Travel
Southern Taiwan's First Store: World’s Second Best Ice Cream Pineapple Bun Opens in Tainan on May 11
Following its launch in Taichung, the world’s second-best freshly baked ice cream pineapple bun is now heading further south to Tainan City. It will be located at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Tainan West Gate Store and is set to officially open on May 11. Locals in Tainan who have tried it in Japan and are longing for another taste can relive the experience again.
53-year-old popular shaved ice shop where you can try Japan’s most dreamy kakigori & an orange Mount Fuji
As the weather gets warmer, it’s once again the season for ice treats. The shaved ice shop “Nakai Shave Ice” in Shinjingu, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, not only serves up Japan’s most dreamy ice dessert but also uses ice made from clean, high-quality water—so it won’t give you a brain freeze and is gentle enough even for those with sensitive teeth. It’s a must-visit shaved ice spot in Wakayama during the summer.
A specialty store for colorful girly cupcakes!“Party Zoo” in Audit New Village is all the rage.
“Party Zoo” is a popular dessert shop that embraces a vibrant, girly aesthetic. Its diverse range of cupcakes in various flavors and colors are as adorable as they are delicious, offering a delightful treat for both the eyes and the taste buds. The shop frequently updates and introduces new menu items. Even with crowds lining up outside, sugar-loving customers—both men and women—are more than happy to wait in line.
Childhood snack memories — The Royal Palace’s “Flavors of Youth Banquet” takes top billing
Can the snacks you loved as a child be transformed into five-star gourmet dishes? The Royal Palace Chinese Restaurant at The Regent Taipei has created numerous classic and innovative signature dishes since its opening. This year, Chef Chen Weiqiang has taken his creativity to the next level by reinventing snacks into astonishing delicacies. Starting May 15, the “Flavors of Youth Banquet” will be available, starting from NT$420+10%. Classic snack biscuits such as Crispy Fruit Chips, Fish Crackers, Guabai, and Cola Nuts are combined with various ingredients to create a series of fun and playful snack-inspired dishes.
In addition to online reservations, the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum now offers on-site ticket purchases
Want to visit the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum but don’t want to be limited by advance booking? The Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum recently announced that in addition to online reservations, general individual visitors can now also purchase tickets on-site, allowing for more flexible itinerary planning.
Pure white romantic "May Snow" has arrived！6 dreamy tung blossom hiking trails in Changhua
The most romantic floral event of May is undoubtedly the tung blossom season. In April and May when tung blossoms bloom, the lush mountains look as if blanketed in snowfall. Delicate white petals drift down with the wind, forming long flower-carpeted trails on the ground. This breathtaking sight is an annual spectacle not to be missed. Due to climatic factors, the blooms are slightly later this year, but some tung blossoms in Changhua have already quietly emerged. Flower-chasers should keep a close eye on bloom updates.
Japanese Cuisine EN’s May-Only Tuna Festival – All-You-Can-Eat for NT$599, Available for Only 2 Days
Japanese Cuisine EN has once again launched its May-only “Tuna Festival,” featuring both Japanese black tuna and yellowfin tuna directly sourced from Donggang, Taiwan. The head chef presents the tuna in various cooking styles such as sashimi, simmered, and deep-fried to showcase its rich flavors. Additionally, “Tuna Slicing Shows” will be held separately at both Japanese Cuisine EN branches. Fresh yellowfin tuna from Donggang will be sliced on the spot for immediate enjoyment, with both kaiseki courses and all-you-can-eat sashimi options. The all-you-can-eat event is only available on May 21 and May 28 at the Banqiao Big City store.
The Dreamy "Goose Leg" at Taipei's Roast Meat Shops – Not Everyone Can Get It, Even with Money!
《Jia Hong Roast Goose》 is a shop recommended to me by a friend who loves Hong Kong-style roast meats. The legendary premium roast goose leg is something you might not be able to get even if you have money – you need the right timing, location, people, and a bit of luck. Many friends have had the experience of missing out, so I rushed there within half an hour of opening at noon, all for the goose leg!
Heads up for travelers: From June, Nagoya Legoland to have “weekends off” during low season
One of the most talked-about topics in Japan this year is the newly opened “Legoland” in Nagoya. However, unlike Disneyland and Universal Studios, which operate year-round without closures, Legoland has announced that starting in June, it will observe “weekends off” during low-traffic months. Travelers planning a pilgrimage to Legoland should pay close attention to the park’s opening hours.
Seizing the Grab-and-Go Breakfast Market: Toasteria Launches Authentic Mediterranean Breakfast
Toasteria Café (吐司利亚) is also entering the Yongkang Street breakfast market with an authentic Mediterranean breakfast menu. Featuring fresh ingredients and 22 homemade sauces for seasoning, all dishes are prepared following Mediterranean cooking methods. These include Shakshuka, Israel’s iconic breakfast dish, and the “Nutrition Express,” which includes 12 types of nuts and dried fruits, fresh fruit, grains, and is drizzled with organic date honey. This allows everyone to easily enjoy the most genuine Mediterranean cuisine—and it's available all day.
Absolutely Dreamy!“The Niagara Falls of Flower Seas” – Ashikaga’s Wisteria Wonderland in Full Bloom
Every year between April and May, one of Japan’s must-see floral events is the wisteria blossoms. Located in Tochigi Prefecture, the Ashikaga Flower Park is famed for its over 1,000 square meter expanse of 350 wisteria trees, and recently, the park’s wisteria sea has entered its most stunning period. Now is the time to admire the purple waterfalls cascading from the sky.
Dining Paradise meal vouchers achieve over NT$100 million in sales at travel expo; single largest transaction hits NT$8.3 million
As the Taipei International Tourism Expo draws to a close, Dining Paradise ticket sales have exceeded NT$100 million over the four-day event, estimated to reach NT$135 million — nearly a 10% increase compared to last year. On the first day of the expo, a single buyer spent NT$5.85 million, and right before the expo’s final day, an even larger transaction of NT$8.3 million was made. It is understood that most of these large purchases were made by service committees for corporate dining events or employee rewards.
The “Century-Old Railway Station” Comes Alive at Night: A Romantic 3D Light Show Illuminates Taichung
Landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and the Swiss Parliament Building in Bern shine brilliantly at night, with dazzling light projections adding new highlights to the darkness. In recent years, light art festivals have been held on a grand scale around the world—in cities like Sydney, Singapore, Germany, and France—using light to brighten up urban spaces and historic sites after dark. To promote local culture and attract tourism, the 2017 Taichung Light Art Festival will breathe new life into the old railway station at night.
Michelin and White Guide Nordic double-starred chef guest appearance at Taipei Garden – meals from NT$3,880
Nordic trend on the rise！From May 11 to May 14, PRIME ONE Steakhouse at Taipei Garden Hotel will host Swedish star chef Ebbe Vollmer (艾伯 $沃尔默), who has earned both a Michelin two-star rating and the prestigious White Guide Nordic award. Lunch is priced at NT$3,880 + 10% (5 courses + selected wine pairings), while dinner is NT$6,580 + 10% (8 courses + selected wine pairings).
Eddie Yip’s Wedding Photos Were Taken Here!: Tokyo Castle Slide Capture Your Own Romantic Fairytale
Singer Eddie Yip shared a series of wedding photos on his Facebook page on the 9th, and their romantic, playful style dazzled everyone. One photo in particular, featuring Eddie Yip and Katie Ding standing atop a giant castle slide against a blue sky, made the scene look like something out of a fairy tale. In reality, this castle slide is located in Tokyo’s Asukayama Park and is one of the area’s popular attractions.
Super Romantic！Catch the Last Season of Colorful Blooms – 3 “Dendrobium Orchid Waterfalls” Across Taiwan
As spring draws to an end, it’s currently the peak blooming season for many flowers. The cascading pink and purple blooms look just like flowing waterfalls, making them a favorite among girls. ETtoday EBC News Cloud has handpicked three dendrobium orchid scenic spots in Taiwan – miss out on this moment, and you’ll have to wait until next year！
The "muscle guy" bubble tea is skipping the muscle this time – the "Petal Bubbly Drink" is a must-have for pink lovers
Remember the wildly popular Tainan "muscle guy" bubble tea from back in the day? It was the first of its kind in Taiwan, featuring an eye-catching bottle shaped like a chiseled six-pack abs man paired with smooth milk tea. It caused a buying frenzy as soon as it launched, even captivating Japanese celebrity Naomi Watanabe when she visited Taiwan. Now, the endlessly creative owner is skipping the muscle gimmick and instead using a world of flowers to win over the hearts of girls across Taiwan.
Hong Kong “Old Town Central” Secrets You Might Have Missed: A Walking Route Guide
Hong Kong’s diverse tourism appeal continues to attract Taiwanese visitors time and again. To offer them a fresh perspective on traveling in Hong Kong and allow them to deeply experience the city’s unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has introduced the “Old Town Central” itinerary this year. Alongside a brand-new travel brochure—“Old Town Central: A Walking Route Guide”—it invites travelers to explore the essence of Hong Kong in Old Town Central and immerse themselves in its most authentic cultural charm.
Gone in half a year: Banqiao’s “New Taipei Cultural & Creative Night Market” calls it quits
Banqiao’s “New Taipei Cultural & Creative Night Market,” touted as New Taipei City’s largest night market, reportedly shut down on May 7 after just six months of operation due to a lack of unique identity and high overlap in vendors with other night markets.
Sleep solo in your own room: Hong Kong’s first customizable capsule hotel lets you rest anytime, anywhere
In fast-paced Hong Kong, good rest and sleep are even more precious and important, yet finding a place to sleep soundly as a solo traveler in this land-scarce, high-rent city isn’t easy. Against this backdrop, a customized sleep space designed for travelers, passersby, and business guests—offering the freedom to sleep whenever you want—is nothing short of a salvation. With just the right amount of space, tailored sleeping pods, and high-tech management, Hong Kong’s first capsule hotel born purely for sleep has emerged.