Travel
"Transformers: The Last Knight" to hit theaters — 3-meter-tall Bumblebee makes early debut in Taoyuan
The cool Bumblebee has made an appearance at a shopping mall in Taoyuan. With a massive fan base, the next installment of the "Transformers" series will be released next June. To let fans get an early look at the iconic characters from the films, Global Mall Taoyuan A8 has specially set up a towering 3-meter-tall robot figure for visitors to take photos with.
Winter’s Red Sweet Storm is Here — and It’s Not Just in Dahua: 8 Strawberry-Picking Spots Across Northern, Central, and Southern Taiwan
The winter red sweet storm is here again every year from late November to December, a strawberry-picking craze sweeps across Taiwan. On weekends, the biggest strawberry-growing region in Taiwan — Dahua in Miaoli — is packed with fruit-pickers from all over the country. Sometimes, if you're a bit too slow, you’ll miss out on the big, beautiful strawberries, which is such a pity. In fact, aside from Dahua, there are many strawberry farms across northern, central, and southern Taiwan. So go ahead and plan your weekend trip now to jump on this sweet and sour red wave.
Open until 2 AM!! Kaohsiung’s ultra-affordable Hong Kong-style dim sum features delicious secret-recipe char siu noodles
Foodies often get hungry late at night, but many restaurants are closed and nothing’s available. Temple Mouth Dim Sum, which serves meals from dinner time through to late-night snacks, is a great choice. The newly opened Temple Mouth Dim Sum Lin Sen Flagship Store has upgraded its dine-in seating space—same affordable dishes, but now with a more comfortable and entirely new experience. It feels especially atmospheric to have late-night snacks here XD, making it perfect for gathering with friends to enjoy dim sum and chat.
Lease expired — Jokei-tei Ramen takes a two-month break; reopening in March 2017
The renowned Japanese ramen shop Jokei-tei, which once won the title on Japan’s TV show “Iron Chef: Cooking Battle” and ranked among the top four in the TBS Menwang Competition as well as winning the TRY Grand Prix, opened its doors in Taiwan at the end of last year. However, its official Facebook page recently announced that the lease has expired and the store will only operate until January 1, 2017. The good news is that it will reopen on March 4, 2017, on the fourth floor of ATT 4 FUN in Xinyi District. Loyal customers will only have to wait two months before they can enjoy the signature black garlic sesame oil ramen again.
Qingshan Japanese Cuisine Launches Winter-Limited Hot Pot Sets Starting at NT$3,800 per Person
Qingshan Japanese Cuisine, which does not offer a fixed menu, will launch the winter-limited “Qingshan Hot Pot Banquet” set from January 1 to March 31, 2017. The set offers two options for guests to choose from: the “Premium Wagyu Hot Pot” and the “Seasonal Seafood Hot Pot.” The set includes three recommended dishes, a fresh vegetable platter, a rice porridge infused with the rich and sweet broth, as well as desserts and drinks. Priced from NT$3,800+10% per person, the hot pot is ready to be served for groups of two or more.
Vote for Asia’s Top 10 Perfect Vacation Islands！Ready to book your flight after reading this?
Spending a whole day doing nothing on an island, soaking up the sun and thinking of nothing — it’s one of life’s greatest pleasures. The renowned travel search website Skyscanner has listed Asia’s 10 most perfect island holiday destinations, where you can fully enjoy the beauty of the sea and nature with sandy beaches, sunshine, and crystal-clear blue waters. After seeing these, you won’t be able to resist booking a flight!
Application for entry to the Jianm Lake National Trail suspended during quiet period in the mountains From January 5 to March 31, 2017
The Jianm Lake National Trail is located within the important wildlife habitat of Guanshan. To allow the natural ecology and wildlife to rest and recuperate, the area has been designated a quiet period in the mountains from January 5 to March 31 each year. During this period, the Jianm Lake National Trail and the nearby Yangguang Mountain Hut, Jianm Lake Mountain Hut, and Jianm Lake Campsite will be completely closed, and all applications for mountain huts and day trips will be suspended. Meanwhile, the Yangguang Campsite, located adjacent to the Yangguang Forest Recreation Area, remains open and available for booking as usual.
“Little Hu Tianlan” Zeng Ziyu’s favorite restaurant has to be this one—tonkatsu rice from Japan!
Celebrity Zeng Ziyu is often dubbed “Little Hu Tianlan.” Despite his young age, he earned praise from Xiao S after appearing on “Kangxi Lai Le” to introduce food, and his taste in cuisine has been trusted by many ever since. Through the show “Foodie Traveler – Stay Overnight,” he traveled across Taiwan with his mentor Huang Denghui. Today, he’s here to introduce his favorite tonkatsu restaurant: “Kobe Kihbei Pork Cutlet Rice Bowl.”
Thousands of books to feast your eyes on: 3 must-stay "library hotels" for book lovers across Taiwan
Modern hotels are no longer just places for travelers to rest. By incorporating different thematic styles or local characteristics, they become attractions in their own right, drawing visitors eager to stay. ETtoday EBC News has compiled a list of 3 uniquely "bibliophilic" library hotels across Taiwan. Not only can you browse through thousands of books to your heart’s content, but you can also enjoy hot springs or watch the sunrise. As a book lover, you simply must stay at one of these spots at least once.
Huge satisfaction Piles of meat slices stacked like a mountain—these 3 restaurants all serve it up.
Slices of meat piled high into a little mountain—meat lovers are sure to adore it!! Recently, Taiwan has seen a rise in N< rice restaurants, where the beef and grilled meats served atop the N< rice are generously portioned. 《ETtoday Eastday News Cloud》 has rounded up 3 standout N< rice offerings from popular eateries, each featuring a towering mini-mountain of meat that will definitely leave you full.
No need to go to the Netherlands to see tulips—Houli Zhongshe Flower Market has 200,000 blooms to feast your eyes on
The tulip season is here again！Taichung’s Houli Zhongshe Sightseeing Flower Market has kicked off its annual tulip season today, featuring 200,000 tulips of up to 40 varieties imported from Europe. This year, they’ve also specially introduced the rare and unique red double-petal Pirate Tulip, filling the park with colorful blooms and turning the European-style garden into a romantic wonderland. The flowers will bloom in succession from now until the end of March—flower lovers, don’t miss out！
New Year's Eve revelry without pause — six restaurants at Uni-President Songgao and ShinYi stay open until midnight
As 2017 approaches, the annual New Year's Eve evening sees crowded streets packed with people, turning the Xinyi District into an impassable sea of humanity. Located in the same district, Uni-President Songgao and Uni-President ShinYi feature a total of six restaurants that will stay open until the early hours of the next morning on New Year's Eve, with the latest closing time at 2:00 AM, offering an alternative option for those who wish to avoid the crowds.
Severe landslide in Xiuluan Tribe ! Xiulan Village, a hidden maple viewing spot in Hsinchu, may not be accessible anytime soon
If you're looking to see a sea of maple trees that rivals those abroad, Xiulan Village in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu, is a top choice for many. However, over the past week, the village has experienced consecutive landslides. Starting from the afternoon of the 26th, there was even a sudden large-scale collapse, with large amounts of earth and rocks sliding downhill, and numerous boulders stuck halfway up the mountain. This has not only affected local residents but also disrupted external transportation, further hindering tourists’ quest to chase the “maple” scenery.
More spectacular than the 101 New Year's Eve countdown—the island’s tallest “Ferris wheel light show” paired with an 180-second fireworks display
As 2017 approaches and New Year’s Eve draws near, this year’s “Colorful Youth Taichung” countdown event will be held at the second parking lot of Lihpao Land. In addition to performances by legendary group 5566 to bring in the new year and rock band 911 energizing the crowd, Taiwan’s largest Ferris wheel, “Sky Dream,” will put on a dazzling nighttime light show. With a total height of 120 meters, an altitude of 245 meters, and an overall elevation of 365 meters—comparable to Taipei 101—the spectacle is sure to be magnificent.
Capture a piece of scenery！This “metasequoia lake reflection” in Yilan is actually part of a cemetery
Recently, the beauty of metasequoia trees has drawn widespread attention. In Yuanshan, Yilan, there is a place called “Lipi Lake,” named for its shell-like shape. However, this beautiful scenery is located within the grounds of Fuyuan, managed by Yilan County’s Funeral Management Office. The office built a Memorial Bridge over the lake, and through careful maintenance, it has transformed the public’s cold impression of cemeteries. Surrounded by burial grounds, the area carries a somewhat serene and desolate atmosphere—visitors are advised to keep noise to a minimum.
Taoyuan ATT Kuaishishang: 19 Dining Brands in Trial Operation, Korean All-You-Can-Eat Restaurant Most Popular
ATT has launched its new food-focused concept "ATT Kuaishishang" in Taoyuan Railway Station’s prime commercial area, aiming to gather 50 dining brands to serve locals. Currently, 19 brands have started trial operations. On the first floor, 16 brands focus on quick take-away options, including "Wei Jie Stuffed Tapioca Balls" and the dessert shop "The Sea Is Sweet," which rose to fame in Yonghe. On the second floor, three restaurants are now in trial operation, with the 299-TWD Korean all-you-can-eat restaurant "Two Meals" being the most popular.
Let nature rest: “Angel’s Tear” Lake Jiaming to close for three months starting January
Known as the “Angel’s Tear,” Lake Jiaming will enter a mountain closure period from January 5 to March 31 to allow natural ecosystems and wildlife to recover. During this time, the Lake Jiaming National Trail, along with all mountain huts and campsites along the route, will be completely closed. Applications for mountain hut stays and day hikes will also be suspended.
Soaking in hot springs and staying overnight for under a thousand NT? Hsinchu’s Gourmet Hot Spring Festival—Even from Taipei, it’s worth the trip
To promote the high-quality hot springs within Hsinchu County, the County Government’s Department of Transportation and Tourism specially held a press conference for the “2017 Hsinchu County Gourmet Tourism & Hot Spring Festival” at the “Asahi Hot Spring Resort” on December 28, officially kicking off the event.
Popular Tamkang University eatery "Dundas Street" shuts down, becoming a memory along with 2016!
One of Tamkang University students' favorite restaurants, "Dundas Street," announced today on Facebook that it will soon close its doors, going out of business on December 31st along with the end of 2016. This has left many Tamkang students filled with nostalgia, saying that their cherished memories are truly becoming just that—memories!
The most beautiful scenery around every city corner！ Top 10 beloved "walls" for photos in 2016 chosen by netizens
Shared through social media with netizens, 2016 made countless hidden gems popular and also unearthed many scenic spots not usually discovered. Following hot check-in spots and viral private attractions, ETtoday EBC News Cloud has compiled a list of the 10 most popular photo walls among netizens in 2016. These beautiful walls are either hidden within concrete skyscrapers or tucked away in stylish accommodations. If you want to keep up with the trend and take aesthetic photos, be sure to add these spots to your must-visit list！