Travel
Fees for Tohoku Hidden Gems Autumn Foliage Tours in Japan Rise; European Off-Season Tours Drop by 20,000
To welcome the upcoming autumn foliage tours and New Year holiday season, travel agencies have been offering a variety of travel products for consumers since summer. The Travel Quality Assurance Association of the Republic of China today announced reasonable group tour fees for various destinations. Among them, Japan’s autumn foliage itineraries remain the most popular travel destination for Taiwanese travelers. Due to the increasing popularity of Tohoku’s hidden gems in recent years and Far Eastern Air Transport’s November launch of chartered flights to Ube and Tottori, overall group tour fees have risen slightly by 2,000 to 5,000 NT dollars depending on the region. Meanwhile, South Korea, which focuses mainly on winter skiing tourism, has seen a slight drop of 2,000 to 3,000 NT dollars.
There are endless photo spots in Changhua—stay one night free at the newly opened Luguang Yongle Hotel!
From the colorful Mini-Gassho Village to the kaleidoscopic umbrellas of Kali Shan Tree, Changhua in Taiwan boasts not only an old town with over 500 years of history, but has also gained numerous Insta-worthy check-in spots in recent years. Seizing the opportunity, the only internationally certified hotel in all of Changhua, UNION HOUSE Lukang (鹿港永乐酒店), officially began trial operations this July and launched the "Explore the Ancient Town" stay-one-get-one-free package, helping travelers save money and spend an extra night exploring Changhua to their heart's content.
Zhongli's DJ Mall to Begin Soft Opening on Sept. 6; 13 F&B Brands Launch Limited-Time Offers
The 6,000-ping underground shopping street of DJ International Mall in Zhongli will begin its soft opening on September 6, featuring 13 F&B brands rolling out exclusive promotions. Deals include buy-one-get-one-free on Amprey’s cheese tarts, and purchasing select items at Mokacado to get a 6T Boston pie worth NT$310. A large crowd lined up early in the morning to snap up the deals. Upcoming openings include Tim Ho Wan and Kanpai on September 15, while Sushiro and Shinma La Spicy Hotpot are also in preparation.
Cook-off Fun: Delicious Spanish Paella in Cute Little Pots!
Do you think food tastes better when cooked in cute little cookware? Do you share this thought? Tonight at 9 PM, join the live broadcast of “Cook-off Fun” on the ETNEWS Foodies fan page. Chef Fred and host Xie Jieling will be cooking up a storm using adorable kitchenware from convenience stores!
Taipei’s Dihua Street Elegant Cultural & Creative Pastry Shop Brings Shanghai Tea Pastries to Life!
In the past, most people visited Dihua Street to buy dried goods and seafood, but in recent years, the front section of Dihua Street (near Taipei Bridge) has undergone revitalization, giving rise to many charming cultural and creative shops. Among them is "He Xing 1947," established by the younger generation of He Xing Cake Shop at Nanmen Market. It's a new-concept store that transforms traditional Shanghai tea pastries into an elegant and fashionable dining experience.
Moomin Café, the Moomin-themed restaurant, now open for reservations – available 24/7
Moomin Café, the Moomin-themed restaurant, has finally launched online reservations. Starting today, you can book a table for any date after September 11, and reservations are accepted 24 hours a day. Fans can visit EZTABLE to check availability and make a booking. Currently, online reservations are available up to one month in advance of your intended dining date, with each reservation accommodating 1–8 people. For groups larger than 9, please call the dedicated hotline. Also, phone reservations are not yet available.
Ghost Stories at a Mexican Youth Hostel: I'm Here, But Who's Lying in Bed?
This is a story I heard from a photographer friend who once lived in Central and South America for a while. With an androgynous appearance, she traveled alone across Central and South America for some time. The following is written in the first person.
Pink heart-shaped swings that melt hearts of all girls – the 3 most beautiful swings in Taiwan to visit in 2017
Swinging is one of the best childhood companions. As the swing goes higher, it seems you're getting closer to the sky. In recent years, Taiwanese artists and businesses have used their creativity to turn swings into art installations. While conveying ideas, their eye-catching designs and the stunning surroundings have successfully attracted travelers to take photos and check in. ETNEWS Travel Cloud has compiled a list of the 3 most beautiful swings in Taiwan that you must experience this year. Come and relive your childhood memories.
It’s not just home to the world’s only 8-star hotel—Abu Dhabi’s Louvre Museum officially opens on November 11
Most Taiwanese people don’t know much about Abu Dhabi. Many get a glimpse through the movie *Sex and the City 2*, where it’s mentioned that “Dubai is the past, Abu Dhabi is the future”—and that’s actually true. The Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi is decorated with 30 tons of 24K gold and is touted as the world’s only 8-star hotel. Today (the 7th), the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority revealed that the “Louvre Abu Dhabi” will officially open on November 11 this year.
Howard Plaza Hotel launches special Australian wagyu set menu with black truffle, special price at NT$880
The Poolside Restaurant on the 11th floor of Howard Plaza Hotel has introduced a special Australian wagyu set menu. In addition to using premium Australian wagyu, it is also paired with one kilogram of Italian-imported black truffle worth tens of thousands of dollars. By becoming a friend of HowToTrip Food - Kaohsiung LINE@, you can enjoy the Australian wagyu set menu exclusively for friends at the special price of NT$880 (original price NT$1,280).
Breakfast served in egg cartons? Popular Taichung café offers 15% off on rainy days
Taichung’s Xianmai Coffee is a popular local café that serves not only coffee but also a variety of meals and other beverages. In the evening, the Xianmai Coffee Rehe Road branch transforms into a beer bar, offering a slightly different menu compared to the daytime. The café also provides a 15% discount on the total bill on rainy days.
The Shilin Strawberry Cake That Draws Huge Crowds by 5 AM – Preorders for Delivery and Pickup Open on October 1
Every winter, Xuan Yuan’s “Double-Layer Strawberry Cake” attracts a large crowd of strawberry enthusiasts scrambling to get their hands on it, with some even queuing up as early as 5 AM just to buy the double-layered version. The shop announced on the 7th that preorders for delivery and pickup during the strawberry season will open at 8 PM on October 1. At that time, a Google order link page will be made available on the FB fan page and the official LINE account. Customers can expect to receive notifications about order fulfillment starting in early November 2017, with the earliest possible shipping date being December 1, 2017. Since preorder forms have typically sold out within seconds in previous years, those eager to grab one should keep a close eye on the official Facebook page.
Feel like you're in a scene from a Grimm's fairy tale！Selected “4 free colorful photo spots across Taiwan”
Ordinary cities are transformed by vibrant installations, becoming little joys for Instagram check-ins one after another！ETNEWS has handpicked 4 whimsical photo spots around Taiwan. Let your creativity flow — the whole city becomes your studio, and these spots are all “free.”
Besides Jin Chunfa, the beef noodle joint favored by Chairman Guo, Beitou has three other great beef noodle spots
Stock market expert Zheng Rui-zong shared on Facebook on the 3rd that he ran into Hon Hai chairman Terry Gou at “Beitou Jin Chunfa,” making this century-old beef noodle shop in Beitou an overnight sensation. In fact, apart from Jin Chunfa, there are three other delicious beef noodle shops in Beitou: Su Jia, Wu Jia, and Zhi Ming.
Soak in natural hot springs and admire dreamy snowy landscapes – Shiver while soaking at “Mývatn Nature Baths”
Iceland is rich in geothermal resources and home to numerous hot springs. The famous Blue Lagoon and the Blue Lagoon Silica Hotel are must-visit pilgrimage sites for anyone traveling to Iceland. In addition to the Blue Lagoon, there are many other hot springs where you can soak, such as the Mývatn Nature Baths...
Doraemon Museum in Tokyo, Japan – You Can Even See Fujiko F. Fujio’s Original Manuscripts!
A Doraemon museum that brings back your childhood memories has appeared in Tokyo, Japan!
Where to take Instagram-worthy photos in Taichung? A compilation of the hottest photo spots in Taichung to check out
Netizen Xiao Zhizhi TING Lang? Shan Wei? Le shared in the travel forum "Travel is Awesome!" that they gathered information on where influencers in Taichung usually hang out. The video shares which spots in Taichung are currently popular for taking beautiful photos. If you're interested in architecture, you can find out which buildings in Taichung have unique designs. Additionally, if you're looking for nature spots, you can discover which places offer great scenery and various types of flora. There are also scenic areas suitable for families with children, as well as coastal spots ideal for family outings.
The sea clears the way for you！Come to Penghu’s “Little Hong Kong” to witness the Moses Parting the Sea miracle and spend a day as a fisherman.
Have you seen Penghu in autumn? This fall, the Penghu National Scenic Area Administration launched the “2017 Penghu Autumn Madness Season” series of events, centered around various sports competitions, while also planning four local community mini-tours to allow travelers to explore the cultural and scenic charm of the island at a leisurely pace. Among them, Beiliao Community, known as the “Little Hong Kong,” not only lets you experience a day as a fisherman but also lets you admire Taiwan’s only “Moses Parting the Sea” spectacle.
The Grand Hotel’s Mid-Autumn BBQ Party Now Open for Reservations – 10% Off When Booked Before 9/15
The Grand Hotel, which has traditionally held its Mid-Autumn BBQ party outdoors, will host this year's "Mid-Autumn Reflections (Moon) Rock Party" on October 1st, with reservations now open. The event will feature a buffet-style offering of over a hundred dishes, including festive roasted Kurobuta pork, as well as fresh seafood selections such as soft-shell squid from Nanfang’ao, salt-grilled prawns from Tainan, and grilled oysters from Penghu.
Okinawa’s must-try Ryukyu Shinmen Tondou debuts officially – Now serving both men’s and women’s flavor ramen
Taiwan’s first permanent branch of “Ryukyu Shinmen - Tondou,” the world’s first ramen shop with gender-specific flavors and a must-try when visiting Okinawa, will officially open on September 9. The shop’s signature Men’s Flavor Ramen (おとこ味ラーメン) and Women’s Flavor Ramen (おんな味ラーメン) are now available in Taiwan. In addition to ramen, the shop also offers some authentic Okinawan home-style dishes, such as red sweet potato tempura, fried mozuku seaweed, golden mozuku feet (available deep-fried and simmered), grilled marinated pork, and Okinawan stir-fried mixed vegetables.