The Xinzuejiang commercial district used to be a popular spot for many young people to hang out and shop. Even though it’s not as bustling with shoppers as it once was, we still come here from time to time to find our favorite snacks. Recently, a new shop opened here with a distinctive exterior and an even more unique name — O’IN Tea House. It’s a fusion restaurant that offers a place for shoppers to dine and relax.
Starting in August, Hotel Indigo Kaohsiung has launched an “all-you-can-order” local Kaohsiung snack menu with main courses cooked to order. The selection includes both Western and Asian dishes, perfect for locals who enjoy hearty and generous meals, with 10 options available daily. As part of a special promotion running until the end of September, diners who show the ETNEWS News Cloud app when visiting will receive a NT$110 voucher for a rich cheesecake (redeemable at the craft café on the 1st floor of the hotel)!
Summer has arrived, and the sweltering heat not only kills your appetite but also becomes the ultimate showdown for showing off your figure. For girls worried about gaining weight, Cabbage Lab Kitchen is the perfect place to hang out. Located on the 15th floor of Eslite Spectrum in Qianmei, Cabbage Lab Kitchen combines all the elements that any girl would love—dried flowers, DIY workshops, and a scenic restaurant—while also serving up incredibly delicious light meals that will amaze you with how tasty plant-based food can be.
Following the successful challenge of Taiwan’s most beautiful dawn spectacle at Sanxiantai on July 8, 2017, during the Taiwan International Hot Air Balloon Carnival, this year’s second and final dawn light show and concert took place at 4:00 AM on July 22 at Taimali Dawn Park in Taitung County.
Oita Prefecture in Japan is a renowned hot spring destination, boasting the highest volume of hot spring water in the country, with the “Beppu Hatto” springs being especially famous. But when visiting Oita in summer, aside from sightseeing and sampling local cuisine, don’t miss out on exclusive summer shopping festival deals available only to foreign tourists—perfect for soaking in the charm of Kyushu.
Traveling alone allows you to quietly enjoy the wonders of the journey, but it also comes with relatively higher risks. Recently, there was an incident where a Chinese female university student was abducted in the U.S., which is truly heartbreaking. The well-known online blogger and relationship expert “Sang Biao ‘Liu Piaopiao’” specifically shared 10 points to keep in mind while traveling on Facebook, especially for women, who should take them to heart.
On this sea adventure, the boat carried two fun additions: an ocean canoe that you can effortlessly hop into from the back of the yacht and paddle freely on the open water, and an even newer attraction — within just 10 minutes, the instructor inflated a floating pool. With nets all around and underneath, plus pineapple-shaped float rings and paddleboards tossed in, I felt like a fish in a net pen.
The main items at Hushè are pan-fried pork buns, along with a few other dim sum options—you can have a simple and satisfying dim sum meal without ordering expensive main dishes. Huang’s Black Sugar Shaved Ice in Nantun is a well-known spot nearby. You might have to wait over 10 minutes in the afternoon, and in summer, of course, you’d want to go for the mango milk ice, plus a plate of fruit milk snowflake!
Sleeping under the stars and listening to the waves is a dream come true—but camping inconveniences often hold people back. The “Peninsula Secret Spot” on the North Coast, now open for half a year, not only has regular tents but also luxurious “temple tents,” allowing you to immerse yourself in nature empty-handed and fulfill the lazy camper’s desire for a perfect outdoor experience.
It’s said that there are many shops selling rice ball soup in Qingshui, but they operate at different hours—so you can enjoy it both in the morning and evening!* This one on Guangfu Street doesn’t open until the evening. We originally thought it only sold savory rice balls, but we were pleasantly surprised to find sweet ones too!* We love both versions, and the shop even sells uncooked rice balls so you can boil them at home!*
You can enjoy authentic Texan-American cuisine in Taiwan too. The internet-famous "Border Station" American restaurant is said to serve super filling meals, featuring authentic Mexican dishes and massive American-style steaks cooked via rock grilling to seal in the meat’s juices, delivering the purest steak flavor. And the portions are so generous, one person definitely can’t finish them all.
Summer is all about heading to the beach. Soak in the cool seawater, watch the waves crash along the shore, and feel your heart being healed. DailyView Network Thermometer used the "KEYPO Big Data Key Engine" to identify the "Top 10 Beaches in Taiwan" most popular among netizens. Beach lovers, don’t worry—you won’t hit any duds!
The stylish self-service CitizenM hotel from Amsterdam, Netherlands, is set to make a splash in Taiwan, with its official opening scheduled for August. Ahead of its launch, the hotel is offering a two-day early access trial stay to gauge public interest. The moment the website announced the limited rooms, they were fully booked, as everyone rushed to catch a glimpse of this cutting-edge hotel. A reporter stayed overnight to give you an exclusive look at Taiwan’s most high-tech, trendy hotel.
After the world’s first Avatar-themed park opens this summer, two “Star Wars lands” at U.S. Disney parks are also expected to debut in 2019. A variety of themed travel experiences will soon be available to visitors, including a Star Wars-themed hotel.
Kaohsiung has a new all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant. The LV Forest Buffet, opened by the team behind Taichung’s THE Lin Palace Garden, officially launched on July 21. Covering an area of 2,000 ping with 800 seats, it surpasses the over 1,000 ping, 600-seat Pin Hua Yuan to become Taiwan’s largest all-you-can-eat buffet. It offers lunch and dinner buffets with more than 500 dishes, including Western, Japanese, Hong Kong-style, and Thai cuisines.
According to statistics from a travel community platform database, the most visited Japanese train station by Taiwanese travelers is Kyoto Station in the Kansai region, which ranked first with 41.9% of visitor numbers, followed by Tokyo Station and Hakata Station in Kyushu.
If you’re a cycling enthusiast, Thailand—close to Taiwan and with affordable prices—is an unmissable destination. The Thailand Tourism Authority specially recommends 2 captivating bicycle sightseeing routes. With local guides providing commentary in English, visitors can explore Thailand’s beauty on foot and by bike.
Visiting Ouchi-juku, known as the "Fukushima version of a Gassho Village," you can not only admire the 400-year-old thatched-roof houses but also must try the "green onion soba"! Using a green onion over 30 cm long to wrap around soba noodles and slurp them into your mouth, you might accidentally bite off a small piece of the onion — the instant spiciness that explodes in your mouth is intensely lingering, making it both fun and satisfying.
The Taichung Caotun Boulevard combines art and greenery, making it a popular weekend leisure spot for young people. Every summer, it connects institutions such as the Chi Mu Art Museum, Eslite Spectrum Cianjhen, Golden Park, and the Caotun Boulevard community to launch the Green Circle event, which is now in its 5th edition. This year’s theme is music and sound, immersing the entire Caotun Boulevard area in a symphonic summer melody. Let’s take a look at the must-see and must-do highlights.
The eel specialty store Oguraya has officially entered the takeout food market, now offering “eel set bento boxes.” Coinciding with the upcoming Doyo no Ushi no Hi (Midsummer Day of the Ox), Oguraya is also launching its Summer Eel Festival. On both Doyo no Ushi no Hi dates—July 25 and August 6—buying the Unagi Don “Take” bento will come with a buy one get one free offer, limited to 100 per day.