Travel
Mount Aso Eruption Disrupts Kyushu Itinerary; Tourism Bureau: All Taiwanese Tourists Safe
Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, erupted today (September 14). According to statistics from the Tourism Bureau, the Mount Aso crater has not been open to the public for nearly six months, so tour groups were not scheduled to visit it. Instead, they were set to go to attractions such as the Mount Aso Museum and Kusasenri Park. Due to the volcanic eruption, the Japanese local government has expanded the alert and control zone. Tour groups that were planning to take the cable car have had their itineraries adjusted by their travel agencies. Travel agencies have reported that all tourists are safe.
Hai Di Lao Taiwan No. 1 Store Officially Opens on the 20th, Staying Open Until 4 AM the Next Day
The well-known mainland hot pot chain Hai Di Lao began trial operations on September 14. During the trial period, only half of the seats—approximately 20 groups of customers (with one-third also available for phone reservations)—were open, and operating hours were limited to two time slots: from 11 AM to 2:30 PM and from 5 PM to 10 PM. A Hai Di Lao staff member stated that reservation slots during the trial period have been fully booked, and only walk-in customers are currently being accepted. Hai Di Lao is set to officially open on September 20, with operating hours from 11 AM to 4 AM the next day, without any breaks.
A Family Holiday in Donghe: Pottery Painting & Bamboo Gun Shooting
The “2015 Maro’along Cultural Tourism Festival” kicked off at 9 a.m. on the 19th at Donghe Elementary School in Taitung County. The event is divided into five major categories: live performances of songs and dances by 10 indigenous tribes; competitive activities such as hoop rolling, water-carrying on the head, sack relay races, and archery; a local food, handicrafts, and agricultural produce market; plus family-friendly activities where participants can paint pottery together and make bamboo guns for shooting games. Attendees can also join a lucky draw to win big prizes.
Relieve life’s stress！ The Huisun Wooden Culture Festival lets you experience the beauty of timber.
In the hustle and bustle of the city on regular days, life pressures tend to be relatively high. Haven’t you had the chance to go out and relax in a while? If you want to relieve the stress in your heart, then head into the forest to refresh your mood！
Malaysia extends visa-free stay from 15 to 30 days starting September 15
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 14th that the Malaysian government has declared that starting September 15 of this year (2015), the visa-free stay period for our citizens traveling to Malaysia will be extended from 15 days per visit to 30 days. Those planning to stay in Malaysia for more than 30 days will still need to apply for a visa in advance through the Malaysia Friendship and Trade Centre. The visa-free treatment applies only to our citizens visiting Malaysia for tourism, short-term business, or social visits.
No need for a plane anymore！Train routes between Iran and Austria to open
Traveling between Austria and Central Asia now has a new option besides flying！The Austrian and Iranian governments have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to soon launch train routes between Austria and Iran.
Mandarin Oriental Launches Wedding Banquet Booking Discounts: Book 20+ Tables, Get 1 Free
Since its opening in 2014, Mandarin Oriental Taipei has hosted over 300 wedding banquets, with more than 100 bookings already confirmed for 2016 as of September. To boost wedding banquet bookings for next year, Mandarin Oriental Taipei is offering a range of promotions, including one complimentary table for every 20 booked, complimentary upgrade to a 26-square-meter Metropolitan Suite on the wedding night, and an additional three-hour use of the Mandarin Gallery venue (worth NT$300,000) for bookings of 30 tables or more.
Let’s Go Moon-Gazing Up High！Top 5 Romantic Moon-Viewing Spots in Central Taiwan
The Mid-Autumn Festival is all about enjoying mooncakes while admiring the moon. But for friends in central Taiwan who haven’t figured out where to go moon-gazing yet, don’t worry — ETtoday Travel Cloud has handpicked 5 great spots in central Taiwan for you to enjoy the full, bright moon. Start planning your Mid-Autumn Festival itinerary now！
This place only serves salmon dishes—diverse flavors, including classic Taiwanese-style three-cup style.
Taiwanese people love salmon, whether grilled, pan-fried, or made into sushi—it’s a favorite for many. However, few know that over 30% of the tens of thousands of tons of salmon imported into Taiwan each year is supplied by Marine Harvest Group. To boost brand awareness, Marine Harvest established the salmon specialty brand “Marine Harvest SupremeSalmo” in Taiwan, opening two casual dining outlets that offer a variety of delicious salmon dishes.
Crack Down on Illegal Rentals: Axi Teaches You Two Tips
The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications is safeguarding the safety of travelers' accommodations by appointing Axi as the spokesperson to promote the era of certified legal accommodations with "Accommodation License Number – Safe Check-in." For the first time, it has called on all legally operating accommodations across Taiwan to form the "Accommodation Certification Alliance," jointly urging consumers to develop the correct booking habits for safe stays.
Mr. Tree’s Home Launches Themed Balloon Festival – Eat, Play, and Watch Balloons
The popular family-friendly restaurant Mr. Tree’s Home has collaborated with an international balloon art team to create a limited-time “Around the World Balloon House.” In addition to a 3-meter-long outdoor balloon train at its Chaozhou Street flagship location, the indoor space features balloon versions of Taipei 101, the Egyptian Sphinx, British guards, Spider-Man from the U.S., and more. Every Wednesday at noon, there will also be performances by balloon artists who fold various balloon characters for kids to take home for free. The event runs from September 15 to October 5.
Ensuring traveler accommodation safety: Tourism Bureau promotes "Accommodation Registration Number"
To safeguard travelers' accommodation safety, the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications is advancing the era of legal accommodation certification with the "Accommodation Number, Safe Check-in" initiative. For the first time, it has called on all legally operating accommodation providers across Taiwan to form the "Accommodation Certification Alliance," jointly urging consumers to develop the correct booking habits for safe stays.
Taipei W Hotel Launches Thai Food Festival – Win Round-Trip Flights to Bangkok & Hotel Stays with Minimum Spend
From now until September 23, Taipei W Hotel’s The Kitchen Table restaurant is hosting the “Thai-Tastic Thai Food Festival,” featuring guest chefs Thanawat Napranboon and Somphat Jumpan from Sukhumvit Park, Bangkok, Sheraton Bangkok. During the event, diners who spend NT$2,000 (excluding service charge) on lunch or dinner will receive one raffle ticket, and NT$4,000 earns two… and so on. Prizes include two round-trip tickets from Taipei to Bangkok courtesy of Thai Airways, and two-night stays in premium rooms at Sukhumvit Park, Bangkok, Sheraton Bangkok.
Splurge a little: Cathay Pacific long-haul business class early bird fare — Taipei to Paris from NT$95,030
Cathay Pacific and Dragonair have launched an early bird promotion for business class tickets. From September 15 to October 7, 2015, there are discounted fares on long-haul routes from Taiwan to nearly 40 cities in Europe, North America, Australia, the Middle East, and India. Fares start from NT$117,080 round-trip for Taipei–New York, NT$98,180 for Taipei–London, and NT$95,030 for Taipei–Paris.
Do foreigners imagine Chinese characters like this? Swedish artist visits Taiwan and draws amazingly whimsical night market vendors
It turns out this is how foreigners envision Chinese characters. Well-known Swedish sketch artist Mattias Adolfsson visited Taiwan’s night markets during a private trip, drawing his impression of what they look like—his illustrations brimming with the unique vitality of Taiwan. But upon closer inspection, the fonts on the night market stalls appear to be Chinese yet are completely indecipherable.
Signature fried egg crepe in the traditional market！The half-cooked egg is wrapped with "preserved radish" inside
I've known about this Chongqing Soy Milk shop for quite a while, because I saw it before when buying drinks at the tea house. I knew their fried egg crepes were pretty famous. After trying the ones on Dalong Street not long ago, many netizens recommended this place, so I came to give it a try and compare it with the Dalong Street version XD
Ride a bike for a picnic Up！The Taitung Chishang Bike Picnic Day kicks off on Double Ten Day
Autumn is a great season for family outings, but have you ever thought about going on a picnic by bike? On October 10th, the “Bike & Picnic Day in Hualien and Taitung” will be held in Chishang Township, Taitung, allowing cycling enthusiasts to experience the joy of riding through the countryside in the Huatung Valley and share a delightful picnic amid the beauty of the fields.
Adorable alert！Kaohsiung Bear gets chased by deer in Japan: “I’m out of deer crackers!”
Kaohsiung’s tourism ambassador “Kaohsiung Bear HERO” posted on the “Kaohsiung Bear” Facebook page on the 13th that he visited Nara and Osaka in Japan on the 13th and 14th to look for the Takeshi Kaneshiro deer (sika deer): “Run run, I’m out of deer crackers~” Along the way, he also rode a “handsome guy” rickshaw, made his way to Todai-ji Temple, and promoted “Welcome to Kaohsiung to find Kaohsiung Bear” all the way, saying the effect seemed quite good.
Minimalist, punk, Hollywood style—10 design hotels you’ll want to stay at
Some inns offer travelers surprises that rival those of famous attractions. With increasingly unique styles and thoughtful touches, they create extraordinary vacation experiences. Usatoday.com reported on
Essential Read Before Traveling: The Strictly Selected List of 28 Golden Quality Travel Awards Announced
The Republic of China Tourism Quality Assurance Association (TQAA) today announced 28 golden quality travel itineraries, covering entry into Taiwan as well as popular regional travel routes across the island. In addition to rewarding travel agencies that design these itineraries, the list also provides valuable references for travelers planning their trips.