Mainland Chinese tourists flock to eastern Taiwan; these 10 local delicacies are their top favorites

The number of mainland Chinese visitors to Taiwan has been gradually recovering over the past three consecutive months since August this year. In October, the number of arrivals increased by 22.49% compared to the same period last year, reaching approximately 48,436 visitors. Among them, the number of independent travelers rose by 24.05% year-on-year. According to the “October 2017 Taiwan Tourism Big Data” report released by Meituan-Dianping’s Taiwan agent, Jinzhijie Company, via its Dianping app, Hualien jumped over Taichung to rank fourth on the list, while Keelung dropped out of the rankings for the first time this year. Taitung, on the other hand, climbed two spots to enter the TOP 10.

The top 10 cities in the “October 2017 Taiwan Tourism Big Data” ranking are: Taipei, New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Kenting, Taichung, Taoyuan, Tainan, Alishan, and Taitung.

Taiwan’s iconic local dish, “braised pork rice,” made its debut this time, ranking 10th.

Looking at the list of popular food merchants, it can be seen that Ma La Top Spicy Doubles Hotpot, a favorite among mainland visitors, saw a 53.42% monthly increase in visitor numbers, while the renowned beef noodle shop Lin Dongfang experienced a 20.03% rise. Taiwan’s classic street food, “braised pork rice,” also made its first appearance in 10th place. Located next to Nanmen Market, “Jinfeng Braised Pork Rice,” often considered a must-try for locals in Taipei, continues to draw long queues. Especially with a wealth of positive reviews accumulated through the Dianping app, it’s clear that Chinese travelers are increasingly keen on sampling local street foods beloved by residents.

In addition, as the weather gradually turns colder in winter, Beitou Hot Springs entered the top scenic spot merchants list for the first time, securing 8th place with a 5.38% share. The annual hot spring season in October is Beitou’s most distinctive event, attracting many visitors—highlighting the area’s prime location advantage within Taipei. Meanwhile, Shilin Official Residence also made its first entry into the list of scenic spot merchants. Among the top 10 most popular attractions, Taiwan’s three major night markets account for a significant 30.61%.

In terms of shopping, department store duty-free shops hold the largest share at 42.27%, followed by souvenir shops at 32.60%, both highly favored by users. Jinzhijie pointed out that among cosmetic and pharmaceutical stores, Japan Pharmacy increased its monthly visitor numbers by 22.03%, while Kosé Mirai saw a 37.20% surge, making them particularly eye-catching. On the other hand, the once-popular Lao Tian Lu braised snacks dropped out of the top 10 and failed to retain its previous ranking.

(China Times Online)