Someone asked me how I decide the order in which I write about shops. My usual answer is “whim”—whatever I feel like sharing that day, aside from overdue articles XD. But I don’t recall ever writing about a place so quickly (ate yesterday, wrote today) just because I love a certain street, or rather, alleyway. Its name is “Chifeng Street.”
Modern people who have been in the city for too long always yearn especially to escape to an isolated place to relax properly—perhaps seeking some thrills, maybe going on a shopping spree, or ideally enjoying breathtaking natural scenery. According to the list of the top 10 must-visit islands abroad published by DailyView Network Temperature, the first place goes to Okinawa, where all the above wishes can come true at once. The second place is \[Island Name], where you can truly kick back and relax. What other amazing islands are on the list?
If you’re vacationing in Phuket, Thailand, you absolutely must visit Dang (Trang), once listed as one of “Thailand’s Must-Visit Travel Destinations.” Dang boasts numerous charming old-style buildings, churches, and temples. Explore this city full of Sino-Portuguese architecture by riding the iconic “frog-headed tuk-tuk” of Dang.
Guanxi isn’t just famous for Leofoo Village—it’s also home to other delicious Hakka cuisine. The small town, centered around Guanxi Township Office, is a lively local hub. Its food spots are close together, all within walking distance for travelers.
Tired of cookie-cutter hotels? While many think daytime activities matter more than where you sleep, identical rooms with no local character or design flair can be painfully dull. Sensing the rise of personalization and the spending power of younger travelers, many hoteliers have quietly kicked off a hospitality revolution—
Those who have been to Los Angeles, USA, may have heard of Urth Caffé, the super-famous first organic coffee shop in the United States. The company was actually established as early as 1989, initially focusing on selling organic coffee beans. It wasn’t until 1994 that the first café opened on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, an area lined with high-end boutiques. The café quickly gained popularity among Hollywood celebrities and stars, and was ranked as the No. 1 coffee restaurant in Los Angeles by Los Angeles Magazine, propelling it to fame.
A charming old house lodging tucked between streets, its irregular lattice design becoming the star of the visual appeal. Located in Kaohsiung’s Yancheng District—an old neighborhood that once bustled with prosperity—this site was home to a wildly popular bridal boutique in southern Taiwan back in the 1950s. Now taken over and renovated by young entrepreneurs, the interwoven room layouts and spatial designs burst with energy and are well worth a stay.
To attract both domestic and international tourists to Taiwan’s travel and vacation market, the Beitou Nikko Kaga Hotel occasionally invites geisha to provide guests with a chance to enjoy kaiseki cuisine while experiencing traditional Japanese culture. Nikko Kaga Hotel Director Tokumitsu Nobuhiro said that Taiwanese tourists watching geisha performances often have three most common questions that need clarification. “For example, ‘Why are the geisha’s faces so white?’ is a question many people always ask.”
With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, many hotels and restaurants have launched a wide variety of zongzi delicacies. Drawing inspiration from the “Year of the Sheep,” Regent Taipei has, for the first time, incorporated lamb into the filling, paired with fish to create a savory “fish and lamb” coastal-inspired zongzi, along with a sweet longan zongzi. Each set is priced at NT$1,280 (20 pieces).
Sweet tooths and ice cream lovers, rejoice! The “GELATO 博” (Gelato Expo), a one-day event themed around Italian gelato, will take place on the 28th at Tokyo’s Omotesando Hills. The highlight? All-you-can-eat access to gelato from 20 different shops!
Japan’s wildly popular mascot “KUMAMON” (Kumamon) is not only a huge hit in its home region but also has a sizable fan base in Taiwan. The latest news is that KUMAMON (Kumamon) will visit Taiwan again on May 29, primarily to check out Taiwan’s first-ever Kumamon-themed café, which features a variety of related merchandise. The café is also scheduled to open on May 29.
SpongeBob’s best friend is the starfish Patrick Star, who has pink skin and often does surprising things. This sea creature, with its unique appearance, is often a favorite subject for beachgoers to photograph. But recently, during a trip to Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, Nine-Five Nasty Wife actually spotted strings of "fried Patrick Stars" in front of a snack shop!
The implementation of visa on arrival for mainland Chinese tourists this New Year’s Day has directly impacted visitor numbers in Kinmen and attendance at tourist attractions. The Kinmen National Park Headquarters reported a significant increase in visitors to the Zhaishan Tunnel site within Kinmen National Park, with first-quarter tourist numbers this year rising 26% compared to the same period last year.
This time, DaKou is taking everyone to Taipei to try a magical dish!* Hidden in the alleys behind the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi shopping area on Nanjing West Road in Taipei, “Kintaro Heiban Nabe” serves up authentic Japanese flavors in their purest form. The overall ambiance, including the menu on the walls and the chef’s accent, might make you feel like you’ve been instantly teleported to Japan. But little do you know, the cuisine here is actually a fusion of Japanese and Korean styles—super surprising!* It turns out this dish was specially developed by a Korean who immigrated to Japan, who longed for the taste of home. They even designed the pot in a unique winnowing basket shape!* This “Kintaro Heiban Nabe” is the 5th branch in Osaka, Japan, and the 1st overseas location. It’s also a favorite spot of many Japanese celebrities!* Now, let DaKou quickly show you what makes “Kintaro Heiban Nabe” so special!*
The Kaohsiung International Travel Fair (KTF) will take place from this Friday, May 15 to 18, at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center ! The Tourism Authority of Thailand has invited Lion Travel, JETOUR, Five Star Tours, and Southeast Travel to jointly promote Thailand this year. Lion Travel is offering on-site discounts of NT$500 to NT$1,000, while Southeast Travel and JETOUR are offering discounts of NT$1,000 and NT$2,000 respectively.
Attention travelers planning to visit Universal Studios Japan: The park has announced maintenance schedules for some rides from May through mid-August. Popular attractions such as Jurassic Park, Shrek 4-D Adventure, and Jaws will be closed for repairs for periods ranging from a few days to two months. Services at these attractions will be temporarily suspended during the designated periods. Travelers planning a visit should pay special attention when scheduling their trips.
New Taipei City’s Tamsui Historic Sites Museum will host the “Tamsui Legend: The Great ‘George’ Secret” event over two days, May 16 and 17. Featuring a real-life cosplay of “Dr. George Leslie Mackay,” the event will start from Tamsui’s Fort San Domingo and offer guided tours to invite everyone to explore Tamsui. Through fun activities such as check-ins and mini-games, participants can learn about Tamsui’s historic sites and history in an engaging way.
Yesterday (Oct. 10) morning, the Penghu National Scenic Area Administration announced the official opening of the Siyu West Fort Visitor Center. In addition to a ribbon-cutting ceremony, activities such as tug-of-war and rubber duck catching were held, inviting the public to participate and creating a lively atmosphere.
Every year after entering May, the Yokohama area in Aomori Prefecture becomes covered in rapeseed flowers. The bright yellow blossoms grow in vast expanses, forming Japan’s largest rapeseed field. During this time, the “Rapeseed Flower Festival” is held, and the entire yellow field is designed in a maze-like layout, allowing visitors to wander through the fields and enjoy an experience reminiscent of the Japanese TV show “Manhunt.”
Stepping into the small town of Dongshi feels as simple and unpretentious as returning to my hometown of Xinhua in Tainan—no urban hustle or crowds. Most visitors come here this season to see the fireflies at Dongshi Forest, but today we’re here to fill our stomachs. Our destinations are a snack shop and a coffee shop. The H.C. Architecture Café has already been introduced in the previous article.