Travel
Fluorescent beauty dances and the Thousand-Hand Guanyin face-changing show—Thailand also celebrates Chinese New Year in style
While Taiwan welcomes the new year with great fanfare, Thailand, a place with cultural ties to Chinese traditions, also hosts numerous festive activities, mostly taking place from mid- to late February. Don’t miss them if you’re visiting during the holiday season. Here are the most popular Chinese New Year celebrations in Thailand:
New Year Spring Excursion: A Sheep-Seeking Journey — Bronze Sheep, Gazelles, and Flying “Happy Sheep”
To welcome the Lunar New Year’s Day, the Chu Wei Art Museum has planned a series of activities. These include giving out auspicious Spring Festival couplets, launching a brand-new interactive exhibition titled “Knock Knock Knock Sculpture Exploration Workshop – Kaler Transformation Party (Color Party),” and offering three limited-edition sheep-themed good-luck gift bags for purchase from February 19 to March 8.
A Flavor of Love That Transforms Lives: Organic Red Bean Snow Skin Ice in Tainan
Just a short walk from Little House B&B in Tainan, there’s a very special little shop called “Mu Hongdou” (Love Red Beans). What makes it special? Firstly, dessert shops that focus solely on red bean treats are extremely rare. Secondly, it has very limited operating hours—open only from 2 PM to 6 PM daily and closed on Wednesdays. Lastly, Mu Hongdou emphasizes environmental friendliness by using reclaimed firewood from discarded logs to cook the red beans and does not offer plastic bags.
Tokyo Station's Centennial Suica Preorders Reach 4.99 Million; Full Delivery to Take a Year
JR East initially planned to release the "Tokyo Station 100th Anniversary Commemorative Suica" on December 20, 2014, but was forced to halt sales midway due to overwhelming crowds. Subsequently, online and mail-in preorders were opened. JR East recently announced that preorders for the "Tokyo Station 100th Anniversary Commemorative Suica" have reached 4.99 million, with full delivery taking about a year.
Top 3 Must-Visit Hot Springs in Southern Taiwan！ Boasting the World’s Only Three Clay Mineral Springs
This winter has been slow to turn cold, with the chill only setting in around January and February. Seize the last bit of winter atmosphere—have you taken a hot spring bath this year? Taiwan has about 128 natural hot spring sources. Since the Japanese colonial period, the culture of soaking in hot springs has flourished across the island. While the southern part of Taiwan is generally warmer, there are still plenty of hot spring enthusiasts, with many even considering it a health ritual. There are three famous hot springs in southern Taiwan—how many have you tried?
Double Drainage Canal Westward Journey Staircase Welcomes Spring – Everyone Is Welcome to Enjoy the Outdoors
In 2014, New Taipei City carried out a series of beautification projects on the waterfront stepped pathways around the Double Drainage Canal. The newly painted staircases are not only beautiful but also eye-catching. The final painted staircase features a quirky illustration of characters from "Journey to the West" ice skating, displayed on the viewing steps at the intersection of Wugu Shuhong 1st Road and Shuhong 6th Road, becoming another highlight.
Yilan Mini Getaway: Don’t Miss the Fairy Tale Park and Jimmy Square
During the Spring Festival, the National Center for Traditional Arts by the Dongshan River launched the Year of the Sheep special exhibition “Laughing Sheep New Year.” In addition to seeing scenes from the Laughing Sheep animation recreated, visitors can also experience free stamp printing on Laughing Sheep red envelope bags until March 1, with a daily limit of 150.
5 Spring Travel Themes in Taoyuan: Cherry Blossom Viewing & Sky Rope Bridge Challenge!
Starting February 14, the “Sky Rope Bridge” at Little Wulai has officially reopened, showcasing the beauty of a mysterious waterfall and lush mountain forests to all visitors; the Taoyuan Lantern Festival will also grandly open from March 4 to March 8. Additionally, the breathtaking cherry blossom scenery along Dongyue Mountain, Roma Road, and Beiheng Highway adds vibrant colors to the Spring Festival holiday. To welcome the Year of the Goat, the Taoyuan City Government has planned five major themes based on local characteristics: nature, harborfront, shopping, Hakka villages, and family-friendly experiences.
9 New Taipei City Spring Cherry Blossom Routes – Travel Along with the Blossoms
This year’s New Taipei City cherry blossom season theme, “Travel Along with the Blossoms,” features four different cherry blossom routes and activities: urban relaxation, religious blessings, family outings, and mountain hiking. In addition to enjoying the beautiful cherry blossoms during the Lunar New Year holiday, there will also be a “Cherry Blossoms Soaring with Joy Parade” event on February 28 at the San-Sheng Trail in Sanchi District, inviting the public to go cherry blossom viewing and hiking.
Finished in one minute flat！ Tainan pork rice drenched in sweet and savory sauce
I’m absolutely obsessed with pork rice. Whenever I hear about a highly recommended place, I’ll rush there without hesitation—it’s a hobby I never tire of. The most extreme case I remember was last year on June 10th at noon, when I visited three well-known, family-run old shops—Sanyuan Hao, Longyuan, and Longhuang—all branches of the same legacy—in just one hour. I ordered the exact same items at each: one serving of pork rice, one chicken roll, and one plate of blanched greens. To avoid getting too full and ruining my appetite, I deliberately ate only half of each dish and even explained to the owners when paying, just in case they thought I didn’t like their food.
Not being able to book a spot means you’ll just have to say “bye-bye”! 4 restaurants you can’t dine at even if you have money
Taiwanese people love good food, but some delicacies (and restaurants) are simply out of reach — no matter how much money you have. There are many restaurants that are hard to get into even if you’re willing to pay, especially those with limited seating and reservation-only policies. Without securing a spot in advance, money won’t help you get in. Examples include “RAW,” a Taiwanese-flavor restaurant opened by renowned chef André Chiang, the Taiwan branch of Japan’s three-Michelin-starred Sushi Yoshitake, and the private kitchen “Cat on the Roof.” Recently popular conveyor-belt sushi spot Mutsumiya Kurazushi and Korean BBQ spot HONEY PIG also have very limited seating during peak hours.
Have fun without spending a dime！ Discover the Top 5 Free Popular Attractions in Beitou
Who says you have to spend a lot of money to go out and enjoy nature? The Beitou area, known as a hot spring destination, features many well-known free cultural attractions, including some internationally renowned sights loved by foreign visitors.
Skip the Line at Osaka’s Hottest Ramen Shop – The Bliss of Half-Boiled Soft-Boiled Egg and Bamboo Shoots
It’s been less than half a year since my last trip to Osaka, and the sixth-generation running Glico man sign has been completed. The sign is now even shinier, and it remains a must-photo spot for visitors to Shinsaibashi. Not having your picture taken here is almost like not having visited Shinsaibashi at all, as people are always snapping photos.
The shopping extravaganza has begun—Fukuoka Shopping Festival kicks off with discounts and lucky bag deals at 480 stores
While Taiwan is celebrating Lunar New Year, Japan’s Fukuoka is welcoming its annual “Fukuoka Shopping Festival”! To attract more international tourists to shop in Fukuoka, a total of 19 facilities including Hakata Hankyu and Fukuoka Marina City will offer various discounts and gifts from now until February 28.
Mountain cherry, yaezakura, and other cherry blossoms make consecutive appearances Spring is the perfect time to enjoy the floral scenery along the North Cross-Island Highway
Along the North Cross-Island Highway in Taoyuan City, various types of cherry blossoms such as mountain cherry, yaezakura, and Showa cherry bloom every year during the cherry blossom season. This year, during the Lunar New Year period, many popular cherry blossom viewing spots are also in full bloom. The public can take advantage of the holiday break to plan a cherry blossom trip.
A quaint and tranquil ambiance The rich historical essence of traditional Hakka Lei Cha
If you're visiting Hsinchu and want to delve deeper into Hakka culture, Pingzi recommends taking a stroll around Beibu in Hsinchu. Here, you'll find a strong presence of traditional Hakka old houses, as well as the chance to enjoy authentic, traditional Hakka Lei Cha. She recommends this shop, opened by a Beibu cultural workshop steeped in Hakka history, known as Shuijing Tea House. With the unique charm of this little spot, don’t forget to treat yourself to a cup of Lei Cha—it’s a truly delightful experience.
Spring is the perfect time for flower viewing—fragrant blooms fill Maokong as apricot and cosmos flowers compete in beauty
In addition to tea tasting and night scenery views, the tea-scented Muzha Maokong also boasts a vast apricot blossom grove, home to over 4,000 trees and a popular northern Taiwan flower-spotting destination. Covering an area of 4.5 hectares, the apricot grove is a private garden owned by the Zhang family of tea farmers. The site is open to the public free of charge. The blooming season can be divided into two parts: the cherry blossom season, which ends around early February, and the apricot blossom season from February to March. Recently, not only are the apricot blossoms in full bloom, but cosmos flowers can also be spotted within the garden.
A Whimsical Children’s Trip During Spring Festival: Watch the Balloon God of Wealth & 3D Tortoise Film
Want to enjoy a fun, childlike trip during the Spring Festival? During the holiday period, the Keelung Maritime Science and Technology Museum will premiere Asia’s first IMAX 3D film “Galapagos,” and the National Taiwan Science Education Center will present a balloon version of the God of Wealth. Both are great educational and entertaining destinations.
A French chef falls for a Taiwanese girl and opens an authentic French restaurant in Taipei
This French restaurant is considered one of Taiwan’s best value-for-money options, and many foreigners also come here to dine. Head Chef Fabien Vergé is not only French but began his culinary journey as an apprentice at the age of 17 in Michelin two-star and three-star restaurants. He later graduated from the prestigious Paul Bocuse Culinary Institute in Lyon, France, and has also worked at Paris’s Le Merici and Eno Club.
Soak in hot springs at the fishing harbor, stroll through parks in the mountains — Lunar New Year can also be a wellness-filled holiday
“Soaking in hot springs while enjoying the ocean view” is a unique dreamlike spectacle at Jinshan Huanggang Fishing Harbor on the northern coast. In addition to savoring the fishing harbor atmosphere and hot spring experience, the nearby Jinshan Old Street is also bustling during the holiday season. Therefore, the New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau recommends that the public make the most of the Lunar New Year holidays to visit Huanggang Fishing Harbor and immerse themselves in its distinctive festive ambiance.