Travel
A farmers' market will be held in the future！Siraya Nanhua Visitor Center Officially Opens Today
Nanhua Visitor Center Officially Opens！Nanhua is the largest administrative district in Tainan City, boasting rich ecology, landscapes, and cultural heritage. To facilitate tourist inquiries and promote local culture, the Siraya National Scenic Area Administration officially opened the Nanhua Visitor Center on January 30 (Saturday).
Every bite is crispy and crunchy！ 8 restaurants where you can enjoy thick, juicy, and tender tonkatsu rice bowls
Tonkatsu served with freshly ground sesame seeds — as you grind, you can smell the aroma — then drizzled with tonkatsu sauce. The trio is perfectly matched. With one bite, you’ll enjoy the fragrance of the sesame and the sweetness of the sauce. Most importantly, the pork cutlet is tender, juicy, and delicious — truly a treat！ Most tonkatsu shops also offer free refills of rice, shredded cabbage, and miso soup. One bowl of tonkatsu rice will fill you up. Here are 8 great tonkatsu restaurants — be sure to check them out when you have time！
Don’t let your overseas trip during Chinese New Year be ruined — 6 essential preparations to make before departure
This year’s Chinese New Year holiday lasts nine days, prompting many people to plan international trips for the festive season. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds the public to complete six key preparations and checks before departure to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.
Ebola outbreak strikes again ! Ministry of Foreign Affairs upgrades Sierra Leone travel alert to "red"
In 2014, a large-scale Ebola virus infection outbreak occurred in West Africa, causing severe casualties. Sierra Leone had once announced the end of the outbreak, but it now seems to be making a comeback ! The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that death cases have been reported again in the country, with hundreds of potential infections, so the travel alert for Sierra Leone has been raised to "red," reminding nationals not to travel there.
Enable citizens to return home quickly for the Spring Festival holiday! The Taipei Transfer Station implements off-site disembarkation at 3 locations during the Lunar New Year
The Lunar New Year is approaching, and it is estimated that the return-home rush will begin on Friday, February 5. To help people return home swiftly for the holiday, the Taipei City Department of Transportation has implemented an off-site disembarkation measure for long-distance and through routes at the Taipei Transfer Station. On February 5, 6, and 14, three disembarkation points have been designated outside the transfer station, including the southwest corner of the intersection of Chengde Road and Chang’an West Road, Exit 3 of the Taipei Railway Station’s east side, and the north side of Civic Boulevard (south side of the Taipei Transfer Station). The public is advised to take note.
Creative Chicken Fajitas at Banqiao American Restaurant – and challenge yourself with their Mega Burger!
Banqiao Xinpuxi Station is one of my most frequented spots in Taipei, but I had no idea there was an American restaurant here until I received an invitation. It’s creative, serves big portions, and the food is delicious too. I’ve always loved American cuisine – hearty portions with bold flavors – but the calories are a bit high to eat often. This Busters American Bistro is located right next to Zhili University of Science and Technology, so it’s a go-to eatery in the school district. Being in a school area means relatively more affordable prices, and it’s also a pet-friendly restaurant.
400th Anniversary of Shakespeare's Death: The First Folio Tour Across the U.S.
According to Lonely Planet, there are numerous commemorative events to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of literary giant William Shakespeare. Among them, Shakespeare’s The First Folio will tour all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico — something truly worth looking forward to!
A hipster cafe in Kyoto for a perfect afternoon tea with coffee and cheesecake
The area around Ichijoji is close to Kyoto University of Art and Design and has many unique cafes. Before the Kyoto bus one-day pass was redesigned, you had to pay an extra fare to reach Ichijoji, which was outside the flat-rate zone, so I rarely came here. That day, I had lunch at the main branch of Tenkaippin first, then strolled all the way to Akatsuki Coffee, where I discovered this charming little cafe tucked away in the neighborhood.
Colorful Red Bean Pancakes！Colorful Crust + Dual Fillings – Satisfy 3 Flavors in One Bite
Red bean pancakes can be colorful too！The red bean pancakes from “Dou Chuzi” in Wandan Township, Pingtung, feature crusts that go beyond the traditional single-tone wheat flour mix. Now available in black, red, green, yellow, and brown, paired with creative fillings such as red beans, sesame, soy milk, butter, and taro. Not only are they vibrant in color, but their unique flavors also attract many customers willing to queue up for freshly baked pancakes.
The train stopped halfway down the track ! Taiwan Railways' Shulin overhead line snapped — currently single-line operation only
On the afternoon of the 31st, a Taiwan Railways overhead line snapped near Shulin Station, causing trains to halt on-site. After emergency repairs, single-line operation has resumed, leading to delays for multiple services, with some regional trains delayed by up to 40 minutes.
Eastar Jet and Jin Air to launch Taoyuan–Incheon flights in March Round-trip fares start under NT$5,000
Travelers heading to Seoul, South Korea, will soon have a new budget-friendly option. Two major low-cost carriers in Korea, Eastar Jet and Jin Air, plan to launch Taoyuan–Incheon routes starting in March, with estimated round-trip fares (including taxes and fees) as low as under NT$5,000.
Apart from historical sites and local snacks, here are 5 types of blooming trees to enjoy in Tainan this early spring!
Besides exploring cultural heritage sites, early spring is also a great time for flower viewing in Tainan. Currently, flowering trees across various districts are gradually blooming, including plum blossoms, magenta trumpet trees, yellow trumpet trees, sunflowers, and Bauhinia. To help visitors quickly access flower viewing information, the Tainan City Government Tourism Bureau has launched a “Citywide Flower Viewing Map,” which the public can also help contribute to.
Tainan’s popular “Xiao Jiao Tui” (Little Calf Leg) lamb cuisine — tender and smooth cold-mixed lamb head meat
Next to Ai Zai Cheng on Hai’an Road, there used to be a lamb shop (everyone just called it the lamb stall), but at some point it turned into Xiao Jiao Tui Lamb. I’d heard of the one in Liuying, but wasn’t sure if the two were related. For lunch on Hai’an Road, I figured I’d come here and try a few dishes. Only after going home and looking it up did I realize it was opened by the former head chef of the original Liuying Xiao Jiao Tui Lamb, who said the menu is largely the same as the main store.
One of the most anticipated exhibitions of 2016: London Science Museum’s “Leonardo da Vinci’s Flying Machines”
The Daily Telegraph described the upcoming Leonardo da Vinci science exhibition in London as “one of the exhibitions to look forward to this year.” The special da Vinci exhibition will focus primarily on his contributions to science and engineering, featuring hundreds of sketches of various machines.
Zika virus triggers travel 'red alert' — Tours to Central and South America can get refunds if canceled
In response to the Zika virus outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) established a Zika virus command center this morning, classifying the virus as a Category V notifiable infectious disease. The travel health notice level for Central and South America and the Caribbean has been raised to Level 2 (Alert). To protect consumers' travel rights, tour groups to Central and South America can be canceled with refunds.
Is the fever really over? Ladurée, the famed macaron brand, exits Taiwan
The century-old French patisserie Ladurée, world-renowned for its macarons, made a high-profile entry into Taiwan in 2013 but reportedly plans to withdraw just two years later. Its first Taiwanese store closed last April (2015), while its Taichung outlet and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Xinyi A9 branch will cease operations in late February and early March respectively. Founded in 1862, Ladurée is a French institution with over 75 branches worldwide. In Taiwan, its signature product is the macaron gift box.
Stay sweet even in the cold winter！ All the must-try limited-edition strawberry shaved ice this season are right here
Taiwan has distinct seasons, and different fruits are available in different times of the year. These are then combined with shaved ice or snowflake ice to create seasonal treats — for example, mango shaved ice in summer and strawberry shaved ice in winter. Even though the weather is cold and you might shiver while eating the ice, you just have to keep going. ETtoday Travel Cloud has rounded up limited-edition winter strawberry shaved ice from across northern, central, and southern Taiwan. Find some time to go try them out！
20 kilograms not enough? Air Busan upgrades free baggage allowance by 5 kg round-trip
Air Busan announces that from February 1 to February 19, 2016, passengers traveling round-trip from Taiwan to Busan on Air Busan can enjoy an additional 5 kg allowance, totaling 25 kg of free checked baggage, making it more convenient to bring souvenirs and luggage.
Traveling to Taitung just got more expensive: Paid parking at Fugang Port & entry fees at Forest Park starting March
The cost of traveling to Taitung is going up. To provide better parking and tourism environments, Taitung County Government will implement paid roadside parking at Fugang Port starting February—small vehicles pay NT$10 per half-hour and large vehicles NT$20. Meanwhile, Taitung Forest Park will also begin charging for usage, cleaning, and maintenance fees in sync, officially starting March 1. Full fare is NT$30, half fare NT$20.
The Dadi Hotel Launches Valentine’s Day Stay Package: One Night with Two Meals Plus a Free Gold Necklace
This winter has been especially cold, so why not warm up your romance with a hot spring getaway this Valentine’s Day? From February 12 to March 14, the Dadi Hotel is offering a limited-edition “Love You Forever Valentine’s Stay Package” priced at NT$20,999 per room. The package includes one night in a Maple Forest Room, an evening Western-style Valentine’s set menu, a double breakfast, free access to public onsen facilities, and most uniquely, a handmade gold necklace from “This Life Jewelry” as a romantic gift for each room.