Travel
Cartoon characters as dining companions and LEGO as tableware — Taiwan’s Top 10 “Cartoon-Themed Restaurants”
Themed restaurants have long been popular in Taiwan. In recent years, eateries centered around classic cartoon characters or anime have been opening branches across the island, attracting large crowds of fans. Internet Temperature has compiled a list of the 10 most popular cartoon-themed restaurants in the eyes of netizens. How many have you visited?
Raising Awareness to Protect the Ocean: A “Underwater World” Made from 100,000 Discarded Bottle Caps in New Taipei
Tiny bottle caps can also create an ocean world. To celebrate Earth Day on April 22, the New Taipei City Cultural Affairs Bureau used 100,000 bottle caps to create a stunning underwater world exhibition — “Under the Sea: The Truth That Can’t Be Covered Up.” The exhibition is being held at the Beautiful Yong’an Life Museum in New Taipei City from now until June 7.
Midnight snack top pick – The nightlife “yatai culture” you can only experience in Fukuoka
What’s a good option when you’re hungry at night besides convenience stores? If you’re in Fukuoka, go for the “Fukuoka yatai”!
Belgian man falls in love with Taiwan, opens a dessert shop in Taiwan — bringing his hometown flavors along
Ever since ARROW TREE went downhill, my go-to trio of favorite dessert spots in Taipei had been missing one piece. That was until I discovered this touching “lion” in a hard-to-find alley... Now, let me share with you this wonderful place that has become my new favorite and one I’d gladly feature in a book.
New highlight for Instagram-worthy spots in Kaohsiung – the brand-new “hipster-style waiting room” at Pier-2 Art Center has officially opened
There’s a new photo-worthy spot for travelers visiting Kaohsiung again recently. The newly opened waiting room of the “Kaohsiung Cultural Yacht Fleet,” which connects three major cultural zones — Takao British Consulate, Pier-2 Art Center, and Hongmaogang — has just been launched inside Pier-2 Art District. With its vibrant colors and surrounding artistic landscaping and harbor views, even queuing for the ferry has become a hipster experience.
Feast from evening till dawn at dawn at 12 late-night eateries in Tainan’s West Central District!
I absolutely love Tainan’s street food—the unique sweet-and-salty flavors are right up my alley. Especially the super-dense West Central District, which I frequent all the time. After visiting Tainan so many times and exploring both famous and hidden culinary gems, there are always a few that I secretly adore—must-eats every time I come, even ones I suddenly crave at midnight. So I’ve compiled my favorite 12 “wicked” late-night eats in the West Central District to help you find delicious snacks when hunger strikes in the wee hours. This list of guilty pleasures includes: Shixiangke Chicken Stop, Yucheng Fruit Shop, Ajiang Fried Eel, Shanghao Roast Delicacies, Hudu Rice Cake, Mom Li’s Ethnic Stir-Fried Noodles, Shuixian Temple Rice Cake, Doujiang Zong, Qiushou Charcoal Grill, Xiaohaozhou Satay Grill, Liu Family’s Zongzi (Chicken & Pork), and Ah Ming’s Pig Heart Glass Noodles. These are my top wicked eats in West Central—of course, taste is subjective, so consider them just recommendations. Now let’s dive into these 12 amazing spots!
Taiwan's only 24-hour "New Taipei City Library New Main Branch" to begin trial operation on May 10
The "New Taipei City Library New Main Branch" pioneers Taiwan’s first-ever 24-hour non-stop concept. Even before opening, this temple of books has garnered much attention. It was recently announced on the official fan page that trial operations will begin on May 10.
The stunning canal on Nakashima Island in Kyoto bathed in golden sunset light with cherry blossoms along the riverbank
Fushimi, renowned for its sake brewing, is a famous scenic spot in Kyoto. The well-known Fushimi Canal runs through it. Officially called the “Uji River Branch Canal,” it is an artificial waterway connecting the Uji River and the Kamo River. The canal was first dug in 1594, the third year of the Bunroku era, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi was constructing Fushimi Castle. To transport materials needed for the castle’s construction, Fushimi Port and the “Uji River Branch Canal” were established.
The largest ladyboy show in Thailand！Join the "Miss World" contest at the Roman Theatre
When you mention traveling to Thailand to your friends, "ladyboy shows" are definitely among the top recommendations！Ladyboys are practically a unique tourist attraction in Thailand, and many Europeans and Americans even fly in specifically to watch them！Bangkok and Pattaya in Thailand are where ladyboy shows are most popular.
The "International Floating Lantern Festival" lands in New Taipei — 1,000 lanterns to be released for free on the 19th
A major Hawaiian event — the International Floating Lantern Festival — is now making its first appearance in Taiwan. Organized by a Japanese civilian group, the "2015 International Floating Lantern Festival" will be held on April 19 at the Breeze Canal in Luzhou, New Taipei City. In addition to cultural performances and blessing ceremonies, 1,000 floating lanterns will be available for the general public to pick up and release for free.
A three-generation, century-old nostalgic bakery reinvents itself as a classic Taiwanese afternoon tea spot!
Taichung bakeries are most famous for Sun Temple, Ah Ming’s sun cakes, Junmei pineapple cakes, and Ah Cong’s Dajia taro cakes. Last year, the Sunflower Movement unexpectedly made another Taichung bakery, Qi Qi Sun Cakes Jiawei Xuan, popular. Of course, there are many other big and small bakeries, but I’d never heard of Lin Jinshengxiang Bakery, tucked away in Nantun Old Street. After all, I’m not a native Taichunger. However, this Lin Jinshengxiang was established in the fifth year of the Qing Tongzhi era (around 1866), originally starting with the production of wheat gluten cakes near Wanhe Temple. Now in its third generation, it recently caught our attention online thanks to the photo of its tea treats (the first image). So we made a special trip to Nantun Old Street to explore this century-old bakery’s rebirth under its new brand, 【Lin Jinshengxiang Scent Lab】.
Star Cruises gives away gold sheep worth S$90,000; join 3D photo contest to win another S$100,000 in prizes
To show appreciation to customers, Star Cruises drew several lucky winners at a dinner event on April 17, presenting 24K gold sheep valued between S$1,888 and S$3,888 (approximately NT$44,122 to NT$90,862) to passengers who traveled on SuperStar Aquarius from March 5 to March 29. Additionally, from May 1 to July 10, a maritime 3D photography contest will be held, with the champion taking home a Star Cruises voucher worth S$100,000.
Lodge owners turned authors reveal 10 little-known hotel secrets!
The UK's Daily Mail interviewed Jacob Tomsky, a former hotel worker who became an author, who shared his experiences working at hotels in New York and New Orleans. These little-known hotel secrets — such as minibar disputes, room cleaning schedules, and whether staff take things from the hotel — might just blow your mind!
Taoyuan’s Real Late-Night Dining Spot: A BBQ Stall Open Only 3 Hours a Day
I heard there was a unique BBQ stall in [Nan] that doesn’t open until 10:50 PM and closes at 1:30 AM. Without a reservation, you’d have to wait a long time. This piqued my curiosity, so I called ahead to reserve a spot during my visit to Taoyuan.
Heavy traffic at “Shihfen Waterfall”; Shihfen Visitor Center parking lot to charge fees starting May 1
Shihfen Waterfall has been reopened to the public free of charge since the end of 2014, attracting countless visitors and also leading to a surge in vehicle traffic, which has sharply increased the demand for nearby parking. The New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau announced that starting May 1, the parking lot at the Shihfen Visitor Center — the closest to Shihfen Waterfall Park — will begin charging fees.
Pilgrimage Alert: Tokyo’s “Chibi Maruko-chan Café” – There’s Even Nagasawa’s Onion Soup
Chibi Maruko-chan is an irreplaceable childhood memory. To celebrate her 30th debut anniversary and the 25th anniversary of her anime film, Fuji TV in Japan has launched a Chibi Maruko-chan café on the first floor. Operating for a limited one-year period without any days off, visitors to DiverCity Tokyo can enjoy authentic Chibi Maruko-chan-themed food until March 21, 2016!!
Flying budget airlines to travel abroad several times a year is no longer a dream—explore four major regions in Asia as you please!
Recently, one of the hottest topics among travel enthusiasts in Taiwan has been the "one-day living circle." This doesn’t just refer to taking a day trip from Taipei to Kaohsiung—it means itineraries like “flying from Taiwan to Shinjuku to shop for electronics and returning the same day,” or “going to Tokyo to catch a game and flying back to Taiwan on the same day.” These types of day trips get people excited. One of the key enablers behind such travel is
Top 10 Taiwan Attractions Loved by Foreigners
According to Google’s latest “Street View Hotspot Ranking,” the Taiwan attractions most favored by foreigners this year are completely different from previous years. This year’s top spot is Jiufen Old Street (Jiufen)! In addition to Jiufen, several other attractions also made the list, with scenic spots representing Taiwan’s traditional culture—such as historic streets across the island and outlying islands—making up more than half of the rankings.
Taipei’s “Free Firefly-Watching Tour at Zhinan Creek” Is a Huge Hit—An Additional Session Added on April 26
To coincide with the arrival of firefly-watching season, Taipei’s Department of Urban Development recently opened registration for the free “Firefly Ecology Tour” on April 25. All slots were snapped up on the first day of registration, prompting the department to add an extra session on April 26.
A Spring Railway Mini-Trip in Chiba: Saving the Electric Railway with “Wet Senbei”!
Chiba — perhaps because the fame of “Disneyland” and “Narita Airport” overshadows everything, and because it’s next to the well-known “Tokyo,” not many travelers tend to linger here.