Family Trips
Visit the Hometown of Bamboo – A Parent-Child Trip to Taiji Meidi
Taiji Meidi Special Feature 1 (By Central News Agency reporter Tsai Heying, Nantou County, 3rd) The bamboo of Zhushan Township and the tea of Lugu Township come together to form Taiji Meidi, a new charming attraction in Nantou County. The newly completed Zhushan Cultural Park and the Lugu Township Farmers' Association Tea Culture Museum offer bamboo-themed interactive games and educational tea art classes, making them perfect for family parent-child trips. Zhushan Township, known for its bamboo, and Lugu Township, famous for its tea, are geographically like the black and white poles of the yin-yang symbol. Recently, they have gained fame as the tourist destination “Taiji Meidi.” With the completion of the Zhushan Cultural Park and the Lugu Township Tea Museum, families now have a new destination to explore. Entry to the Zhushan Cultural Park is free. At the entrance stands an eye-catching, two-meter-tall giant bamboo-woven teapot. As you walk up the steps, the first thing you see is the Bamboo Museum, which features 4D interactive bamboo games. Standing at the center of the 4D space, visitors seem to
Promoting family trips: Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology takes the crown
On a summer day filled with warm sunshine and a gentle breeze, families came together to create colorful shared memories. Students from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology designed a two-day parent-child travel itinerary combining bus tours, covering both mountain and sea adventures across Greater Tainan. On the 13th, they beat out teams from other universities nationwide to win first prize in the Greater Tainan Bus Light Travel Itinerary Design Competition. The Tainan City Transportation Bureau organized the Greater Tainan Bus Light Travel Itinerary Design Competition to promote the trend of light travel by bus, attracting 17 teams from 14 universities across the country. After a preliminary review and an intense final round, the Department of Leisure Industry Management at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology emerged victorious yesterday, taking home a prize of NT$30,000. Award-winning students Wang Yulin and Tseng Chia-hui said their itinerary design mainly focused on how to embrace a light travel lifestyle amid a busy life, using parent-child travel as the foundation and incorporating festival events and green transportation routes. They planned the itinerary around the Orange and Blue main bus lines, connecting key attractions such as the Southern Taiwan Science Park Education Center and Qigu Salt Mountain along these bus routes. Their classmates also showed support with an impressive “bus dance,” which helped them win over the judges. Tainan City Transportation Bureau Director Chang Cheng-yuan stated that Greater Tainan boasts abundant tourism resources. With the launch of six major bus trunk lines and 74 branch lines, combined with existing urban bus routes, Tainan now meets all four essential elements for “bus light travel”: rich cultural heritage, renowned local cuisine, abundant natural resources, and a convenient bus network—making it a great place to promote low-carbon travel and leisurely bus exploration. Huang Yaoguo, head of the Transportation Bureau’s Transportation Management Section, also noted that this event is the first in Taiwan to use buses as the main mode of transport for itinerary planning competitions. Many of the shortlisted entries were of high quality, and the students’ designs were diverse and highly creative.
A Heartwarming Summer Bus Trip in Tainan Wins First Prize in Family Travel Design Competition
With the warm summer sun and a gentle breeze, come together to create colorful shared memories for families. Students from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology designed a two-day, mountain-and-sea exploring bus trip across Greater Tainan, combining family travel with public transport. Today, they beat teams from other universities nationwide to win the first prize in the Greater Tainan Bus Light Travel Itinerary Design Competition. Tainan City’s Department of Transportation organized the Greater Tainan Bus Light Travel Itinerary Design Competition to promote the concept of light travel by bus. The event attracted 17 teams from 14 schools across the country. After a preliminary review and an intense final round, the Department of Leisure Industry Management at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology claimed the championship and a prize of NT$30,000. Winning students Wang Yulin and Tseng Chia-hui said their itinerary design was mainly inspired by the idea of finding a light-travel lifestyle attitude amid a busy life, and focused on parent-child trips as the foundation. By incorporating local festivals and green transportation routes, they planned the journey around the Orange and Blue main bus lines, connecting attractions such as the Southern Taiwan Science Park Education Center and Qigu Salt Mountain along those routes. Additionally, classmates from their department supported the project with an impressive “bus dance,” which ultimately won over the judges.
The Paper Windmill Family Fun Fair is a huge hit, drawing crowds during the National Day holiday
The Paper Windmill Family Creative Fun Fair kicked off in grand style at Hsinchu City Cultural Park. The three-day event during the National Day holiday featured entertaining theater performances and giant mascots, attracting families and receiving rave reviews. It wrapped up on the afternoon of the 11th, drawing over 10,000 visitors on average each day. Both the organizers and Legislator Ko Chien-ming, who served as the public welfare ambassador, were thrilled. The Paper Windmill has more events lined up at Niupu Night Market, Xiangshan Tianhou Temple, and in front of the Confucius Temple, and the public is welcome to join. Hsinchu has recently seen cooler temperatures, and the morning was sunless. Organizers admitted they had been concerned about turnout, but by noon, the venue was packed with visitors. Ko Chien-ming, busy with election duties, still took time out to join in the fun. Ko Chien-ming pledged on the spot to work towards bringing the event back to Hsinchu again. He immediately contacted the CEO...
Museums: Popular Destinations for Family Trips During Summer Vacation
Although summer vacation is running out of time, children’s enthusiasm for spending the holidays in museums remains undiminished, making museums a top choice for family trips. At 2 p.m. on the 18th, in front of the entrance to the National Museum of China—one of the most visited sites during the summer—a well-ordered line of visitors waited to enter. Ticket collection, ticket checking, machine screening, manual inspection… Due to the large number of visitors, the entire entry process took nearly 20 minutes. Among the summer highlights at the National Museum, the Disney Classic Animation Exhibition proved especially popular with kids. Although that day marked the final day of the exhibition at the museum, it was still buzzing with energy. According to reporters’ calculations, around 2:15 p.m. that day, an average of 15 families—nearly 30 people—entered the Disney exhibition hall every minute. In addition, the National Museum presented a digital scroll titled “The Southern Inspection Tour of Emperor Qianlong,” showcasing...
1,300 parent-child pairs fulfill their dreams at the new children's amusement park
Children’s amusement parks are beloved destinations for kids, but for disadvantaged children, they are an out-of-reach dream. According to a recent survey by the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, nearly 60% of disadvantaged children wish to visit an amusement park with their families, but are unable to do so due to financial constraints. Today, the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families and Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation jointly organized the “Happy Home-Foundation Day” event, allowing nearly 1,300 disadvantaged children and their parents from across the country to visit the Taipei New Children’s Amusement Park together and make their dreams come true. This year in the fourth grade, Xiao Dian’s father is battling cancer and undergoing long-term treatment. The family of five relies on the meager income earned by his mother through piecework. Xiao Dian has always envied her classmates who could go on trips or vacations with their parents during summer vacation. But the sensible Xiao Dian knows that her family can’t afford it and doesn’t want to add to her mother’s financial burden, so she has kept her wish in her heart. This time, having the opportunity to join her mother and younger sister for the event and visit the Taipei New Children’s Amusement Park made her very happy. Her biggest anticipation is the Ferris wheel: “I hope Dad gets better soon so our whole family can come and play here together!”
Local Spotlight – Family Cycling Tours to Explore Qimei’s Scenic Beauty
Meinong (Qishan): To promote the distinctive attractions of the Qimei area, the Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau has launched seven routes with 11 sessions of family cycling tours, taking visitors on a journey through the region’s picturesque farmlands. The program also includes a rich variety of local cultural experiences and hands-on DIY activities, as well as the exciting “Qimei Spectacular Long Ride” 100K route, allowing cyclists to explore Qimei on two wheels.
7 Bike Routes Invite Families to Explore Qimei at a Leisurely Pace
This summer, take it easy with the Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau’s seven family-friendly bike routes in the Qimei area. These routes combine sports, leisure, and local cultural experiences to offer a unique biking adventure. The Tourism Bureau stated that the seven routes, spanning 11 sessions, will run until the end of September. They include Waterways Cool Summer Fun, Rural Exploration Slow Ride, Qimei Banana Adventure, Hakka Heritage Water Experience, In-Depth Qishan Tour, Meinong Historic Eco-Tour, and the Exciting Qimei 100km Challenge. Director Hsu Chuan-sheng noted that the distinctive local charm of Qishan and Meinong is perfect for a relaxed, unhurried experience. The biking routes allow visitors to delve into local culture through various water activities, hands-on workshops, and scenic spots. With the joint support of Qimei communities and shops, travelers can enjoy a unique and refreshing biking experience in Meinong. Hsu Chuan-sheng added that biking also offers thrilling activities like water drifting, along with cultural crafts such as paper umbrella painting and pottery DIY, enriching the biking journey with deep cultural flavor.
Summer family trip: Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival is all the rage
The Taitung Luye Hot Air Balloon Festival has kicked off, becoming a popular summer family travel destination. The Taitung County Government announced today that the International Hot Air Balloon Festival is making its fifth appearance, inviting performance balloons from various countries to Taiwan. Following the “Zebra” and “Stork” balloons, the “Sun” and “Strawberry” balloons will make their first appearances today, expected to become eye-catching highlights at the event. Typhoon Chan-hom has moved away, clearing the skies over Taitung’s Luye Plateau after days of overcast weather, allowing visitors to enjoy a beautiful morning and the “Sun” balloon’s first public appearance in Taiwan. The Taitung County Government stated that the International Hot Air Balloon Festival has attracted both domestic and international tourists over the past five years, successfully boosting Taitung’s tourism industry. This year, the county government has elevated the festival to an international level, aiming to draw more foreign visitors to experience the thrill of hot air ballooning and the cultural charm of Taitung. Officials noted that the Taitung Hot Air Balloon
Seasonal Leisure Travel – Amusement Park Edition: From Lazy River to U-Shaped Slide, Fun for the Whole Family
Lod Castle is located in the Water Experience Education Area within the Gongguan Waterworks Park. Formerly known as Shui Wukong Amusement Park, it changed ownership at the end of June 2013 and has been operated by a new team under a five-year contract. Compared to large-scale water parks, Lod Castle’s outdoor water park is more compact in scale, featuring attractions ranging from a lazy river, a one-story slope waterslide, to a four-story spiral slide and a nearly 90-degree vertical U-shaped slide—ample options to meet the fun needs of both kids and adults. Its unbeatable advantage? Just a seven-minute walk from the MRT station. Spoiling female visitors, until September this year, Lod Castle offers half-price tickets for women every Friday, and free entry for those in bikinis. Until September 19, there will be captivating Live Band performances every Saturday. And until September, every Sunday from 9 AM to 7 PM, there are also water-based game competitions such as tug-of-war, canoeing, and basketball—perfect for family fun.
Local Highlights – Qimei Summer Parent-Child Bike Tour with a Professional Guide
Fengshan: The Tourism Bureau has launched a parent-child bike tour program in the Qimei area for the summer vacation, featuring 7 planned routes with professional guides. The tours start from the Qishan Sugar Refinery, passing through Provincial Highway 28, Meinong, the Eighteen Arhats Mountain Service Area, Liouguei, and Jiaxian, allowing participants to leisurely explore the scenic beauty of Qimei. Registration details can be found on the official website of the 2015 Kaohsiung Bike Festival, the Kaohsiung Tourism Network, and the Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau website.
Cloud University of Science and Technology INPEX award-winning work favored by UK’s Parragon
National Yunlin University of Science and Technology delivered an outstanding performance at the INPEX International Invention Exhibition in Pittsburgh, USA. Out of the three exhibits showcased, the university won one gold and one silver award. Among them, the gold-winning Amazing Land family board game received recognition from the renowned British brand Parragon, and discussions on export matters are currently underway. The gold-winning entry is the Amazing Land family board game, designed by teachers Zhang Dengwen from the Digital Media Department and Hong Chongwen from the Electrical Engineering Department (research team: Wang Yiya and Chen Yan’an), specifically targeting families with children aged 3 to 7. Combining the needs of both parents and children, the game is designed as an interactive board game where kids and parents solve problems together, allowing everyone to have fun playing together. Its modular universal design with adjustable difficulty levels makes it usable for people of all ages and abilities.
Taipei MRT Parent-Child Tickets Now on Sale – Buy One, Get One Free for Kids
To strengthen parent-child bonds and encourage families to spend more time outdoors during holidays, connecting with nature and exploring Greater Taipei, Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation is launching a special “Parent-Child One-Day Ticket, Buy One, Get One Free” promotion from June 19 to August 30. The offer is available on weekends and national holidays during this period, allowing families to enjoy a fun and relaxing day out together. This is the first time Taipei MRT has issued the Parent-Child One-Day Ticket. From the Dragon Boat Festival holiday on June 19 through August 30, the ticket will be sold at MRT station information counters on 23 weekends and national holidays. Each ticket costs NT$150. For every adult, one child aged 6 to 12 rides free — the child’s fare is covered by Taipei MRT. Once purchased, the ticket allows unlimited rides on the day of purchase, so parents and kids can explore the city hand-in-hand and go wherever they like.
Local Highlights – Visiting a Farm with Supported Families for Family Fun
Kaohsiung: On the 14th, the Northern Kaohsiung Family Service Center took eight supported families on an outdoor trip to Nanyuan Garden Leisure Farm. The mother of one of the children, Xiao Jun, joyfully said that since her child was born and due to financial difficulties, they hadn’t gone on a trip in a long time, so she especially cherished this outdoor activity. The center noted that the inability of supported families to go on trips due to financial constraints also reflects the voices of disadvantaged groups.
Capital Hotel’s Chibi Maruko-chan Stay Package – Family Fun
Will the famous Japanese cartoon character Chibi Maruko-chan appear in Taipei?! The “Chibi Maruko-chan School Festival – 25th Anniversary Special Exhibition” will be held from June 19 to September 13 at Huashan 1914 Creative Park. Capital Hotel has specially launched the Chibi Maruko-chan Stay Package and the “Bear Loves to Travel the World” family package for three, including accommodation, breakfast, and exhibition tickets, starting from just NT$1,447 per person. Book on the official website before the end of June and receive an extra super-cute “Giant Panda Cub plush toy” – limited quantity available, while stocks last! In addition to the family package, we also offer the “Summer Fun at Capital” summer stay promotion, with various packages across our properties for you to choose from. Capital Hotel has been awarded the TripAdvisor 2015 Certificate of Excellence. Celebrating all five of our properties, we are launching exclusive offers for local guests, featuring breakfast-free, budget-friendly accommodation options starting from just NT$1,283 per person for double occupancy. Details: www.capital-hotel.com.tw.
Southern Manor: Elementary School Students with Perfect Test Scores Enjoy Discounts
Taoyuan Zhongli’s Southern Manor Resort Hotel welcomes the arrival of summer vacation by launching the “Colorful Summer Getaway Parent-Child Interactive Park” package from July 4 to September 27, featuring a variety of parent-child interactive challenge games. To compete for a share of the summer vacation market, Southern Manor states that guests who book and prepay a deposit before June 21, or elementary and middle school students who present one report card with a perfect score of 100 for this semester, can enjoy a 10% discount on the room rate (excluding service fees). Southern Manor also notes that this year it will introduce a challenge passport. Guests who collect stamps for all challenge levels can enter a lucky draw to win a one-night stay in the Southern Suite, valued at NT$50,800. In addition to transforming all spaces within the hotel into a game park, offering guests surprises and fun throughout the day—from morning to night—such as turning the children’s play area into an ocean world, filling the indoor children’s pool with yellow rubber ducks, and decorating the children’s playroom with various marine-themed balloons, the 5-hectare ecological green space will be turned into a parent-child challenge playground, featuring attractions such as the Invincible Giant Leg and the Jungle Whale-Watching Boat.
The Kaohsiung City Social Education Center’s Parent-Child Learning Train Arrives in Mituo District
The Kaohsiung City Social Education Center held a “Dancing with the Jungle ~ Pen Holder Creation” event today (the 6th) at Mituo Elementary School in Mituo District, creating a warm and joyful learning experience for 120 local parent-child pairs. It gave the children of Mituo District a beautiful memory of creating something together with their parents during their growth. This event was co-organized by the Social Education Center and the Family Education Center of the Kaohsiung City Government’s Bureau of Education, hosted by the Xinxing Social Education Station, and strongly supported by Mituo Elementary School. It was sponsored by the private organizations Baba Enterprise and Nanliu Enterprise. With the theme of the “Parent-Child Learning Train,” the Social Education Center has been organizing parent-child activities in various districts of former Kaohsiung County, aiming to bridge the urban-rural gap and foster a harmonious society and joyful family atmosphere. The center chose Mituo Elementary School, which has a history of over 100 years, as the venue for the event, allowing residents of Mituo, whose livelihoods mainly revolve around aquaculture,
Net Dads and Moms Organize Group Visits to Fire Stations with Toddlers
To teach children about potential dangers in daily life and how to protect themselves, a group of parents on the Net Dads and Moms Facebook page organized a visit to the Houhu Branch of Chiayi City Fire Department. Firefighters introduced fire safety basics to 25 children and parents, who then practiced evacuation drills, experienced thick smoke in a smoke simulation room, and got to know various firefighting vehicles and equipment. Fire is scary, and electrical safety is important. Using picture books to tell stories, firefighters also guided the kids in performing CPR, using fire extinguishers, and learning about fire trucks. Both parents and children explored together and gained an appreciation for the hard work of firefighters. The visit opened the eyes of 11 preschoolers, who participated enthusiastically and couldn’t get enough. A group of parents met online and organized the trip together. Ms. Chen, the founder of the Chiayi Parent-Child Play Group Facebook community, encourages parent-child co-learning and experiential education.
The free board game experience event "Let's Play Together" has kicked off.
Following the highly successful "Escape Room Month" in April, the innovative app team "Let's Play Together" has partnered with 13 well-known board game businesses and a total of 39 stores nationwide to launch the May-themed event: "Let's Play Together Board Games." It invites both veteran and new enthusiasts of board games to come together and play. In addition to enjoying a 30-minute free experience, participants also have the chance to win major prizes such as the popular Apple MacBook Air laptop, HTC RE, HTC RC E250 waterproof and dustproof in-ear headphones, and exquisite board games. Li Boyan, the founder of Let's Play Together, stated that the Let's Play Together app team cares about the emotional connections between people, so every month they collaborate with event partners to launch themed activities, hoping to work together with partners to boost Taiwan’s leisure and entertainment industry, make Taiwan more fun, and bring people closer together.
Local Spotlight – Family Bike Fun Ride to Gather in Zhutang Next Month
Changhua: To promote the Sports Island initiative, the Zhutang Township Sports Association will host a family bike fun ride, lucky draw, and other activities at Cihang Temple Square on May 31. Registration is open until May 10. Registration hotline: 0935397345.