By Zhang Yingying Source / MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network Editorial Department
Reviewing the popular tourist attractions, activity topics, and focal points of 2015, MOOK Scenic Spots compiled a list of this year’s top ten popular activity topics based on annual web traffic and the likes and interactions on the MOOK Scenic Spots Facebook fan page. Together, we document the key highlights of fun and travel in 2015, and continue to fuel our passion for travel in 2016 by discovering and conquering even more interesting attractions!
MOOK Scenic Spots 2015 Top Ten Popular Attractions & Activity Topics.
1. Anime Character-Themed Restaurants Are Extremely Popular
Starting with the first season of the Snoopy-themed Charlie Brown Café, which attracted fans lining up for reservations, followed by the Uglydoll Café, Hello Kitty Hot Pot, Kumamon KUMAMO CAFÉ, Miffy CAFÉ, Rilakkuma-themed cafés, Jumping Horse RODY CAFÉ, and even the opening of Minions and Angry Birds dining outlets, up until the end of the year when the Charlie Brown Café had already established three branches. Each anime character-themed restaurant sparked booking frenzies and discussion topics, showing that the influence of anime characters among fans is no longer limited to exhibitions—their charm is even stronger when applied to food.
The first Charlie Brown Café Taiwan flagship store officially began trial operations on March 18, 2015, becoming a popular benchmark for anime and cartoon character-themed cafés in 2015. (Image source / Charlie Brown Café Taiwan)
2. Spring Cherry Blossoms, Autumn Maple Leaves & Flower Seas
Taiwanese people love flower seas, and flower sea events have grown more and more spectacular year after year. Starting with plum blossom viewing at the beginning of the year, from January to March, various parts of Taiwan enter the cherry blossom season one after another—whether it’s Wuling Farm, Alishan, Tamsui Tianyuan Temple, or Yangmingshan’s cherry blossom season, the cherry blossom chasing craze spreads all over Taiwan without pause. This is then followed by the tung blossom season and the golden rain tree season. The tangerine daylily season in Tainan and the lotus season in Baihe also attract more visitors than ever before. Starting in August, the arrival of the daylily season brings beautiful images of golden orange hues to Taiwanese people. The Caoling Historic Trail silvergrass season, Tongluo chrysanthemum season, and East Rift Valley flower sea season are all impressive. In autumn, the red leaf landscapes from north to south, along with the various seasonal flower exhibitions held at Shilin Official Residence, are lively and colorful. Among the many flower sea events, the Xinshe Flower Sea Festival at the end of each year is considered the most important flower sea event in Taiwan.
Flower seas are one of the most beloved types of attractions for Taiwanese tourists. The photo shows cherry blossoms at Wuling Farm. (Photography / Chen Guanxin)
3. Bicycle Paths × Road Races × World-Class Scenery
The trend of combining leisure sports with travel is thriving. Bicycle paths across Taiwan continue to expand and form interconnected systems. Riverside parks provide spaces for cycling and running, as well as being relaxing tourist spots. The addition of 3D murals or installation art has further enhanced the visual appeal of these locations. Road races and cycling events also incorporate world-class scenery, such as Taroko. Towns and villages across Taiwan have gained more highlights thanks to road races, such as the Rice Barn Tianzhong Marathon and Pingtung’s A-Kao Revives Chaozhou Marathon.
Taiwan’s nationwide bicycle highway network offers views of the beautiful landscapes of Hualien and Taitung. (Image source / Taiwan’s Top Ten Classic Bicycle Routes)
4. Mountain Scenery & Beautiful Bridges
Taiwan’s mountainous scenery has garnered more attention from both domestic and international tourists with the rise of activities such as camping, hiking, and nighttime wildlife observation. The beautiful farm landscapes of Qingjing, Fushoushan, Wuling, and Aowanda never fail to captivate visitors, offering different seasonal charms and even snowscapes that surprise tourists. Mountain scenery paired with beautiful bridges is one of the most beloved types of attractions. Examples include the “Glass Light Bridge” in the Pinglai Creek Valley of Nantou, the “Skywalk” at the Dragon and Phoenix Waterfall in Zhongliao Township, Nantou, and the Shan Chuan Glass Suspension Bridge in Pingtung, which opened at the end of the year—all of which have drawn visitors to explore and admire.
The most talked-about new attraction of 2015, the “Shan Chuan Glass Suspension Bridge,” officially began trial operations on December 26, attracting a large number of visitors to experience and enjoy it. (Image provided / Pingtung County Tourism Bureau)