Travel
Celebrate our 5th Anniversary: Vietjet Air Offers Flights from 0 VND and Free Concert Tickets
To celebrate its 5th anniversary, Vietjet Air is giving away not only flight tickets but also concert tickets in a generous giveaway event. The airline will distribute 1.5 million promotional flight tickets starting at 0 VND globally via its official website. Additionally, on December 21st, it will host the “SKY CONNECTION” concert in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate with the public.
Come watch the first sunrise of 2017 – Taiping Mountain Forest Recreation Area opens early on New Year’s Day
As 2016 comes to a close with the countdown underway, locations across Taiwan have announced their countdown and sunrise welcoming event schedules. To accommodate those eager to greet the first light of the new year, Taiping Mountain National Forest Recreation Area will open its gates early at 3:00 AM on New Year’s Day next year. Additionally, to maintain ecological tourism standards and traffic quality, a time-restricted policy will be implemented on Cui Feng Scenic Road from 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM.
Seafood shops near Kenting’s small fishing harbor – get to enjoy live lobsters here!
“Aiyu Live Seafood” is located right by the harbor of Hongchaikeng Small Fishing Harbor. This corner spot is definitely hard to miss. That day, after playing with the sika deer, we came here for seafood, so we were the first customers when we arrived. By the time we left, the place was almost full. The staff included some older aunties and a young girl, who introduced the dishes very politely, without any pushy vibes. Most importantly, they were super patient and incredibly friendly!
Taichung's Cozy Little Eatery: Rediscovering the "Mom's Taste" of Childhood
Nestled in a quiet alley in Taichung City, "Mingxianhang" doesn’t follow the current trend of Western-style brunches. Instead, the owner goes against the grain by serving homestyle dishes. Chicken shredded noodle salad, slow-braised minced pork rice, and pork rice are on the menu, all at very affordable prices — main dishes plus fruit and soup cost only NT$120–160. With minimal seasoning, the flavors are refreshingly light, as if your mom cooked the meal herself and served it right in front of you, offering travelers a healthy taste of home.
The most delicious croissant pop-up in Paris is now at Banqiao Big City Mall, featuring a limited-edition strawberry flavor
Created by the popular French chef Gontran Cherrier, his namesake bakery is famed for having the "best croissants in Paris." Since opening on July 10, GC's croissants have drawn long lines whenever they come out of the oven, with an average of 1,200 sold daily. In addition to its Zhongxiao flagship store, GC will pop up at Banqiao Big City Mall from December 10 to 25, offering a limited-edition strawberry croissant — not available at the flagship store until after the 25th.
Travel Experts’ Hidden Gem in Switzerland: Scenic Trains & Four Famous Peaks
All travel experts agree that a “train journey” is an absolutely unmissable experience in Switzerland. Switzerland boasts a wide variety of trains, including national railways, private railways, and various mountain railways, totaling five major rail networks that connect all the country’s key attractions. The Swiss Tourism Board has even curated nine of the most recommended railway sections across the country into the “Grand Train Tour of Switzerland,” making it an essential experience for any train journey through Switzerland.
Taiwan’s Largest Flagship Store: Kaneko Hannosuke Shin Kong Mits
Japan’s popular queue-worthy dish “Kaneko Hannosuke” tempura N< specialty store debuted in Taiwan in November 2015. It currently has two locations — the North Station branch and the Mitsui Outlet Park branch. The third store, which will also be the largest flagship store of Kaneko Hannosuke in Taiwan, is set to open at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi in Taichung on December 28. Friends in Taichung won’t have to wait more than a month to enjoy this delicious taste ranked No. 1 in Japan.
A Must-Visit Dessert Shop in Banqiao for Matcha Lovers – Lemon Tart with Basil?
In recent years, Banqiao has gradually become a new hotspot for gourmet food, with many well-known restaurants expanding their presence here and even establishing an unmissable “Big Four of Desserts.” Among them, “Dian Dian Tian Tian,” a dessert shop launched by the famous Banqiao brunch spot “Hao Chu,” gained fame for its Kyoto Komatsu-En matcha chiffon cake.
Even Thumbelina wouldn’t fit in here!“The world’s smallest rose” blooms in a Yunlin garden
Just how small is the world’s smallest rose? At Rosa Rose Garden in Gukeng, Yunlin, you’ll find the tiniest roses in the world. These delicate pink mini roses bloom among the green leaves, surrounded by romantic European-style landscaping and shaded trees. Currently open to the public for free, it has become a must-visit attraction in Yunlin.
The Lao Ye Hotel Group Expands to Taichung: Taichung Dayi Lao Ye Travelodge to Open in 2018
Dayi Construction and The Lao Ye Hotel Group held a partnership signing press conference today (the 7th), announcing their collaboration to build a new hotel, “Taichung Dayi Lao Ye Travelodge,” along Taichung’s Caotun Boulevard. This marks Dayi Construction’s first foray into the tourism industry and The Lao Ye Hotel Group’s debut in Taichung. The hotel is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2018.
There’s even a dreamy Ferris wheel coming soon—Taichung’s Christmas Carnival will light up on December 9th in a grand ceremony.
The romantic Christmas season is just around the corner. The Taichung City Government’s Christmas Carnival will kick off with a magical lighting ceremony at 7:00 PM on December 9th at the Civic Plaza. The event will feature an 18-meter-tall, elaborately decorated Christmas tree, a 2-meter-tall eco-friendly snowman, as well as a variety of amusement rides to ensure visitors have a blast and enjoy a romantic Christmas night.
There’s a hidden snowy cottage to discover—Xinyi District’s Christmas photo route that’ll drain your phone battery!
As Christmas approaches, the festive atmosphere is building up everywhere. In northern Taiwan, aside from the New Taipei City Christmasland, Xinyi District in Taipei City is another must-visit dating hotspot brimming with Christmas cheer every year. This year, the district’s Christmas decorations range from girlish vibes and cozy joy to European romance—each spot is so Insta-worthy you’ll want to snap non-stop. Best of all, they’re all within walking distance, so make sure to check them out before Christmas!
Nantou’s Only Million-Dollar Night View Camping Site – Plus Dreamy Glass Light and Sea of Clouds!
On this day, the stars shine brightly. Switch to different aperture lenses—have you seen the constellations’ myths? It’s like a winter night’s fantasy, as if we could travel through outer space together. The beauty of this midnight world is something only to be shared with you.
Winter trips to Osaka and Seoul for under $5,000? Cathay Pacific’s unbeatable deals are ready when you are
Traveling in winter is great value now that Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon have jointly launched an exclusive limited-time winter promotion on their official websites. This includes a five-day online flash sale. The event runs from November 28, 2016, to December 23, 2016, with special “heart-pounding prices” announced every Monday at midnight. In addition, book a hotel during the campaign period to save even more!
1,000 kg of Fishing Nets Cleared from the Seafloor: Yilan Aims to Restore a Clean Ocean
Marine conservation has gained increasing attention in Taiwan in recent years. To protect ocean resources, the Yilan County Government has been conducting annual underwater net removal operations in marine habitats. According to the county government, 1,000 kg of abandoned nets have been cleared over the past five years. They urge fishermen to avoid such situations and work together to preserve marine resources.
Taoyuan Airport plans to launch "capsule hotels"! Expansion of Terminal 2 targets growing transfer passenger business
Passenger traffic at Taoyuan Airport continues to grow. To maintain service standards, plans are underway to expand Terminal 2. The future Terminal 2 will feature additional self-service check-in counters, automated baggage drop-off, scenic elevators, and more. Recognizing the business potential of transfer passengers, the airport is also evaluating the introduction of an observation deck and capsule hotels. Initial plans are to adopt a pricing model similar to those of Incheon Airport in South Korea and Hong Kong Airport, with basic rates starting from a minimum of 3 hours.
The real deal is here — the Strasbourg Christmas Market, where there's "no OO treasure" on the tree
When it comes to Christmas markets, those of us who grew up in Taiwan may rarely have had the chance to experience the legendary Christmas markets. But this year, you can even visit one right at Taipei 101！ However, after reading the news, it seems there were quite a few negative reviews... With so many Christmas markets in Europe, which one should you go to? Of course, it’s the “Strasbourg Christmas Market,” located on the Franco-German border — the most prestigious and oldest in all of Europe, even considered the very first of its kind！
Cats take over the alleys!: Taiwan’s top 3 cat-themed painted communities are adorable and super photogenic
With the rise of painted community culture, more and more old houses and alleyways in Taiwan have been revitalized, attracting many visitors. Among the various community painting themes, cats—with their innocent big eyes and mischievous personalities—are often the stars of the walls. Their lifelike and playful appearances are so irresistible that you can’t help but snap photo after photo. If you’re a cat lover who can’t help but smile at the sight of felines, these three cat-themed painted communities will have you snapping photos non-stop and not wanting to leave.
Limited-time only, never to be tasted again – CJSJ pop-up at Regent unveils 8 exclusive pastries
CJSJ is a renowned dessert shop from Taichung that has recently sparked heated discussions on social media. From December 9 to December 31, it will have a pop-up at the Secret Garden and Regnet Gift Shop of Regent Hotel, with advance reservations available. CJSJ is offering 8 exclusive Christmas handmade pastries for Regent. Executive Chef Soriano Joaquin revealed that these 8 items are only available at Regent and will no longer be available once the pop-up ends.
Ruins and fairy-tale castles included: 8 popular "free" photogenic spots in Changhua
Since the opening of the Changhua High-Speed Rail Station, weekend getaways to Changhua for a two-day, one-night trip no longer seem out of reach. The general impression many travelers have of Changhua is its famously delicious rice balls, but in fact, the region boasts many unique and highly popular photo spots as well. ETtoday EBC News Cloud has specially selected 8 popular “free” attractions in Changhua where you can have a great time without spending a dime.