Travel
Win over the stomachs of the celebrities alike – Hidden daily specials not on the menu
(The owner Ye Ronggui caught the sweetfish the day before at Wulai) Anhe Danzai Noodles, endorsed by many celebrities, is located behind the Far Eastern Plaza. Just walk along Heping East Road, pass Dunhua, then turn into Anhe Road to arrive in no time. The decor is simple and typical of common Taiwanese eateries – at first glance, there's nothing particularly special. But step inside and you'll find the white walls covered densely with signatures. It seems that celebrities from politics and business are all vying to lend their endorsements. With high expectations, you take your seat.
Stationmaster Tama Has a Feline Successor！Second-Gen Tama Takes Over as Kishi Station Master
In June this year, the news of the passing of Tama, the “cat stationmaster” at Kishi Station in Wakayama, broke the hearts of many cat-loving travelers. Tama was a key figure in transforming a once-declining local train station into a world-renowned tourist destination. After several months of waiting, a new feline has taken up the mantle—Second-Gen Tama, who bears some resemblance to Tama and previously served as her “assistant.” Now she’s officially the new stationmaster, continuing to charm visitors with her cuteness.
Holiday Discounts: Shangri-La’s Anton Hall Lunch for ¥1,000, B-One at Sheraton Offers Upgraded Buffet
Hotel restaurants are offering more deals again. Starting now, Taipei Shangri-La’s Anton Hall presents the “French Holiday” value set – a four-course lunch plus one dessert for just NT$1,080. Meanwhile, the well-rated B-One buffet’s American BBQ will continue through autumn, with an added seafood feast as a bonus.
Beef noodles you can only find in Kinmen—enjoy raw beef poured directly with premium broth.
I still remember visiting Liangjin Ranch two years ago when I was in Kinmen. Back then, we went deep into the ranch to see how adorable the cattle that feed on distiller's grains are. This time, it’s for their newly launched fresh-dipped beef noodles. I’ve had American, Australian, Taiwanese, and Japanese beef before, but now it’s time to try Kinmen’s distiller’s grain beef noodles—and they’re served fresh-dipped style. The kids cleaned their bowls, which speaks volumes about how delicious they are.
Autumn is here, and it’s time to admire the maple leaves—take in all 12 of Nikko’s most dreamy red leaf spots in one go!
The autumn travel exhibition officially kicks off on the 28th, making it the perfect time to plan your autumn foliage tour. Located just north of Tokyo and just a few hours’ drive away, Nikko is renowned for its lush, vibrant forests and is the ideal place to visit while in Tokyo. Rakuten Travel Japan has specially released the “Nikko 12 Dreamy Red Leaf Spots,” so you won’t have to worry about where to go for foliage viewing—these 12 spots are more than enough!
Beigan Ocean Culture Festival: Enjoy Mussels for Just NT$100
The 2015 Beigan Ocean Culture Festival is giving away 6,000 mussel discount vouchers, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Diners at participating restaurants can use these vouchers. The Beigan Ocean Culture Festival in Matsu has revamped last year’s mussel promotion by offering discount vouchers instead—each mussel voucher is priced at NT$100.
Japan’s Alternative Taxi Tours: Ghost-Hunting Adventures or Snail-Speed Rides in Yokohama!
Traditional taxis offer travelers fast point-to-point service from A to B, but Japanese taxi company Sanwa Kotsu has introduced some unexpectedly strange tours and experiences. In addition to classic routes, visitors to Japan can now try these unique services and perhaps see a different side of the country!
Xinghang and the Fishermen's Association jointly launch the Penghu Seafood Season ! In November, fresh seafood will be served at high altitudes again
On August 29, China Airlines (Rejuvenation Airways) held the "2015 Penghu Summer Feast Crystal Praise Seafood Season" in collaboration with the Penghu Fishermen's Association for the first time, setting up a hundred tables in front of Juzhidao Star to promote local seafood specialties together. On-site, participants could win round-trip tickets to Japan, round-trip tickets to Makung, and airplane models. Starting from the end of August, three promotional feedback programs for Penghu were also launched.
Bike- and accommodation-friendly environment – the laid-back “Cozy Hostel” is all about comfort!
Cozy Hostel is located on Guoxing 4th Street in Hualien, just a five-minute walk from Hualien Railway Station, making it a relatively new hostel in the area. The owner, JOJO, is herself a backpacker who simply fell in love with Hualien after visiting frequently. Inspired to share her favorite place with others, she decided to open Cozy Youth Hostel in Hualien.
An affordable ramen shop from Tokyo has arrived in Taiwan, blending shrimp flavor with pork bone broth perfectly!
Zhe Mian is a ramen shop that came to Taiwan from Tokyo, Japan. Its first branch opened in Ximending, targeting a more budget-friendly market. However, Ximending is always crowded, and I’ve never been a fan of going there XD. When I found out they opened a new branch on Lin Sen North Road, my interest shot up. After doing a quick online search, I headed straight there!
Lazy Playtime Option: Cruise-Style Train Rides to Witness Sunrises and Explore Hidden Gems – 8 Amazing Trips
From October to December, Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) will launch eight distinctive 2-day cruise-style train tours, each with its own unique features. In addition to the ever-popular Chihshang’s Boulevard of Bromeliads and Luye Plateau, these journeys also feature exclusive railway destinations such as the South-Link hidden gem — Fangye Station, the “train-pushing” experience in Yilan, and the Alishan Forest Railway. The December 31 to January 1 trip even includes a sunrise viewing experience in Alishan, offering a convenient new option for those who don’t have time to plan their own itinerary.
Taiwan’s hottest new drink: “Sweaty Young Meat Milk Tea” sells out in just 5 minutes
A beverage shop in Tainan has launched a “Young Meat Milk Tea,” featuring muscular male torsos made of plastic filled with milk tea. The six-pack abs and flawless physique even appear to sweat under the hot sun. The shop owner, Lin Jung-ke, 21 years old and himself a “young meat,” came up with the creative idea, crafting a smooth and delicious milk tea blend. Just three weeks after its launch, it has sparked a buying frenzy.
A petite, artsy Kyoto café with homely flavors in the weekly set meal
I can’t remember where I found this café, but I think I saw it on Tabelog again. It was raining quite heavily in Kyoto that day, and I took a bus from my hotel near Shijō-Ōmiya to the unfamiliar Nishioji Street, umbrella in hand. Despite the rain, my mood remained cheerful—I had a feeling this place would rank among my top favorite cafés.
The broth is flown in frozen from Hokkaido, Japan – enjoy the authentic Umekougen ramen even in Taoyuan
After Japanese ramen shop Umekougen from Asahikawa, Hokkaido, entered the Taiwan market in 2012, it opened three branches in Taipei 101, Banqiao Metro Fuzhong Station, and Dream Mall in Tainan. Its fourth branch has now moved to Far Eastern Department Store in Taoyuan. The broth at Umekougen is prepared in Hokkaido, Japan, then frozen and flown to Taiwan, so residents in Taoyuan no longer need to travel to Taipei to enjoy authentic Hokkaido-style ramen.
New brunch spot in Kaohsiung just opened: Japanese-style grilled salmon rice balls and handmade burgers
Another new brunch shop has opened in Kaohsiung, and its name is quite unique—not in Chinese or English, but pronounced in Japanese, sounding similar to "Maruko" from the cartoon Chibi Maruko-chan. Its transliterated Chinese name is "Ma Lu." No Chinese characters are visible on the restaurant’s exterior, and its overall style has a Nordic casual vibe that makes passersby take a second look. Flanked by tree-lined streets and located in a residential area, plus being a bit away from Hanshin Dome, it enjoys a rather tranquil atmosphere.
A Spectacular 360-Degree Rotating Audience Stage in the 1 Billion Yuan Impression of Dahongpao at Wuyi Mountain
The show kicks off with what is claimed to be the world’s largest teahouse, where a tea shop owner leads the audience into a series of stories that unfold the romantic tale of King Peak and Jade Maiden Peak. The sudden appearance and fleeting disappearance of the two peaks are the most breathtaking moments, drawing continuous gasps from the crowd. Equally captivating is the bamboo forest dance sequence, where a man dressed in white is hoisted onto a bamboo pole as tall as a building and spins around with astonishing arm strength, creating yet another wave of excitement.
Forget egg crepes with hot dogs or fried dough sticks—they’ve been done. Ever tried a zongzi (sticky rice dumpling) egg crepe?
It’s common to find egg crepes stuffed with bacon, hot dogs, or fried dough sticks, but one filled with zongzi? Now that’s rare. Located in Kaohsiung City, Egg Crepe King not only offers standard breakfast fare like burgers and sandwiches but also a variety of creatively flavored egg crepes—think chocolate banana, salted egg meat, kimchi meat, spicy stir-fried rice cake with cheese, and taiyaki egg crepes... Among them, the signature and most popular item is the zongzi egg crepe, drizzled with soy sauce paste and sprinkled with peanut powder for a delicious treat.
Seize the tail end of summer！ Vancouver's 6 Famous Beaches！(Part 1)
The blazing sun of midsummer is as precious as gold — how could the people of Vancouver let it slip away easily? Thus, Austrian writer Richard Engl
Wait however long it takes—these are 3 must-visit restaurants at Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market
Tsukiji Market, a must-visit destination in Tokyo, is set to relocate and be renamed “Toyosu Market” in November 2016, with all its restaurants moving along as well. This has prompted many Taiwanese travelers to plan their pilgrimages before the move. Foreign website 《livedoor NEWS》 has selected 3 renowned Tsukiji Market eateries that are worth waiting in line for. Before the relocation, make sure to create your own delicious Tsukiji memories now！
Taking the elevator alone, the floor buttons that lit up by themselves weren’t the ones I wanted to go to...
The university I attended is located on a mountain in Taipei—yeah, you know the one. From my freshman to junior year, many classmates and seniors shared their experiences encountering the “yB,” and every time I heard about someone accidentally running into them, I felt a twinge of relief: at least I’d never had such an encounter.