Travel
Rooftops to keep you dry & five-star toilets – 6 new night markets that wowed Taiwan in 2015
Night markets are a unique part of Taiwanese culture, offering a wide variety of snacks, drinks, trendy clothes, and fun games. They’re a great place for both kids and adults to relax during holidays. These bustling markets are scattered all over Taiwan. This year, six highly anticipated new night markets have opened—from the east to the south. Some feature five-star toilets, others have roofs to provide shade or shelter from rain, and many boast an abundance of entertainment options. Truly a delicious and fun experience.
How many have you tried? 8 Ultra-Special Themed Restaurants in Tokyo
Visiting Tokyo and looking for a unique experience? Japan’s wildly popular "themed restaurants" let you enjoy delicious food while having fun. Japan’s Rakuten Travel has compiled a list of 8 unforgettable and bizarre themed restaurants in Tokyo. If you’re in the area, they’re definitely worth a visit！
Run and then dive straight into the sea – Australia’s Gold Coast Marathon invites Taiwanese runners
The first gold-label marathon in the Southern Hemisphere, the “Gold Coast Airport Marathon (GCAM),” will take place on July 2 and 3, 2016, in the sun-soaked and ocean-filled Gold Coast. But unlike previous years, in response to the growing number of road running enthusiasts in Taiwan, Tourism Queensland has specially organized a beginner training program, inviting novice runners to train and then participate.
Sports tourism is booming！ The results of the top ten quality travel programs have been announced.
Want to ride a bike at a leisurely pace to see a different side of Taiwan, soar through the skies to experience Formosa from a new angle, or challenge yourself by exploring hidden gems through diverse activities like sea kayaking, snorkeling, and underwater walking to experience a different way of life? In 2015, the Ministry of Education’s Sports Administration continued the “Quality Sports Travel Programs” selection event, aiming to combine professionally planned tours by travel agencies with safe experiences led by expert coaches, helping the public find inspiration and vitality through sports tourism.
EVA Air’s Elite Class and Economy Class selected among the world’s top 10 best cabin services
The aviation specialty website AirlineRatings.com recently announced the “World’s Top 10 Best Cabin Service Airlines,” evaluating 450 airlines worldwide and categorizing them into four classes: First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy, and Long-Haul Economy. Among them, Taiwan’s EVA Air earned a spot in the global top ten for both its Elite Class and Economy Class.
One person books business class for a party—China Airlines launches a surprise promotion
You can also throw a party with friends in business class！Following EVA Air’s free ticket giveaway campaign, China Airlines today (15th) announced the launch of “Party In The Air！Book Business Class Alone, Party with Friends You Invite,” starting October 12th. Passengers purchasing individual China Airlines tickets departing from Taiwan will have three lucky winners drawn to enjoy the business class cabin exclusively on a round-trip flight to Tokyo or Osaka, or they can bring friends or family onboard for free.
Head Chef’s Dishes Are Served Up！Tainan Food Festival Kicks Off in December
As Taiwan’s culinary capital, Tainan has made its Food Festival one of the city’s most iconic tourism events, attracting countless food enthusiasts every year. The Tainan City Tourism Bureau announced that the 2015 Tainan Food Festival, taking place this December, will focus on local culinary artisans, complemented by renowned food experts and artistic performances, offering the public a unique perspective on Tainan’s distinctive cuisine.
Michelin One-Star Steakhouse ALEXANDER Opens for Business, Officially Launches on October 16
The American steakhouse ALEXANDER'S STEAKHOUSE, which has been awarded a Michelin one-star rating, is officially making its debut in the Taiwanese market. Its first branch in Taiwan—and the first in Asia—is set to open on October 16. To ensure the same quality as in the U.S., the restaurant has brought in San Francisco Executive Chef Marc to assist, along with a permanent team from the U.S., including Taipei Executive Chef James, Sous Chef Joseph, Pastry Chef Harmony Lu, and Front of House Manager Rober. Set menu prices range from NT$2,800 to NT$8,800.
Emirates increases flights to St. Petersburg; launches Bologna route in November
In response to growing passenger demand, Emirates will expand capacity on its Dubai–St. Petersburg route in October 2015 and launch a new Dubai–Bologna route in November.
Kaohsiung’s popular late-night snack spot – affordable grilled pork rice and freshly baked toast for just pocket change
This all-in-one eatery, centered around “dinner to late-night snacks,” is roughly divided into grilled pork rice, Danish-style freshly baked toast, grilled fish cakes, handmade fried items, and Kaohsiung locals’ favorite – pot-cooked spaghetti.
Come samba in the streets of Taipei!
Marking its 14th edition, the "Dream Carnival" kicks off at 3 PM on October 17th in the streets of Taipei. This year, the parade is themed around the Brazilian Rio Carnival, featuring floats and samba costumes designed by Brazilian artists, along with live performances by Brazilian singers and drummers on the floats—delivering a joyful and spectacular Brazilian-style street spectacle.
Explore wind-lion god statues and stay in Min-style homestays—experience Kinmen’s rustic charm on a two-day, one-night trip
On the 16th, the Kinmen County Government and Uni Air jointly launched the “Uni Holidays ~ The Legend of the Wind-Lion God, Fall in Love with Kinmen and Go on a Treasure Hunt” campaign, inviting travelers to discover various uniquely shaped local guardian wind-lion god statues, stay in distinctive Min-style homestays, experience Kinmen’s rustic beauty, and offer independent travelers a new option for physical and mental relaxation.
Not for trypophobes (fear of holes)! Okinawa’s limestone cave — your scalp will absolutely crawl.
Warning for trypophobes (people with a fear of holes)! There’s a famous limestone cave in Okinawa, Japan, home to around one million stalactites and stalagmites. Stretching across a 5-kilometer underground network, the cave is covered wall-to-wall with dense clusters of these slender stone formations. The overwhelming intensity of their sheer numbers is enough to make anyone’s skin crawl — definitely a “no-go zone” for those who suffer from trypophobia.
Avoid lost luggage when flying: 10 essential tips travelers must know before their trip
As the number of travelers increases, most suitcases look very similar, greatly raising the chances of luggage getting lost. To prevent your trip from being disrupted, the flight comparison website Skyscanner has compiled 10 key tips to avoid losing your luggage — essential knowledge before you travel, as the inconvenience of lost luggage is almost as disruptive as falling ill during your journey.
Flag planted in Xinyi District: HowToTrip’s first off-site steakhouse Just Grill officially opens
The first off-site steakhouse of the Regent Taipei hotel group, Just Grill, officially opened on October 16. To carve out a spot in the highly competitive Xinyi dining scene, it not only offers a salad bar tailored to female diners but also features shareable concept dishes such as gourmet tasting plates, tomahawk steaks, and bone-in ribeye ribs for 2–3 people to enjoy together—with the most affordable option starting at just NT$880 (weekday lunch set).
V Air unveils "Black Bear livery aircraft" with conservation-themed fuselage and cabin
V Air today (16th) announced a comprehensive conservation initiative in partnership with the Taiwan Black Bear Conservation Association. In recent years, the population of Taiwan black bears has sharply declined due to environmental destruction and human interference, leading to their classification as an endangered protected species. V Air stated that in addition to conservation efforts, it will launch a black bear-themed flight next year.
Classic Main Course from the Man's Kitchen: The Super Flavorful "Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs" Served with Ease
Wait, don’t be intimidated by the number of steps—actually, the first half is just marinating the meat. As long as you remember the key sauce ratio, you can easily make this classic home-style dish: sweet and sour pork ribs. You can also fry extra ribs in advance to keep on hand. Whether you use them later for soup or eat them as is… they’re all great options.
Taiwan’s Second Site Recognized: Rukai Tribe’s Slate House Listed as Global Architectural Cultural Asset
The World Monuments Fund (WMF), the world’s earliest international non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of world heritage and architectural culture, has announced the 2016 World Monuments Watch list featuring 50 sites across 36 countries. Among them is the ancient slate house settlement of the Rukai tribe’s Qugabuan community (Hocao) in Pingtung — Taiwan’s second globally recognized cultural asset after Magong’s Huayuan settlement in Penghu in 2004.
First airline to establish an aircraft maintenance training center: China Airlines sets up aircraft repair training facility
China Airlines today (16th) obtained a license for its Aircraft Maintenance Training Center from the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) under Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications, becoming the first airline in Taiwan to have an institution dedicated to training maintenance personnel. The center officially began operations today. In response to domestic industry demand and international repair needs, the airline has expanded its existing aircraft maintenance training programs to enhance training effectiveness, and officially established the “China Airlines Technical Training Center” (CTC).
“It’ll cost you a fortune if you bump into it!” — Ultra charming: Get a first look at Kaohsiung’s adorable LRT carriages!
Kaohsiung officially entered the LRT era starting the 16th — the trial run has begun, attracting many locals to hop on board. With its fresh green-and-white exterior design, the inside of the carriages has also been unveiled for the first time, and the adorable phrases aimed at young passengers have caught the attention of netizens. Phrases like “If you accidentally bump into it, you’ll cry over the compensation,” and “Shouting ‘Open Sesame’ won’t work” paired with shy expressions of anime girls have left netizens saying they’re totally smitten and dying to ride it!