Travel
Summer Exclusive: The World’s Best Urban Beach Opens in Paris – Swap Your Bikini for Some Sand in the City
This artificial beach isn’t small, stretching from the Pont Neuf to the Pont de Sully — about 3.5 kilometers long. According to The Daily Telegraph, visitors can play beach volleyball, rugby, and basketball in the area around Hôtel de Ville Plaza, where sun loungers are available for sunbathing. There are also plenty of cultural activities along the way, such as a Nile-themed exhibition from the Louvre, pop-up bookstores, and special events related to The Little Prince.
American Steak Master Makes a Special Appearance – B-one Buffet Restaurant Launches Summer BBQ Party
For the third time, American steak master Hans has made a guest appearance at the Sheraton Taipei Hotel. In addition to presenting premium dry-aged steaks at the TOSCANA Italian Restaurant, Hans also lent his expertise to guide B-one Buffet Restaurant in offering an all-American BBQ feast, featuring Brazilian wood-fired lamb shoulder, charcoal-grilled American flat iron steak, Memphis-style charcoal ribs, and charcoal-grilled beef brisket – sure to satisfy any die-hard meat lovers.
The world’s first animal-only terminal—JFK Airport unveils “The Ark”!
Terminal “The Ark” offers many unexpected pet services, including basic ones like grooming and veterinary check-ups, as well as a rehabilitation center, lawns, and an aviary. For overnight stays, there’s a pet resort operated by “Paradise 4 Paws,” featuring a dog-paw-shaped pool, a real jungle exclusively for cats, and stables. The pet area is monitored by cameras, so owners don’t have to worry about their furry friends wandering off.
Slide down from the 9th floor！Hotel’s “giant colorful slide” attracts families with kids
To cash in on the summer family travel boom, one hotel has rolled out a “giant slide” to draw guests！Located in downtown Yilan, Lancheng Crystal Hotel recently set up a colorful slide called “Fanduqi Rainbow,” which lets guests slide from the 9th floor down into a ball pit on the 8th floor, keeping families and their little ones entertained.
A shining light of Taiwan！Pingtung’s National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium ranked as Asia’s 4th best aquarium
The world-renowned travel website TripAdvisor has ranked the best aquariums in Asia, with the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium in Checheng Township, Pingtung, coming in at 4th place—up one spot from last year—and becoming the top-ranked among Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Combining famous attractions in Tainan, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle launches the “Guanziling–Wushantou Line”
Summer vacation is the peak season for both domestic and international travel. This year (2015), the Siraya National Scenic Area Administration has for the first time planned the “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle – Guanziling–Wushantou Line.” Departing from the Xinying Bus Terminal, it connects well-known tourist spots in northern Tainan and also offers discounted transportation packages.
The airline has newly purchased 3 Boeing 737-800s and will recruit 25 new flight attendants by the end of July
Far Eastern Air Transport announced it will introduce three Boeing 737-800s and has signed the official contract for the first brand-new 737-800 aircraft with ALC. The planes will be purchased in three annual installments, with the first delivery scheduled for May 2016. The airline also plans to gradually phase out its MD82 and MD83 models.
Butter and spreads melt on freshly baked bread — the must-try kaya toast in Singapore
In Taiwan, from Chinese fried dough sticks and flatbread to hamburgers and even eel congee, anything can be the start of your day. Likewise, every country and region has its own unique breakfast culture. When traveling in Singapore, many people opt for Ya Kun’s kaya toast as their morning meal.
Japan’s Naoshima Island’s healing "Red Pumpkin" artwork temporarily closed to visitors
Known as the “Island of Art,” Naoshima Island in Japan is most famous for the iconic artwork "Pumpkin" by legendary artist Yayoi Kusama. However, from now until July 31st, the area around the "Red Pumpkin" is undergoing concrete paving work and will be temporarily closed to visitors.
Japan’s largest tonkatsu chain N< store “Katsuya” enters Taiwan; opens on 8/8
Japan’s largest tonkatsu chain N< specialty store “Katsuya (吉豚屋かつや)” will debut in Taiwan on August 8, with its first store located in Taipei Station’s commercial district at “HOYII North Station” and Yiyi Life Mall.
Kyoto’s popular sweet shop staple: Takeout matcha-black sesame roll the way locals do
Visiting Kyoto, are you walking around gazing at beautiful temples and old streets while snapping photos non-stop with your camera? Way... too touristy, don’t you think? Advice from the old man and little wife: Your right hand should be holding—pickled cucumbers, grilled dango, or tofu ice cream—eating as you stroll is the real Kyoto vibe. Then, with your remaining hand, carry some omiyage (souvenirs): yatsuhashi, warabi mochi... plus the “Kyoto Black Roll (京黒巻)” introduced in this article.
Taipei Night Market Popularity Poll: Ningxia Wins First, Raohe Takes Second
The "Best of Taipei Night Markets" poll organized by Taipei City’s Department of Markets has recently concluded, with a total of 1,067 valid votes cast. The night market deemed the most enjoyable, delicious, eco-friendly, charming, and friendly by the public has been revealed—Ningxia Night Market claimed the top spot, while Raohe Street Night Market came in second.
Celebrating domestic flights launch: Vietjet Air offers 500,000 free tickets
Following its announcement of officially launching the Ho Chi Minh City–Seoul route this November, Vietjet Air today (July 22) revealed plans to further add new domestic routes in Vietnam, including round-trips between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi via Bạc Liêu. To celebrate the new routes, Vietjet is also offering 500,000 free tickets from now until July 29.
Hair, parasites, ex-lover’s items: Eight bizarre museums around the world
Among the nearly 55,000 museums worldwide, the Louvre takes the crown with 9 million visitors annually. Most popular museums focus on humanities and art, but some take a completely different route. According to the “Eight Bizarre Museums” list compiled by the website Happy Lifestyle Journal (happylifestylejournal), you might exclaim, “That’s a thing?!” Yep — with enough imagination, even the most ordinary objects can attract curators and the public alike.
Japan's Shinkansen launches an 'Evangelion' train set to debut this fall
Anime fans, take note！ To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Sanyo Shinkansen and the 20th anniversary of 'Neon Genesis Evangelion,' JR West has announced the 'Shinkansen: Evangelion Project,' which will feature a mainline train painted to resemble Unit-01. The themed train '500 TYPE EVA' is expected to begin operating on the Sanyo Shinkansen this fall.
Foreign travelers’ favorite hidden Japanese accommodations — Okunoshima Island with 700 rabbits takes the crown
Where are the most popular “hidden gem” Japanese accommodations among foreign tourists? An overseas website has released statistics showing that Japan’s Bōsen Onsen Ōwakusenkyo, Naoshima Furusato, and Kyukamura Okunoshima have rapidly gained popularity as “off-the-beaten-path” spots even locals may not know about.
The most welcoming country for Chinese tourists — Taiwan ranks 7th
According to statistics from the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan has been rising year after year. Nearly 40% of Taiwanese hotel operators noted that Chinese tourists' spending accounts for over 20% or more of their hotel revenue. A leading hotel booking website released its latest “Chinese International Travel Monitor,” which shows that among the countries where Chinese tourists feel most welcomed, the people-friendly Taiwan ranks 7th.
Too many visitors affecting cleanliness！Mugumuyu to limit daily entries to 600 from August
Mugumuyu is a popular attraction in eastern Taiwan, drawing both domestic and international tourists. It reopened on June 6 this year, allowing visitors to access the area on foot. However, during the peak summer travel season with no visitor control in place, the daily number of visitors exceeded 1,000. The Tongmen Tribe, which is part of the area, believes that the high volume of tourists still impacts environmental cleanliness and water sources. As a result, the Hsiulin Township Office has decided to impose a daily entry cap of 600 people starting August 1.
Eight-Flavor BBQ Emphasizes Authentic Taste in Taiwan – Satisfy All 8 Pork Belly Flavors in One Go
The “Eight-Flavor Korean BBQ,” voted by Hong Kong travel magazine *New Holidays Weekly* as a must-try Korean dish, has officially confirmed its opening on August 1st and has begun accepting reservations. As of now, most dining slots for August have been booked, with only a few off-peak times remaining. To faithfully replicate the authentic flavors from Korea, many of the sauces are prepared in Taiwan by Korean specialists, while those unavailable locally are imported directly from Korea. For the pork, the team compared offerings from 10 suppliers and conducted countless taste and texture tests before finalizing the meat provider.
The Taoyuan Summer Family Art Festival Kicks Off Tonight, Taking Kids into a Wizard of Oz Wonderland
The 2015 Taoyuan Summer Family Art Festival runs from today (July 23) to July 26 at the Taoyuan Arts and Cultural Park Plaza, and from July 27 to July 29 at schools including Xinyi Junior High School in Xinyi District. This year’s theme is the famous fairy tale “The Wizard of Oz,” allowing both children and adults to join Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Lion on an adventure through the Land of Oz.