traveling across the island’s many famous and lesser-known spots, creating a short film to introduce Taiwan to the world. Jiang said, “Taiwan’s hospitality will create unique memories for you.”
Can waterweed turn into paper? The Taipei Zoo's Wetland Day event kicks off on February 1st.
February 2nd of each year is United Nations World Wetlands Day, which raises public awareness about wetlands through different themes annually. To celebrate the 2015 UN World Wetlands Day, Taipei Zoo is hosting a “Wetlands and Our Future” event from 10:00 to 16:00 on February 1st at its wetland ecological park.
To Improve the Local Environment, a Princess from the Daren Tribe Builds a Coffee Brand
Jiang Meihua, from Qingshan Tribe in Sandimen Township, Pingtung, is known among the people of the Daren Tribe as the Sun Princess Eleng．Livauijin and is also the daughter of the tribal chief. Raising her two sons alone, she actively sought a way out in life. Eventually, she found a new beginning in the coffee grown in her hometown. To start a second chapter in her career, Jiang Meihua created the Princess Coffee brand, hoping to boost the development of the community’s coffee industry.
The super-popular Sushiro is fully booked every day — what’s the secret to getting a spot on the 30-minute waitlist?
Since the opening of Japan’s “Sushiro (No Added MSG)” conveyor belt sushi chain, crowds have been non-stop. Badouyao had heard that the wait here is notoriously long, so they thought they’d try making an online reservation first. But all slots were fully booked within the 14-day opening period. Determined to get their hands on some nigiri sushi, Badouyao headed straight to the restaurant.
Taipei 101 to Ring in the New Year Too — Observation Deck Closes 4 Hours Early on New Year’s Eve
Taipei 101 announced that the observation deck will adjust its operating hours during the Lunar New Year holiday in February 2015. On February 18 (New Year’s Eve), the operating hours will be changed to 09:00–18:00, with ticket sales ending at 17:15. Normal operating hours of 09:00–22:00 will resume from February 19.
Entire cottage included upon check-in? A European-style garden cottage in Yilan
Whenever I have a break from work, I seem to head straight for Yilan. This New Year’s holiday was no exception—I set off early and was lucky enough to avoid traffic both ways. I stayed at the newly opened “There Homestay,” where the cottages showcase different charms depending on the time of day.
That’s how you should spend Chinese New Year — check into a hotel for the night and even enjoy a pet-friendly reunion dinner
Thinking of spending Chinese New Year in a hotel? Recently, many hotel operators in Taiwan have launched special Lunar New Year accommodation packages. Check into a luxurious 17-ping room at Mandarin Oriental Taipei, indulge in Michelin-quality cuisine; gather your girl squad and stay at W Taipei, sipping on an age-defying Martini; or head to the south and book a Deluxe Family Room at Tayih Landis Hotel Tainan at 30% off; or bring your “furry friend” to Eastone Mountain Forest Resort Hotel for a Pet Disney experience and a special pet reunion dinner.