The Keelung National Museum of Marine Science & Technology, once featured in The New York Times as one of the “52 Places to Go in 2014,” will remain open daily from the first to the seventh day of the Lunar New Year (Feb 8–14) in 2016, closing only on New Year’s Eve (Feb 7). Operating hours will be extended until 6 p.m., and tickets purchased before noon from the first to the fifth day of the New Year will be half price. The museum has lined up an exciting lineup of activities for the holiday season, including the all-Asia premiere of an IMAX 3D film, dual special exhibitions covering art and environmental themes, and DIY workshops. Why not visit the museum for a festive outing and a movie?
Want to enjoy unlimited oysters? From February 15 to March 31, Hanlai Harbor Restaurant is offering a springtime limited-edition selection of Washington oysters, with the chef presenting their deliciousness through various cooking methods.
The Lantern Festival is approaching, and lantern festival events are kicking off all over Taiwan ! Taiwanese people traditionally visit lantern festivals during this time to admire the lanterns and join in the festive atmosphere . Ever since the main lantern of the Taipei Lantern Festival , the “ Fortune - Prosperity Monkey ” , was unveiled , it has sparked quite a buzz and become a popular search keyword online . In fact , the main lanterns at various lantern zones across Taiwan each have their own unique features . Below , we’ve rounded up six lantern zone main lanterns — come see just how special they are !
China Airlines has partnered with the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the first time to launch the "Taiwan Supports Taiwan" baseball-themed flight. Passengers will travel to Japan on the same flight as CPBL national team players to cheer for Taiwan and witness "Taiwan’s Slugger" Chen Chin-Feng compete in an international event before his retirement. The trip runs from March 3 to March 7, a five-day, four-night journey, and tickets went on sale at noon on February 3 via the China Airlines website.
Taiwan sees around 500–600 couples getting married overseas each year. Recognizing this growing trend, Japan’s Prince Hotels have, since 2016, entered into an exclusive partnership with Taiwanese wedding planner Chee’s Wedding. Through Chee’s Wedding, Taiwanese couples can plan their ceremonies at the wedding chapels of Prince Hotels in Karuizawa, Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Otsu—creating romantic memories for their once-in-a-lifetime event.
Osaka Yakiniku Futago is a renowned yakiniku specialty store from Japan known for its “beef grilling.” The flagship store gained popularity in Meguro, Tokyo, with branches expanding from Tokyo to Osaka, and in recent years crossing over to Taiwan, now spread across Taipei, Hsinchu, and Kaohsiung. Every yakiniku outlet in Taiwan has Japanese grill masters stationed, offering an extensive and exquisitely prepared selection of grilled beef cuts — so much so that nearly every table has a chef grilling for you.
After the passing of Chang Yung-fa, the founder and former chairman of the Evergreen Group, the Evergreen Group specially set up a memorial hall at the Chang Yung-fa Foundation. The hall was open to the public for paying respects from January 27 to February 5. President Ma Ying-jeou personally visited the memorial hall today (February 4) at 11:00 a.m. to present a citation in recognition of Chang Yung-fa’s contributions to Taiwan’s economic and trade development as well as his philanthropic endeavors.
The Nantou Lantern Festival was held with great fanfare in Jiji Town on February 6th. The main lantern "Monkey Brings Fortune," located at Wuchang Palace Square, made its debut and quickly became a major attraction. Many visitors stopped to admire and take photos with it, making it a new local landmark. Additionally, the 1.8-kilometer-long lantern area along the route has been gradually completed, encircling Jiji Town’s bustling district. With 12 uniquely themed lantern zones, each more dazzling than the last, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Along the road, you might spot foot massage parlors bearing Father Wu’s name, but to experience the most authentic version of Father Wu’s foot reflexology, you must visit Changbin in Taitung. Father Wu Roselius, originally from Switzerland, stumbled upon the world of foot reflexology during his time in Taiwan, which then led him down a path of research. Later, he passed on this wellness method to local residents in Changbin, helping them make a living through this skill.
Huh? Why are Chibi Maruko-Chan and Satsuki at Kaohsiung MRT?! It turns out that Kaohsiung MRT’s Formosa Boulevard Station has been transformed into a Chibi Maruko-Chan scene. The immensely popular anime character in Japan has recently collaborated with Kaohsiung MRT to bring the shrine and park from the anime to the station, allowing visitors to revisit classic scenes from the show in a familiar setting.
To accommodate the transportation needs of residents on outlying islands and reduce the environmental impact caused by tourists, Pingtung County Government and Kaohsiung Hsinchuang Bus Co., Ltd. jointly launched the Xiaoliuqiu Island-Loop Bus, which officially began service today (February 5).
The cherry blossom season is arriving slightly earlier than usual this year. The Lunar New Year holiday happens to coincide with the best time to view the blossoms, which will be in full bloom for about a month. The Taipei City Government’s Department of Urban Development has recommended 24 cherry blossom and prayer trails where the public can go out with family and friends during the Spring Festival, stroll along the trails, and make new year wishes.
To get to Eguisheim, I set off early from my brother’s home in Geneva. Before I left, he made me a soft-boiled egg, which he sandwiched in a burger bun along with cheese slices and honey, and also washed an apple for me to eat on the train. Before boarding, I bought a cappuccino and a bottle of mineral water.
The 2016 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival Arts Festival kicked off along the Love River on February 10th and ran for 13 consecutive days of excitement. In addition to over 30 large-scale creative lantern installations and more than 100 traditional lanterns adorning the Love River banks, there were dazzling daily fireworks and water dance shows. The ultra-eye-catching 12-meter-tall 3D spiral slide, specially imported from Germany, became the biggest highlight of the festival.
Because the mall I originally planned to visit had postponed its opening, I unexpectedly stumbled upon Forest Café. It opens early, so you can enjoy brunch right away—I think that’s great because many cafés don’t open until the afternoon, which makes it tricky to grab coffee in the morning. But at Forest Café, no worries!
Lunar New Year is approaching. During the holiday season, besides enjoying great food, it's also time for family reunions and outings. The New Taipei City Government’s Tourism and Travel Bureau recommends six exciting "Monkey" themed light travel routes for the New Year. Whether you want to slow down from the hustle and bustle of daily life or soak up the festive atmosphere, exploring New Taipei’s hidden gems during the holidays promises a joyful and prosperous start to the year.
When you see a long line, don’t you wonder what everyone’s waiting for? Is it really that good? So you join the queue, even if it means waiting over an hour or longer. Gradually, a long queue seems to indicate the place probably won’t disappoint. According to Woke Island, there are three main reasons people are willing to wait in line: great value for money, a long-standing reputation, or innovative dishes that blow your mind. See how many of these places you’ve queued for?
Many people used to think that "travel" meant enduring long and tiring journeys abroad to be considered a real trip. But as times have changed, for today’s busy modern families, simply seizing quality time together, going on a road trip, and creating lasting memories is an irreplaceable family adventure.
Recently, my foodie friends have been sharing photos of curry rice more often than usual. Upon closer inspection, they were all from the same place—the shop has an amusing name: "Okaeri, You’re Back!" I couldn’t let this slide, especially since I love curry. Without hesitation, I headed straight there.
With the nine-day Spring Festival holiday upon us, how will people spend their time? To celebrate the Year of the Monkey, the "Zhujian Line" of HowToTrip, which officially launched in January, has prepared two super cute monkeys on the bus to ride along with passengers and experience the charm of Hsinchu. Additionally, there’s a special Chinese New Year offer: from now until February 14, the entire line is free to try.