Travel
One of Taiwan’s 12 Major Festivals – Kaohsiung Neimen’s Songjiang Battle Array Kicks Off on April 2, Featuring Water Dance & Fireworks Show
The “2016 Kaohsiung Neimen Songjiang Battle Array” is one of Taiwan’s twelve major festivals. The event will open at night on April 2 and run for nine consecutive days until April 10, taking place at the Shunxian Temple in Neimen, Kaohsiung. Highlights include a national martial arts competition, local banquet feasts, and a water dance fireworks show.
Visitors aged 16 and above are prohibited from wearing cartoon costumes – Shanghai Disneyland has many entry rules
Shanghai Disney Resort launched ticket sales for the theme park on the 28th, with opening day tickets selling out within minutes and the website crashing temporarily. But do you think getting a ticket guarantees smooth entry? Based on safety and civility concerns, the resort has strict regulations on visitors’ attire, items brought in, and behavior – arguably the most stringent entry requirements ever.
Late-night ramen at Fengyuan’s Unbe Ramen – their signature “Demon Claw” ribs are bigger than the bowl itself
I’d long wanted to try Unbe Ramen’s Demon Claw ramen, but Fengyuan is quite far from where I live, and I usually can’t be bothered to make the trip just for ramen. However, one day, thanks to a colleague’s suggestion and the fact that I attend an English book club in Fengyuan every Wednesday, we mustered up the enthusiasm to head out despite the chilly cold wave. Even before our visit, we’d heard that Unbe Ramen is often packed, but when we arrived, there was no line at all XD
The “Scenic Poetry” season is coming soon – Kyoto’s top 3 classic “cooling platforms”
From May each year, as the weather warms up, Kyoto enters its summer “Scenic Poetry” season. Along the riverbanks, shops set up “cooling platforms” (also called “stream platforms”). This tradition, passed down since the Meiji era, sees most establishments with cooling platforms opening in the evening. Guests sit on elevated seats along the riverside, enjoying the cool breeze and the sound of flowing water – a summer spectacle unique to Kyoto.
Brewed with authentic Taiwanese tea leaves—newly opened bubble tea shop in Taichung
This time, we’re introducing a “Da Ming Taiwanese Tea Handcrafted Specialty Store” that uses 100% Taiwanese tea and has passed all SGS inspections. Da Ming is located on Dazhi Road in East District, Taichung, right across from the Dayeh Takashimaya New Era Mall. The owner is a tea farmer himself and was previously a supplier to many bubble tea shops. His homemade tea gift boxes have even won the top award in the “2011 and 2013 Taichung Top 10 Local Souvenirs.”
Sukhothai Celebrates Songkran with a Culinary Festival Featuring Flavors from Across Thailand
Taipei Sheraton Sukhothai Thai Restaurant is hosting the “Journey Through the Thai Flavor Map” Songkran feast from April 8 to April 17. Thai Chef Ms. Rapeeporn Sillapakit (also known as Chef Ah-Tong) showcases the culinary highlights of Thailand’s northern, central, and southern regions, drawing inspiration from their unique local flavors. Featured dishes include the spicy and bouncy “Northern Thai Grilled Sausage” (NT$480+10%), the traditional royal dish “Thai Tom Yum Seafood Glass Noodles” (NT$620+10%), the richly coconut-flavored “Stir-Fried Pickled Mustard Greens with Red Curry” (NT$1,080+10%), and the velvety-smooth “Red Curry Salmon” with a mousse-like texture (NT$720+10%), among others.
Thai National Culinary Team Guest Chefs at Evergreen Phoenix & Must-Try 8 Gold-Medal Dishes
Unlike many hotels that invite Michelin-starred chefs to Taiwan, Evergreen Phoenix Hotel (Jiaoxi) is the first to host the 7-member "Thai National Culinary Team" led by Willment Leong, an international A-grade judge of the World Association of Chefs' Societies. Although the guest appearance lasts only until early April, their over 40 dishes blending tradition and innovation in modern Thai cuisine will be available until May 31. Chef Willment Leong also recommends 8 must-try gold-medal dishes for Taiwanese diners.
Taipei Caesar Park Hotel Launches Teacher Appreciation Package – Get Afternoon Tea Coupons When Booking Before April 30
Although graduation season is still some time away, Taipei Caesar Park Hotel is ahead of the game with its “Cheers to Youth” teacher appreciation package, allowing students to plan ahead. At the Checkers buffet restaurant on the 2F, booking for 30 students will entitle you to one complimentary teacher, and 50 students will get you two. Each invited teacher will also receive a beautifully prepared macaron gift box from the restaurant. Those who book and pay a deposit before April 30 will additionally receive two weekday afternoon tea coupons.
Step into a time tunnel – The Yuanshan Heritage Museum, home to 64 years of treasured artifacts, officially opens
The “Yuanshan Heritage Museum,” which showcases hotel memorabilia, officially opened on the morning of the 29th. Starting now, it will be open to guests for free every Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays) from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Li Jianrong, Chairman of the Grand Hotel Taipei, stated that this over 60-year-old building holds more than half a century of historical records, including the growth trajectory of Taiwan’s politics and economy, as well as countless touching stories from guests.
Tigerair Taiwan Celebrates Children's Day with Free Tickets for Kids Aged 2 to 11
To celebrate the upcoming Children's Day, Tigerair Taiwan will launch a promotional campaign across all routes tomorrow (30th), offering either free or 70% off children's tickets. Eligible destinations include Tokyo (Narita & Haneda), Osaka, Nagoya, Okinawa, Fukuoka, Singapore, Bangkok Don Mueang, Zhangjiajie, Macau, Kota Kinabalu, as well as South Korea’s Daegu, which will begin flights on May 5th — totaling 12 destinations and 15 routes.
A 40TN container truck has been transformed into a “mobile museum,” which will make its debut in Dawan, Pingtung today.
A 40TN container truck has been converted into a “mobile museum,” making its first appearance today (29th) in Longshui Village, Hengchun Township. From now until April 17th, the mobile museum will host a special exhibition at the Dawan Recreation Area. Through this “Taiwan Literature Mobile Museum”—a 40TN container truck repurposed for the role—visitors from all over can learn about Pingtung writers via audiovisual interactive displays.
Super adorable！Hundreds of cherry blossom bears take over Tokyo Tower & HowToTrip capitalizes on cute economy to win over Japanese travelers
For the first time ever, Reignair’s iconic flight attendant bear made its international debut, with over 100 cherry blossom bears dressed in traditional kimonos taking to Japan’s iconic landmark, Tokyo Tower, on the 29th to vie for Japanese tourist dollars. Jiang Xuxian, General Manager of HowToTrip’s Northeast Asia region, said that since the beginning of this year, the daily number of Japanese passengers flying to Taiwan on Reignair flights has tripled compared to the same period last year. Moreover, Japanese passengers account for half of the total on return flights from Tokyo and Osaka, with those from Tokyo making up the majority.
A must-visit ultimate destination before you die! A 10-minute walkable town — Austria’s “most beautiful village in the world”
If you could choose just one most beautiful town in the world to stay in for two days, where would you most want to go? Hallstatt in central Austria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is regarded by many travelers as the “most beautiful town in the world.” There’s no other reason than that living there means being surrounded by breathtaking scenery — even a paradise on earth couldn’t fully describe it.
Travelers, take note: Japan’s entry forms updated on 4/1 — gender and passport number fields removed
Japan’s Ministry of Justice has announced that the foreign visitor entry forms for Japan will be updated on April 1. The new version of the entry form will no longer include fields for gender or passport number, and the signature field will be moved to the front of the form. The Taipei Office of the Interchange Association, Japan, stated that the old forms currently distributed by travel agencies can still be used, but travelers should use them up as soon as possible.
Not just Akamaru and Shiromaru – Ippudo to launch 4 new ramen flavors starting April 1
As Ippudo’s presence in Taiwan approaches its fourth anniversary, the brand will unveil four new ramen flavors just before the milestone: “Rich Soy Sauce,” “Ippudo Black,” “Light Salt Xi,” and “Rich Miso.” The new flavors will be available starting April 1. Additionally, all eight Ippudo locations across Taiwan will offer 40 free servings of the new ramen flavors at both opening time and 5 PM daily from April 1 to 4.
Misty Beauty: The Stunning Lakes and Mountains of Lofoten in Norway
(2015.07.28) I woke up to the sound of heavy rain. As I pushed open the window, I was greeted by layers of thick mist and fog outside, which immediately filled me with concern. That day’s plan was to hike the Reinebringen trail in the town of Reine — the most important and anticipated activity of our trip to Lofoten. But with the pouring rain, not only would the stunning beauty of Lofoten be overshadowed, but the hike up Reinebringen would also become far more dangerous. From blogs we had seen online, we knew this was an extremely challenging trek...
Extended praise again！ Keikyu Electric Railway turns into Taiwan Railways’ ordinary express train, running in Japan until June
To mark the upcoming first anniversary of its friendship agreement with Taiwan’s Railway Administration, Keikyu Electric Railway (Keikyu) has specially painted one of its 2100 series trains to resemble Taiwan Railways’ ordinary express train starting in February. Many netizens were moved upon seeing it, commenting “Taiwan-Japan friendship” and “it’s nostalgic and touching.” Keikyu and Taiwan Railways recently reached a consensus to extend the originally planned run of the painted train, which was scheduled to operate only until March 26, now set to continue running until early June.
Exclusive Preview: Pingtung’s Colorful Rice Festival Teams Up with EVA Air, Featuring Planes and City Gates in the Fields
Pingtung’s Colorful Rice Life festival is set to take place from April 1 to May 8 in Longshui Community, Pingtung County. This year’s colorful rice design is a collaboration with EVA Air, featuring a 3D painted airplane motif. The Pingtung County Government today (29th) unveiled aerial photos of the colorful rice fields for the first time. Composed of five different colored rice varieties, the design combines an airplane motif with the image of Hengchun’s city gate, creating a highly eye-catching display.
A Leisurely Island-Hopping Tour of the Seto Inland Sea: Ghost Island and Trash Island Take Center Stage at the "International Art Festival"
Have you experienced the vibrancy of Tokyo, the elegance of Kyoto, or the vastness of Hokkaido, and are now craving a different side of Japan? The Seto Inland Sea in Shikoku is a fantastic choice. In 2016, coinciding with the triennial "Setouchi Triennale International Art Festival," local governments installed a total of 206 artworks of various sizes across 12 islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Additional ferry services were also introduced, allowing visitors from all over to enjoy the artworks while exploring the islands and taking in the sea views — the perfect island-hopping adventure.
The hermit crabs have found their new home on Green Island — every one now has a "house number" as a symbol of love.
The "Hermit Crab Home Project," a collaboration between the Taitung County Nature and Humanities Society, relevant Green Island authorities, and I-Shou University, has been running smoothly for three years. Recently, another batch of seashells was cleaned in Taitung before being successfully transported to Green Island, where they underwent further cleaning, sun-drying, and were engraved with serial numbers before being returned to the shore. This ensures every hermit crab’s home has a “house number,” and each unique number represents a “bond of love.”