Travel
Soda + Yogurt Dreamy Color Clash: Osaka’s “Whale Shark Ice Cream” Now Available in Taichung
The incredibly dreamy aqua-blue “whale shark ice cream” from Instagram is now available in Taiwan too. Fans of *Finding Dory 2* must have been totally charmed by the whale shark’s fate. When Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan launched its blue-and-white ice cream, it immediately caused a sensation—every visitor had to have one, snapping photos and reluctant to take a bite. Now, this dreamy sea-colored ice cream is available on Taichung’s Zhongshan Road Up.
20,000 fireworks erupt in the night sky！ A must-see “Sumida River Fireworks Festival” for summer in Tokyo
When it comes to the iconic sights of Japanese summer, fireworks festivals are definitely not to be missed！ The annual “Sumida River Fireworks Festival,” which takes place in Tokyo, is the oldest fireworks event in the country. This year, it will be held on July 29. On that evening, visitors need only look up to enjoy the brilliant fireworks blooming in the sky.
Three stories high in height — Taiwan’s only teddy bear museum to open in Hsinchu next March
The Hsinchu County Government has transformed the Yingfeng Pavilion in Guanxi Township into Taiwan’s only teddy bear museum through outsourcing. The little bears will finally settle down after years of moving around, with the museum set to open in Hsinchu County next March (2018). The Teddy Bear Museum houses collections from historic brands such as Germany’s Steiff and Hermann, as well as America’s Gund. In addition to the cuddly teddy bears that visitors can touch, there are also limited-edition bears for display and collection. Of course, there will also be precious teddy bears unique to Taiwan, which will make their debut dressed in Hakka floral fabric.
So pretty and Insta-worthy: 2 must-visit exhibitions + 1 pop-up store at Huashan The Sailor Moon pop-up shop is only here until the end of the month
Don’t feel like staying outdoors on a scorching, sweaty day? Head to an air-conditioned exhibition instead. Recently, the Huashan 1914 Creative Park has hosted several highly talked-about exhibitions that not only feature rare and rich content, but are also super photogenic. ETNEWS is here to introduce two current exhibitions at Huashan and one limited-time pop-up store that’s sure to make every girl’s heart skip a beat—go check them out while you still can.
OpenRice 2017 Top 100 Favorite Restaurants – These 12 Are the Most Popular
OpenRice Taiwan announced on the 10th the results of the most popular restaurant vote among the 2017 OpenRice Taiwan Top 100 Favorite Restaurants (the term "心水" means "favorite" in Cantonese), featuring a total of 12 restaurants: Umi Sushi Standing Bar, Fuhang Soy Milk, Feizenya, Din Tai Fung, Lungtu Restaurant, Microheat Hill, Wen Zhang Beef Soup, Mao N<, Tong Ji Anping Tofu Pudding, Zhou’s Shrimp Rolls, and Fu Sheng Hao Bowl...
Get tipsy under the moonlight！ Kaohsiung’s rooftop bar rolls out the turf for romantic summer night dating
The rooftop bar under the IHG brand Hotel Indigo Kaohsiung has caused a sensation since its launch. Its barrier-free design allows visitors to take in a 270-degree panoramic view of the romantic night scenery of Kaohsiung, the port city. The laid-back, slightly tipsy ambiance is perfect for summer evening dates. The venue has even brought “grass” to the rooftop, letting guests lounge on the lawn, sip fine wine, stargaze, and experience a different side of Kaohsiung at night.
Handmade knife-cut noodles by a robot right in front of you — the refreshing "Tomato Beef Knife-Cut Noodles" from Taichung!
That day, near the Dali Dabuyao area, I spotted this 【Shanxi Tomato Beef Knife-Cut Noodles】 on Daming Road, and business was pretty brisk. I’ve been quite interested in beef noodles lately, and seeing that they also serve them here, plus there’s air conditioning, was a nice bonus.
All-inclusive land, sea, and air experience: EVA Air partners with Genting Dream to offer flight + hotel + cruise packages starting from NT$9,999
In recent years, cruise tourism has flourished. To provide travelers with more diverse options, EVA Air has teamed up with the Asian luxury cruise line Star Cruises' Genting Dream and the Hong Kong Tourism Board to launch the "Star Cruises - Genting Dream Hong Kong Holiday." Travelers can fly round-trip between Taiwan and Hong Kong on EVA Air flights, seamlessly board the Genting Dream upon arrival in Hong Kong, and enjoy a luxurious maritime vacation. After disembarking, they can further indulge in Hong Kong’s culinary and shopping delights, experiencing an entirely new way to travel.
Lie on the Pacific Ocean and gaze at the Qingshui Cliff！ Hualien’s only “seaside swimming pool”
As the hot summer arrives, who doesn’t want to jump into the water to cool off? This summer, Silks Place Taroko has planned three major fun themes for travelers, allowing them to take a yacht to the Qingshui Cliff and dive into Hualien’s only “seaside swimming pool,” immersing themselves in the Pacific Ocean and admiring the beauty of the Qingshui Cliff from sea level.
Taipei’s Old-House Teahouse Hides “Truffle Milk Tea,” the LV of Bubble Tea
Travelers who, like Pingzi, love old-house architecture must visit this spot in Taipei’s Wanhua District. Close to Taipei Metro Longshan Temple Station and Ximending Station, I recommend this local gem, iHERE tea & cafe. The teahouse is famous for its wildly popular truffle milk tea—the LV of bubble tea—as well as Britain’s century-old royal TWININGS tea and USDA-certified organic Rainforest Alliance coffee from the U.S. These are some of the most delicious local drinks in Wanhua and around Longshan Temple.
Taoyuan’s Hidden Water Wonderland: Cool Off at Ghost Waterfall and Water Curtain Cave
Ghost Waterfall is located on the Taiyao Stream, a tributary of the Dahan River, and is very close to where the two rivers converge. That means you don’t have to trek through mountains and valleys for hours. From the entrance, walk down a path surrounded by a vast bamboo forest, occasionally passing small rest huts made of bamboo—walking here instantly cools you off. After about 20 minutes, you’ll start to hear the sound of water. Along the way, you’ll see three signs pointing to “Ghost Waterfall,” “Slide,” and “Water Curtain Cave.”
Top 5 Family-Friendly Travel Destinations Loved by Taiwanese People – The #1 Spot Is No Surprise
During the summer vacation, many families plan to take their kids on a family trip. Whether traveling domestically or abroad, they just want to find a place to relax and enjoy the rare summer family time together. But where do people actually love to go the most? Based on recommendations from Taiwanese travelers, a hotel booking website has ranked the top five family-friendly travel destinations loved by Taiwanese people. Let’s take a look together!
Dazzling Fireworks of Summer Nights: "Pride of India" Trees in Full Bloom Across Taiwan
Have you heard of the "Pride of India" flower? Its slender, pink, tassel-like blossoms resemble powder puffs—by day they look like cascading beads, but at night, they burst forth like the brilliant fireworks of summer. Now in full bloom, the flowering period lasts about 10 days, so flower enthusiasts don’t need to go out of their way to see them. ETNEWS Travel Cloud has compiled a list of popular spots across Taiwan where these blooms are currently at their peak—come and catch this fleeting moment of beauty.
The Regent Taipei to Build Largest Hotel in Tainan, Expected to Open in 2020
As one of the most popular tourist cities in Taiwan, Tainan has in recent years become a highly competitive battleground for the accommodation and hospitality industry. Spotting the growing demand for tourism in Tainan, the Regent Tourism Group is set to join the competition. Its brand “Regent Tainan” has officially broken ground and aims to become the largest hotel in Tainan, featuring up to 350 rooms, with operations scheduled to commence in 2020.
surname Zhang eats at Huzhang Zhang’s for half price! Top 10 surnames, 10 top New Taipei hotspots — free admission
Do you know which surname is most common among New Taipei residents? From July 10 to 23, the New Taipei City Civil Affairs Bureau is holding a two-week “Generations’ Memory Household Registration Exhibition” in the city hall lobby. In addition to showcasing historical household registration artifacts from various offices and a special exhibition on Japanese-born Taiwanese, it is also collaborating with clan associations for the first time to organize themed days for the top 10 surnames: “Chen, Lin, Li, Huang, Zhang, Wang, Wu, Liu, Cai, and Yang.” These include special offers and free entry to 10 popular attractions and local delicacies such as Fort San Domingo, giving the public a chance to explore the charm of civil registration while enjoying all that New Taipei has to offer.
Attention: Moses Parting the Sea in Penghu – Check the Adjusted Access Times for Footpaths on Specific Days from July to September
To protect marine ecology and ensure visitor safety, the “Moses Parting the Sea” land bridge between Bei’liao and Chi’yü in Penghu has been off-limits for landing since April, along with footpath access restrictions. However, the Penghu National Scenic Area Administration under the Tourism Bureau has announced that during the “specific tidal days” (about 7 days per month) from July to September, the opening hours will be adjusted to 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM.
Direct trains to “Gaomei Wetlands” for a pilgrimage to stunning scenery Bus 309 runs daily
Taiwan’s Gaomei Wetlands boast rich intertidal and wetland ecosystems, and the picturesque sunset scenery, especially as the sun sets, captivates visitors. It’s not only a must-visit spot for travelers from across Taiwan but has also been hailed by foreign websites as “a breathtaking view you must see at least once in your life.” To allow more people to enjoy the beauty of Gaomei Wetlands, the Transportation Bureau has added three new sightseeing bus routes, including Bus 309, which runs daily and has officially started service.
The biggest Taiwanese food fair of the year features amazing dishes—over 800 booths serving everything from Taiwan to the world
Taiwan’s largest annual food event, the “2017 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition,” will be held from July 21 to 24 at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1. The Taiwan Visitors Association has specially invited five participating organizations to give an exclusive preview of their exhibits today (7/11), including: the Council of Agriculture’s specially curated “Colorful Agriculture Pavilion,” where creative rice dishes made with colorful rice resembling macarons, red glutinous rice, and purple rice will be showcased.
Tigerair Taiwan adds more flights from Taoyuan to Macau in September; one-way fare starts at NT$1,099 before tax!
With strong tourism demand in Macau, Tigerair Taiwan previously announced additional flights on the Macau route during the summer season. Today (11th), the airline further announced that it will add three extra weekly flights on the Taoyuan–Macau route in September. Tickets for the new Macau flights are now available for purchase on the Tigerair Taiwan official website, with one-way pre-tax prices starting at NT$1,099.
Arrive at the market by 7 AM for a refreshing treat – Longquan Ice Shop in Madou serves up vintage flavors with 70 years of history
Chen Che-hsiung, a regular customer who has been enjoying ice at Longquan for over 50 years, is a retired teacher from Tsengwen High School. After retiring, he started growing pomelos and got involved in local community development work. He often comes to the shop specifically to order grass jelly and powdered kona – “The taste here is just right, the ingredients are so fresh, and the people from this area come here early in the morning to start their day. The locals here have all grown up together, and they’ve never left. It’s like a big extended family!”