Travel
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival 20TN Giant “Two Hearts United Lantern” Takes Flight Romantically on Valentine’s Day
The second event of the 2016 New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, the “Two Hearts United, Love Settled in Pingxi” Blessing Lantern Ceremony, romantically kicked off at Pingxi Junior High School on the 14th. The highlight was the 6-meter-tall, approximately two-story-high 20TN “Two Hearts United Lantern,” jointly released by President Ma Ying-jeou and New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Hou Yu-ih. 99+101 heart-shaped lanterns also ascended into the sky under the witness of distinguished guests and foreign envoys stationed in Taiwan, symbolizing many beautiful and touching love stories.
Popular Late-Night Street Food in Changhua: Satisfyingly Chewy "Rufu Rice"
Located near Yongfu Street beside the Confucius Temple, when I arrived around 10:40 PM, it was still being prepared and rather quiet. But as it approached 11 PM, people started showing up one after another? Seeing that, I quickly moved forward—only to find that the first spot was already taken by an elderly lady. Huh? Suddenly a line formed behind her, with even more elderly folks joining in. In Changhua, this is probably the idea that... no matter what time it is, you’ve got to have your rufu rice. (The young folks fall behind—they lost out to the elders and ended up at the back of the line~)
Top 10 Most Popular BBQ Restaurants in Taiwan – Tian Jifa Ye Claims the No. 1 Spot
Aside from hot pot, Taiwanese people must also have a great love for barbecue. You can find all kinds of BBQ restaurants across Taiwan, offering everything from affordable all-you-can-eat options to high-quality à la carte meals. So, which style do netizens prefer the most? Dailyview’s Online Popularity Meter has ranked the top 10 BBQ restaurants based on online buzz. The No. 1 spot goes to the all-you-can-eat Tian Jifa Ye, followed by Japan’s Gyukaku Yakiniku (which also offers both à la carte and all-you-can-eat options) in second place, and the upscale La Kuan Bei taking third.
A Romantic Getaway with Dog "Sprite" – Admire 25,000 LED White Roses on Valentine’s Day
Aside from dining out with your loved one on Valentine’s Day, travelers abroad can also head to Hong Kong to enjoy a “sea of roses”! The “LED Rose Garden,” which previously caused a huge sensation in Dongdaemun, Seoul, South Korea, has made its way to the Central Harbourfront Promenade in Hong Kong. The exhibition features around 25,000 LED white roses. The event coincides with both Western Valentine’s Day and the Chinese Lantern Festival (February 14 to February 22), and best of all, it offers “free admission.”
Take the bus to explore the "Colorful Ancient Capital" – Tainan’s Floral Festival Blooms All Over the City
The 2016 Tainan Floral Festival runs from February 4 to February 25, spanning 22 days. Both Shuiping Park and Shuijiao She Park, the venues of the festival, have their own unique themes and are accessible via multiple city bus routes. They are also close to the popular new attraction, the Blueprint Cultural and Creative Park. Zhang Zhengyuan, Director of Tainan City’s Transportation Bureau, recommends that visitors take a light urban bus trip to enjoy the Tainan Floral Festival, which can help avoid traffic jams or the hassle of finding parking and thus preserve the joy of the visit.
Cherry blossom chasing in Japan: A hidden gem loved by locals – Hachitsurumizuumi Lake, beautiful both day and night
I’m often asked during speeches if I have any off-the-beaten-path spots to recommend. Haha, in this age of advanced internet, what secrets are left? How could there still be hidden gems?? Indeed, the internet has made travel information so transparent and convenient. But precisely because of that, everyone can easily find the information and get there. And if you can even speak the local language, then all the local info becomes completely exposed, Up~ So, in this day and age, there really aren’t many secret spots left.
Head to Japan for a flower-viewing trip!* The top 5 flower festivals at Huis Ten Bosch in the first half of 2016
Huis Ten Bosch, located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, features not only amusement facilities and museums but also hosts grand flower festivals at different times of the year. The 2016 flower festivals at Huis Ten Bosch have begun. ETtoday EBC News Cloud has specially compiled a lazy guide to the first half of the year’s flower festivals at Huis Ten Bosch — let’s go flower viewing together at these five wonderful events.
Free to admire works by Picasso and Dalí！Stockholm museums now open to the public for free
Since last September, the Swedish government has allocated a budget to increase the number of free museums available to the public. In February this year, these venues began offering free entry one after another. For tourists, this is truly great news. For example, the Moderna Museet’s permanent exhibitions are definitely worth seeing, featuring works by Picasso, Dalí, and many artists from the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Not just Harmony of the Seas or Seven Seas Cruises！Luxury new cruise ships to look forward to in 2016
According to the UK's Daily Mail, many new cruise ships will embark on their maiden voyages this year, 2016. Some, as reported, will only set sail in 2018. Below are the features and highlights of these cruise ships—don’t miss out if you’re a cruise enthusiast！
You Can Be a Model Too！ 9 Café Photo Spots Loved by Online Models
Ever wondered while browsing online shops how models always find cafés with perfect lighting and ambiance, effortlessly snapping stunning photos without heavy editing? No need to envy them anymore！ Follow the steps of OpenRice to these 9 cafés favored by models, and you can take equally beautiful photos just like them. Find some time to go snap some photos now！
Soak in a floral wonderland at this limited-time pink bathhouse near Tokyo Skytree
When traveling in Japan, experiencing local culture is a must, and one unique way to immerse yourself in everyday Japanese life is by visiting a "sento" (public bathhouse). A recent sento in Tokyo has been transformed by internationally renowned photographer Mika Ninagawa into an incredible bathing space adorned with vibrant floral art, offering visitors a one-of-a-kind soak surrounded by blossoms — available from now until the end of March.
Air Busan Celebrates 5th Anniversary of Taipei–Busan Route with Flights from NT$800
Air Busan announced that from 10:00 on February 16 to 15:00 on February 17, it will hold its twice-yearly FLY & SALE promotion, offering round-trip flights between Taipei / Kaohsiung and Busan for just NT$800 one way.
New Photo Hotspot in Hualien City: The Hilarious "Leaning Barrel Monkeys"
No need to travel all the way to Taipei to take photos with the leaning postbox — Hualien now has two super cute "Leaning Barrel Monkeys" to snap selfies with. Created by the Hualien City Government as festive street art installations for the Year of the Monkey, these sculptures are made from repurposed oil barrels and hand-painted. Placed at the intersection of Zhongshan Road and Shangxiao Street in Hualien, the one red and one green monkey with their hands on their hips are both lively and amusing, drawing many visitors for photos.
Nagoya delicacy "Yaba Miso Pork Cutlet" makes its debut; First branch opens on February 18
Following in the footsteps of Apricot Pork Cutlet and Katsuzen Pork Cutlet, yet another Japanese-style pork cutlet is set to arrive in Taiwan. This time, it’s Nagoya’s famous "Yaba Miso Pork Cutlet." The first-generation owner of Yaba Miso Pork, Suzuki Yoshio, discovered by chance that deep-fried pork skewers tasted great when served in a miso donabe pot. After countless trials, he founded Yaba Miso Pork Cutlet in 1947. In addition to drizzling thick red miso sauce over the pork cutlets, the restaurant still offers the original style of serving deep-fried pork skewers in a miso donabe pot.
Early spring is the most beautiful time at Aowanda Forest Recreation Area ! Walk along the trails to admire waterfalls and the crimson double-petal cherry blossoms covering the mountains.
The cherry blossom season has arrived. The crimson double-petal cherry blossoms in Nantou’s Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area have already bloomed, and the finale — the Musha cherry blossoms — are expected to be at their best starting early March, continuing through mid-March. They have already attracted a large number of blossom-viewing tourists. In addition to admiring the cherry blossoms, visitors can explore two newly renovated themed trails in Aowanda: the Waterfall Trail and the Maple Forest Trail, immersing themselves in nature.
Seafood Platter is the Star Dish！Taichung’s Late-Night Dining “Hotpot” Specialty Shop
The shop is located right at the intersection of Section 2, Gōngyì Road, and Yǒngchūn East 7th Road. No matter which way you come from, you’ll see its sign at the crossroads — it’s pretty easy to find. There are also quite a few parking spots nearby. It’s open from 4 pm to midnight, but you can actually keep eating until 1 am, so if you’re craving a late-night snack after 10 pm, you can still enjoy some hot food here.
Too cold from the cold wave！ Wuling cherry blossoms have only bloomed 30%, with the cherry blossom season possibly extended further
In previous years, the cherry blossoms at Wuling Farm were in full bloom, always attracting large crowds of visitors to the mountains to admire the sea of pink across the valleys. But this year, many might be disappointed. Due to the impact of the January super cold wave, many cherry blossom buds were damaged by the frost and their flowering sequences disrupted. Currently, only 30% of the cherry blossoms at Wuling Farm have bloomed. Wuling Farm and the Directorate General of Highways under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications will soon discuss whether to extend the season based on blossom conditions and visitor turnout, with a decision expected as early as Friday.
V Air to launch Taipei–Manila route on March 27, making travel to the Philippines more convenient
Following the successive launch of multiple Japanese routes, V Air also plans to launch the Taipei–Manila route on March 27, becoming the second low-cost airline after Cebu Pacific to operate flights to Manila.
3D Dinosaur Murals, Giant Chess Sets – 10 Fun Installations at Riverside Parks
With the rise of leisure culture, many people want to go for walks, jogs, bike rides, or walk their pets without traveling far, making riverside parks a top choice for such activities. In recent years, riverside parks have evolved beyond just sports fields, with many now featuring adorable and interesting installation art. According to a DailyView online poll, here are 10 of the most beloved riverside park installations among netizens – why not plan a visit this holiday?
Matcha lovers, this one’s for you！Heiming Ganweichu Shilin Branch begins trial operation on February 11
In addition to the main store and Zhongxiao branch, the third Heiming Ganweichu location—Shilin Branch—started trial operations on February 11. For all you matcha enthusiasts out there, here’s another great spot to enjoy delicious matcha treats.