Travel
Strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake hits Kumamoto, Japan – Flight conditions to be monitored
A powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, at 9:26 p.m. Japan time on April 14. The quake reached intensity level 7, with numerous and strong aftershocks, the strongest being as high as magnitude 6.4. Like the main quake, these were shallow earthquakes, resulting in particularly noticeable shaking...
The Rhine River of Xinhua: A Pleasant Spring Bus Tour
The Nanzhen Green Dyke, known as the Rhine River of Xinhua, has recently seen two bougainvillea plants in full bloom, adding a touch of purple romance to the greenway. The two bougainvilleas on Nanzhen Green Dyke have burst into vibrant purple flower clusters, and their fallen petals carpet the ground in a stunning purple hue...
Welcoming the Tung Blossom Season: 15 Selected Tung Blossom Hiking Trails in Miaoli
Between April and May, when spring is in full bloom, Miaoli's tung trees burst into radiant bloom. The delicate, elegant fragrance of tung blossoms gradually drifts across Taiwan on the gentle spring breeze. Recognized as one of the Twelve Major Hakka Festivals, the Hakka Tung Blossom Festival often sparks a wave of flower-viewing enthusiasm during this transitional season between winter chill and spring warmth...
New Taipei City Firefly Viewing Guide: 48 Hidden Gem Spots of Breathtaking Beauty
The best season for firefly viewing in New Taipei City runs from late April to early June each year. Thanks to the fruitful conservation and restoration efforts of fireflies in the city, we’ve specially compiled the “New Taipei City Firefly Viewing Guide.” Provided by the New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau, this guide features 48...
Yoshinoya food truck brings warmth to disaster zone as Kumamoto quake recovery continues
Following the magnitude 7.3 main shock in the early hours of the 16th during the major earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan, details of the disaster have gradually emerged over the past few days. Numerous acts of support have also taken place in the affected areas, including a chain restaurant, Yoshinoya, deploying food trucks to deliver warm meals to the disaster zone...
Help Garfield Find His Pizza – This Summer’s Coolest Themed Fun Run
With his bright yellow fur, laid-back personality, and love for human food, the beloved pet star “Garfield” is bringing his fun run to Taiwan Up！Organized by the United Daily News Group and MEDIALINK, the “RUN！RUN！GAR...
Pingtung County Shows Heartfelt Support by Donating Bananas to Earthquake-Stricken Kumamoto, Japan
Following the devastating magnitude 7.3 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, Pingtung County Magistrate Pan Meng-an stated that Pingtung County’s Special Search and Rescue Team of the International Humanitarian Rescue Organization is fully prepared and on standby. True friendship is seen in times of adversity—Pingtung County is ready...
A traditional baozi shop goes viral riding the lightbulb milk tea trend
Unusual-looking drinks are sparking conversations and becoming a trend. Ever since drinks like "little fresh meat milk tea" and "coffee lotion" made headlines, the "lightbulb milk tea" from Yilan’s Pearl Milk Tea Museum has been especially eye-catching. Many businesses across Taiwan have joined the lightbulb milk tea craze...
Kumamoto earthquake causes severe damage; travel refunds available before April 30
The earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan has caused severe damage. The Hong Kong Security Bureau has issued a yellow alert for Kumamoto, while the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has not yet issued any warning regarding Kumamoto tourism. Although many travelers proceeded with their original plans to visit Kyushu after the quake, following the main tremor in the early hours of April 16—especially amid ongoing aftershocks—numerous travelers began canceling their trips. Kumamoto tourism is estimated to have dropped by more than a quarter, and the issue of travel refunds has become another major concern stemming from the disaster.
Admire Calla Lilies on Yangmingshan, and Don’t Miss the Wisteria Flower Seas
The cherry blossom season on Yangmingshan is rather irregular due to weather conditions, and azaleas don’t bloom until as late as April. As the cherry blossom season draws to a close, not only can you still enjoy calla lilies on Yangmingshan, but the Flower Trial Center also showcases a riot of blooms including wisteria, azaleas, and Chinese fringe flowers...
The 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan, has caused severe damage. Sister city Kaohsiung is ready to offer all possible assistance.
Since September 2013, when Kaohsiung City, Kumamoto Prefecture, and Kumamoto City signed a memorandum of understanding to promote friendly exchanges, the bond between Kaohsiung and its sister city Kumamoto has been strong. In the wake of this major earthquake in Kumamoto, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu...
Defeated by the 7.3 magnitude earthquake: The historic Aso Shrine collapses
Aso Shrine, an important national cultural property of Japan, collapsed due to damage from the strong earthquake on April 16. The news shocked and saddened many travelers who had visited the shrine; its 18-meter-high entrance gate, a significant structure, was completely destroyed. This...
Famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Fukushima, Japan: The breathtaking day and night beauty of the Miharu Takizakura
Every April, the "Miharu Takizakura" in Miharu Town, Fukushima Prefecture, enters its cherry blossom season, marking a major annual event for the town. With nighttime illumination, the thousand-year-old weeping cherry tree offers a stunning spectacle even after dark, making it a must-visit cherry blossom destination for enthusiasts...
Tainan Nansi Meiling Firefly Season – Sparkling Fireflies and a Joyful Journey Through Plum Villages
During the transition between spring and summer, the beautiful fireflies flicker and dance in the mountains of Nansi Meiling. The much-anticipated 2016 Tainan Nansi Meiling Firefly Season kicks off from April 23 (Sat) to May 8 (Sun), with the event taking place at Wulong Temple in Meiling...
Mother’s Day Transport: TRA Adds Extra Trains and Booking Information
To accommodate the increased passenger traffic during Mother’s Day in 2016, Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) will operate a total of 97 additional train services across all lines from Friday, May 6, 2016, to Monday, May 9, 2016 — a four-day period. Among them...
New Direct TRA Puyuma and Taroko Trains Between Taipei and Kaohsiung
In August 2015, news broke that Taiwan Railways (TRA) had adjusted its schedule to include the Puyuma train in the “Taipei-Kaohsiung direct” service, cutting travel time by one hour compared to the current Tzu-Chiang Limited Express. Starting April 21, travelers gained an additional public transportation option besides the high-speed rail...
2016 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival – A Forest-Wide Blossom Appreciation Journey Across Taiwan
The 2016 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival “Village Spot Blossoms” showcases the artistic essence and ambiance of this year’s festival through performances by Hakka art and cultural groups mentored by the Council of Hakka Affairs. It also features artists unveiling draft designs of tung blossom landscape art, revealing the creative interplay between art and the blossoms...
Snoopy Museum Tokyo Branch Opens to Buzzing Topic
The San Diego Museum of Art in California, USA, collaborated with PEANUT’s Japanese operator, SONY CREATIVE PRODUCTS, to launch a limited-time Snoopy Museum, which opened on April 2016...
Yellow Rubber Duck Photo Fun: Spring Adventure at Macau’s Dinosaur Exhibition
Spring is the perfect time to visit Macau. Now, not only can you take photos with the Yellow Rubber Duck at the Macao Science Center, but you can also explore the fascinating Dinosaur Exhibition. The “Rubber Duck” created by Dutch artist Florentijn...
The Peninsula Hotels’ “Artisans of Excellence” Showcase Transforms Shopping Malls into Halls of Craftsmanship
The Peninsula shopping malls in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing launch a month-long “Artisans of Excellence” showcase, where hotel guests and shopping enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the essence of luxury fashion from June 1 to June 30...