Travel
Want to fly? Come here — an abandoned elementary school in Taitung transformed into a hot air balloon base and now evolving into a flight school
The Yonglong Branch of Yong’an Elementary School in Luye Township, Taitung County, had lain desolate since its closure in 2007. Later, driven by the county government, it was transformed into the “Dream Factory for Those Who Want to Fly,” also known as the “Hot Air Balloon Base.” In addition to training professional hot air balloon pilots, it has expanded to include related aerial activities such as paragliding and ultralight aircraft, striving to become a full-fledged “flight school” while also boosting the local tourism industry.
Hong Kong Disneyland introduces "Star Wars" facilities, officially opening on June 11
Hong Kong Disneyland has launched a new attraction, "Star Wars™: Hyperspace Mountain – Invasion of Tomorrowland," which debuts in "Tomorrowland" starting June 11. Visitors can get up close to classic battle scenes from the franchise.
Honoring Hatta Yoichi: Free Entry to Southern Taiwan’s Wushantou Reservoir All Day on May 8
May 8 each year marks the death anniversary of Hatta Yoichi, known as the father of the Chianan Irrigation System. This year, in his memory, in addition to a memorial service being held at Wushantou Reservoir on that day, the reservoir scenic area will also be open to the public free of charge all day. In the afternoon, a memorial concert will be held to honor Hatta Yoichi’s significant contributions to the region.
Make up with the police officer！ Visit 56 police stations in Taitung by bicycle
Many adults say this to kids: "If you don’t behave, I’ll call the police to take you away!" This unfairly taints the image of the police as cold and stern. To enhance police-community interaction and improve public perception of police stations, the Taitung County Police Department held the “Happy Taitung, 56 Police Stations by Bicycle” event, inviting people to ride bikes to visit 56 local police stations. The activity promotes eco-friendly tourism and energy conservation while showcasing the warmth and charm of Taitung.
Taichung Longjing’s New Highlight: 1-Hectare “Formosan Clouded Leopard Mural Rice Field” Debuts
A stunningly beautiful “Formosan clouded leopard rice field” mural has appeared in Taichung’s Longjing District. Created using five different colored varieties of rice, the entire mural spans approximately 1 hectare. A container house viewing platform has also been set up on-site, allowing visitors to climb up for great photo opportunities.
Ride YouBike around New Taipei City like a local—Top 10 must-visit food spots and scenic sights loved by netizens
With the increasing number of YouBike stations, cycling has become a popular trend in the Taipei-New Taipei area. It's not only convenient and budget-friendly, but also a great way to stay active. DailyView’s Network Temperature Gauge has released a list of the top 10 most popular food and scenic spots that netizens love to visit near YouBike rental stations close to MRT stations in New Taipei City. Next time you ride a YouBike around New Taipei, consider checking out these spots!
EVA Air launches Taipei–Chicago route on November 2, operating four flights per week
EVA Air will launch the Taipei–Chicago route on November 2 and begin accepting bookings from the public today (May 5).
What!? Dinosaurs Have Invaded Kaohsiung — A 20-Meter “Brachiosaurus” Makes a Majestic Debut
Dinosaurs have actually launched a massive invasion of Kaohsiung! Asia’s largest outdoor dinosaur exhibition, “Kaohsiung Jurassic Park,” will debut on the 5th. The venue is located right across from the Dream Mall shopping center, where a three-story-tall T-Rex awaits to take visitors on a time-traveling journey to witness the majesty of dinosaurs.
Matcha lovers, rejoice!' Japan’s popular matcha brand Itoh Kyuemon to launch in Taiwan in June
Matcha fans, this is your lucky day!' The renowned Kyoto-based matcha specialty store “Itoh Kyuemon” from Uji, Japan, is set to open its first overseas branch in Taiwan, possibly located in Zhongshan District, Taipei, with an expected opening in June. Currently, Itoh Kyuemon has three stores in Japan — the main store, Byodo-in store, and Kyoto Station Front store. Among them, the main store often sees long queues, and the Taiwan branch will be its fourth store overall.
Taiwan’s longest skywalk gets a new contender: Taoyuan’s “New Xikou Suspension Bridge” to open by year-end
The Xikou Suspension Bridge in Taoyuan City’s Fuxing District was demolished due to aging infrastructure, and the Fuxing District Office has built the “New Xikou Suspension Bridge” nearby. The district office stated that the bridge is expected to open by the end of the year. Once operational, it will replace Pingtung’s Shan Chuan Liuli Suspension Bridge as Taiwan’s longest hammock-style suspension bridge.
Cars parked haphazardly and litter everywhere — distressed residents suffer due to reckless travelers at abandoned flue: some even yell at police
Recently, the abandoned flue in Ruifang has become an offbeat must-visit attraction for travelers. But for local residents, the massive influx of tourists has brought unbearable disturbances. Locals say it’s not just the litter and beverage cans strewn everywhere, but some visitors have even shouted at “police,” declaring, “I’m calling 110!”
Tigerair Taiwan’s maiden flight to Daegu achieves over 90% load factor
Tigerair Taiwan officially launched its first South Korean route, the “Taoyuan-Daegu” scheduled flight, on the 5th of this month. The average load factor for the inaugural round-trip flights exceeded 90%. As Tigerair Taiwan is the first Taiwanese low-cost carrier to fly to Daegu, both Taiwan and South Korea attach great importance to this route.
President Tsai’s 8-course inaugural state banquet menu revealed — designed with local and seasonal ingredients in mind
The inaugural state banquet for the 14th President and Vice President of the Republic of China will be held at Taipei Marriott Hotel, and the menu has been unveiled today. Excluding appetizers, there are 8 courses in total. The three small appetizer plates include cloud ear fungus and lotus root in vinegar, yam from Dajia with plum sauce, and green beans with onions from Yunlin. The first welcome dish is “Spring in Formosa,” the second is “Steamed Lobster with Garlic and Scallions,” the third is “Happy Pig Roast,” the fourth is “Organic Lily and Green Seasonal Vegetables,” the fifth is “Steamed Gobi in Pickled Fruit,” the sixth is “Hakka Stir-fried |? Vinegar Thin |?,” the seventh is “Braised Abalone with Flower Fragrance and Red Head,” and the eighth is “Black Vinegar Pork.”
The Regent Taipei launches a "Budget-Friendly Wedding Banquet Package" at NT$12,800 per table
From May 1 to May 31, The Regent Taipei is offering a "Budget-Friendly Wedding Banquet Package" at just NT$12,800 per table—an unusually affordable price for a five-star hotel. However, the minimum booking is 25 tables, and most available dates are weekdays, making this part of the hotel’s off-season promotion.
A dessert shop hidden near Binjiang Market – Butter＆Pie specializes in fresh milk rolls
Located in an alley not far from Binjiang Market and HowToTrip’s Shangyin Aquatic Market, on the first floor of a traditional old apartment building, there is a dessert shop with a Tiffany blue exterior. This shop, called Butter＆Pie, specializes in fresh milk rolls, using fresh cream imported all the way from Hokkaido, Japan. So why open a shop near Binjiang Market? Owner Jeremy believes that Shangyin Aquatic Market attracts a lot of visitors, and after enjoying seafood, they might want to have a little dessert.
Enjoy 12 homestyle dishes in Hsinchu’s Xiangshan — a booming travel hotspot with two curated local tours
The Hsinchu City Government is actively promoting the “Mountain-Sea Paradise Project,” designing travel itineraries for Hsinchu’s Xiangshan area. The one-day tour allows visitors to explore glass tourism factories, sample rice noodles with nearly a century of heritage, and savor 12 homestyle dishes cooked by local moms. The two routes have different themes and are now open for registration.
Fire on a boat in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay! Taiwanese tourists “abandoned ship to flee” with 3 injured
A fire broke out on a boat in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay at 11:00 AM on the 6th. A kitchen accident caused the blaze, leading 18 people from a Lion Travel tour group, including the tour guide, to “abandon ship to flee.” During the evacuation, three Taiwanese tourists sustained minor injuries and have been sent to the hospital for rest and observation.
"Taiwan is beautiful, but my hometown is the most beautiful" — Netizens vote for the top 20 most beautiful places
How beautiful is Taiwan? And where is the most beautiful? The first "Taiwan is Beautiful, My Hometown is the Most Beautiful" campaign has kicked off！Twenty representatives from across Taiwan, all passionate about their hometowns, are showcasing their hometowns' beauty to the fullest using their unique skills, while competing for netizens' support through shared photos or stories.
Snoopy Popcorn Specialty Store Opens – 12 Bucket Designs for Fans to Collect
The globally popular Japanese anime *Chibi Maruko-chan* is a cherished childhood memory for many. Following the opening of a *Chibi Maruko-chan* café in Japan, the world’s first *Chibi Maruko-chan*-themed popcorn specialty store has now landed in Taiwan. The shop offers six flavors of popcorn: Classic Caramel, Extra Rich Cream, Rich Cheese, Crispy Cashew Caramel, Crispy Almond Caramel, and the seasonal limited-edition Crispy Cherry Caramel.
Gradient colors are super dreamy！We’ve scouted out 4 “butterfly pea flower” drink shops across Taiwan
Summer is just around the corner, and you’re probably craving a refreshing drink. Besides juice, bubble tea, and soda, what other popular drinks are trending lately? Butterfly pea flower hand-shaken drinks from Thailand are all the rage right now！By mixing the natural blue color of the butterfly pea flower with common lemon black tea or milk, they transform into dreamy gradient beverages in shades of pink, purple, blue, and white. ETtoday EBC News Cloud has specially compiled a list of 4 spots across Taiwan where you can enjoy these magical butterfly pea flower drinks. Let’s go on a pilgrimage together！