Travel
Gassho-style villages can be found in Taiwan too！ 5 New Attractions in Central Taiwan to Visit During the Spring Festival Holiday
The Spring Festival holiday has begun, but you haven’t decided where to spend this long break yet? In addition to the various ongoing lantern festivals, from mid-2015 to early 2016, many new attractions have been added across Taiwan. Following our coverage of Northern Taiwan, this article compiles a list of “New Must-Visit Travel Destinations in Central Taiwan for the Lunar New Year.” If you haven’t decided where to go for an outdoor adventure, those in central Taiwan may want to take note.
A standalone double-story glass house in the garden – Yilan’s super-popular à la carte cuisine
There are over thirty à la carte restaurants in Yilan, and the uniquely designed [glass house] is widely known but also receives mixed reviews. The so-called “à la carte cuisine” means diners pay per person (or per table), with prices ranging from 600, 800... and even no upper limit. As for what dishes you’ll get? It depends on the ingredients the restaurant has purchased that day (or that season), or the creative dishes that pop into the chef’s mind. Dining on à la carte cuisine is like going on an exciting, adventurous fantasy journey.
Where to go during the Spring Festival? 4 Historic Districts in Pingtung City with Well-Preserved Classic Architecture
There are 4 historic spaces in Pingtung worth visiting: Shengli Veterans' Village, Lingyun Veterans' Village, Pingtung Tobacco Factory, and the Old Pingtung Pulp Mill. Each of these four sites holds stories worth preserving and protecting. To revitalize historical architecture, the Pingtung City Government has launched the "Golden Finger" initiative, encouraging visitors to explore Pingtung while also reflecting on how these old buildings can be repurposed.
From Bao’an Temple to Dadaocheng: Taipei’s Lunar New Year prayers and cultural creativity
The Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism has specially planned a Lunar New Year prayer route under the theme “Taipei Monkey Cheeks Lunar New Year Itinerary,” recommending locals and travelers to join festive activities or explore major attractions. It invites both domestic and international visitors to come to Taipei to pray for the new year and immerse themselves in the vibrant Lunar New Year atmosphere.
A popular hotpot spot from Kaohsiung that’s now making waves in Taichung—made with bone broth and dried flatfish simmered with vegetables
The Nantun branch of “New New Yuan Shantou Hotpot” in Taichung is located on Dadun 11th Street in Nantun District, Taichung City, right next to Poya. Its large yellow-and-blue sign is super eye-catching and easy to spot. The mouthwatering dishes displayed on the sign will definitely make you want to rush in and dig in. Parking around here is pretty convenient, and driving here is totally fine. From now until 2/14, diners who check in will receive an abalone per person for the whole table—so hurry on down if you love hotpot!
The Ren’ai branch is the first store of Shuangsheng on the stage — its sundaes and ice cream are the most nostalgic.
Established in San Francisco in 1948, Shuangsheng Western Restaurant was introduced to Taiwan by the Heshimeng Group 31 years ago. Recently, it was announced that the Ren’ai branch will cease operations after February 15, sparking a wave of returning customers. For longtime Taipei residents, the Ren’ai branch of Shuangsheng holds shared memories, especially its ice cream, beloved by many.
The flowers are in full bloom！ Enjoy a light bus trip to Plum Blossom Mountain in Tainan during the Spring Festival
Due to the warm winter this year, the plum blossom season at Meiling in Nansi District, a major plum blossom destination in southern Taiwan, has been extended to the Lunar New Year. Plum blossoms can be seen blooming along hiking trails throughout the area, attracting many visitors to the mountains. The Tainan City Transportation Bureau announced that additional bus services will be operated on Green 22 Branch Line of the Greater Tainan Bus system during the Spring Festival. Travelers are encouraged to take advantage of these bus services for a light and enjoyable trip to Meiling to admire the plum blossoms.
The aroma of coffee wafts from vintage buildings—soak in the century-old charm of Tainan’s history.
Tainan is a city where old and new cultures collide, sparking creativity. In recent years, heritage light travel has become popular. Today, Pingzi wants to take you to a century-old red-brick building—a historic café called Zhengxing Café. Besides serving delicious brunches and letting you enjoy coffee in an old house, it now also offers homestay accommodations, perfect for exploring southern Taiwan.
Ring in the New Year at the Taitung Art Museum with a bang and a boom—here’s a full roundup of 7 major events and performances!
The East Coast has plenty of fun during the Lunar New Year holidays. During the Spring Festival, the Taitung Art Museum is hosting the “2016 Lunar New Year Blessings & Energetic Dance Festival,” inviting a variety of performance troupes—including magicians, bands, and dance groups—to keep travelers, locals, and those returning home entertained. Enjoy spectacular shows while also getting to know more about Taitung’s local performing arts scene.
Three Major Attractions Across Taiwan to Draw Huge Crowds During Lunar New Year Holiday | Check Out the Traffic Management Guide Here
This year’s Lunar New Year holiday stretches an impressive nine days, from February 6 to February 14. The Directorate General of Highways anticipates severe congestion around three major hotspots during this period. Additionally, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival — ranked among the “must-do-in-a-lifetime” experiences — is also expected to attract massive crowds. Traffic controls will be enforced around Pingtung’s Shan Chuan Glass Bridge and Chiayi’s National Palace Museum Southern Branch. The Directorate General of Highways has also implemented traffic management measures for sections prone to congestion.
Whose high heels fell in the fields? 6 New Must-Visit Spots in Southern Taiwan During the Spring Festival Holiday
From the end of 2015 to early 2016, eye-catching new attractions have opened across Taiwan. If you haven’t had the chance to visit them yet, take advantage of the 9-day Spring Festival holiday to check them out. Following our roundups of Northern and Central Taiwan, this article compiles the “New Must-Visit Travel Destinations in Southern Taiwan for the Lunar New Year,” for your reference.
Tainan now has high-end wagyu yakiniku restaurants too – the blissful taste of tender, marbled happiness
Who would’ve thought that Tainan, once known for its street food culture, has seen a surge of upscale yakiniku spots this past year? This article introduces a new yakiniku brand launched by Tainan’s long-established steakhouse, Ouna → 【Ouna Charcoal Yakiniku】. It’s amazing that what used to be found only in central and northern Taiwan — high-end wagyu yakiniku restaurants — can now be enjoyed right here in Tainan as well！
14 floats + a fireworks show with a thousand performers！ Macau’s annual float parade kicks off on the third day of the Lunar New Year
Visiting Macau during the Lunar New Year? Don’t miss the float parade performances！ On the third (February 10) and sixth (February 13) days of the Lunar New Year, Macau will host a large-scale outdoor celebration event themed “Lucky Stars Shine on Macau – The Monkey Year Float Parade & Show.” The program includes float parades, performances by a thousand participants, fireworks, and float exhibitions. This year, the event is uniquely tied together by the story of the Monkey King, and for the first time ever, features a multimedia-themed opening performance.
Book Spring Festival flights to Japan for cherry blossoms and strawberry picking – Peach Aviation flights to Osaka/Tokyo from just ¥1,280
Peach Aviation has launched a ticket promotion for destinations such as Osaka, Okinawa, and Tokyo starting February 8, with one-way fares as low as ¥1,280. Travel dates are valid from February 15 to June 30.
Your Own Private Space: A Hands-On Review of Staying at a Dotonbori Capsule Hotel in Osaka
Capsule hotels are a relatively new type of accommodation that has gained popularity in recent years. Although the space is compact and you have to share bathrooms and common areas with other guests, their simplicity and affordability have made this lightweight lodging option a hit with many. On his trip to Japan, Nakamura chose a capsule hotel as his accommodation, and now he’s here to share what it’s really like inside these mysterious little pods.
Visiting Mitsui Outlet Park during the holidays for shopping and gourmet food — these 4 restaurants will test your patience in waiting
The opening of Mitsui Outlet Park in Linkou has already become a hot topic, with huge crowds flocking in on holidays, especially when it comes to restaurant dining — spots are hard to come by. The food court is often fully packed, and some popular eateries require one to two hours just to place an order. Among them, the super-popular Temari no Hoshi Kinjiro can have wait times of up to three hours. If you really want to try it, you’ll need serious patience for the long queues.
Unlimited rice congee with lard and stir-fried rice noodles — Taichung’s affordable hotpot at just 99 NT
In recent years, as prices have risen, the 99 NT price tag has quietly disappeared. But there’s still this veteran eatery, 【Pier 9】, that remains true to its roots — offering great value without compromising on quality. It continues to stick with the 99 NT pricing, and several branches in Taichung are still bustling with business. In the past, I often went to the Chongde and Wucyuan West branches, but this time I especially arranged to meet up for a meal at the new Zhonggong branch near the World Trade Center, which I hadn’t visited before.
The Flavor of Old Taipei: 5 Must-Try Local Delicacies at Yongle Market
Originally, Taipei’s Dihua Street only drew crowds during the annual New Year Goods Street event, but in recent years, local and government efforts to promote cultural creativity have transformed many old buildings into creative hubs. Cafés and cultural brands have moved in, making the area around Yongle Market a year-round destination. It’s also a foodie hotspot, home to five must-try local delicacies: flying fish rice noodle soup, cuttlefish thick soup, rice vermicelli, fried glutinous oil rice, and chicken rice bento.
Watch the sunset and enjoy dinner on the sandy beach—romantic seaside restaurants in Sentosa, Singapore
Sentosa in Singapore is a famous tourist attraction, but I almost missed it due to some circumstances. Thanks to the suggestion of a Singaporean friend, I squeezed Sentosa into my itinerary. However, by the time we got there, it was already late in the day, so we couldn’t visit many places. We decided to take a walk by the sea and watch the sunset. Unexpectedly, besides the beautiful sunset, we also discovered a romantic restaurant by the beach—one of the most memorable experiences of the trip.
Visiting the Blue Print Cultural and Creative Park and the Lai Department Store is super convenient — there are 658 bus services passing by daily.
Tainan City’s new Spring Festival attraction this year, the Blue Print Cultural and Creative Park, is expected to draw large crowds. The Tainan City Transportation Bureau has developed a traffic management plan for the area around the park. Zhang Zhengyuan, Director of the Tainan City Transportation Bureau, stated that 12 Da-Tainan Bus routes with a total of 658 daily services pass by the Blue Print Cultural and Creative Park. He recommends that visitors make use of the convenient and frequent Da-Tainan Bus services to explore the city during the Spring Festival.