Pingtung Xishi Station also features ultra-realistic 3D landscape art. Along the Pingtung–Chaozhou line, all six stations have created seven public art installations, themed around healthy living, travel, and cultural history. These works blend the region’s unique local character and are designed to become must-see spots for both travelers and locals.
Ibaraki Prefecture is Japan’s second-largest agricultural producer, and within this bountiful land lies a local delicacy not widely known to Taiwanese — its taste rivals that of Kobe beef. It’s called “Hitachigyu”! Known for its evenly distributed, fine marbling and melt-in-your-mouth texture, this is the flavor that keeps gourmets coming back.
The Taiwan Affairs Office announced on the 5th the opening of three pilot cities—Chongqing, Nanchang, and Kunming—allowing Chinese tourists to transit via Taiwan. Once approved, mainland residents can transit through Taiwan Taoyuan Airport without leaving the airport, as long as they hold a passport, flight ticket, and boarding pass for their onward destination. China Airlines stated it is well-prepared, with its new fleet of 777-300ER and A350 aircraft set to be delivered progressively, which is expected to increase capacity on Europe, the US, New Zealand, and Australia routes, enhancing the benefits of Chinese tourist transit for the airline.
In winter, Huangshan is covered in snow, with vast expanses of white blanketing the mountain creating a unique charm. Everywhere you look, there are frosted pine trees, as well as drifting rime and icicles. The sparkling, translucent beauty is breathtaking, and this is also the season when the sea of clouds forms most abundantly on Huangshan. Bizarre peaks and rocks appear and disappear amid the clouds, combining the grandeur of a vast spectacle with an air of unpredictable mystery. Such spectacular scenery is truly unforgettable.
Recently, many flowers have come into bloom, and flower field festivals are popping up all over the place. Still not sure where to go for some flower gazing? ETtoday EBC Travel Cloud has rounded up 7 beautiful flower fields across Taiwan—find some time soon and gather your friends and family for a floral adventure together.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council announced on the 5th the opening of transit for Chinese mainland tourists via Taiwan, under the premise of "implementing the outcomes of the cross-strait leaders' meeting," starting with a pilot program in three cities: Chongqing, Nanchang, and Kunming. At that time, residents of mainland China will only need to hold a passport, flight ticket, and boarding pass for a third destination to transit through Taiwan Taoyuan Airport without leaving the airport. After the opening, Taiwan’s airports and national airlines are expected to benefit the most, potentially generating substantial economic benefits.
With the support of professional food supplier Meifu International, it's truly impressive. The Taipei Meifu Hotel, targeting the dining market, houses five restaurants inside, all beginning trial operations on January 9th. Among them, the semi-buffet restaurant Palette 彩汇 uses top-tier ingredients, such as U.S. PRIME-grade grilled steak in the grill section, sea urchin sushi and snow crab (available only for dinner) in the Japanese cuisine area, as well as Iberico pork sukiyaki. Even more surprising is that during lunch and dinner, a variety of differently flavored main courses are available for unlimited refills.
After five years of construction, a NT$10 billion investment, and the tragic shooting death of chairman Huang Ming-jen by his brother just before the opening, The Miramar Taipei is finally set to begin its soft launch on January 9th. Unlike typical hotels, The Miramar Taipei positions itself primarily as a culinary destination, with five distinct dining venues inside—including a Western buffet, a Japanese restaurant, a European-style restaurant, a Taiwanese and Chaoshan-Cantonese cuisine restaurant, and a banquet hall. The ratio of room revenue to F&B revenue is 3:7, showcasing a unique market positioning.
Looking back at 2015, overseas restaurants such as Haidilao, Korean Samgyeopsal BBQ, and Kinji Hananosuke successively opened in Taipei, attracting many people who were willing to wait in long lines just to try them. New restaurants were incredibly appealing, but long-established ones were equally impressive. According to food website Nichi’s review of the 30 most popular Taipei restaurants in 2015, American-style burger joints, Japanese dessert shops, and classic Taiwanese eateries all made the list.
Stir-fried water spinach with shredded pork is a popular dish in quick-service stir-fry restaurants. Though simple, getting it crisp requires some preparatory tricks. What’s the secret? Keep reading to find out~
Can you leave school and go abroad? In front of Jiali Elementary School in Hualien County, there is surprisingly a departure lounge. In fact, it’s a soundproof wall along an access road to an Air Force base. The Xincheng Township Office invited artists to paint 3D murals of an airport departure lounge and the seascape of Qixingtan, creating incredibly lifelike scenes. These have attracted many children to play the role of travelers getting ready to board flights and to take photos with the murals.
Since I run a cartoon-themed café myself, I rarely visit other themed restaurants to avoid the darkly humorous situation of “my own food being cuter than the restaurant’s.”
A renowned aviation professional evaluation website has released its latest flight safety rankings, with Taiwan’s EVA Air joining the ranks of the world’s safest airlines alongside internationally acclaimed carriers such as Qantas, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific
"Themed restaurants" have mushroomed across Taiwan in recent years, and it seems Hong Kong is catching the same wave. From the Moomin Café, built around the story scenes of Moomin (known as Moomin in Hong Kong), to Hello Kitty macarons that even movie star Shu Qi couldn’t bring herself to eat, and the wildly popular Gudetama dishes, these have become new favorites in Hong Kong’s food scene and added fresh highlights to its diverse culinary culture.
When it comes to Hokkaido cuisine, most people probably think of ramen. However, Hokkaido is vast and diverse, with each region offering its own unique ramen style. Here’s an introduction to the differences between these local ramens.
With azure skies and emerald waters, saying "I do" in a white wedding dress—what girl doesn’t dream of a Maldives wedding? The luxury resort Four Seasons has launched an exclusive wedding venue set on the Indian Ocean, where couples can exchange vows against a breathtaking backdrop of sea turtles and tropical fish.
I always find Japan’s transportation system complicated, with its various names for railways and buses, not to mention the mix of private and public operators—it’s easy to get confused. The same thing happened when I visited Kyoto, but after some research, it actually turned out not to be that difficult.
Although spring is still some time away and the flowers are just beginning to bud, the picturesque mountainous county of Miaoli has planned around 30 hectares of flower fields across five townships. These include vibrant seas of cosmos, yellow cosmos, marigolds, and sunflowers, expected to bloom from late January to early February. Coinciding with the Lunar New Year holiday, why not move your family and friends gatherings outdoors and enjoy a romantic and relaxing New Year atmosphere in the flower fields?
Tired of traditional Chinese New Year dishes? Looking to switch things up? Spotting the potential market for Western-style New Year meals, Regent Taipei, Taipei Marriott Marquis, and Laurence Steak House have all launched takeout Western-style New Year menus. Among them, Regent and Laurence both feature steak as the star. Craving steak on New Year’s Eve this year?
Sakurajima, one of the world’s few remaining active volcanoes, is also a symbol of Kagoshima, Japan. Full of vitality, it erupted massively during the 1914 Taisho Eruption, spewing about 10 billion tons of lava that filled the eastern strait, connecting the previously isolated island of Sakurajima to Kagoshima. However, this eruption also claimed 58 lives, yet the islanders did not abandon this rare volcanic island. Instead, they continue to coexist harmoniously with the volcano.