【Special Feature: Searching for the Mythical Bird of Matsu

Readers who want to revisit the exciting special features from Scenic Spots Family and River’s comics no longer need to flip through pages. Simply enter the “Scenic Spots Family x River’s 543 Special Feature Selection” to easily enjoy amazing travel features and fun comics, and experience travel reading with both visuals and stories.

 

Taiwan’s outlying islands each boast unique charm. Visiting Matsu’s uninhabited islands to watch seabirds is a precious travel experience just a stone’s throw away. The black-naped tern, known as the “mythical bird,” had disappeared for over a hundred years and was once thought to be extinct in the world. In 2000, a photographer spotted traces of the bird on Matsu’s uninhabited islands—Zhong Island and Tiejian—and the news attracted birdwatchers from all over to come and catch a glimpse. To this day, the black-naped tern still returns to Matsu every summer without fail.

 

 

 

 

For many travel enthusiasts, a camera is definitely important. But when you’re picking a camera, have you paid attention to the material of the camera bag? Today, Scenic Spots Family will tell you how to smartly choose a camera bag so that you can take photos worry-free while traveling.

 

In recent years, Taiwanese films and idol dramas that have received much attention have sparked a travel craze for visiting on-screen locations. Do you know which of Taiwan’s hundreds of film and idol drama filming spots have been favored by multiple production crews? Based on different styles of scenic spots, there are 12 places that have attracted more than two idol dramas for filming. Next time you’re on holiday, why not visit these places and experience their charm?

 

 

Compared to other Taiwanese outlying islands such as Penghu, Green Island, Orchid Island, Kinmen, Matsu, and Little Liuqiu, Guishan Island has always seemed somewhat distant from visitors—not because of the distance, as boats from Yilan’s Wushih Harbor take only about half an hour—but because some people may find the application process for landing a bit troublesome, or they might think there’s not much to do on Guishan Island. In fact, since it opened to tourism in the 89th year of the Republic of China (2000), Guishan Island has gradually gained popularity among domestic travelers. Yilan County Magistrate Lin Tsong-shyan mentioned that the number of tourists joining whale watching and island landing tours reached 180,000 in the 99th year of the Republic of China (2010) and grew to 200,000 in the 100th year (2011). Especially from late April to September each year, it can be considered the peak tourist season for Guishan Island. The public can sign up for group tours or apply online, coordinating with departure times from Wushih Harbor to visit. If you choose whale watching, circling the island, and landing (excluding climbing to the 401 Heights), it takes at least three hours; if you choose just whale watching and circling the island, it takes about two hours.