Travel
Tony Stark makes a live appearance as Iron Man land officially opens at Hong Kong Disneyland
Leading the world, the highly anticipated first Marvel-themed attraction in any Disney park, "Iron Man" (known locally as "Iron Man Experience"), officially opened today (the 11th) at Hong Kong Disneyland. Not only was Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek present at the event, but Iron Man himself—Tony Stark—also made a personal appearance to kick off the celebration, sending excitement levels soaring.
London’s “World’s Longest Tunnel Slide” – Back to Ground Level from the 35th Floor in Just 40 Seconds
With major airlines currently offering promotions on European routes, round-trip tickets for as low as 30,000 NT dollars are available. Why not head to London, UK, and take on the “world’s highest and longest tunnel slide”? Experience the thrill of spiraling down a 38-story-high slide and returning to ground level in just 40 seconds. This ultra-exciting attraction has become a popular new spot in London since its launch last year.
Nantou Lantern Festival, Sand Sculpture Art Exhibition, and Dinosaur Exhibition: Three Major Events Open Simultaneously on the 21st
As the Lunar New Year approaches, the “2017 Nantou Lantern Festival, Sand Sculpture Art Exhibition, and Dinosaur Exhibition” will grandly kick off on the 21st at the Nantou City Convention and Exhibition Center. In celebration of the Year of the Rooster in the lunar calendar, the Nantou County Lantern Festival has created a rooster-themed main lantern that incorporates features of Nantou’s landscape, using sound, light, form, and shadow to enhance its presence. The event also features 12 themed lantern zones, aiming to immerse visitors in the festive atmosphere of the New Year.
Absolutely stunning! Kaohsiung’s Taibao Organic Flower Sea — Vast, Colorful Fields Like Hokkaido
The “Taibao Organic Farming Area,” located next to the High-Speed Rail Boulevard in Chiayi, has burst into a riot of colorful blooms in preparation for the upcoming “Taibao City Flower Sea Festival” on the 22nd of this month, drawing gasps of amazement from passersby and attracting large crowds of visitors who come to admire and take photos.
Targeting the Top Tier: Zhanlü Coffee Launches a Thousand-Taiwan-Dollar Estate Auction Coffee
Spotting the remarkable potential of Taiwan’s specialty coffee market, Zhanlü Coffee kicked off 2017 with an “ultra-premium” focus by releasing four ultra-premium series to capture top-tier customers and female clientele for afternoon tea. Leading the lineup is a thousand-Taiwan-Dollar (1,250 TWD) estate auction coffee, “Guatemala Injerto,” whose beans cost up to 25,000 TWD per kilogram. Zhanlü Coffee secured only 300 pounds of these beans, allowing for just 6,000 cups—once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival Announces Twice-Yearly Events: Combine Lantern Festival & Mid-Autumn Festival to Boost Year-Round Tourism
The New Taipei City Government announced on the 10th that the 2017 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival will be held on both February 11 (Lantern Festival) and October 4 (Mid-Autumn Festival). While supporting local development, it preserves the tradition of releasing lanterns in Shifen during the Lantern Festival, while the Mid-Autumn Festival will host a second event in Pingxi. The festival will promote Pingxi's unique features year-round to maintain tourism momentum throughout the year.
Songshan Yishe Log Cabin BBQ Restaurant Launches Winter Vacation Promotions — Free Weekend Brunch for Kids
The joyful winter vacation has arrived, and Que Restaurant on the 17th floor of Taipei Songshan Yishe Hotel has thoughtfully introduced an exceptional winter vacation promotion package — in fact, two great deals at once. From January 14 to February 28, every Saturday and Sunday brunch allows one adult to bring along one child aged 12 or under, who can enjoy the buffet and bar for free upon presenting their ID. Each table can enjoy up to two free kids' meals. Meanwhile, the evening dinner promotion offers great value too: for groups of 12 people or fewer, one person eats free when four dine together.
Fairytale European-style castle alert: Nantou’s YuanShou Museum features an Instagrammable giant chessboard
Located in Puli, the "YuanShou Museum" was built with over 100 million NTD investment by Dah Hei Song Xiao Lian Kou. The park is designed like a European-style castle, giving the impression that princes and princesses might step out at any moment. In front of the square lies a huge chessboard grid adorned with uniquely shaped chess pieces in vibrant, pastel colors—so adorable you won’t want to stop taking photos. Additionally, the pumpkin-shaped carriage is a dreamy photo spot that’s getting lots of buzz online.
Reflecting on a new business model, Hunter’s Fruit Store will only operate until January 13
Hunter’s Fruit Store, a new brand launched by handmade bakery Hakken-do, has announced that after two and a half years of operation and relocating from near National Taiwan University to Keelung Road, it will cease operations on January 13. However, the management team clarified on Facebook that this is a temporary suspension. “It’s a semicolon, not an end, but the beginning mark of the next chapter,” they wrote, concluding with “Until we meet again.”
Step into a hyper-stylish black-and-white world: Taoyuan’s most Instagrammable French burger joint
RL, a new French restaurant in Zhongli that opened last May, serves handmade burgers and French pastries. Its sleek black-and-white minimalist interior has garnered significant popularity on Instagram in just over half a year since opening.
Light is used to create a four-season atmosphere for the first time ever in Tainan’s Moon Lake Harbor Lantern Festival, which kicks off grandly on the 21st.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, have you decided where to eat, drink, and enjoy the festive season during the six-day holiday? This year’s “2017 Moon Lake Harbor Lantern Festival” takes “Ode to the Four Seasons” as its exhibition theme. Unlike previous lantern displays, this year’s event for the first time uses four color themes in the lighting environment to evoke the ambiance of the four seasons. Coupled with large-scale landscape highlight installations, visitors can stroll through the lantern displays amidst four distinct atmospheres, enjoying a visual feast unlike any other. If you haven’t yet decided where to go, consider adding this festival to your list.
It's all about being On Time！ The ranking of the "World's Top 10 Punctual Airlines in 2016" has been released
Choosing an airline is no small matter. Factors to consider include safety, service, price, and so on. Whether flights depart and arrive on time is also a key criterion for passengers when evaluating an airline. On the 9th, U.S.-based aviation data company FlightStats announced the "2016 Global Airline Punctuality Rankings", with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines taking the top spot, and Israeli Airlines ranking at the bottom. Both EVA Air and China Airlines failed to make the top 10 or the bottom 10.
Hong Kong Disneyland’s Iron Man Zone – Quick Guide to 7 Must-Dos & Limited Edition Experiences to Grab First!
The first Marvel-themed attraction in Hong Kong Disneyland, “Iron Man,” officially debuted on the 11th, sparking high anticipation among fans of both Iron Man and the Marvel universe who are eager to pay homage right away. But before you head there, it’s best to do a bit of homework to ensure you have the most fun and leave with no regrets. Here’s a rundown of the 7 highlights of the Iron Man Experience – you’ll want to try them all to make the most of this one-of-a-kind global Iron Man-themed zone!
New team takes over Yilan Cultural and Creative Park; reopening on the 21st with tickets at NT$150
After more than three months of closure for renovation, the Yilan National Center for Traditional Arts will reopen on the 21st with the “Tradition Lantern Festival.” Ticket prices remain the same at NT$150, and during the event period, the combined cost of the event ticket and entrance fee will not exceed NT$250.
A romantic date amidst snow-like blossoms: Our special search for "9 plum blossom viewing spots across Taiwan"
Flower viewing is almost a national pastime. The resilient trunks of plum trees paired with their delicate, snow-white blossoms create a seasonally exclusive beauty. As winter arrives, it's time to track down those plum blossoms. ETtoday EBC News Cloud has specially searched out the top 9 plum blossom viewing spots in Taiwan—seize the moment and embark on a “plum-blossom-seeking-in-the-snow” journey.
Family-style Japanese Western cuisine that feels just like home – Little Things Restaurant Wenzhou Branch begins trial sales
Little Things Restaurant Wenzhou Branch has started its trial operation at the end of 2016. Combining cuisine and tableware, the space is divided into a spacious dining area and a full display of products from the renowned Japanese brand studio m’. Over 95% of the tableware used at Little Things Restaurant Wenzhou is from studio m’, allowing guests to experience the beauty brought by these pieces.
A flavor so good you'd want to keep it all to yourself — here’s where locals in Tainan love their eel spaghetti!
After working in Taichung for several years, it was really hard to find a bowl of noodles that could rival the taste of Tainan. I had made an appointment to meet someone, and as soon as I took a bite, I knew this was it — the moment I tasted this dish, I suddenly remembered something I hadn’t thought about in years. When I encountered this dish again, I was so excited I almost cried.
Eye-catching Japanese-style storehouse exterior: Kurazushi Taichung Fukuo Branch Opens, 10% Off When You Check In and Post a Photo
The popular Japanese conveyor-belt sushi chain Kurazushi, which will soon celebrate its third year in Taiwan, will open its first Taiwanese store with a traditional "kura" (Japanese storehouse) façade on January 18 on Fukuang Road, Taichung. This will be its sixth branch in Taiwan. From the opening day until February 10, diners who check in and like the official Facebook page of Kurazushi Taichung Fukuo Branch and share photos of their meal along with their dining experience can enjoy a 10% discount.
Top Booking Destinations in Japan for 2016: Kagawa Prefecture Takes First, Tokyo Fourth
Japan, with its unique cuisine and culture, has long been an ideal travel destination for many. On the 11th, Rakuten Travel announced the hottest travel destinations in Japan for 2016. Surprisingly, the top spot wasn’t Tokyo, Kyoto, or Hokkaido, but Kagawa Prefecture—home to Yayoi Kusama’s giant pumpkin.
Is gathering around the stove for New Year’s Eve dinner a must? A survey shows that 16% of people choose to travel abroad on New Year’s Eve—the peak time for such trips.
Travel search engine Skyscanner today released its “2017 Lunar New Year Taiwanese Travelers Abroad” report, which reveals that Taiwanese travelers tend to go abroad during two key periods of the Lunar New Year holiday—mainly from the day before New Year’s Eve to the first day of the new year, accounting for 46% of all travel during the festive period. The most popular departure time is New Year’s Eve itself, chosen by 18% of travelers. The report also lists the 10 most popular destinations during the Lunar New Year, with Japan being the top choice, making up 50% of all selections.