Classic Itineraries
The cruise business shows great potential, with high demand for maritime events.
After operating independently for a year last year, Kaohsiung Harbor Shipping Company saw a revenue increase of over NT$6 million from the "Love Boat" cruises, along with a noticeable rise in harbor sightseeing cruise services. This has significantly boosted the company’s confidence. This year, it plans to collaborate with travel agencies and F&B businesses to expand its offerings, including developing maritime parties, outdoor marine educational charters, and sightseeing services. Lin Kunshan, general manager of Kaohsiung Harbor Shipping Company, stated that ferry services fall under public transportation policy, and losses are expected. However, in terms of tourism services—such as the river “Love Boat” cruises and harbor sightseeing cruises—there has been growth. Therefore, harbor and river sightseeing have been confirmed as key future development directions. For harbor sightseeing, there are two cruise ships, the True Love and the Glory. The shipping company has been in contact with travel agencies and F&B operators to discuss future collaborations on harbor cruises and maritime party packages. The current plan includes one scheduled trip at noon and one in the evening. Each cruise can accommodate 150 tourists, with routes running from Pier 1 to Pier 2. Each trip lasts about two hours, and it is estimated that this could generate an additional NT$20 million or more in revenue for the company.
Players Lead the Way – A 3-Day Ski Trip That’ll Make You Smile with Pride
Living in a subtropical climate, the idea of skiing feels as unimaginable to many people as traveling to outer space. Will it be too cold? Will I twist an ankle? Will I break a leg? A series of doubts and fears have kept ski tourism a niche market. Coach Chen Yongde, who has taught thousands how to ski, says optimistically: Give me three days, and I can teach you from scratch. When you can turn on the snow, you’ll be smiling with pride. ■A Completely Different Travel Pace The petite Coach Ah De is a godfather figure in Taiwan’s skiing community. He started skiing at age 14 and has been at it for over 30 years. He says: Up to now, two-thirds of my life have been spent skiing. Because of skiing, he couldn’t become a stable office worker. Although he once worked in a corporate job, he often took time off to ski and eventually
Marketing Taiwan: Taiwan Tourism Bureau Unveils Welcome Billboard
The number of mainland Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan has surpassed 1.1 million this year, and the total number of visitors coming to Taiwan for exchanges and tours is expected to exceed 1.5 million by the end of the year. Buoyed by this extraordinary popularity, the Beijing office of the Tourism Bureau—the Straits Exchange Foundation for Tourism between the Two Sides of the Taiwan Strait (Taiwan Tourism Bureau)—stepped up its promotional campaign yesterday by launching a large outdoor LED billboard in Beijing’s bustling Wangfujing Street, featuring the message “Travel Taiwan. 100 Touching Moments. Taiwan Welcomes You.”
Outdoor school trip collision in Anqing Elementary School leaves 9 injured
Fourth-grade students from Anqing Elementary School in Tainan City were on a group outdoor educational trip to Leofoo Village Theme Park yesterday, traveling in seven tour buses. While ascending a steep slope in Jiaokeng Township’s Jiaojiao Village, the driver of the last bus allegedly pressed the accelerator too hard, causing a rear-end collision with the two buses ahead. The children screamed in fright, and nine of them suffered bruises and were sent to hospitals. County Magistrate Su Chih-fen rushed to the emergency rooms to check on them, but fortunately, none of the nine sustained serious injuries. Tainan City’s Anqing Elementary School Principal Huang Chun-chieh stated that the school’s sixth-grade graduation trip and fourth-grade outdoor class were both scheduled to meet up at Leofoo Village yesterday. The fourth graders were traveling in seven buses. Yesterday morning, while ascending a steep slope in Jiaokeng Township’s Jiaojiao Village, the seventh bus suddenly rear-ended the sixth and fifth buses. Due to the sudden impact, nine children hit their chair backs and fell. Six were taken to Cheng Kung University Douliu Branch Hospital, and three were sent to National Taiwan University Yunlin Branch Hospital.
Yunmen West Lake Outdoor Performance: The White Snake Returns Home
The Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan made its first outdoor performance in China on the evening of the second day with a staging of "The Legend of the White Snake" at the Liulang Wenying scenic spot by Hangzhou’s West Lake. Seven thousand spectators sprawled across the green grass by the lake—some with families, others with groups of friends—who fanned one another, passed around drinks and fruit, creating an atmosphere much like a big community gathering. One attendee said, “This is the White Snake returning home—both beautiful and meaningful.” Cloud Gate brought a selection of works including "The Legend of the White Snake," as well as highlights from "Running Script II," "Wild Cursive," "Moon Water," and "Flower Language" to the West Lake stage. Although the location was Hangzhou, the show also attracted many audience members from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. By 3:30 p.m., less than four hours before the 7:30 p.m. start time, people were already lining up at the entrance. Ms. Su, a local from Hangzhou, said she had read about the Cloud Gate performance in the newspaper, gathered some friends, and brought along a big bag of snacks to join in the event. Mr. Huang, who had seen Cloud Gate perform in Beijing three years ago, called the group “Taiwan’s cultural calling card” and decided to extend his trip to Hangzhou a few extra days especially for this show.
Eight Scenic Spots of Taiwan – Baxian Mountain in Taiwan
When visiting Guguan in spring, don’t miss the nearby Baxian Mountain Forest Recreation Area, just a 20-minute drive away. Along with Taiping Mountain and Alishan, Baxian Mountain was one of the three major logging areas in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. In addition to its rich forest diversity, the scenery here is also exceptionally beautiful. In 1927 (the 16th year of the Republic of China), the Taiwan Daily News held a public poll, and Baxian Mountain was ranked among Taiwan’s Eight Scenic Spots alongside Tamsui, Taroko Gorge, Asahigaoka (the former name of Taipei’s Zhongzheng Park), Alishan, Sun Moon Lake, Shoushan, and Eluanbi. ■Birds, Fireflies, Butterflies, and Maple Leaves Bring the Beauty to Life The main peak of Baxian Mountain stands at 2,424 meters above sea level, equivalent to 8,000 Taiwanese feet, hence the name “Baxian” (Eight Immortals) Mountain. After the Japanese logged the cypress trees and left, Baxian Mountain was abandoned for over 20 years. Thanks to this period of neglect, the mountain was able to rest and regenerate. Today, in spring, as cherry blossoms yield fruit, the mountains come alive with flights of Formosan blue magpies, Formosan five-color birds, yellow tits, and crested prinias. From April to June, tung blossoms shine alongside fireflies, while from July to September, butterflies take the stage — including up to 72 species such as the swallowtail and great tiger swallowtail. In late autumn, you can also enjoy the fiery colors of maple leaves, with each season offering unique natural beauty.
Taiwan’s 99th Year – Unforgettable Freshman Grad Trip: Amusement Parks Are Sacred Grounds
Graduation trips are often many people’s first time leaving their hometown and visiting a new place, an experience that can impact them for life. Hsia Yü-chiu, Dean of the College of Environmental Studies at National Dong Hwa University, took an unforgettable junior high school graduation trip to the scenic beauty of Hualien in 1961. Unexpectedly, he fell in love with Hualien and has been teaching there for fifteen years to date. He’s so attached to this land that he loves it even more than the locals.
Typhoon Lekima Approaches: Ren'ai Police Branch Urges Hikers to Descend
Typhoon Lekima has intensified into a moderate typhoon. Although its path has shifted slightly eastward, it still affects Taiwan, with expectations of strong winds and heavy rainfall. The Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station under the Council of Agriculture has urged farmers to prepare promptly for the typhoon to minimize crop damage and potential losses. To prevent serious safety threats to hikers due to the approaching typhoon, the Ren'ai Police Precinct mobilized all personnel and had contacted 939 hikers in 208 separate cases stranded in mountainous areas by evening, successfully persuading all of them to descend the mountains.
Northeast Asia’s Tallest Base Station on Yushan Mountain Built Over 7 Years to Benefit 50,000 Hikers
Northeast Asia’s tallest and most stunning base station has officially launched. The National Communications Commission (NCC) today (2nd) held an inauguration ceremony for the Yushan North Peak Disaster Relief Mobile Communication Service Base Station, which took seven years to complete at a cost of NT$40 million, jointly constructed by Taiwan’s three major telecom operators. During the construction process, engineers hiked up and down the mountain 902 times carrying equipment weighing over 24 metric tons in total. This will benefit nearly 50,000 annual hikers reaching Yushan’s summit and enhance disaster response capabilities in the surrounding areas.
Fell in love with mountain climbing, Wang Shih-hao hopes to become a health manager
Wang Shih-hao (41), a former emergency physician at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, unexpectedly became an expert in high-altitude medicine because of his passion for mountain climbing. After immersing himself in high-altitude medicine, he also became a professional mountaineering writer. A book compiling his lifelong experiences in climbing quickly became a bestseller, and he plans to establish a mountaineering consulting company to take on the role of a “health manager.”
The Homes of Emperors in Hebei: Hike Shanhaiguan and Visit the Mountain Resort
Hebei Province has a long history and is the only province on the mainland that features plateaus, mountains, hills, plains, lakes, and a seashore.
The Favre-Leuba Raider Bivouac 9000: A Classic Continuation of Practical Mechanical Wristwatches
The Swiss independent watch brand Favre-Leuba, founded in 1737 with a history of 282 years, has long been dedicated to nature environments such as mountains and oceans, aligning closely with its brand image of bold exploration and innovation. Leveraging professional watchmaking expertise, it continuously introduces practical timepieces that showcase exceptional craftsmanship.
President of Tainan Mountaineering Association Missing for 8 Days After Climbing South Cha Tian Mountain, Body Found
Yang, the 63-year-old president of the Tainan City Mountaineering Association, joined a 24-person mountaineering team on July 6 to climb South Cha Tian Mountain in Fuxing District, Taoyuan City. However, he claimed to have forgotten his radio and needed to return to get it. He became separated from the group during the ascent and went missing. At 2:18 p.m. on the 14th, the Taoyuan City Fire Department discovered Yang’s body. Rescue personnel are still in the process of rappelling down to retrieve the body.
Purchase Favre-Leuba mountaineering watches before the end of July to enjoy a Swiss Zermatt mountain adventure and experience the thrill of watch evolution.
Founded in 1737, Favre-Leuba is a Swiss brand with a long history and exceptional watchmaking craftsmanship. Its latest masterpiece, the Raider Bivouac 9000 watch, is currently the only mechanical mountaineering timepiece on the market capable of measuring altitudes up to 9,000 meters, offering adventure-seeking consumers a whole new perspective on horological appreciation.
Police officer falls into ravine while hiking to take photos; rescuers search for two days
A team leader surnamed Jian from a branch of the Keelung City Police Department, along with friends, went hiking on Banping Mountain in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, yesterday (7th) morning. When the group reached the Banping Waterfall, Officer Jian attempted to capture the beautiful scenery but accidentally slipped and fell into a ravine. Emergency responders immediately launched a mountain rescue operation, but rugged terrain and fading daylight made the search difficult. Rescue efforts continued today (8th), with a helicopter deployed, and Officer Jian was rescued around 12 noon and sent to the hospital for treatment.
Shimen Yunpin Vacation Homes Embrace Dual Views of Mountain and Lake
Recognizing the business potential in weekend getaways and retirement wellness, Yuanwang Construction has launched a new project, “Shimen Yunpin,” next to the popular northern hiking destination Shimen Mountain. With prices starting from NT$2.68 million and sizes ranging from 17 to 46 ping, it attracts hikers to easily make it their home.
Hiker climbs Qilai North Peak without permission; fire department and Taroko National Park Headquarters to issue fines
A 22-year-old hiker surnamed Lü entered the mountains without permission on the 2nd, climbing Qilai North Peak in Xiulin Township alone. On the way back, he reportedly got lost, fell, and broke his front tooth. After police and firefighters received the report and conducted a rescue, he was successfully brought down the mountain at noon today. Although he is no longer in serious condition, he faces violations of the National Security Act, the Hualien County Mountain Activities Management Autonomous Ordinance, and other regulations, with potential fines reaching tens of thousands of NT dollars.
Preventing Mountain Accidents: Ministry of Education Conducts Mountaineering Training for College Students
To teach college students proper mountaineering knowledge, the Ministry of Education held the 108th National College Student Mountain Safety Training Workshop today through the 5th in the 20-kilometer area around the Shengguang Police Station on the Yilan Branch of the Central Cross-Island Highway, as well as the mountainous regions near the Old Nanhu and Old Kalayeh Mountain Entrances. A total of 103 people participated.
Hiker collapses on Shakadang Trail in Taroko and dies after being sent to hospital
Hiker collapses on Shakadang Trail in Taroko and dies after being sent to hospital
Buy a Favre-Leuba watch and get a trip to Zermatt, Switzerland
For hiking enthusiasts, visiting Zermatt in Switzerland and owning the new Bivouac 9000 extreme black alpine watch—specially developed by Favre-Leuba for mountaineers—is the ultimate life experience. Now, you can achieve both dreams in one go. From July 1 to 31, Favre-Leuba is running a "Buy a Watch, Get a Trip to Zermatt" promotion. Simply purchase the Bivouac 9000 extreme black alpine watch, and you’ll receive a free guided hiking tour of Zermatt, accompanied by two brand ambassadors, including round-trip airfare and two nights' accommodation.