Travel
The “Taipei Azalea Season” kicks off on March 1st, with nearly 500,000 azaleas adorning the city of Taipei
Winter has passed, and spring is just around the corner！ This year, the Taipei City Government has teamed up with National Taiwan University for the first time to host the “Taipei Azalea Season.” Centered around the city flower — the azalea — the event features plantings stretching from Roosevelt Road along Xinsheng South Road to Da’an Forest Park, as well as along Ren’ai Road. The area is enhanced with a variety of plantings, artworks, and character decorations to bring fresh creative touches. The exhibition runs from March 1st to March 31st, 2017, allowing the public to immerse themselves among the pink-hued blossoms.
Yilan’s version of the Blue Hole can be seen here too！Gueishan Island to reopen in March—don’t miss the stunning Yin-Yang Sea
After three months of closure for ecological recovery, Gueishan Island off the coast of Yilan will reopen to the public starting March 1. Visitors will have the chance to explore the island’s scenery while also enjoying the surrounding azure waters, which even famous celebrities have praised as comparable to Italy’s Blue Hole.
Japanese Girls' Day Dolls: 1,800 Dolls Stack into a Seven-Meter-High Pyramid in Saitama Prefecture
The Japanese Girls' Day event begins around mid-February, and at a shopping mall in Wako City, an eye-catching, seven-meter-high pyramid made of ceramic dolls was created, which is truly spectacular and dazzling.
The majestic "One-Zhang Red" flower sea makes a grand debut！ The hollyhock maze in Tianzhong, Changhua is in full bloom.
Hollyhocks are flowers that symbolize glory and prosperity. In imperial palaces and the gardens of wealthy families, their absence would make it difficult to achieve a truly magnificent and splendid beauty. To admire the grandeur of hollyhock seas, head to Tianzhong, Changhua！ The annual Tianzhong Hollyhock Sea Art Festival has kicked off. In addition to the stunning hollyhock maze, there are also romantic bald cypress trees, as well as DIY activities such as hand-thrown pottery and wood-fired bread baking—perfect for great photos and fun.
Korean restaurant in Taichung: Bold wraps featuring an entire soft-shell crab!
I’m sure many of you know about “KATZ Fusion Restaurant” in the Jingming Business District — this trendy Korean eatery is always bustling with people. This week, while checking their Facebook page, I discovered that KATZ has opened a new branch near the Art Museum ~ So right after work, I went to check out how the new place feels like!
After 40 years A ¥100 Tianxiang Hot Spring will close on April 2
Tianxiang Hot Spring on Xingyi Road in Beitou, Taipei, has been around for 40 years and is set to close on April 2, 2017, which is heartbreaking for many. The owner explained that due to adjustments and new regulations under the Hot Spring Act, as well as depleted hot spring resources, despite years of effort, Tianxiang ultimately had to shut down because it was too close to the river and couldn't obtain a hot spring certification. As for whether it will reopen or relocate in the future, the owner said it's still uncertain.
Why do flight attendants always ask passengers to open the window shades during takeoff and landing?
Although Qantas will launch 787 Dreamliner aircraft with "electronic windows" by the end of the year, most planes still use manual window shades. During takeoff and landing, passengers by the window are often reminded by flight attendants to raise them. Many assume it’s related to UV rays at high altitudes, but that’s not the case—there’s a more important reason.
Breathtakingly beautiful—the century-old Hualien Tobacco Factory with structures full of "warmth"
On the second day in Hualien, Watanabe started his day’s itinerary with a visit to the Hualien Tobacco Factory. Built in 1913, the Hualien Tobacco Factory currently holds no cultural heritage status. In 2015, it was even reported that the cypress wood trusses in several buildings had been stolen, and the damaged roof structures were at risk of collapsing at any time. Come explore the preservation value of these buildings through Watanabe’s perspective with us.
Essential for the handyman type of person (or just fun)! Tainan’s hidden edition of shaped sponge cakes — featuring a screwdriver?
What other special shapes can a sponge cake have? Tainan never ceases to surprise. Following last year’s super-popular cat-paw sponge cake, there’s now a worker-themed “tool-shaped sponge cake” — adorable wrenches, hammers, and even screwdrivers. A set of five tools lets you easily jump into the trade and transform into an ultra-cute little worker.
The wildly popular "Monster Buns" from Sanhe Yuan are taking the internet by storm with their playful charm, winning over netizens' hearts!
Sanhe Yuan, which has long established its reputation in the Greater Taipei area, is a must-visit spot for many food enthusiasts. Whenever you scroll through Instagram, you'll be greeted with a flood of adorable buns—various fun and colorful pastry creations that amplify their cuteness to the max. With the perfect combination of delicious taste and photogenic appeal, these treats are simply irresistible to diners.
A century-old house on Dihua Street transformed into a French-style café – like stepping into a movie scene
Taipei’s Dihua Street, one of the best-preserved old streets in Taiwan, is lined with traditional Chinese medicine shops, grocery stores, tea houses... Close your eyes and you might feel as if you've returned to its golden age of commercial prosperity. In recent years, unique cafés have moved in, planting the seeds of a creative cultural image. Modern Mode is a great example—step inside, and you’ll feel as if you’ve entered the world of the movie *Midnight in Paris*, with a rich French modern atmosphere enveloping every corner, making it hard to leave.
Kaohsiung’s “Bigger Than Your Face” Wooden Bowl N< Rice – Enjoy Seven Types of Seafood in One Go!
Huli had tried Fuchuancho’s N< Rice a few years ago, and the freshness and flavor of the ingredients were excellent, with generous portions that left her stuffed to the brim every time. The head chef insists on personally buying fresh seafood from the fishing port every day, paired with his unique cooking style, ensuring food lovers are both happy and satisfied — this is one of the reasons we love Fuchuancho. Not only is it filling, but you also get to enjoy fresh flavors. Japanese cuisine fans, come for a meal here, Up～
It’s all about the over-the-top decor to be truly impressive—check out six ultra-luxurious, high-end restaurants in Taichung
Extravagant and grand interiors always leave a deep impression. As a battleground for the F&B industry, Taichung has seen a string of large-scale restaurants opening in recent years, successfully capturing the attention of diners from all over. The food review site OpenRice has specially compiled a list of six super-popular restaurants that are generating huge buzz—come and enjoy the sense of luxury they offer！
Two Winter-Only Experiences in Zermatt, Switzerland: Witness the Golden Sunrise Painting the Silver Mountains
The New York Times recently selected 52 countries and cities around the world worth visiting in 2017, with Zermatt, Switzerland ranked 4th. Visiting Zermatt in winter not only allows you to enjoy a fairytale-like silver-white world, but Chen Domingo, the Taiwanese market representative for the Matterhorn region, also recommends the golden sunrise and visiting the igloo village as two must-do winter experiences unique to Zermatt.
Cat paw and wrench shapes? All devoured in one bite—these super-cute shaped “egg waffles” in Tainan are here!
What else can you do with egg waffles, aside from using cartoon patterns and the usual round shape? Tainan, known as the food capital, has local shops that have added creativity to traditional egg waffles, transforming them into ultra-cute shaped treats—there are cat paw shapes, screwdriver shapes, and more. They’re so Instagrammable, you won’t even want to eat them. Below, we’ve specially selected three popular Tainan egg waffle spots with unique shapes. Tomorrow’s afternoon tea is decided!
Apricot Peach Muffin Shop also starts selling breakfast — you can enjoy muffin breakfasts before 8 AM.
Apricot Peach Muffin Shop has long been a popular spot for afternoon tea, but starting in March, there’s a surprising new addition: from 7:30 to 11:00 AM, the Apricot Peach Muffin Shop at Uni-President Times Mall offers three brand-new breakfast options. These include the Tuna Egg Salad Morning Light Sandwich and the Ham Omelet Morning Light Sandwich — both made with freshly baked muffins (a specialty of the shop) instead of bread. There’s also the Béchamel Cheese Ham Muffin, topped with rich white sauce and handmade, skin-on sliced ham.
Hikers, the wait is over！Yushan reopens on March 1 after a one-month closure for rest
After a one-month closure, Yushan will once again welcome hikers, reopening access to the main peak and the peaks trail. The Yushan National Park Headquarters stated that in order to reduce human impact and damage to the natural ecological environment, a one-month "mountain purification – mountain reverence – mountain rest – mountain reopening" initiative was carried out. This not only allows Yushan to recover but also promotes safe hiking practices.
The thrill of constant motion ahead: Dubai revives plans for a rotating skyscraper
Dubai’s skyline, especially in terms of novelty and futuristic design, is certainly no less impressive than that of other countries—but now the city is toying with the idea of building a rotating skyscraper, which is truly intriguing.
Super adorable creatures spotted everywhere in Taiwan: 5 farms and restaurants where you can interact with alpacas!
With their innocent eyes, long necks, and fluffy appearance — the classic hallmarks of what’s commonly known as the “grass mud horse” — these animals are actually alpacas (Alpaca), native to the highlands of Peru and Chile in South America. These days, many farms and restaurants across Taiwan have started raising these alternative “furry pets,” allowing visitors to interact closely with them, adding a fun and unique touch. ETtoday EBC News has rounded up five farms and restaurants in Taiwan that host alpacas — check them out!
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