Travel
Step into the Azure Galaxy Nestled in the Forest: 4 Must-Visit Firefly-Watching Spots in Hualien
Firefly season has arrived, and across Taiwan, you can see tiny blue-green lights dancing through the greenery at night. Hualien, blessed with stunning mountains and waters, also boasts numerous firefly hotspots. This article rounds up 4 must-visit firefly-watching locations in Hualien. Enjoy a forest bath while admiring the glowing fireflies — a spectacle so magical it feels like floating in a galaxy, an experience unique to this time of year.
A sci-fi space created with LED lights—this is the most Instagram-famous mirror in Taiwan!
Located in Huashan, “DPT-Department” is a style concept store that blends fashion, art, and dining. It features brand-new “limited-time pop-ups” and was designed by Japanese art master Yoshirotten, successfully generating a lot of buzz. The fantastical space outlined by white LED lights, combined with industrial-style designs such as acrylic, glass, and steel frames, has become a must-visit landmark. The “mirror” outside the store has gone viral on Instagram, reflecting images that create an infinite visual extension—no matter how you shoot it, it looks cool!
Kaohsiung’s craziest bubble tea spot is here — the handsome owner turns drinks into a serialized novel!
Near Kaohsiung High School, there’s a super popular bubble tea shop called “Tea Sage.” The drink menu is quirky, with names that are especially puzzling — Guo Hongxiang Fresh Milk Tea, Sister’s Plenty, The End of Love. The owner has given each drink its own story. Take a closer look, and you’ll find the boss is actually a handsome guy too. Many local netizens say Tea Sage is truly different — full of enthusiasm, friendliness, and, of course, good looks.
April brings a trio of Michelin-starred delights: yakitori, soy sauce chicken, and ramen—what’s your pick?
Today marks the grand opening of Michelin ramen spot Tsuta Ramen, drawing huge crowds. The first in line arrived as early as 6:00 AM. In addition to Tsuta Ramen, earlier this month, two other Michelin-quality eateries—Van HK Soy Sauce Chicken Rice Noodle from Hong Kong and Taipei’s Nichii—also launched their first Taiwan outlets in April. It’s truly a star-studded month.
The “mini aquarium” you can actually drink — blue bubbles and starfish-shaped tapioca pearls are super refreshing
Remember the beautifully bubbly “Sakura Bomb” soda? When Tainan restaurant Hawaii Grill 夏威夷厨房 launched creative drinks like the Sakura Bomb and Poké Ball beverages, they caused a huge buying frenzy. Now, they’ve introduced an even more refreshing and adorable “aquarium.” This mini aquarium isn’t just portable, it also cools you down — you’ve got to admit, the owner’s creativity knows no bounds.
Group Travel Together! TPE Airport, Taoyuan MRT, Kansai Airport, and Nankai Electric Railway Sign MOU
To strengthen international exchanges, Taoyuan Airport, Taoyuan MRT, Japan’s Kansai Airport, and Nankai Electric Railway, under the witness of Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan and Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau Chairman Mizuho Mizuno, signed the “Memorandum of Cooperation for the Establishment of Friendly Relations among Four Organizations.” Through collaboration among the four parties, the goal is to enhance convenience for travelers between Taiwan and Japan, as well as increase awareness of scenic spots along both countries' railway lines. In the future, there is hope for offering mutual railway or ride discounts.
Xinbei-style Cantonese Roast Meat Shop – Enjoy crispy-skinned, juicy roast duck leg here!
Last time after sharing about “Xincheng Roast Meat,” a friend recommended this place not far away, ‘Mingmen Roast Meat,’ located near the Qizhang MRT Station and Zhongzheng Bridge. Later I also found out that it actually has two other branches, one of which I had visited on Yitong Street before. This place has excellent local reputation – besides satisfyingly devouring a duck leg rice, I also took away a Four Treasures Rice meal to go.
10 major reforms to stop the bleeding announced by United Airlines: concrete and meaningful actions will be taken
United Airlines caused an uproar on April 9 after forcibly dragging an Asian doctor passenger off a flight, with its brutal handling drawing widespread condemnation and severely damaging the airline's brand image. In response, United Airlines issued an official statement today (27th), presenting 10 commitments stating that it will implement significant reforms in its flight operations, services, and respect for passengers. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz also said in the statement: “Every customer deserves to be treated with the highest level of service and the deepest sense of dignity. Two weeks ago, we failed to meet that standard, and we deeply apologize.” He also pledged to ensure that such incidents would never happen again.
Cook like a Michelin-starred chef at home with these delicious recipes
Want to show your love this Mother’s Day by cooking yourself? HowToTrip’s trusted aquatic and livestock specialty store “Everbright Fresh” has teamed up with renowned Italian chef Marco Lotito to create three classic Italian home-style recipes using Everbright Fresh’s premium ingredients—including grouper, toxin-free white shrimp, Nezumihama eco-shrimp, Hokkaido sashimi-grade scallops, and Everbright Lean Pork low-fat ground meat.
The "Snow Corridor" of Mount Hakkoda in Aomori is stunningly beautiful — this view is like stepping into a postcard.
Taking a sightseeing bus from the Oirase Gorge Hotel up to "Mount Hakkoda," the bare branches, not yet dressed in fresh greenery, exude a desolate yet serene beauty. As the bus continues uphill, towering snow walls suddenly dominate the view.
Packed with veggies — Japan’s direct operation brings Nagasaki Champuru Ramen back to Taiwan
Champuru Ramen, loaded with vegetables, is a must-try local dish when visiting Nagasaki, Japan. The well-known Japanese chain Ringer Hut features Nagasaki Champuru Ramen as its signature item and has over 750 outlets across Japan. It previously had stores in Taiwan, but the contract wasn’t renewed after the agent failed to maintain quality standards. However, Ringer Hut remains optimistic about the Taiwanese market and relaunched two years later under the name "Ringer Hut Japan Nagasaki Champion Ramen."
“Dementors” soar over Universal Studios Japan at night—Harry Potter fans, this is a must-see!
Stepping into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan feels just like entering the magical scenes from the movies—it’s hard to tell where reality ends and fantasy begins. Since its opening, it has attracted a huge number of fans from all over the world. Located in Osaka, Universal Studios Japan is the first and only theme park in Asia to feature The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. To extend the magic from day to night, the park launched an impressive nighttime show starting April 21. The spectacular light projection magic show completely captivates the audience.
Vietjet flies daily between Hanoi and Singapore; opens new Hanoi-Dong Hoi route on June 1
In light of frequent business and tourism travel between Singapore and Hanoi, Vietjet launched an international route connecting Hanoi and Singapore on April 27, and announced it will open a domestic route linking Hanoi and Dong Hoi (Quang Binh Province) on June 1 to promote regional trade and integration.
Lin Zhiyang, a seventh-grader who loves to travel, creates Taiwan’s only luggage delivery service
Does carrying heavy luggage while traveling abroad dampen your enthusiasm? Especially on the first day after arrival or the day of departure, if your flight schedule is inconvenient, you may find yourself struggling to find a place to store your bags. Lin Zhiyang, a Taiwanese born in the 1990s (seventh-grader), discovered a business opportunity through his passion for travel, and together with friends, built a platform where travelers can easily handle their luggage issues—sending bags to over 30 cities’ airports, hotels, and train stations.
Flaky egg tarts a must-try: Honolulu Coffee Shop in Hong Kong to begin soft opening on 5/4, grand opening on 5/5
Following Caffe Florian, the renowned Hong Kong “Honolulu Coffee Shop” will also open at New World Taipei A11. This allows everyone to enjoy classic cha chaan teng
Make your summer homework all about Europe this year—have fun traveling across Europe as a family, with up to NT$40,000 in discounts for children!
As the hot summer approaches and the kids’ favorite long vacation begins, seize the opportunity this year to embark on a unique European adventure with your beloved little ones. Choose from specially selected HowToTrip group tours departing during the summer, where each child can enjoy discounts of up to NT$40,000. Plan your holiday effortlessly and enjoy quality time together as a family—with early bird privileges too, so don’t miss out!
The charm of the five Nordic countries—the most epic journey on Earth, with Arctic Circle adventures!
Every human gene carries a spark of adventure. If you're tired of the Tropic of Cancer at 23.5°N in Taiwan, why not take the plunge and experience the thrill of venturing into the Arctic Circle at 66.5°N? On this journey, you’ll encounter blue hot springs, pristine ice fields, emerald pine forests, gaze at the midnight sun spectacle at North Cape, try your luck at gold panning within the polar circle, and stay in a fairytale-like valley fjord paradise. This unbelievably amazing trip is the HowToTrip “17-Day Five Nordic Countries & Iceland Tour (Including North Cape & Southeast Iceland Coast)”—the most incredible journey on the planet!
Summer is just around the corner in June—book your European getaway now and save big with limited-time offers. Traveling with a partner? Save up to NT$10,000!
With its pleasant early summer climate in June, there's no better time to embark on an unforgettable journey. Europe, brimming with natural beauty and artistic charm, is the perfect destination. Elegance Travel is thrilled to offer savings of up to NT$10,000 for travelers going in pairs—don’t miss out on the last available spots!
Cathay Pacific’s Inflight Beer Betsy Beer Wins Praise & Expands to More Routes!
Since its launch, Cathay Pacific’s Besty Beer has been widely popular. In the coming months, Cathay will expand its availability to more routes, allowing passengers to enjoy this high-quality craft beer, specially crafted for the 35,000-foot altitude, on flights between Hong Kong and Europe, Canada, the United States, Japan, New Zealand, and Tel Aviv.
Residents of Hualien and Taichung are in luck — Hong Kong Express is offering a promotion with flights to Hong Kong from just HK$750!
People in Taichung and Hualien are in luck — Hong Kong Express has launched a huge HK$8 promotion. From now until May 1, one-way fares on the “Hualien–Hong Kong” route start at NT$731 including taxes and fees. The “Taichung–Hong Kong” promotion goes on sale starting at midnight on the 30th, also offering one-way fares from NT$731 including taxes and fees, so you can fly directly from Taichung or Hualien to Hong Kong for fun!