A new restaurant with a kids' play area recently opened in downtown Pingtung. When Xiao Hu returned to his hometown, he gathered the family for a meal at Hao Ri Qi Mini Stone Pot Hot Pot~~ Because the location is near where his nurse sister Hu Jie works... it’s very convenient to meet here, and he could even bring his little nephews along—perfect for a three-generation get-together.
The moment the lights came on, so did the smiles on their faces. Huang B-Xian, a senior high school student from Zuoying High School in Taiwan, initiated the “Light Love Little Sun Project” to raise funds for solar lamps in impoverished Cambodian villages. So far, she has helped 100 families, bringing light and hope to different lives in the darkness. Huang said that from the initial shock to actually helping the locals firsthand, there were many moments of gratitude and awe. “I realized how fortunate life in Taiwan is.”
Why is it that some people spend a lot of money on a trip but don’t get the quality they deserve, while others visit many iconic spots without spending much? The secret lies in whether travelers can take advantage of free resources. The British newspaper The Independent has compiled a list of the world’s 10 most famous free attractions. How can you miss them on your next overseas trip?
Spring has arrived, and it’s the season when all flowers are in full bloom. At the Yangmingshan Flower Trial Center, various blossoms are competing in a riot of colors. In addition to wisteria and azaleas, starting from the 30th, the park is launching a special exhibition of bulb flowers. Hidden treasures such as clivia, lilies, amaryllis, and red bird-of-paradise orchids are showcasing their unique blooms, leaving every visitor who comes to admire the flowers in awe.
The 2015 Yilan Green Expo officially opened on the 28th, with the opening ceremony held at the Shuimu Stage in the Welcome Waterfront Area. Yilan County Magistrate Lin Congxian, along with attending guests, jointly turned a robot transformed from a blower to encourage the public to embrace a new, eco-friendly mindset. The Green Expo invites people from all over Taiwan to come and witness the green miracle of Yilan together.
Most people from Taoyuan have probably heard of Fu Li Sichuan Cuisine in Taoyuan. In recent years, their youth-oriented new brand, Kai Fan Chuan Shi Tang (开饭川食堂), has been getting quite positive reviews. There are currently four branches in Taipei. While I was at Taipei Main Station watching a movie, I decided to check out the B3 food court on a whim. There happened to be a two-person table available in the afternoon without waiting—pretty lucky~
Where else can you admire the pristine white blooms of calla lilies besides Yangmingshan’s Zhuzihu? Now, inside Taoyuan International Airport—recently ranked among the world’s top 20 best airports—there’s a stunning calla lily wall adorned with the flowers and green landscaping, allowing global visitors to enjoy these seasonal blooms the moment they step into Taiwan.
After punting along the River Cam in Cambridge, the sky had darkened and a light drizzle had begun to fall. Realizing I hadn’t had an English afternoon tea in days, I decided to find a charming café for one. Fitzbillies, located right on the main street, looked adorable just from its façade and signage. Peeking through the window, I spotted all kinds of lovely desserts, and the online reviews were great (this is how you use an overseas Wi-Fi router XD), so I knew I’d found the right place.
Taiwan's first transparent bridge deck made of tempered glass, spanning 54 meters over Nantou's Pinglai Creek Valley—the "Luminous Glass Bridge"—has announced that during the upcoming Children's Day holiday period in April, all elementary school students can enter for free. Additionally, on April 3, 4, and 5, the first 200 young children (under elementary school age) who enter the park each day will receive a Children's Day gift!
In many regions of Japan, there are distinctive local dishes. Some are quite refined, while others showcase the down-to-earth appeal of rural cooking. The Ryokan restaurant in Ishioka Town, Iwate Prefecture, serves a series of traditional dishes made with local ingredients that highlight regional flavors.
The official names of the 14 stations from C1 to C14 in the first phase of the Kaohsiung Light Rail project—currently undergoing dynamic testing—have been announced this morning, following a public and expert vote.
In Fùjǐn Street, the urban backyard garden of Taipei, cafés have recently sprung up like mushrooms, attracting many culture and creativity enthusiasts. On this day, Pingzi wanted to share the newly opened de’A Café, a hybrid-style café that sells miscellaneous goods, bags, coffee, desserts, and afternoon tea. It’s a cozy spot to sit back and relax while also browsing through designer products that broaden your horizons.
The Taipei City Nei Shuangxi Nature Center has newly designed group reservation courses for 2015, featuring four major themes: "Forest Waters Abound," "Spring Mud Nurtures Blooms," "Forest Carbon Mysteries," and "Exploring Nei Shuangxi." Reservations can be made one month in advance from now until November 10, 2015, with courses scheduled according to the preferred time slots of the applying organizations. Public and private institutions, as well as parent-child learning groups, are welcome to apply.
To celebrate the Children’s Day holiday period, Kaohsiung Shoushan Zoo will offer free admission to children under 12 from April 1 to 6. During this event period, a series of exciting activities have been planned, featuring children's favorite events such as sketching and coloring contests, obstacle course games, children’s theater performances, and treasure hunts. These activities aim to provide kids with a colorful and memorable holiday experience at the zoo.
Many people in Taiwan enjoy traveling to Japan for shopping. Recently, a netizen shared their experience of a one-day shopping trip to Shinjuku, Japan, on the PTT Japan Travel Forum. Their well-planned itinerary made this single-day shopping trip incredibly rewarding and efficient. For those who haven’t been to Japan yet, the advice is “Don’t be afraid—after going once or twice, you’ll get the hang of it.”
Last Friday (March 28), I happened to be in Tokyo on a business trip, so I got up early and headed to Ueno Imperial Gift Park. Right at the entrance, I saw a fully bloomed weeping cherry tree. As I walked toward the most famous cherry blossom viewing path, I found that about 50–60% of the cherry blossoms had bloomed, with many Somei Yoshino varieties already in full bloom, attracting large crowds. Early in the morning, Ueno Park wasn’t very crowded. By the time I left around 9 a.m., I noticed the number of visitors gradually increasing. According to the Asahi Shimbun, over 200,000 people visited the park on the 28th.
Tigerair Taiwan announced it will launch flights to Tokyo Narita on April 2. To support the expansion of new routes and celebrate the arrival of a new aircraft, Tigerair Taiwan collaborated with Chinese-American designer Daniel Wong to host an autumn/winter fashion show this afternoon (30th) in a hangar, transforming the aircraft into a backdrop for the runway and the cabin into the backstage area.
Will national parks start charging fees? The Ministry of the Interior stated that Yangmingshan, Kinmen, and Kenting have been selected as the first batch of national parks to implement fees this year, with a partial charging approach applied to specific attractions and parking lots within the parks.
EVA Air will launch its Taipei–Houston route on June 19 with its seventh Hello Kitty-themed aircraft. Today (30th), the airline held a press conference to announce that it will collaborate with Sanrio to hold the “EVA AIR Hello Kitty Shining Star Concert” at the National Concert Hall in Taipei and the Tainan Cultural Center. The event will feature Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel dancing the waltz—absolutely adorable.
The last time a friend asked me what dish I found most unforgettable during my trip to Akita, the answer was definitely “grilled rice skewer hot pot”! Akita in Japan boasts pristine water sources, and the locally grown Akita Komachi rice, cultivated with this high-quality water, is very famous. This type of rice is not only delicious but also has great stickiness. Grilled rice skewers are made by pounding freshly harvested rice, wrapping it around a wooden stick, and then roasting it over charcoal until charred...