Travel
Eat your way through Dadaocheng: Grandma’s Scallion Fried Rice & Taiwan’s Most Undrinkable Black Tea
The weather’s getting hotter by the day. Before summer officially arrives, let’s grab a bite at a street food stall I’ve been craving. This might be the last snack spot before summer ends—because Old K can’t handle the heat, XD
The 1st Railway Bento Festival Kicks Off on July 17 — A Grand Collection of Taiwanese and Japanese Railway Bento Boxes
The “2015 1st Railway Bento Festival” is about to begin. Organized by Taiwan Railways Administration within the “2015 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition” at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 from July 17 to 20, the first-ever Railway Bento Festival has been specially curated, inviting Japan’s JR East, Seibu Railway, and Keikyu Electric Railway to participate. A total of 11 exhibitors will gather, featuring 14 distinctive railway bento boxes.
Juicy and delicious beef burgers — three must-visit “burger specialty shops” for burger lovers
Recently, three new “burger specialty shops” have opened in Taipei, each selling nothing but burgers — no other menu items. These are CaliBurger, Burger Fix, and Burger Ray, which debuted on July 14. Both Burger Fix and Burger Ray emphasize that they use steak-grade beef.
No need to carry cash when going out！Taiwan Fun Card hits the market in 15 days
The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has officially launched the "Taiwan Fun Card" on the 15th. Currently, two limited-edition cards are available: the "Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Penghu Limited Card" and the "Yilan Limited Card." Backed by the government, travelers don’t have to worry about hitting any tourist traps.
Fly around Tokyo with a bamboo-copter hat！66 Doraemons appear in Roppongi!
66 Doraemons will appear in Tokyo！The “Summer Station Summer Festival,” which was a huge hit when it first launched last year, is back again this year. From the 18th until August 23rd, 66 large Doraemon plush figures will gather at 66 Plaza, the entrance area of Roppongi Hills, to meet fans.
Biking into the Military Academy: Catch a Glimpse of the Beauty of “Whampoa Lake”
The Whampoa Lake at Kaohsiung’s Military Academy, rarely seen by outsiders, now has the chance to reveal its true beauty. On September 6, the Kaohsiung City Sports Bureau and the Kaohsiung Cycling Association jointly organized the “Fengshan District Cycling Joy Ride – The Dakotas Double Lakes Tour,” starting right at the Military Academy. With an expected participation of 8,000 riders, it aims to become the second-largest cycling event in Taiwan.
Macau’s Dining Big Three Plus Hong Kong Seafood Michelin Stars – Available at The Peninsula from September 16
Since 2013, The Peninsula Hong Kong’s Yat Tung Heen has successively hosted pop-ups by Tim Ho Wan, Celebrity Cuisine, as well as Hong Kong’s century-old street food spots – Snake King Fung, Kwan Kee, and Pokka Roast Meat. This year, it extends its reach to Macau, selecting three local restaurants with over half a century of history – Caruso, Lee’s Kitchen, and Apricot Garden, along with Hong Kong’s only seafood Michelin-starred restaurant – Shing Kee. From September 16 to 19, these four classic culinary gems will be presented here, with a price of NT$1,880 per person. From September 20 to 21, the event will move to Cloud Gate Spa Hotel.
13 Osaka Food Picks for Lazy Eaters: Ramen, Takoyaki & Cheesecake
I’ve been to Osaka many times because areas like Namba and Shinsaibashi are great for shopping and easy dining, with many shops open until midnight or even 24 hours. So I’ve gotten used to staying around Shinsaibashi every time I visit Osaka. Here’s a quick summary of 13 food spots from my trips for your reference.
Discover the beauty of Taiwan’s land! Geological special exhibition opens on July 15
The "Geology and Disaster Prevention Special Exhibition" organized by the Central Geological Survey, Ministry of Economic Affairs, will run from July 15 to October 18. This marks the first collaboration with the Council of Indigenous Peoples, showcasing exhibitions in three locations: Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung. In addition to informative displays, specially curated indigenous tourism spots with diverse geological features are also featured, inviting the public to explore Eastern Taiwan and discover the profound charm of this beautiful island.
Shanghai Disneyland's 6 Themed Lands Surround the Largest Castle & Star Wars & Marvel Heroes Join the Fun
Shanghai Disney Resort is expected to open in 2016, becoming the first Disney resort on the Chinese mainland. Today, The Walt Disney Company held a Shanghai Disney Resort showcase event at the Shanghai World Expo Center to let the public learn about the main features of Shanghai Disney.
Breaking News: First Mitsui Outlet in Toyama Opens – Ferris Wheel Offers Panoramic Views of the City
Japan’s first outlet in the Hokuriku Toyama region opened on July 16th. Outlets operated by Mitsui Fudosan Group have always been popular among travelers and are a favorite weekend shopping destination for locals. In addition to numerous brand discount stores, Mitsui Outlets feature distinctive mall centers offering everything from fashion, food, daily necessities to entertainment facilities. The newly opened “Mitsui Outlet Hokuriku Oyabe” boasts a giant ferris wheel as its centerpiece.
Taiwan’s version of Santorini: A colorful Greek-style architectural scene you can shoot in Kaohsiung
In Korea, you must visit the fairytale-like Gamcheon Culture Village. With its unique valley terrain, looking down from above reveals a collection of colorful, adorable, and dreamy little houses. Not visiting here is like not having been to Busan. Taiwan actually has a similar scene — reminiscent of Greece’s Santorini Island — where you can enjoy Mediterranean-style scenery at Qihou Fort in Kaohsiung too!
Not just for the Tianchi Lake at Yongtai in Fuzhou — the QQ Egg House accommodation is truly unique
In recent years, thanks to direct cross-strait flights, the passenger volume of the海峡号 this year is also expected to exceed 400,000. With Taipei to Pingtan taking just three hours, many travelers not only visit Pingtan but also make trips to Fuzhou. When it comes to Fuzhou, besides the famous Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, visitors can also explore the Tianchi Grassland and Haixi Glacier Grand Canyon at China Cloudtop, but the most unique attraction is undoubtedly the “Egg-shaped House Hotel,” which offers a brand-new travel experience.
Super Cool！New Taipei's Xinwutai National Sports Center Opens on the 19th — Free for the First 2 Weeks
Another national sports center has been added to New Taipei City！After more than two years of effort, the 7th sports center planned and managed by the New Taipei City Government’s Public Works Department — the Xinwutai National Sports Center — has been completed ahead of schedule and is about to enter its operational launch phase.
The waiters are dinosaur robots, and lights are turned on by body temperature — a high-tech, quirky hotel in Nagasaki
To help travelers save on accommodation costs while still enjoying the convenience and fun of technology, Japan’s Huis Ten Bosch will officially open its smart hotel, “The Strange Hotel,” on July 17. This hotel not only employs various uniquely shaped “robots” as front desk staff, but also features numerous automated technological devices in the rooms, making the overall accommodation cost only one-third of that at other hotels.
Putting foreign travelers at ease: Japan introduces the "Service Quality Certification Mark"
With the increasing number of travelers visiting Japan and Tokyo having been awarded the 2020 Olympic Games, in order to maintain tourism quality, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will introduce a "Service Quality Certification Mark" for service industries such as restaurants and hotels, with implementation expected in the summer of 2016.
Sticking to Locally Sourced Yilan Ingredients – “Lin Bei Barbecue” Becomes a Hotspot from Yilan to Taipei
“Lin Bei Barbecue” is a skewer shop that has soared in popularity in Yilan over the past year or two. Aside from its catchy name, its commitment to using locally sourced Yilan ingredients is a major draw for customers. What started as a roadside food truck has, after four years, expanded to three locations in Yilan, Luodong, and Jiaoxi, with a new branch recently opened in Taipei’s Yanji Street. Owner Chuang Chih-hung says he hopes residents of Taipei can also enjoy the high-quality local ingredients of Yilan.
AirAsia launches inaugural Kaohsiung–Kuala Lumpur flight; half-price deals for Malaysia travel
AirAsia officially launched its direct Kaohsiung–Kuala Lumpur route today (July 16), becoming Taiwan’s only airline offering nonstop flights from Kaohsiung to Kuala Lumpur. The inaugural A320 flight arrived in Kaohsiung from Kuala Lumpur at 13:00 today and departed from Kaohsiung Airport at 13:30 with over 100 passengers on board, with a total of more than 300 passengers from both cities witnessing the new route’s inauguration.
A locals' queuing lunch spot: Osaka’s affordable grilled beef set meal
My travel buddy Mika said she wanted to sleep in that day, so I had to find lunch on my own. I wandered around Nippombashi, eventually stumbling upon Nippombashi Dōgu Yokocho, where I found all kinds of small items for sale (cookware, tableware, household goods, baked goods, etc.). After spending some time there and getting ready to head back to the hotel, I noticed a restaurant with a queue forming outside — and it was only 11 AM.
The State Guest Triple Towers Jointly Launch the Guizhou Food Festival, Showcasing Authentic Guizhou Cuisine
This year, The State Guest Hotel has collaborated with the Taiwan Visitors Association and the Guizhou Provincial Tourism Association. In addition to conducting research trips to Guizhou, the hotel’s culinary team also engaged in a cooking exchange with chefs invited to Taiwan by the Guizhou Tourism Association. From July 17 to July 26, the “Guizhou Food Festival” will be jointly presented at Taipei’s State Guest Szechuan Restaurant, Hsinchu’s State Guest Nine Floors, and Kaohsiung’s State Guest Szechuan Restaurant.