Travel
【Editorial】Early-bird hotel booking deals abound for Spring Festival, plus daily chances to win plane tickets
The 2016 Lunar New Year offers up to nine consecutive days off. Eastar Resort Hotel Group, which includes Eastar Ocean Hot Spring Hotel and Eastar Mountain Forest Resort Hotel, has jointly launched the “Golden Monkey Spring Festival Early-Bird Booking Package,” featuring multiple discounts. Additionally, as an end-of-year bonus, they’re offering the “Daily Plane Ticket Draw, Weekly Prize Draw” campaign—giving travelers even more chances to win popular prizes while on holiday.
Travel by high-speed rail to Miaoli: Seven Must-Visit Unique Venues
In response to the opening of Miaoli High-Speed Rail Station, the Miaoli County Government has launched a brochure titled “Travel to Miaoli by High-Speed Rail: Seven Unique Venues,” introducing seven distinctive venues in the county. To enhance public transportation connectivity from Miaoli HSR Station, the brochure also provides transport information to these seven sites, encouraging visitors to make the most of the transit options when exploring Miaoli.
Travel with Cats: These Japanese Attractions Became Famous Because of Them
Embark on a journey with some of the most popular feline stars—attractions that have become incredibly popular thanks to their adorable cat ambassadors. Greet Tama-chan, the hardworking cat stationmaster at Kishi Station in Wakayama; explore hidden shops in Onomichi City with Rara, the head of the "Backstreets Tourism Section" in Hiroshima Prefecture; or visit the new stationmaster LOVE-chan at JR Izu-Nagaoka Station in Fukushima Prefecture to experience the charm of the railway. Let cats “lead the way” for a unique travel experience.
World’s First “Planetary Ocean Underwater Hotel” to Build 12 Suites at a Cost of $600 Million
Underwater hotels have long been the boundary that hoteliers aim to break through, but recently, the Planet Ocean Underwater Hotel has obtained a U.S. trademark patent and is recognized as the world’s first underwater hotel.
Authentic Japanese-style pasta with Q-textured noodles that exude an enticing Japanese flair
After having lunch at Genkiya earlier, I headed straight here for a second meal. It’s a restaurant specializing in Japanese-style pasta and a few Japanese-style Western dishes. By 2 PM, there weren’t many customers. When I walked in, the staff informed me they were understaffed that day, so service might be a bit slow. I appreciated the heads-up — luckily, I had nothing else on my schedule.
Countdown 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 together！Top 3 must-visit New Year's Eve events in Thailand at year’s end
As we approach 2016, how do you plan to ring in the New Year? From December 31 to January 1, 2016, the Tourism Authority of Thailand will host vibrant New Year’s Eve celebrations in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. In central Bangkok, you can even enjoy spectacular fireworks displays！
2015 New Taipei City Happy Christmas Town – Cartoon Star Balloons Fill the Sky
The “Happy New Taipei Balloon Parade” of the 2015 New Taipei City Happy Christmas Town kicked off in full swing today (Dec. 6)! The “OPEN!” family and the globally renowned cartoon channel “Adventure Time – Finn & Jake,” two major cartoon star families, made their first-ever joint parade appearance in New Taipei, drawing crowds of children and adults eager to catch a glimpse of these iconic characters. Camera flashes lit up the scene non-stop as the joyful Christmas atmosphere instantly enveloped the entire city.
Christmas Must-Visit in Hong Kong’s Central District: 50,000 LED Lights Create Bulgari’s Spectacular "Serpenti"
Christmas hasn’t arrived yet, but the festive spirit is already palpable on the streets of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Tourism Board has partnered with Italian luxury jewelry brand BVLGARI to host the "Starlit Winter: Celebrate a BVLGARI Roman Holiday" event at Statue Square in Central on the 4th. The event was star-studded, with actress Carina Lau personally attending the lighting ceremony to mark the dazzling debut of the main light installation, the "Serpenti" snake-shaped display.
Weekend Getaway: White Sandy Beaches & Azure Coastlines – Go Camping in Sai Kung, Hong Kong
For “office workers” who can’t travel abroad often but still want a relaxing trip on weekends, this time we headed to the Lung Kwu Tung Pok camping site in Sai Kung. To get to Lung Kwu Tung Pok, you might consider taking a taxi from Sai Kung – the fare is about HKD110. This time we chose the beginner-friendly trail, which is very short, taking only around half an hour to walk along Section 2 of the MacLehose Trail (there are ten sections in total) to reach our camping spot.
i.e. / 2 additional northbound “all non-reserved seat trains” to be added on the 6th by high-speed rail in the afternoon
Taiwan High Speed Rail announced that to alleviate holiday passenger traffic returning north, it will add two all-stations-stopping, all-non-reserved-seat trains (excluding business class) departing from Zuoying Station northbound at 16:06 and 19:06 on the 6th.
Selected as one of the “World’s Most Beautiful Bookstores,” Kyoto’s Seiryo Shoten has become a tourist attraction.
Falling in love with Kyoto, the renowned “world’s most beautiful bookstore” Seiryo Shoten is one of the key catalysts. In the Ichijoji area of Kyoto — not a popular shopping district among tourists — visiting this area at night reveals yellow glows from alleyways where a bookstore with no visible sign quietly stands at the end of the street. No extra words are needed: Seiryo Shoten itself is an important and alluring tourist spot.
A "pyramid" made of books！A must-visit eco-friendly library in Rotterdam for all the literary-minded
Located near the Port of Rotterdam, this library is definitely not the cold, steel-box we might imagine—it could even be called a book bazaar, because the books here are really stacked up like that！
Taoyuan Airport Enters a Dark Period for Flights as North Runway Testing Begins on the 7th – Temporary Morning Closure
Taoyuan Airport’s north runway is nearing completion, with the goal of full operation by the 25th. A series of test flights will be conducted starting on the 7th, with the airport temporarily closed during certain periods. As a result, Taoyuan Airport, which is currently operating with only one runway, will enter a brief “takeoff and landing dark period.” The Taoyuan Airport Corporation also stated that some flights may be advanced or delayed, and travelers planning to depart during this time are advised to pay close attention to flight information.
A student favorite！Classic Yilan braised pork rice set meal with a half-boiled golden egg
[Northeast Corner Signature Braised Pork Rice] Located close to Yilan Railway Station and JiMi Park, this hidden gem is often overlooked because it’s tucked away in an alley. Though it's only been around for a little over a decade, come mealtime, the tiny shop fills up with students fresh from class, their faces glowing with happiness.
The Wanjin Christmas Season 3D Light Show: Scenes of Four Seasons in Pingtung Shine on the Sacred Shrine
The highlight of the Wanjin Christmas Season, the 3D light projection show, debuted on the 10th. This year’s 10-minute light show not only continues the religious and festive Christmas atmosphere but also specially incorporates major local festivals in Pingtung County, showcasing the highlights of the region across all four seasons. Yan Fenglan, Director of the Tourism and Communication Department, pointed out that to align with the religious activities at the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Mary, the schedule of light shows varies daily and is subject to adjustments based on on-site conditions. A special show will also take place at 11:50 PM on December 24, Christmas Eve.
Experience the traditional Japanese New Year atmosphere！Top 10 Popular Shrines to Visit for Hatsumode in 2016
For the Japanese, the first thing to do in the New Year is definitely to visit a shrine or temple for hatsumode, or the first shrine visit of the year. Visiting a shrine or temple on New Year’s Day is one of the long-standing New Year traditions that continues to this day. On this day, people go to shrines or temples to pray for the health and safety of their families in the coming year. Rakuten Travel has released the “2016 New Year Shrine Visit Rankings,” showing you where the most popular hatsumode spots are！
Migratory birds frolic, abalones are plump and delicious—now’s the perfect time for a winter trip to Gongliao!
If you think there’s nothing to do in Gongliao, a coastal area near New Taipei City, in winter—you’re sorely mistaken!
A Brilliant Christmas Season: 8 Stunning Light Zones in Tainan Shine Brighter at Night
With the main light-up ceremony held at the National Museum of Taiwan Literature on December 6, where the atmosphere was dazzling and vibrant, the 2015 Tainan Christmas Light Festival officially kicked off. This year, the Tainan City Tourism Bureau has transformed the entire historic city into a grand Christmas lights extravaganza, collaborating with National University of Tainan, Kunshan University of Technology, and Tainan University of Technology to plan four major light zones.
CaliBurger's second branch opens in Ximending, expected to debut in mid-December
After opening in April, American-style burger chain CaliBurger faced some controversy, but thanks to owner Vincent Zhao’s commitment to serving the highest quality burgers, customer traffic has remained steady. More than half a year later, CaliBurger is opening its second location, situated in Ximending, with an anticipated launch in mid-December.
Marriott Taipei Launches New Japan-France Fusion Teppanyaki Restaurant, Uniquely Cooking Vegetables with Cellophane
Teppanyaki restaurants are a common sight on Taiwan’s streets, with as many as 242 teppanyaki-style eateries in Taipei alone, offering everything from budget-friendly meals starting at just over 100 TWD to high-end options costing several thousand. The newly opened Taipei Marriott Hotel is targeting the premium market, bringing in Chef Lin Kai-Chin — who boasts over 20 years of teppanyaki experience — to fuse Japanese cooking techniques with French sauces and plating. The result is the upscale Mark's Teppanyaki, positioning itself in the premier dining district of Dazhi.