Travel
Games + DIY + Food & Drinks for Just 250 NT$ — A "Kids' Paradise" Hidden in Taoyuan
Near the Taoyuan Arts and Cultural District, on a bustling street in the downtown area, there’s a DreamsWorks Kids’ Themed Restaurant — not only filled with play facilities for children, but also offering DIY activities perfect for family fun and parent-child interaction. Starting now, simply download the ETtoday EBC News Cloud app to receive a free serving of deep-fried snacks worth between 100 and 120 NT$.
Four outdoor ice rinks open in Seoul for winter fun—enjoy K-drama romance from just $1 USD
Winter is here, and it's time to enjoy outdoor ice skating again. Although the Seoul Plaza Ice Rink has been temporarily closed this year due to protests and safety concerns for visitors, the Korea Tourism Organization has curated a list of four popular outdoor ice rinks in central Seoul, offering great options for a romantic winter escape.
Catch the last maple glory—after the golden maples fade, Tulip Season arrives at Peach Blossom Fairy Valley
If you’ve already chased the red maples and admired the emerald green maples, why not head out to enjoy the golden maples just before winter sets in? Located in the mountainous area of Fuxing District in Taoyuan, Peach Blossom Fairy Valley is planted with vast expanses of golden maples. When their leaves turn golden, the entire grove of yellow leaves glistens in the sunlight, creating a uniquely beautiful autumn scene.
This winter’s hottest trend in NYC: Sip beer in an outdoor igloo!
This winter, the famous New York attraction and restaurant 230 Fifth has set up numerous bubble domes on its rooftop that resemble Arctic igloos. Visitors can enjoy beer, chat with friends, and take in the night view of the Big Apple.
Snowfall reaches 91 cm in Hokkaido: heavy snow forces 2,000 to sleep at airport
Hokkaido experienced record-breaking snowfall over the weekend, with Sapporo seeing snow accumulation of up to 65 cm for the first time in 29 years, severely disrupting both ground and air transportation. New Chitose Airport was forced to temporarily close its runways on the 11th due to 11 cm of snow, leading to the cancellation of about 183 flights and leaving over 2,000 passengers stranded overnight. As of the 12th, some flights remained canceled.
Handpicked 4 Healing-Themed Cafés – Recharge with Positive Energy on This Trip!
Enjoying a delicious meal becomes even better with a touch of unique creativity. ETtoday EBC News Cloud has carefully selected 4 healing-themed food cafés. Whether they feature adorable latte art or healthy dishes with fruit, they not only satisfy your taste buds but also feast your eyes, offering infinite healing for the mind, body, and soul.
Ducks by the Tamsui River get new outfits this season as green rapeseed fields transform the landscape
Seasonal transformation for the ducks in Tamsui. As winter approaches, the New Taipei City Government’s Riverside Engineering Office has dressed up the two adorable duck-shaped landscape installations with vibrant green rapeseed, while adorning their beaks with purple and red strings of flowers—giving them a whole new look.
Want to take stunning photos? Now’s the time—Wuling Farm’s maple leaves are turning red, and the golden ginkgo forests are absolutely gorgeous!
Now is the perfect time to visit Wuling Farm in Taichung to admire the autumn foliage. From November to mid-December has traditionally been the best period for leaf-peeping at Wuling Farm. This year, not only are the crimson maple leaves still drawing crowds, but the green ginkgo trees gradually turning golden have also sparked a photography craze. Plus, this year’s cherry blossoms have bloomed earlier than usual, so you can head up the mountain to witness the rare sight of maple reds and cherry blossoms coexisting!
World’s First! Universal Studios Japan Announces Opening Date for “Super Nintendo World”
Universal Studios Japan announced on the 12th that the world’s first Nintendo-themed area, “Super Nintendo World,” currently under construction, will officially open to the public before the start of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Nintendo-themed areas at Universal Studios in Orlando and Hollywood, USA, will also open subsequently after the one in Japan.
Step out of the glittering glitz to discover magical lights and shadows — Macau’s mysterious treasures only come alive at night!
The "2016 Macao Light Festival – The Secret Treasures of Light" is currently ongoing. This event features illuminated routes spanning eight locations including the Nam Van Lake Water Sports Centre and Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van. The lights turn on every evening at 7 PM, creating a scene completely different from the daytime. Through projections and light sculptures, various stories are told, captivating passersby who can't help but stop and admire.
Cheers to Black Wagyu House’s Third Taichung Outlet – Zhonggang Store Opens on Dec. 30
The Australian wagyu hot pot specialty restaurant Black Wagyu House (Ganbei Heimao Wu) is expanding to Taichung, with its new location set to open on December 30 at 9F, New Century Plaza in Taichung. This will be the third branch of Black Wagyu House. In addition to maintaining its signature individual set menu style, the Zhonggang store will debut a new group-style hot pot dining service, featuring the “Big Satisfaction Seafood & Meat Set” available for four or six people.
Exotic Cuisine in Taoyuan – A Culinary Journey Curated by the Owner’s World Travels!
Located on Nanhua 1st Street in Luzhu District, Taoyuan City, “PRIMO SOLE 阳果” is a truly unique restaurant. The owner used to work in American department stores and traveled across four continents for her job, giving her the chance to experience a wide variety of international cuisines. After retiring, she was suddenly inspired to turn those flavorful memories into a physical restaurant, which led to the creation of “PRIMO SOLE 阳果”!
Tigerair Taiwan Launches Deals on 11 Japan Routes — One-Way Flights Start at NT$599, Available from the 14th!
The Japanese yen hit a new low of 0.27 against the NT dollar today (12th), making now the perfect time to snag cheap deals for travel to Japan — everything from activities to shopping is a bargain. Tigerair Taiwan has launched its first early-bird promotion, offering one-way base fares starting from NT$599 (excluding tax) from 10:00 AM on the 14th to 11:59 PM on the 16th. This deal covers all 11 existing Taiwan–Japan routes.
Limited Edition for Christmas！Japan’s Starbucks Launches “Apple Pie Latte”
Japan’s Starbucks has recently released new latte and Frappuccino flavors — a somewhat familiar yet uncommon “apple pie” flavor. This Christmas-exclusive flavor is set to once again draw huge crowds outside Starbucks stores!
Burger Lab. A fusion of American and Japanese styles — New “Okonomiyaki Burger” now available
From now until December 31, Burger Lab at Taipei’s Tiancheng Hotel is offering a limited-time-only “Okonomiyaki Burger,” blending Japanese flavors with the classic American hamburger. From 11:00 to 14:00, add just NT$49 to any single burger order to enjoy a serving of the signature “Layered Potatoes with Cheese Meat Sauce” and a drink.
2016 Year-End Review: Have You Visited All of Taiwan’s Top 10 Most Searched Attractions?
As the year draws to a close, what were the most popular tourist spots among travelers in Taiwan this year? The Yahoo website recently released the “2016 Taiwan Top 10 Most Searched Attractions” ranking. After topping Facebook’s check-in hotspot list last year, the Chimei Museum has once again claimed the crown as the most searched attraction this year.
This coffee tastes like alcohol? A 7th grader returns from the U.S. to open a shop in Yangmingshan
Near Zhuzihhu in Yangmingshan, there’s a very hidden café called “Frontier Café.” Though it boasts views of Taipei’s night skyline, it’s been open for over a year and still remains relatively unknown—truly a “super-private spot.” The owner, Ji Yingke, isn’t easily accessible. He adheres to a philosophy of slow expansion, stating, “I believe coffee is an art form.” He hopes every customer can enjoy the best cup of coffee possible.
Grand Reconstruction of Eslite Spectrum’s Food Court in Taichung: 14 Popular Dining Brands Move In
Following the food court at Taipei’s Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A11, multiple dining options have also been introduced on the 9th and 10th floors of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zhonggang Store in Taichung. Most restaurants are set to open on December 21st. Including the smoothie shop on the 1st floor, a total of 14 popular food brands will be stationed here. Among the must-line-up spots are Kaneko Hannosuke, Dim Dim Sum, the World’s Second Best Ice Cream Pineapple Bun, Kenchima-Ya, and Maisen Pork Cutlet.
I-Mei insists on no artificial additives Taiwanese ramen shop IROHA’s noodles contain no alkaline water
I-Mei Foods, which introduced and distributes “Menya Iroha (面家いろは / Menya IROHA),” famous for its Toyama black soy sauce ramen, will begin trial operations on December 14 and officially open on December 22. As I-Mei places great emphasis on food safety, it insisted from the start of agency discussions on using natural ingredients and no artificial additives—even the noodles could not contain alkaline water. Menya IROHA President Kiwaki Kiyoshi said this was one of the challenges of setting up shop in Taiwan, and another challenge was using I-Mei’s whole soybean pure-brewed soy sauce to formulate black soy sauce.
Qantas launches non-stop 'Perth–London' route — the world’s longest at 17.5 hours
Qantas recently announced that it will launch a non-stop flight between Australia’s capital, Perth, and London, UK, in March 2018. With a total flight duration of 17.5 hours, this route will officially become the world’s longest when it begins service, replacing the current Emirates Dubai–Auckland route, which takes 16 hours and 35 minutes.