Travel
"Summer Cool-Down" Hokkaido Beer Hot Pot Launches—Refreshing with No Bitterness
Although Taiwanese people eat hot pot all year round, fewer dine on it in summer compared to winter. To attract customers, the hot pot brand "Ju" under Wang Group has introduced a new base soup called "Hokkaido Beer Hot Pot," made with SAPPORO beer from Hokkaido and a kelp-scallop broth. Launched in June, it has received positive reviews with sales exceeding a thousand servings.
Only 4 flights left for the entire month of September — Vanilla Air’s Taipei–Ibaraki route prepares to “submit its resignation”
Following schedule adjustments for the Taipei–Nagoya and Taipei–Tokyo (Haneda) routes, Vanilla Air’s exclusively operated Taipei–Ibaraki route has now seen a significant reduction in flights for September, and it is expected to face long-term cuts or even suspension.
No longer looking at financial reports — President Hachiyabei: If you're too obsessed with numbers, they'll get worse
When you visit Hakata in Fukuoka, Japan, you must try the local famous yakitori (grilled skewers). Among them, the No.1 yakitori shop in Hakata is “Hachiyabei Hakata Yakitori.” In 2010, it was selected as the “Foreigners’ Favorite Yakitori Shop.” However, Hachiyabei wasn’t an instant hit when it first started. President Hachishima Kiyonori founded Hachiyabei in 1983 in his hometown of Maehara City, Fukuoka Prefecture. It took 17 years before expanding to Fukuoka City, and then later to Tokyo and Taiwan.
The “Taiwan Mascot PK Battle” kicks off in Kaohsiung in September with 32 teams registered
The “2016 Taiwan Mascot PK Battle @ Kaohsiung” is set to begin in September. The official event website has gone live, featuring six main sections: Tug-of-War Competition, Online Voting, Mascot Parade, Award Ceremony, LIVE Broadcast Link, and Latest News. Interested travelers can participate in the voting.
DIY It Yourself!* Taipei’s New “Tyrannosaurus Meatball” — Baseball-Sized Spherical Steak
Following the success of his Korean BBQ brand "Sizzling & Gurgling," renowned TV host Nado has launched a new dining concept, “Tyrannosaurus Meatball,” introducing the trendy spherical steak popular in Japan and Korea. The concept emphasizes DIY steak cooking, allowing customers to control their desired doneness and size. Six sauce options are available, paired with this summer’s hottest pastel-hued sparkling drinks. Trial operations have begun, with a limited daily supply of 200–300 servings during the soft launch period—once they’re gone, they’re gone!*
The Alishan Grassland Music Festival kicks off on August 13 – Free walk-in hot air balloon experiences available
The Alishan Summer Grassland Music Festival officially begins on August 13. Among the most highly anticipated events are the “Grassland Hot Air Balloons” on August 13 and 14. Visitors can take a hot air balloon ride at Niupuzai Grassland and enjoy aerial views of Chiayi City.
Looks like a pavilion！Boating at Jianshanpi Reservoir — take a "pleasure boat" and pretend to be Emperor Qianlong traveling down the south of the Yangtze
Located in Liuying District, Tainan City, Jianshanpi Reservoir was developed by the Tainan-based company in 2000 into the "Jianshanpi Jiangnan Resort," making it a popular accommodation choice for travelers. Within the resort, visitors can enjoy a rare-in-Taiwan experience — a “Qianlong Travels Down the South” lakeside pleasure boat ride. Board a pavilion-like boat and cruise along the reservoir; it’s extremely picturesque.
30,000 zero-dollar tickets Vietjet’s first-ever promotion on the Tainan–Ho Chi Minh City route
From August 3 to August 5, Vietjet will hold a promotional campaign offering 30,000 tickets starting at zero dollars daily between 13:00 and 15:00, which also includes flights between Taipei and Tainan and round trips to Ho Chi Minh City.
Late-nighters’ exclusive treat: Taichung’s newly opened nostalgic and refreshing “Charcoal-Grilled Toast”
Recently, I’ve had this “go-getter” determination to spend more time documenting the delicious food and charming little shops in Taichung that have caught our eye~ ^__________^ / This “Han Pang Japanese-Style Charcoal-Grilled Toast” is yet another new spot we found on Instagram. A quick FB search revealed that it just opened in July—and the best part? It’s from Tainan!! The moment we saw it was from Tainan, we headed straight there after work~
Head to the Food Exhibition for Delicious Bites: Limited Tastings of Wagyu, Fresh Oysters, and Peking Duck
Just two days away from the annual Taiwan Culinary Exhibition, this year not only showcases the exquisite skills of chefs but also offers a variety of great-value meal vouchers for unbeatable deals. In addition, there will be numerous activities on-site, and one of the most mouthwatering highlights is the tasting of premium wagyu beef, ribeye steak, Peking duck, and fresh oysters—available for a limited time and in limited quantities. Food lovers should be quick on the day if they want to indulge.
Major flight cuts Vanilla Air staffer jokingly reveals "Vanilla Bear might merge with TransAsia!"
Since August 2, Vanilla Air has been running a movie ticket giveaway on its Facebook fan page where users leave comments. Among over 800 comments, a sharp-eyed netizen spotted one from a Vanilla Air staffer that read, "Heard recently that Vanilla Bear might merge with TransAsia!!! Gotta take the last Vanilla Air flight to Busan ASAP!" This sparked widespread discussion.
Taiwan Culinary Exhibition Opens August 5th – Six Major Zones with Over 19 Themed Pavilions
The 2016 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition (TCE), now in its 25th year, will be held from August 5 to 8 at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1. This year, the scale of the exhibition has expanded to six major zones, with 200 additional booths bringing the total to 820, and more than 19 themed pavilions. According to Lin Sechen, President of the Taiwan Visitors Association, the 2016 event features the highest number of exhibitors in its history, and is expected to attract over 160,000 visitors, breaking previous records.
Yasu, the hot spring expert of Mount Aso: Business opportunities in well drilling after the earthquake
Mount Aso, a place with frequent volcanic activity, may cause inconveniences in daily life, but on the flip side, the quality of its hot springs is among the best in Japan. The great Japanese literary figure Natsume Sōseki often visited Kumamoto in Kyushu and even used this hot spring town as the backdrop for his novels. Due to continuous development, the profession of "well drilling" has become a generational trade here.
Cheaper than budget airlines – Vietnam Airlines Taipei–Ho Chi Minh City round-trip for just 3,000 TWD
From August 5 to September 5, Vietnam Airlines is offering promotional fares for its new Taipei–Ho Chi Minh City route, with round-trip tickets starting at 3,000 TWD (tax not included).
Not for the faint of heart: Tainan’s terrifying “live-action haunted house” with a blood-drenched hellpool featuring floating corpses
As the lunar seventh month arrives, what’s the most fitting place to soak in the ghost month atmosphere? In Tainan’s Madou District, there’s a “ghost-watching cellar” where legend has it you can cross between the world of the living and the dead, see various ghostly forms, and even tour the Eighteen Levels of Hell to witness brutal punishments firsthand. Reporters who visited were hit by an icy chill the moment they descended into the underground level.
What do 5 different matcha ice cream concentrations taste like? Discover 5 must-visit ice shops in Kamakura, Japan
. After exploring natural beauty and ancient temples in the peak of summer, indulging in a sweet icy treat is undoubtedly the ultimate pleasure. Here’s a list of 5 renowned ice shops highly recommended even by locals, including one that offers matcha ice in 5 different concentration levels—something travelers shouldn’t miss!
The old street branch's cats have their own "cat recliners" A 5kg belly has become a new highlight in Pinglin
The tea egg shop located on Pinglin Old Street has recently become an alternative popular attraction on the old street, thanks to the adorable and chubby sleeping postures of its resident mother-daughter cats, “A-Chou” and “Sun Wukong.”
Kaohsiung now has 3D painted landscapes too！ Adorable dolphins frolic at Nanhiao Fishing Port
3D painted landscapes can now be seen in Kaohsiung too！ The Nanhiao Fishing Port in Miao Tuo District, Kaohsiung, has recently completed the first phase of improvement work for the "Coastal Light Corridor." In addition to enhancing the landscape environment and safety of Miao Tuo Fishing Port, recreational facilities such as painted walls, a 3D dolphin-painted ground, and a seaside promenade have been added, making it a new spot for visitors to take photos and have fun.
With annual sales of 55 Taipei 101s' worth, HowHow Café’s bagel shop Good Cho’s pops up at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A11 starting August 5
Good Cho’s sold 700,000 bagels in 2015. Each bagel is 4 cm thick, which translates to a building-material analogy—enough to stack up to the height of 55 Taipei 101 towers. Now, Good Cho’s is launching a pop-up store in a department store, offering flavors such as sweet potato cheese, banana chocolate, strawberry sweet cheese, taro salted egg yolk, brown sugar black sesame, and red quinoa.
Five-star scenic toilets appear along Taipei’s riverside parks — “gender-friendly” becomes a highlight
As riverside parks in the vicinity gradually become popular spaces for exercise and leisure, the Water Resources Bureau of Taipei City Government’s Public Works Department has renovated “riverside park scenic toilets” at 10 locations. Completed in mid-July, these facilities will offer residents a more comfortable and convenient toilet experience.