There’s truly an endless amount of food to try on Taichung’s Gongyi Road, so this street gets crowded with cars and people on weekends—it’s hard to find parking too, XD. But the restaurants here are perfect for family outings or bringing along the elders. So if you have a specific place in mind, remember to make a reservation in advance. This new spot, ‘TJB Diner,’ just opened recently, and I totally missed their opening promotion of 50% off. I finally made time to check it out not long ago.
Traveling south from Penang in Malaysia to Ipoh, the capital of Perak state, this city seems inseparable from coffee, surrounded by mountains and less crowded than Penang, giving Ipoh a more tranquil vibe. For Taiwanese travelers, Ipoh is an emerging tourist destination, known for the saying “Ipoh produces beautiful women,” and it’s also the hometown of international superstar Michelle Yeoh.
Taipei Fullon Hotel will launch the “Starlight Celebration Anniversary” campaign from July 1 to August 31, offering limited daily value stays, popular dining options, spa discounts, and especially rich gifts. Additionally, from June 19 to August 30, it is launching the “FUN Summer Maruko Family Stay Package” to attract family-friendly exhibitions for both kids and adults.
The World's 50 Best Restaurants list, known as the "Oscars of Gastronomy" and hosted by the authoritative British food magazine Restaurant, has been released. The Roca brothers' El Celler de Can Roca, run by three siblings, took the top spot, while Restaurant ANDRE, led by Chef André Chiang in Singapore, dropped from No. 37 last year to No. 46 this year.
After a two-year break, the 2015 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition (Taiwan Culinary Exhibition) will be held from July 17 to 20 at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1, returning in an expanded format. Entering its 24th edition, this year’s event is themed “A Delicious Era in Taiwan.” The organizers have planned five major exhibition zones: “Art of Food, Utensils of Food, Ingredients of Food, Journeys of Food, and Food Souvenirs.” Tickets for the food exhibition are now available for pre-order at a 10% discount at all four major convenience store chains: 7-11, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, and OK Mart.
Taichung has a new night market again — the Dali International Sightseeing Night Market, which was officially launched at the end of May with a concept of a five-star night market. In addition to offering popular snacks from major night markets across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, it also features a 5-star restroom designed with Japanese Zen aesthetics and is being hailed as the first “roofed night market” in central Taiwan.
The new brand “Wending Spicy Hotpot Health Pot” launched by Ma La International Catering Group has officially opened. In addition to offering higher-quality ingredients, waiting guests can also enjoy free manicures, real-person massages, and unlimited Haagen-Dazs ice cream. From now until June 14, meals are 40% off.
South Korea, which should be entering its peak tourist season for travelers from Taiwan, has seen a significant drop in visitors and numerous group tour cancellations due to the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS). For the common travel arrangements used by Taiwanese tourists visiting South Korea — group tours, independent travel, and self-purchased flights — ETtoday News Cloud has compiled key points regarding ticket refunds and cancellations to help travelers stay informed.
Summer is the liveliest season in Matsu, featuring the dreamlike "blue tears" phenomenon and flocks of migratory birds. Every year, thousands of terns appear across the Matsu Archipelago, thrilling both travelers and birdwatching enthusiasts. The annual "2015 Ecological Tern-Watching and Sea Tour of Matsu" event will officially set sail from Fu’ao Wharf in Nangan on July 1.
The area near Zhongshan MRT Station is bustling with eateries, especially cafés. After a tiring stroll through the department stores, you’ll find many stylish and charming shops tucked away in the alleys. Among them is Dream Sweet Café (夢甜屋Café), whose lightly classic space is both inviting and cozy, and the desserts are simply delightful—making it a perfect spot for conversation and afternoon tea.
Hong Kong’s old district of Western, once less accessible by transportation, has retained the complete charm of old Hong Kong neighborhoods and has been dubbed by local media as the "last stronghold of the underprivileged." With the opening of a nearby subway station, land and rental prices in the area have soared, leading to the gradual disappearance of long-standing shops. Among them is a century-old "public bathhouse" located near the Sai Ying Pun MTR station. Its pink exterior remains intact, preserving a glimpse of Hong Kong’s past culture—but it too faces the looming threat of vanishing.
South Korea's outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) continues to spread. Today (June 3), in consideration of public travel safety, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs upgraded the travel advisory level for the Seoul area (including Gyeonggi Province) to “Yellow (exercise special caution regarding travel safety and consider whether to travel),” while other areas remain at “Gray (remain alert).”
The authentic Taiwanese flatfish satay hotpot, with its fragrant broth infused with flatfish and the punch of a specially crafted soulful satay sauce, fulfilled my craving for delicious food.
Michelin-starred Korean chef Yim Jungsik arrived at Regent Taipei on June 4 for a three-day guest chef engagement, presenting “Fashionable Michelin Korean Star Banquet” at Robin’s Steakhouse on the hotel’s second floor. The menu blends classic Korean ingredients with French culinary techniques to offer innovative Franco-Korean dishes. The lunch set includes six courses per person for NT$5,800 (with two selected pairing wines), limited to 50 guests per session; the dinner set features nine courses per person for NT$8,800, limited to 80 guests per session (with five selected pairing wines).
Getting travel information in Osaka just got more convenient for visitors from now on. A renowned Japanese travel agency has set up what is being called Japan’s largest visitor center on the 8th floor of OPA Department Store in Shinsaibashi, Osaka. In addition to luggage storage, travel information, and foreign currency exchange, you can also shop and enjoy simple meals here.
As summer approaches and the weather gets hotter, how can you beat the heat? What can you do besides turning on the air conditioner when the heat becomes unbearable? ETtoday Ettoday News Cloud has compiled a list of 10 wildly popular old-school shaved ice shops in Taipei. This summer, let’s have a date with “ice”—whether it’s a mango shaved ice bursting with Taiwanese flavor, the creamy taro shaved ice from your childhood memories, or the sweet and comforting classic black sugar shaved ice.
After exploring the Dongpirang Mural Village, it was time to fill up, so I headed back to the guesthouse before searching online for nearby restaurants. I originally planned to just grab some street food in Tongyeong, but while at the guesthouse, I stumbled upon a place featured on “1 Night 2 Days” – ??? (I translated it as Daefeng Restaurant myself).
“Everything on the counter is free to use. I just want every guest to feel at home here.” The only homestay on Green Island currently operating in a Greek castle style—Green Sea Castle—is especially eye-catching when you ride by Zhongliao. With its white base accented in blue to evoke Mediterranean vibes, the entire structure was hand-built by the owner. Standing three stories tall, owner He Zhizhong says he simply loves Greek architecture, which is why he designed the homestay in that style.
Stepping into the Kyoto Art Center, repurposed from the former Meirin Elementary School, feels almost as if you can still hear the voices of children reciting lessons and the sound of footsteps echoing across the wooden floors from the Showa era.
The annual Taitung International Hot Air Balloon Carnival kicks off on June 27 and runs until August 9! The Taitung County Government recommends that visitors make use of shuttle buses as well as public transport such as the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle's Longitudinal Valley Luye Line and Dingdong Bus services to help preserve the local environment. The county government has also introduced a special discount scheme for residents: “Pay once, enjoy unlimited entries.”