Travel
Air France to Launch Low-Cost Airline Boost, Expected to Debut in Winter 2017
Low-cost carriers have become a major trend in air travel. According to foreign media reports, Air France recently announced plans to establish a budget airline, tentatively named “Boost.” The airline stated it will unveil a new name this summer and is set to begin operations in winter 2017, initially operating five Airbus A320 aircraft.
Best photo spot hotel ever: ultra-realistic 3D landscapes & white-water rafting at Lili Zheyuan Hotel in Hualien
To welcome the summer vacation, Lili Zheyuan Hotel’s Hualien branch has launched the “Hualien 3D Landscape Art Festival.” Using 3D landscape art, the hotel has created a sky bridge and white-water rafting experience, making it an alternative and highly photogenic destination in Hualien.
The new Sichuan-style spicy hot pot brand "Malaoda" under the Wowprime Group has officially opened. There are three soup base options to choose from.
The new brand under the Wowprime Group, the Sichuan-style spicy hot pot "Malaoda," officially opened on May 29. With themed meals starting at NT$128 and the most expensive option, the "Invincible Beef Trio," priced at NT$218, the average spending per customer is around NT$200. As a result, the opening attracted a large crowd eager to try it out. The first Malaoda outlet is located on Meicun Road in West District, Taichung City.
Hsinchu’s Popular Queued Dessert “A Hundred Flavors” Will Give You Choice Paralysis
A Hundred Flavors is a very well-known and popular dessert spot in Hsinchu that draws long queues. I had it on my to-visit list for ages and finally made time to go check it out. I’d always wondered — does A Hundred Flavors really have a hundred flavors? After checking their official fan page, I found out the answer is yes, there really are a lot of flavors!! Don’t go browsing the menu if you’re easily overwhelmed—your brain might short-circuit~~ I don’t know if there are actually a hundred, but it will definitely give you serious choice paralysis. And every single one looks absolutely delicious!!
A Healing Space in a Utopian World: Free Admission to the "Mythical Creatures Art Exhibition" at Treellage Life Cafe
Many people dreamt of having a unicorn or a flying horse in their childhood, imagining them carrying them through the skies. Painter Buka, with the theme of "interstellar animals," has painted mythical creatures such as unicorns, white tigers, and lions, as if they are leaping out of the canvas. The eyes and movements of the animals in the paintings seem to be enchanted, depicting the beauty of a utopian world. Just looking at the images fills the heart with boundless positive energy, and the healing style aligns perfectly with the philosophy of Treellage Life Cafe.
Newly opened retro palace-style winery tour spot features stunningly realistic British streetscapes
Attention wine enthusiasts The emerging Nantou attraction "Tsai's Actual Brewing" is a wine-themed tourist factory. Beyond its grand palace-like architecture, it also faithfully recreates an old industrial-era British street. The venue offers in-depth knowledge about brewing, allowing visitors to learn more while capturing great photos.
Taipei Italian Bistro – Super Chewy Italian Gnocchi & Brick-Pressed Steak
That evening, I went out drinking with some friends to the long-missed Anhe Road bar district. We planned to hit two places before ending the night at a bar for a fun finale. When making a reservation, since the restaurant only provided Chef Xiao Yi’s phone number on Facebook, I called him. He didn’t speak much Chinese and was quite busy, so he asked me to leave my reservation details on Facebook (I instinctively wrote in English).
Crime-level snacks at Dongmen Market: Crispy soy-braised pork rice and stripped-down orange juice that’ll blow your mind
Located in Taipei’s Zhongzheng District, Dongmen Market has been around for nearly 90 years since its establishment in 1928. Known as the “Nobles’ Market” due to the frequent shopping trips made here by government officials’ wives in the past, it also earned its reputation thanks to nearby government residences and military dependents' villages. Officials’ refined tastes and longing for hometown flavors led to an accumulation of delicious foods at Dongmen Market—from rice noodle soup and soy-braised pork rice to tofu pudding and orange juice. Every seemingly ordinary vendor has its own specialty, making this place a go-to food destination for discerning gourmets.
Banqiao’s Heirloom “Tube Rice Cake” – A Mouthful of Sweet, Glutinous Delight!
Not long ago, I shared about a tube rice cake in Banqiao that I personally found quite delicious: 【Banqiao Foodies】【Jiangzicui Food】Located at No. 97, Lane 3, Xianmin Blvd., at the intersection of Fushan St., an unnamed pork rib soup shop with its signature Tube Rice Cake – 1st & 2nd visits. Immediately, I was challenged by fellow Banqiao foodies, and unable to let it slide, I headed there the very next day. After that bite… well, I have to admit, I lost (tearful).
Icelandair’s special livery plane “Flying Glacier” makes the cabin feel like an ice cave
When designing the exterior of their aircraft, the airline opted not to follow the cartoon-style liveries like those of AirAsia, but instead chose to showcase glaciers on the fuselage—resulting in the unique plane “Flying Glacier,” the Vatnaj
Taiwan’s first-ever “square” pearls ! Instantly become a fashion icon with an ultra-trendy tote bag
Don’t call yourself a bubble tea enthusiast if you don’t know about this drink shop ! Located in Zhongli, Taoyuan, “WANT To Drink” went viral online for its Taiwan-first “square” pearls, plus its ultra-chic tote bag design that instantly makes you look like a fashion celebrity – it’s become a must-visit spot for influencers !
Rainy Days Bring Unique Beauty: Night Photography Hotspot in Kaohsiung Captures "Puddles" with Artistic Charm
After days of heavy rain finally subsided, people were almost moldy from being cooped up indoors. Now that the rain has stopped and it’s safe, it’s the perfect time to go out and take “puddle reflection photos.” A netizen surnamed Chen, who has been into photography for two years, visited the Kaohsiung Fengshan Dadong Cultural and Arts Center and the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center at night to capture the beauty of the post-rain night.
Affordable Korean "Tteokbokki Hot Pot" in Taichung – All-you-can-eat for just NT$299!
Korean restaurants in Taichung keep popping up one after another, but there aren’t many that make you want to come back for more… XD Originally, my plan was to grab a bite and shop at “Zhongyou Department Store,” but when I passed by “Liangcan Korean Tteokbokki Hot Pot,” it totally caught my eye—so I decided to have lunch here!
Dreamlike fruit ice bricks!"Get 1 lb for 18 lbs" – Free tasting of Irwin mango snowflake ice
Located in Tainan, Rainbow Snow Ice is Taiwan’s top snowflake ice brand, primarily selling snowflake ice and desserts, with various hot sweet soups in winter. The shop takes pride in handcrafting all its snowflake ice, ice toppings, beans, and puddings in-house. Its newly launched "18K Super Mango Snow" is made from Irwin mango powder extracted from 18 lbs of Irwin mangoes to produce just 1 lb—truly premium ingredients.
Ticket Prices Deemed Expensive – Nagoya Legoland Launches Pre-Sale Tickets with Up to 25% Discount
One of the most talked-about topics in Japan this year has been the newly opened “Legoland” in Nagoya. However, since its opening, not only has the turnout been lower than expected, but many Japanese people also feel that the ticket prices are quite steep. To attract more visitors, Legoland has recently introduced pre-sale discounts on one-day family tickets, with savings of up to 25%.
See it all without spending a penny！ Taoyuan’s “Hidden Free Attractions” Guide
Taoyuan — what comes to mind when you think of fun places to visit? Aside from the well-known Daxi Old Street and Shimen Reservoir, there are actually many lesser-known spots that are also full of stories. Whether you’re lingering in historical landmarks to witness the traces of time or unwinding in hidden lakeside gems, Taoyuan’s charm is worth exploring in depth. ETNEWS has compiled a list of Taoyuan’s hidden “free” attractions — why not set aside some time to experience them next?
3-day limited-time offer: Tigerair Taiwan flights to Daegu & Busan – as low as NT$999 per person for groups of 2
The local low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan has launched another flight promotion – this time for South Korea’s Daegu and Busan routes. The sale runs from 10:00 AM on June 6 to 11:59 PM on June 8. For groups of just two, each person can enjoy a one-way untaxed fare starting at NT$999.
The impact of the diplomatic rift continues to widen as multiple flights between Qatar and other Middle Eastern countries are gradually suspended.
On the 5th, four countries — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt — announced that they would sever diplomatic ties with the Arab nation of Qatar (Qatar) and refuse all land, sea, and air contact with the country. This has affected numerous flights between the Middle East and Qatar, with airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways successively announcing flight suspensions.
Spend a night at the most beautiful prison ever—the first "prison hotel" in Japan opens in 2020
Japan’s only “prison hotel” is about to be born. The Japanese Ministry of Justice has announced that it will hand over the now-closed former juvenile prison in Nara to a private enterprise to be renovated and operated as a hotel, with an expected opening in 2020. In the future, visitors to Nara can not only enjoy the sight of deer but also spend a night in Japan’s most beautiful prison.
Hakodate’s must-buy single-bite cheesecake debuts at food expo, sells over 1,000 boxes in three days
The first-ever “Hokkaido Hakodate Products Exhibition” in Taiwan kicked off on June 2 at Mega City Banqiao RT-Mart, featuring the highly popular Petite Merville making its Taiwan debut. The single-bite cheesecake sold over 1,000 boxes within just three days. This Hokkaido-originated single-bite cheesecake, known as Petite Merville, is hailed as a must-buy souvenir from Hakodate. The dessert, made exclusively with fresh milk from the local “Yamakawa Farm” and local golden pumpkin, has deeply won over consumers’ hearts.