Travel
Surrounded by over 30 adorable pups: The heartwarming dogs of Zhongquan Community in Changhua melt your heart
Known as the "rainbow world in the city," Zhongquan Community in Changhua City has recently seen the appearance of over 30 cute pups, whose lovable appearances have attracted visitors to come and take photos. This community gained fame in 2009 (Year 98 in Taiwan’s calendar) for its numerous large colorful murals, but as time passed, the old paintings became faded. The community, playing on the homophone “loyal dogs” (忠犬), created these vivid canine figures, instantly turning the area into a tourist attraction.
Carry watermelons and drink soju—Taipei’s newly opened Korean restaurant serves hearty seafood pancakes!
Korean restaurants on Taipei’s streets seem to be so numerous they could form a bingo line, but what’s rare is that each spot highlights uniquely delicious offerings—some specialize in BBQ, some in budae jjigae (army stew), others in fried chicken. The wide variety ensures Korean food lovers can enjoy a different experience at every eatery.
The meat is bigger than the ramen bowl – you can enjoy this at these 3 ramen shops
Ramen shops are everywhere in Taiwan, and how to stand out in the fiercely competitive market has had many owners pouring their efforts into perfecting the broth. However, some shops have recently started offering oversized meat patties instead of traditional chashu pork – and these huge meat pieces have become the stars of the ramen. ETtoday EBC News has rounded up 3 ramen shops where you can enjoy meat bigger than the bowl.
Tainan Gua Bao Shop – Bite into Juicy Chicken Drumsticks, Braised Beef, and Tender Meat
Recently, while hunting for food on Baomin Road in Tainan, I discovered another delicious spot to try. This new place, “Baomin Gua Bao,” is located right across from A-Qing’s Sweet Soup and A-Ming’s Pig Heart. It’s a small shop that serves Tainan-style gua baos with a variety of fillings including pork, beef, and chicken. The buns here have soft, tender skins and fragrant, juicy fillings — definitely above average for Tainan. They’re open from 4:00 PM to 10:30 PM, making them perfect for a midday snack or late-night bite. Let me give you a quick rundown~
HK$300 million renovation gives The Park Lane Hong Kong a brand-new executive floor
The Park Lane Hong Kong has officially unveiled its completely revamped executive floor, executive lounge, and 68 executive rooms equipped with cutting-edge global connectivity systems, all following a HK$300 million (approximately NT$1.2 billion) comprehensive renovation.
Crystal Jade Artistic Hot Spring Hotel settles in Jiaoxi, featuring the largest infinity pool in northern Taiwan
The Crystal Hotels Group has built its first boutique hot spring resort hotel in Yilan’s Jiaoxi — “Crystal Springs Resort” — whose most distinctive feature is the largest open-air infinity hot spring pool on the rooftop, allowing guests to freely enjoy views of Guishan Island and the Lanyang Plain. For those seeking a more private and secluded soaking experience, every room comes with a semi-open-air hot spring bath, which is also a highlight of staying at Crystal Springs Resort.
Collaborating with a Top British Tea Brand – Mandarin Oriental Taipei Launches JING Classic Tea Afternoon Tea
Mandarin Oriental Taipei has partnered for the first time with the prestigious British tea brand JING to launch the “JING Classic Tea Afternoon Tea” at “Qing Yu” from October 16 to November 27, 2016. Designed by French Executive Pastry Chef Gregory Doyen (桂格瑞．铎彦), the exclusive afternoon tea draws inspiration from JING’s tea artistry spirit, priced at NT$1,250 per person + 10%.
Is this the taste you miss? 22 Classic Taipei Restaurants
Do you miss the flavors of the past? This year, the Taipei City Department of Economic Development has themed its campaign “Taipei Old Tastes (The Best Memorable Taste in Taipei),” selecting over 100 classic restaurants in Taipei through public and association recommendations. After evaluation by a professional judging panel, 22 restaurants were finally chosen, seven of which have been delighting diners for nearly half a century.
Advanced Wine Selection: Don’t Miss These Four Grape Varieties
In the world of wine, besides the so-called "seven major" grape varieties, there are also two white and two red grape varieties that can serve as references when selecting wine. They are “Pinot Gris,” “Chenin Blanc,” “Gamay,” and “Nebbiolo.” Wine tasting experts say these four grape varieties are not commonly seen in Taiwan, so if you're lucky enough to come across them, don't miss the chance.
The most romantic autumn getaway for a date spot – the breathtaking aerial view of vast golden ginkgo forests
In the poetic season of autumn, aside from viewing maple leaves in Japan or visiting a bald cypress sanctuary, the sight of vast ginkgo forests turning golden is equally spectacular. Located in Lugu, Nantou, Wuxiu Farm is one of the best spots to admire the sea of golden ginkgo trees. When autumn arrives, the ginkgo blossoms across these vast mountain forests look as though they’re covered with a giant golden blanket, creating a romantic view that’s unique to the season.
Kaifei House Anniversary Celebration – Dine and Win a 3-Night Stay in a Grand Hyatt Executive Lounge Suite
It’s been a year since Kaifei House reopened, and from October 10 to 31, Grand Hyatt is gathering signature dishes from hotels across the Hyatt International group to launch a “Around the World” gourmet feast. Diners who spend a minimum of NT$3,000 in a single transaction will receive one raffle ticket, with the grand prize being the exclusive “Gourmet Delights” Executive Lounge Suite 3-Night Stay Package at Grand Hyatt Taipei, valued at NT$260,000.
Remember the "White Iron Kid"? Taiwan Railways' Glorious Express is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a comeback to carry passengers.
The "White Iron Kid" is 50 years old this year. The DR2700 diesel railcar of Taiwan Railways, known as the Glorious Express, first operated between Taipei and Kaohsiung in 1966 (Republic of China Year 55), completing the journey in just 4 hours and 45 minutes — the fastest mode of transport at the time. After being retired two years ago, the Glorious Express will make a return on October 29 this year to carry passengers, running a special commemorative train for its 50th anniversary. Tickets will go on sale at 9:00 AM on Thursday, October 13, via the Taiwan Railways Administration’s official website — train enthusiasts, don’t miss out.
A Battle of Iconic Japanese Ramen: 5 Must-Try Popular Ramen Varieties Here!
When it comes to classic Japanese cuisine, "ramen" is definitely one dish that comes to mind. In fact, depending on the region in Japan, the broth flavors also have their own unique characteristics. Among them, Tokyo ramen, Sapporo ramen, and Hakata ramen are the three most popular types of ramen. Today, let’s explore the flavor profiles of ramen from all over Japan with the Matcha editors, and check out some must-visit popular ramen shops!
This year, aiming to attract 1.82 million Japanese tourists to Taiwan – Tourism Bureau rolls out major campaign “Buy 4 Tickets, Get 1 Free”
During the Double Ten holiday period, Tourism Bureau Director-General Yung-Wei Chou led a team to Japan for promotional exchanges. The mutual visits between Taiwan and Japan are expected to hit 6 million this year. Today, Chou also declared hopes to attract 1.82 million Japanese tourists to Taiwan by the end of the year. Starting in November, the Tourism Bureau will launch the “Year-End Taiwan Travel Promotion – Buy 4 Tickets, Get 1 Free” campaign targeting Japan, aiming to increase revisit rates from major Japanese cities and also attract group tours from second-tier cities.
Experts teach you how to travel on a budget—try layover trips and staycations to save big!
Money determines where we go and how much we can enjoy during the trip. But the definition of travel is broad—it doesn’t necessarily mean going abroad or spending a fortune to have a break. The aol.com website has compiled 5 money-saving travel tips that broaden our idea of what travel can be—definitely worth checking out!
Reviving with a push for the “safest” airline: Aiming for a sevenfold increase in corporate invoicing
On the 12th, TransAsia Airways held a flight safety improvement briefing. Lin Lei, Deputy CEO of TransAsia Airways, stated that the airline has been actively enhancing its flight safety standards over the past year and this year, and has successively passed multiple related inspections. It has also established dedicated business departments targeting the financial sector, government agencies, and chain enterprises, hoping to regain the confidence of former clients and expand its base of large corporate customers.
That’s the right way — Japan’s Sushi Master shows you how to use chopsticks properly for sushi
Not only do the Japanese love sushi, but Taiwanese do too. Although the best way to eat sushi is by hand — which prevents it from falling apart — most people still prefer using chopsticks. However, using them incorrectly can easily slice the sushi in half. Yasuhiro Konishi, known as the “Father of Sushi” in Japan, came to Taiwan for a guest appearance and demonstrated how to properly use chopsticks to pick up sushi.
Runny whites burst like jelly – Japan’s only “upside-down onsen tamago” hidden in a millennia-old hot spring town
As the weather cools, it’s time for an onsen soak. Wakayama’s Shirahama Onsen, with a 1,300-year history and ranked among Japan’s three ancient hot springs, not only offers soul-warming waters but also serves the country’s only “upside-down onsen tamago” – a must-try snack and a beloved local souvenir.
Eating fish can help save the ecosystem too? People in Chiayi call this meal the “Tiger-Fighting Hero Platter.”
Hot and steaming fish dishes are served one after another. Among them is the Thai snakehead, also known as the fish tiger, which can weigh up to 20–30 kilograms. Its tender, bouncy, and delicious meat is a delicacy in the eyes of food lovers. But this creature was once a full-blown ecological killer. The fierce fish tiger is an invasive species that was released into the wild, severely damaging the ecological chain of the Zengwen Reservoir. Many local restaurants have started offering “Tiger-Fighting Meals,” using dining as a way to protect native fish species.
Must-try delicacy for foodies: HowToTrip’s T-HAM launches 24-month Iberico black pork cured ham
Since Spain began allowing pork imports in September 2014, HowToTrip’s T-HAM has also progressively imported Bellota-grade Iberico black pork, as well as cured sausage products such as Chorizo and cured pork loin since 2015. Recently, it officially launched the 24-month Iberico black pork cured ham.