Logo
  • Home

頭條新聞 Headline News

New patrol vessel shows military’s commitment to resilience

On Friday morning, President Lai Ching-te presided over the commissioning ceremony of the indigenous naval vessel ROCS Tan Chiang, a Tuo Chiang-class corvette that Lai emphasized is highly capable and can be mass-produced. The ship is the first of its batch to be constructed. President Lai also called on the people in Taiwan, as well as the Legislative Yuan, to support the Ministry of National Defense’s special defense budget.

Featuring a design that makes it less detectable by radar, this new patrol vessel’s surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles are the brainchildren of National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. The ROCS Tan Chiang is an important part of Taiwan’s defense resilience and asymmetric warfare approach, and its presence represents many aspects: Taiwan’s ability to domestically build naval vessels, the Navy’s commitment to defense, and how the country is taking a proactive approach to maintain peace.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#defense #navy #corvette #shipbuilding

Time：2026-07-24

最新消息 Latest News

Airsoft shooting competition kicks off to improve defense resilience

And if you’ve ever wanted to experience a military-style combat scenario without the danger of live ammunition, the Defense Ministry is giving the public a chance to do just that. It has launched its first-ever nationwide airsoft shooting competition, featuring close-quarters combat simulations, tactical shooting and even battlefield casualty-care challenges. The goal is to build practical skills, teamwork and whole-of-society defense resilience. This Saturday, the northern regional event will kick off at National Defense University.

The enemy has captured intelligence personnel. The squad storms in and enters a close-quarters battle, quickly taking aim and opening fire.

This weekend, the Ministry of National Defense will hold its first-ever airsoft gun shooting competition. The northern regional event will take place at National Defense University’s Fu Hsing Kang Campus. Participants will be put to the test on their combat skills and casualty care in close quarters.

Liao Wei-hung
FTV reporter
The T91 air soft rifle is a realistic replica of a real weapon, which allows competitors to safely train their muscle memory and firearm handling skills.

Individual participants will be challenged to shoot in restricted areas, while teams will have to engage in close-quarters combat scenarios. A key goal of the event is for reservists to train physically and hone their teamwork and marksmanship.

Chou Pei-shan
Influencer
If you’re a beginner, there are clubs all over Taiwan where you can get started. They have online and in-person courses.

Hsiao Tzu-yun
Former Army Special Forces soldier
If you want to get better fast and cheap, airsoft is great as a training aid. Then, when you hold a real firearm, your body will adapt quickly to the recoil from live ammunition.

Yen Chia-hung
Ministry of National Defense
We will also hold events in Central and Southern Taiwan, and we are also planning to hold semifinals and finals. The contest will run from this July through to July next year.

The opening event on Friday featured a spectacular helicopter display, as an Apache and a Black Hawk rolled up flying low and blowing up clouds of dust. The military also showcased the combat capabilities of drones.

An attack drone locks into the target, dips down at full speed and fires at the target to demonstrate the power of precision strikes. The Defense Ministry says it hopes these kinds of events can encourage more people to learn about whole-of-society resilience through hands-on experiences.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#defense #taiwan #battle #drone #helicopter #chopper

2026-07-24

Chang Ching-sen quits DPP after Yilan approved to get HSR

The Executive Yuan recently passed the proposal to extend the high-speed rail to Yilan, a plan that has supporters and detractors. One critic is Chang Ching-sen, a veteran lawmaker who shockingly announced he was leaving the DPP over the Executive Yuan’s decision to extend the HSR to Yilan. Chang’s sudden decision was not understood by many, including Yilan residents who are looking forward to the HSR being a transportation option.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
I’m still going to ask Chang Ching-sen, to see if he’ll be willing to continue working with us on this plan of ours to extend the high-speed rail to Yilan.

Yilan resident
Fan of HSR, not of driving
Having the HSR makes traveling more convenient. Like if we want to go to the south, now we need to transfer first at an HSR station. If we can go down south directly, isn’t that more convenient? Driving is tiring.

Yilan resident
Fan of evidence-based decisions
I think he should’ve pointed out some more data if he wanted to convince us to think the way he does. Because, in the end, to those of us living in Yilan, I think this proposal is something that’ll be an important mode of transportation for us.

Hochen Tan
Former minister of transportation
I think, to us, the decision that’s been made is shocking, it’s even something we can’t understand. The only thing that explains it is Cho, after something suddenly happened, made a decision, in order to skirt some issues. But avoiding something like this, whether it’s a political maneuver or manipulating an election, it’s just not something we do as politicians.

In general, Yilan residents support the HSR being extended, as this will benefit the area’s transportation. Chang, however, is not the only politician who finds the proposal’s timing to be peculiar. Former transport minister Hochen Tan also questions why the HSR extension was approved in the midst of an upcoming election. Nevertheless, the Executive Yuan passed the proposal, which will cost over NT$352 billion and has a goal of being open by 2036. Once complete, an HSR train from Yilan to Nangang will take just 28 minutes.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Yilan #HSR #MOTC #highspeedrail #statsnotstories #bullettrain #EastTaiwan

2026-07-24

Scooters with Tibetan dragon motif on sale in Palace Museum collab

The National Palace Museum has worked hard on transforming its image in recent years by selling all kinds of creative products inspired by items from its collection. Right now, it’s offering entire electric scooters for limited sale, designed with flying dragon motifs from the Tibetan Dragon Canon. There are also new items in the store symbolizing wealth and good fortune, hoping to bridge the gap between the collection and the public.

Isn’t it boring having a scooter that’s just one color? The National Palace Museum thinks so. In a creative collab, they’re selling electric scooters wrapped with motifs from the Tibetan Dragon Canon.

- It looks pretty good.
- How so?
- There’s a dragon on the front.
- Do you think it’s a cool design?
- Cool for sure.

- It’d be a little too flashy to drive this around. I like more understated vehicles.
- But it has the gods’ blessing!
- I’m not interested.

Some people love it, while others don’t get the appeal. But regardless, it’s 100% genuine Made in Taiwan.

Voice of Wei Chuan
National Palace Museum marketing representative
Combining Taiwanese manufacturing with artistic design to develop an electric scooter based on the Tibetan Dragon Canon also incorporates concepts of energy conservation and carbon reduction.

Tung Ya-yun
FTV reporter
The Canon conveys wishes for a smooth journey, as well as peace and attracting wealth. Like the amulet and wallet I’m holding, people can use these items in their daily life.

The Canon, packed with images of the Buddha and dragon motifs, is currently on display at the National Palace Museum. Visitors said they had more energy and felt positive after seeing it in person. But did they really?

- After seeing it I got goosebumps and it really lifted my spirits!

- I feel about the same as before.
- As long as he aces his test, it doesn’t matter if he’s in good spirits or not.

Whether it really brings sudden enlightenment by divine intervention is a matter of personal opinion. Or maybe the key is sincerity!

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#TibetanDragonCanon #Kangyur #NationalPalaceMuseum #creativeproduct #scooter #fashionable #electricscooter #artifact

2026-07-24

Construction site workers caught harness-free on 3rd floor beams

A construction site in Kaohsiung has left locals open-mouthed, and not because of the stunning architecture. Instead, it’s because of the complete lack of any safety features for the workers doing their job on steel beams suspended 3 floors above the ground. A passerby filmed a video of the workers, who can be seen balancing precariously on the building’s frame without a harness or rope in sight. Let’s hear more.

Voice of witness
Saw the construction workers
Neither of the two construction workers was wearing any kind of safety gear, and they were walking around as if it were nothing. I was shocked to my core.

Member of public
Weighing in
If there’s no safety measures… the moment you fall, it’s all over.

Member of public
Weighing in
If they miss a step, they’d come crashing down and lose their lives. They should be wearing a safety harness and be secured to ropes.

Pi Chung-mou
Kaohsiung Labor Affairs Bureau
We’ve sent staff to carry out an investigation. If they are confirmed to have broken rules, they could face a fine of between NT$50,000 and NT$3 million.

The construction site is located in Linyuan District’s Yanhai Road. The workers were left to rely on their own hands to grip the columns of the frame and avoid a deadly fall. Current regulations state that safety measures are a must in situations where workers are at risk of falling from a height of 2m or more. Safety measures could be features such as guard rails or safety nets. In addition, workers must wear personal protective equipment, which includes helmets and harnesses, to prevent any tragedies.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#tradie #construction #worker #osha #labor

2026-07-24

AMD CEO Lisa Su unveils ‘best AI rack in the world’

AMD CEO Lisa Su has unveiled the company’s newest Helios AI rack, which she boldly calls “the best AI rack in the world.” Built for large-scale AI inference, the system features next-gen components made using TSMC’s cutting-edge 2-nm process. With AMD promising shipments by the end of the third quarter and mass production in the fourth, the battle between Lisa Su and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is only heating up.

Lisa Su
AMC CEO
Helios is simply the best AI rack in the world.

AMD CEO Lisa Su has a big announcement: full-scale production for the company’s newest AI rack system, Helios. It was specially designed for large AI model inference and features next-gen MI455X GPUs. For the first time, it’s also equipped with EPYC server CPUs produced with TSMC’s 2 nm processes.

Lisa Su
AMC CEO
We’re talking about 320 billion transistors. This is built with TSMC’s leading 2-nanometer and 3-nanometer process technology.

Helios reportedly is more advanced than Nvidia’s Vera Rubin when it comes to peak performance and high-bandwidth memory capacity. Su stressed that demand was strong, and that shipments would begin in Q3 and in higher volumes in Q4. She said the market for products like these is so big that there’s no single company that can do it all.

Lisa Su
AMC CEO
The only way you’re going to be able to service a market like that is for us to work together as an ecosystem. There’s no one company that can solve it all. And we have never been in a better position to lead.

Chun Hwai Tom Su
Lisa Su’s father
With a rival, you push each other to improve. Without a rival, you can just coast by, and that’s when you stop getting better.

In a recent interview, Su’s father discussed how the rivalry between AMD and Nvidia was conducive to faster developments in AI tech. According to Su, demand for AI inference is exploding, with the AI accelerator market expected to hit US$1.4 trillion by 2030. Taiwanese suppliers in the industry all stand to benefit, no matter how the rivalry plays out.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#tech #ai #aiinference #technology #amd #nvidia #tsmc #lisasu #jensenhuang

2026-07-24

Austrian student who swam in Love River could be fined NT$25,000

A late night stroll alongside Kaohsiung’s Love River is free, a river cruise sets you back NT$150, but a late night dip is the most expensive experience of all, as the maximum fine for swimming in the river is NT$25,000. Two exchange students from Austria were sipping on cold adult beverages when the boyfriend decided the best way to cool off would be jumping in, an innocent mistake that could have costly consequences.

- You can’t swim here
- Sorry sorry

Fearing someone had accidentally fallen into Kaohsiung’s Love River, police rushed over to the shore, where they saw a foreign exchange student enjoying a late night swim.

-This is a river, not a swimming pool. We’re here at the scene, It was a foreigner imming;
no one fell into the river

The male student quickly got out of the water and put on his shirt. His girlfriend, who is also a student from Austria, looked nervous as she stood on the riverside walkway. At 1 am this morning, the couple realized that not even cold adult beverages could cool them down in the heat of the Kaohsiung night, so the 22-year-old boyfriend took a late night dip, which he later realized could be a costly error.

- You need to go to the police station
- This might be a finable offense

Apparently, the Love River is for lovers, not swimmers. The police later notified Kaohsiung’s Tourism Bureau, who will fine the Austrian national anywhere between NT$5,000 and NT$25,000.

Chien Chun-cheng
Kaohsiung Police Department
This case will be handled according to Article 13 of the Kaohsiung City Self-Government Ordinance for the Management of Love River.

Despite the city government’s recent policy of “returning the river to the people,” currently only a few areas allow people into the water, providing that they use non-motorized floating devices. People are not allowed to swim wherever and whenever they please.

Riverside exerciser
Proponent of swimming safety
You can’t swim in Love River. People drowned in it before. It’s dangerous.

Member of public
Advised against swimming in river
The river’s gotten a lot cleaner ever since the government started regulating it. But still it’s not a good place to swim like that, because there’s dangerous aspects involved.

Visitors from other countries might not be familiar with local laws, but even a fine of NT$25,000 will hurt much less than a swimming experience that ends in tragedy.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#intheheatofthenight #LoveRiver #Kaohsiung #Austria #swimming #latenightswim

2026-07-24

Residents hand paint their own traffic signage in alley, causing crash

Some residents living in a small alley in Banqiao have taken both their creativity and the law into their own hands. They’ve painted their own traffic signage in the alley with garish colors and an obvious home-made feel. This has already caused a motorcyclist to have an accident by slipping on one of their hand-painted markings. And, unsurprisingly, the police say this is all illegal. Let’s find out more.

A motorcyclist rode into an alley and ran over a patch of paint on the ground. The vehicle then got out of control and the rider crashed. On closer inspection, the motorcyclist realized that the asphalt road here looked a little, well, unusual.

The entire area is covered in garish paint, complete with crooked yellow dotted lines and traffic signs never seen anywhere else—it’s like stepping into another world.

Hung Chiao-hsuan
FTV reporter
Returning to the scene of the accident, we can actually see that the traffic markings on the asphalt road are extremely sloppy and even include simplified Chinese characters.

This mysterious alley is located near Songbai Street in Banqiao District, New Taipei City. The yellow area means no littering, the red circle means no cigarette butts, and the yellow dotted line means be careful of uneven road surfaces. These are not official traffic signs, but rather signage painted by the residents themselves.

Resident
Painted the traffic directions
We painted these ourselves. The Transportation Department didn’t paint these lines. Like that slow sign, I spray painted that myself too. That corner is very dangerous, often downhill and a blind spot. We spray painted this all ourselves.

This alley only leads to one household. People are questioning if they are treating a public road as their private property. However, those involved say they have good intentions. They want to beautify the environment, improve traffic and make the place even more vibrant.

Resident
Painted the traffic directions
My wife just does what she feels like. She wanted to paint blue colors and green in the back. It’s just to keep this place clean and look nice.

However, private individuals are strictly prohibited from drawing markings on public roads—especially using regular paint, which has already caused a motorcyclist to slip and fall.

Cheng Yu-wen
Traffic police officer
The Transportation Department and Banqiao District Office have been notified to restore the road. For the unauthorized installation or alteration of traffic signs and markings, and the arbitrary placement of obstacles, our precinct will issue a citation for this violation in accordance with Article 82 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act.

Road markers can’t be painted by individuals on a whim, nor can the public invent their own traffic rules, or they’ll end up being ticketed and fined.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Taiwantraffic #Taiwancreatives #Roadsafety #crazycreatives #creatives

2026-07-24

Turtles swim in shuttered nuclear power plant’s water outlet

A group of adorable sea turtles was recently captured by a passerby on video. The animals were paddling in a cooling water outlet of the shuttered Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County. The video was shared online, where it attracted over 10,000 likes and comments. It turns out the turtles were taking advantage of a strong current to wash algae off their bodies. Let’s find out more.

Strong waves crash against this concrete-lined canal, whipping up spray into the air. At least five sea turtles can be seen swimming, paddling with their flippers on the surface of the water. This rare sight was captured by a passerby at a cooling water outlet coming out of a nuclear power plant in Hengchun.

The passerby was just taking a walk on the beach to relax when he unexpectedly saw sea turtles poking their heads out of the water. The video was shared online and attracted more than 10,000 likes and comments, with many exclaiming it was incredibly therapeutic.

- Yes, we just went down and saw two. There were two or three.

The area near Taiwan’s Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant outlet has always been a popular diving spot, and snorkelers say they often see sea turtles in the vicinity.

Lee Tsung-hsien
Marine biologist
From what we can tell, these sea turtles seen in the waterway seem to be using the strong current to swim upstream and wash the algae off their bodies.

It turns out that these adorable sea turtles were swimming against the strong current gushing from the outlet, constantly paddling their front flippers to go upstream, sometimes surging forward to breathe in the spray, sometimes being swept back by the current, but persevering and continuing to swim forward. They were taking a “turtle bath”. The rising tide allowed a member of the public to capture this rare and therapeutic scene.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Hengchuntourism #Taiwanturtle #turtlesightings #Pingtungtourism

2026-07-24

Thousands nationwide join group searching for painted stones

After Pokémon and Pikmin, did you know about Taiwan’s next most-popular treasure hunt game? Kids are going crazy looking for stones. But they aren’t any ordinary rocks—they’re colorful treasures! What started as a small Facebook group now has over 80,000 members. Anyone can hide painted stones in parks and post clues to find them, providing hours of wholesome fun for families. The creators shared with us their idea behind the game.

A child squats down on the grass, searching for something. Another kid is helped by her mother as she scrounges around under some trees. The entire park is full of kids walking with their heads down, searching.

- I found it! Mom!
- What did you find?
- A rock!

- I found six! This way I don’t have to stay at home. If I’m home, my dad makes me do homework.

- I wait to see who hid them, then I’ll rush out to look. I’ll go even if it’s raining.

Everyone is looking for these colorful rocks. It’s part of a nationwide treasure hunt started by the Facebook group “Xiaoshitou,” or “(Pick up) Stones.” It now has over 80,000 members, with people who share clues for where to find the rocks. Searchers then comment when they find them.

Parent
Kid loves stones
Every day, she tells me how excited she is for Saturday, because she knows that’s the day we come here. I think it’s great. It encourages interaction and gets us to walk around more.

Parent
Kid loves stones
These painted stones can increase interaction between parents and kids.

The creator of the group is a young married couple. They discovered the game during their honeymoon in Australia three years ago, and decided to bring it back with them to Taiwan.

Rachel
Group founder
It’s crazy so many people are doing it. It started spreading this year. Many parents have found it to be a great activity to do with their kids.

Yi An
Group founder
We first discovered this kind of activity while on our honeymoon abroad. In the group, we constantly remind members to only use healthy, non-toxic, water-based paint. People should also only use rocks.

There are also strict rules against hiding the rocks in dangerous places. The founders also recommend buying rocks rather than taking them from the ground, and using only eco-friendly paint to ensure everyone stays safe while having fun.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#paintedrocks #treasurehunt #familyactivity #familyfun #scavengerhunt #Facebookgroup #community

2026-07-24

Organizer of Taiwan film festival in Thailand alleges Chinese intimidation

And China is once again trying to intimidate people for being friendly to Taiwan. This time the target is the Taiwan International Documentary Festival, which kicked off its 8th edition in Bangkok on Wednesday. The Thai organizer of the festival told a local media outlet that Chinese officials had been making threatening phone calls to the cinemas taking part in the festival. What’s more, the officials even headed to the theaters in person to exert pressure. They also demanded organizers to remove the logo of Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture from all promotional materials, saying it “made them uncomfortable.”

But China’s attempts to suppress Taiwan were futile. The organizer refused to give in, telling them that, they should resolve their problems through regular diplomatic channels, such as the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Taiwan itself. Taiwan’s Minister of Culture Li Yuan, who is currently in Thailand, said that China was worried about Taiwan’s embrace of multiculturalism, which Beijing sees a threat to itself.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#thailand #taiwan #liyuan #filmfestival #bangkok

2026-07-23

MOFA reconsidering relationship with Papua New Guinea

A few days ago Papua New Guinea suddenly announced it was closing the Taipei Economic Office, a unilateral move that’s believed to be due to China playing unfair games. Also unfair is the difference in media budgets for Taiwan and China, because Taiwanese ministries like the Mainland Affairs Council only has a media budget of NT$10 million annually to compete against China, which has well over NT$200 billion to paint itself in a positive light.

Just hearing the tone of DPP lawmaker Lin Chu-yin’s voice is enough to know the sense of injustice she’s feeling now. She’s standing up for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mainland Affairs Council, who have been fighting an unfair battle ever since KMT and TPP lawmakers slashed their media budgets. With China spending over NT$200 billion a year on media, it’s clearly a situation of David versus Goliath.

Shen Yu-chung
Mainland Affairs Council
For our media budget, it’s basically only a little more than NT$10 million a year, yet over there they have an enormous amount of funds, so they’re able to produce a lot of media and information that portrays them in a positive light. In the future all this content will become part of their database, which AI systems will then share with countries around the world.

China’s more than willing to play dirty, including cyber warfare and a host of methods to suppress Taiwan, such as getting Papua New Guinea to close their Taiwan office. MOFA revealed that Papua New Guinea asked for the Taipei Economic Office to have its name changed, which is still at the negotation stage. The sudden attitude change in Papua New Guinea seems contradictory, as Taiwan’s CPC signed a 20-year procurement contract for natural gas.

Lin Chia-lung
Foreign minister
In Papua New Guinea, there’s only one person: that minister. It’s because of his relationship with China, in which they give him certain benefits. It’s all because his electoral district is connected to the airport.

Ma Wen-chun
Lawmaker (KMT)
With what Papua New Guinea is doing, they wouldn’t be able to do it with just one minister making all the decisions by himself. It’s clear as day that they don’t see us as important, which is an attitude that can’t be held by just one minister.

Lin Chia-lung
Foreign minister
We’ll continue to discuss the trade relationship between Taiwan and Papua New Guinea, which of course involves natural gas procurement. We’ve called on the Papua New Guinea government to take an honest look at the amount Taiwan has invested into Papua New Guinea in terms of international exchange and economic cooperation.

China is doubling down on its cognitive warfare efforts, showing it’s fully committed to unscrupulous behavior. And what’s making life even easier for China’s government is Taiwan’s opposition lawmakers slashing media budgets.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#PapuaNewGuinea #MOFA #China #Taiwan #TaipeiEconomicOffice #unfairfight

2026-07-23

Unseated child causes flight to delay landing in Kaohsiung

A child who would not sit down disrupted the tail end of a recent flight from Hong Kong to Kaohsiung. The plane was getting ready for landing in Taiwan, when the pilot requested air traffic control to delay landing, as the child was not seated. The flight did an extra circle and ultimately landed safely. But the incident has gone viral online, with people weighing in on what they would have done if they had been passengers on the plane. Let’s hear more.

Voice of pilot
Speaking to air traffic control
I have been informed that there is a child who is not seated, which means we cannot proceed with landing. I would like to request a go-around.

Parent
Would sit child down
I would maybe hold the kid down. Children’s ears often hurt during landing. After a certain age, it’s very hard to keep them seated alone and with the seatbelt fastened.

Parent
Would calm kid down
I think you should try to soothe the kid, as much as possible. You shouldn’t disrupt all the other passengers on the plane.

Chang Chih-hao
Retired pilot
In this instance, they were at quite a high altitude before landing, so they had the time. The pilot requested permission from air traffic control to circle around, to handle the situation. Once all the passengers, including the child, were safely seated, the pilot then continued with the landing. Everything they did was in accordance with standard operating procedures.

A retired pilot says that the aircraft’s pilot was following established rules. He also urged travelers to heed all instructions from flight attendants, to ensure a safe journey.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#flight #pilot #goaround #landing #child #travel

2026-07-23

Pili hero Su Huan-jen takes stage in Jiufen for Red Lantern Festival

Beehive fireworks in the south, sky lanterns in the north… Now New Taipei City has red lanterns to light up the mountain skies! The month-long Jiufen Red Lantern Festival kicked off on the 18th, with Mayor Hou You-yi donning retro overalls and holding a lantern for the occasion. The Pili puppet theater is also making an appearance at this year’s event, welcoming the classic hero Su Huan-jen to guide tourists through Jiufen’s dreamlike alleys.

Wearing a crisp white shirt and overalls, topped with a stylish newsboy cap, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi looks like he’s from the old mining days as he carries a hand lantern through the narrow alleys of Jiufen.

Huge red lanterns hang along the way, glittering under the dazzling mountain skies. The mayor is here to promote this year’s Jiufen Red Lantern Festival.

Hou You-yi
New Taipei City Mayor
Jiufen has always been rich in history, spectacular views, and small-town charm. It’s also the most famous of the mining towns along our gold coast. This place has inherently unique surroundings, along with a willingness by the people to contribute and sacrifice for its sake.

The month-long festival is also welcoming the Pili puppet theater for the first time. Mayor Hou took the chance to banter on stage with one of the characters.

In front of Jiufen Elementary, a sea of red lanterns forms a welcome corridor, while over at Jinguashi’s Golden Waterfall, visitors can enjoy a light show running daily from 6:30 to 10pm. Now there are even more stunning sights to see while getting lost down Jiufen’s winding alleys.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Jiufen #lanterns #九份 #redlantern #JiuRedLanternFestival #Pili #SuHuanjen #HouYouyi #travel #festival

2026-07-23

Giant meals to challenge gastronomers at Cijin Kite Festival

The 2026 Cijin Kite Festival is to take place near Love Gate at Cijin Beach over the two weekends from July 25 to August 2. This year the festival is going big, featuring enormous meals such as a massive seafood platter, Boston cream pie, and shaved ice bowl. Even professional eater Puff said she was stuffed by the end. Meanwhile, over at Sizihwan, food discounts hope to entice people over to Cijin, where they can enjoy the best sea views in all of Kaohsiung.

The YouTuber Puff, known for eating on her channel, is taking on this enormous seafood platter with lobster, squid, shrimp, and more. Even she said it’s a lot. There’s also this huge Boston cream pie and bowl of shaved ice, all on offer at the 2026 Cijin Kite Festival.

Puff Ku
YouTuber
The limited-edition food is the best part of the Cijin Kite Festival, because they’re all gigantic! They’re also delicious.

Shops in Sizihwan are also offering discounts for the event. On these hot summer days, nothing beats an icy treat, like this handmade gelato with seasonal fruit. Even the drinks are works of art. The food enclave next to the Gushan Ferry Pier also has lots of specials.

Fried pork cutlet is placed gently on a bed of rice, then drenched in curry for the most satisfying of meals. Ramen, gyoza, drink shops… They’re all partnering with the festival.

Kao Min-lin
Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau director-general
For this event, beyond the entire Cijin area, we’ve also brought in the surrounding neighborhoods of Cijin, Yancheng, Hamasen, Shaochuantou, and Sizihwan. Through holding events like this, we hope to draw tourists to Kaohsiung’s most beautiful bay.

This year’s festival is going big in every way, including with the nationwide debut of two giant, 35-meter whale kites. By bringing in the best Sizihwan has to offer, the city hopes visitors will use public transit to travel between Cijin and Gushan, enjoying giant kites and giant bites along the way.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Kaohsiung #CijinKiteFestival #Cijin #Sizihwan #giantfood #Puff #seafood #kites

2026-07-23

Ambulance driver furious after cars refuse to make way for baby

Surely most drivers know that you should make way for ambulances blaring their sirens? But apparently, not everyone has got the memo. An ambulance driver in Kaohsiung recounted a recent incident that almost sent him over the edge in his anger. The ambulance was carrying a newborn baby to the ICU at the hospital at top speed, when their path was blocked by two cars at a traffic light. Though one car ended moving to the side after several long seconds, the other did not budge, blocking the ambulance’s path for almost 20 precious seconds. Let’s hear from the ambulance driver.

Voice of Mr. Lin
Ambulance driver
The driver was a middle-aged man. I could see through the window. He kept looking at me on the rearview mirror. I honked but he kept ignoring me. I was so mad. We had a young baby on board. Our birth rate is already so low, even lower than our death rate. I was furious.

Member of public
Knows traffic rules
No matter what, you should always give way to an ambulance

The baby at the back was barely 20 days old, and was being taken from the postpartum care center to the intensive care unit. Four minutes into the ambulance ride, oxygen deprivation was already setting in, making the rush to the hospital even more critical. Fortunately, even despite the inconsiderate drivers, the baby made it safely to the hospital. Police say the drivers of both cars could be slapped with fines of up to NT$30,000, get their license revoked, and their license plate suspended for 6 months.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#baby #ambulance #cars #newborn

2026-07-23

Child flies out onto asphalt after car door swings open

Road users in Chiayi were horrified after a child flew out of a car and onto the middle of the road on Wednesday afternoon. The kid was in the back passenger seat of a car that was making a turn at an intersection. As the car turned right, the inertia of the curve swung the gate open, and sent the kid falling out to roll on the asphalt. It’s thought the kid wasn’t properly secured to the seat, and that the child safety lock was not activated.

Everything appears as normal initially, but once the black car turns right, the back left door swings open, and a child falls out, straight onto the asphalt. Even in slo-mo it looks awfully painful. The car immediately hits the brakes after noticing the young passenger rolling out of the vehicle.

The kid’s parents get off the car and bring the kid back onboard. Fortunately, traffic wasn’t too heavy, or it could’ve been a tragedy.

- I’d freak out. Raising kids is not easy.

The incident happened at 5 on Wednesday afternoon near a preschool, on Chuiyang Road in Chiayi. Other motorists were left staring in shock. Perhaps the door wasn’t closed properly, or the parents didn’t activate the child safety lock. Whatever the reason, the kid ended up flying out of the vehicle on a road that’s usually packed with cars and buses. That was a close one.

- If the kid had gotten run over… it would be the end.

Lu Jung-chi
Police officer
Children under 12 not sitting in child safety seats, or who are not wearing seatbelts can cause the driver to face fines of between NT$1,500 and NT$3,000.

Carelessness comes at a price. And even then, most cars have child safety locks.

Chen Shan-shan
FTV reporter
If you have kids and worry that they might open the car door, you can just press the child safety lock to prevent any fly-outs.

Mr. Yang
Car technician
These locks that open from the outside are a must.

These safety locks can usually be found in the back doors. Once they are activated, the doors can only be opened from the outside. That way, even if kids accidentally open the handle, they will stay safe inside the car. The incident in Chiayi ended with a child on the floor in the middle of the road. But fortunately it was nothing worse than a scare.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#car #taiwan #wow #road #chiayi #嘉義 #childsafety

2026-07-23

Immigration entry-exit stamp shapes hold secret meaning

As people go abroad for summer vacation, they’ve noticed that the entry and exit stamps have different shapes. Turns out there’s a secret meaning behind it! The National Immigration Agency’s Border Affairs Corps explained that the exit stamp is round to symbolize complete and smooth travels, while the entry stamp is an octagon representing the bagua to ward of evil. The characters were written by renowned calligrapher Tong Yang-tze, whose tiny extra dot on the entry stamp also has a special meaning.

Travelers hold their passports, ready to go abroad on vacation. Most people won’t take a second look at what the immigration officer stamped inside. But if you look closely, you’ll find the entry and exit stamps are actually different shapes.

- I never really noticed it.

- I never really looked.

When the National Immigration Agency redesigned the stamp in 2012, they kept some elements the same, but they also invited renowned calligrapher Tong Yang-tze to write the characters.

The exit stamp is round to symbolize a perfect and complete journey, while the entry stamp is the octagonal bagua to represent warding off evil and bringing good fortune. If you look carefully at the character they both share, you’ll find that the calligrapher added an extra dot to the entry stamp.

Kang Ching-nien
Border Affairs Corp officer
I was a bit confused when I first noticed that the one character in the entry stamp has an extra dot. How could she have made a mistake? But as I thought about it, I realized the artist intended it as a wish to bring more travelers to Taiwan.

The second character in the entry stamp has an extra dot on the left side. It’s not a mistake. It represents a wish that more people will come and boost Taiwan’s tourism.

There’s so much to these stamps, and that’s not all. They are also a kind of anti-forgery measure.

Kang Ching-nien
Border Affairs Corp officer
Making a minor redesign also helps to prevent human trafficking syndicates from forging our stamps.

But as the automatic gates are getting more use, the stamps aren’t being used as often. The stamp that should be replaced every five years has now been in use for eight. The next time you go abroad, consider going through the manual inspection lane to see the stamp for yourself!

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#passportstamps #immigration #NIA #travel #passports #bagua #TongYangtze #calligraphy

2026-07-23

Sixth grader wows with lifelike anatomical drawings

A proud mother in Kaohsiung recently shared her son’s lifelike anatomical drawings online, where people were amazed by their realism. They look like they should be the work of a college student at least, but the artist only just finished sixth grade. Recent elementary school graduate Hu Chun-hsiang finds inspiration from his dad’s work as a firefighter and paramedic. Starting from these anatomical drawings, his ultimate goal is to become a doctor.

A textbook on human anatomy open at his side, this young artist quickly begins sketching body parts with a practiced hand. He shows clear mastery of shading to crate incredibly lifelike muscle tendons. Next to the sketches, he annotates their scientific names in Chinese. These could easily be the notes of a medical professional. But the artist actually just finished sixth grade.

Mr. Hu
Hu Chun-hsiang’s father
After he was done with his homework, he’d come home from school and just want to play video games. Especially since he just finished elementary school, we didn’t want him to be on screens all the time.

Worried that their son would be glued to screens the entire summer vacation, Hu Chun-hsiang’s father encouraged him to draw, promising NT$30 for every completed sketch. To their astonishment, the drawings he got back were impressive. His mother posted a few online, racking up 110,000 likes in just one day.

Mr. Hu
Hu Chun-hsiang’s father
I’m a firefighter, so I have some textbooks on anatomy. He would sometimes pick them up to flip through. He developed an interest in the drawings, and then started copying them himself.

- So you want to study medicine?
- Yeah. That’s my goal, but it’s not a given.
- Just keep studying hard. Harder, even.
- Right, study hard.

Without knowing it, flipping through his father’s textbooks and doodling as a child fueled a passion for anatomical drawing. Since the start of summer vacation, he’s made 16 drawings for an allowance of NT$480. When he grows up, Hu Chun-hsiang hopes to keep following his passion toward a career in medicine.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#anatomicaldrawings #drawing #artist #youngartist #futuredoctor #talent #summervacation

2026-07-23

Greek amusement parks transforms into Jurassic Park with 18 life-sized beasts

Looking to attract kids off on summer vacation, an amusement park in Kaohsiung has transformed from its usual ancient Greek theme to a full-blown Jurassic Park with 18 enormous animatronic dinosaurs scattered throughout the grounds. Visitors can try their hand at being “little archeologists,” or enjoy a dinosaur feeding show. Even the shops, hotels, and restaurants have committed to the theme.

A triceratops welcomes visitors by the roadside, alongside a dilophosaurus and a ferocious T-rex flanked by a velociraptor. This entire theme park has transformed into a Jurassic world.

Visitors can find 18 enormous animatronic dinosaurs throughout this amusement park on Kaohsiung’s Guanyin Mountain, which is normally styled after ancient Greece. The theme aims to attract families looking for a summer vacation spot.

Visitor
You can hear the roars of dinosaurs all around, and they even move. They’re all super lifelike.

Visitor
The dinosaurs are humongous. They really seem real.

Visitor
The dinosaurs are huge. It’s my first time bringing my kids here. They seem really happy.

Mara Wang
Park general manager
We have a “little archeologist” activity and dinosaur feeding shows, and our hotel also offers dinosaur-themed rooms.

Integrating the theme park, hotel, and restaurants creates a one-stop tourism ecosystem, allowing visitors to immerse in the theme while doing everything from water-based activities, to watching performances, dining, and shopping.

Mara Wang
Park general manager
At our Volcano Stage, we’re featuring a water-spraying dinosaur and more. For Halloween, we’ll have dinosaur skeletons, and for Christmas, we’ll have a snowflake party and other activities to enjoy the snow alongside the dinos.

These lifelike dinosaurs aren’t just a backdrop to the park’s rides—they’ll also be a part of events for major holidays. Throughout the rest of the year, visitors can watch as these dinos invade ancient Greece!

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Kaohsiung #amusementpark #dinosaurs #summervacation #familyvacation #themepark

2026-07-23