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Lai visits Greater Taipei troops ahead of Dragon Boat Festival

Ahead of the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival holiday, President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday visited two troops in Greater Taipei, the Navy’s Shongshan Radar Station and the Army’s Guandu Area Command, where he inspected drills and herd presentations.

In remarks, the president pledged to make remedies on slashed items in the special defense budget. He insisted that the administration will deliver on the difference, either through proposing an additional regular budget, raising the annual regular budget, or by introducing additional packages.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#defense #military #taiwanpolitics #drones #defensebudget


Time：2026-06-16

最新消息 Latest News

AmCham releases 2026 Taiwan White Paper, lauds ‘golden age’ for economic relations

The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan has released the 2026 Taiwan White Paper on Tuesday. According to AmCham Taiwan President Carl Wegner, Taiwan-US economic relations could be said to have entered a golden age. Bilteral trade volume grew by at least 30% on both sides in 2025, and the US has become Taiwan’s largest trading partner, replacing China. Wegner also urged the US to pass a double taxation avoidance agreement, and called on Taiwan to continue bolstering its grid.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan has released the 2026 Taiwan White Paper, in which 221 suggestions were made to Taiwan and US authorities, including implementing the US-Taiwan trade deal and strengthening drone cooperation.

Carl Wegner
AmCham Taiwan President
Taiwan and the United States are experiencing what some are calling a golden age of economic relations. The United States became Taiwan’s No. 1 trading partner in 2025, for the first time in over 20 decades.

Taiwan and the US are becoming closer economic partners. Last year, Taiwanese exports to the US grew by almost 35%, while US imports to Taiwan, by almost 30%. Bilateral trade volume in 2025 exceeded US$246 billion. The US also became Taiwan’s largest trading partner last year, while Taiwan became the US’ fourth largest.

Carl Wegner
AmCham Taiwan President
Taiwan is one of the Top 10 trading partners with the US. Taiwan is the only country without a dual taxation agreement… for better opportunities for SMEs to go to the US, and also for American companies to come to Taiwan.

AmCham Taiwan urged US lawmakers to swiftly pass a double taxation avoidance agreement, saying that it will benefit Taiwan investors in the US, such as TSMC, and vice versa. It also lauds the progress Taiwan made on its power system, while urging long-term vision on the issue.

Carl Wegner
AmCham Taiwan President
Predictability, stability, continue to enhancing the grid. It’s not a short-term issue. It’s a long-term issue, and we continue to see that making progress.

The US had initiated Section 301 Investigations, and is expected to conclude investigations and hearings by mid-July. Regarding whether a decision will be made on Taiwan, AmCham emphasized that the investigations concern 60 economies worldwide, instead of being targeted at Taiwan. It also called on continued dialogue for closer bilateral relations.

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#taiwan #business #amcham #trade #investment

2026-06-16

Rent hikes hits four-year low, but tenants feel no relief

Many young people feel hopeless in the face of Taiwan’s steep property prices and high rents. The latest DGBAS statistics show that growth in rent prices has stayed below 2% over the past five months, and even slipped to a four-year low of 1.76% in May. It seems like rental pressures are easing, but does this translate to actual relief for tenants? One young professional who has been renting in Taipei’s Wanhua District for nearly a decade said he doesn’t dare sign a new contract with his landlord out of fear they’ll raise the rent.

Omo
Renter
I came to Taipei after starting college, and I’m 30 now. Before I settled in my current apartment, I moved basically once a year.

From college to now, Omo has had nearly a decade of experience renting in Taipei. He’s currently in a second-floor apartment near Wanhua Station with three bedrooms, a living room, and one bath for NT$25,000 a month. It’s convenient living near two rail lines with a bus stop 30 seconds from his door.

Omo
Renter
This place is a little bigger than where I lived before and the transport is more convenient. So even though it’s a little more expensive, I think it’s worth it.

According to DGBAS statistics, rents have grown at an average annual rate of less than 2% over the past five months. In May, it reached a four-year low of 1.76%. But to renters, it hasn’t made much of a difference.

Omo
Renter
I haven’t noticed. I have a fixed contract now. If I were to feel the effects of this trend, I’d have to sign a new contract, but there’s no way I’d renegotiate now. If I approached my landlord and said I wanted to sign a new lease, I highly doubt the rent would drop. So unless I had to move to a new place, this market cooldown doesn’t really affect me.

Tseng Ching-te
Real-estate researcher
Rental increases have already plateaued. It’s not like in the past two or three years, which was driven by inflation and rising real-estate prices, which in turn led to relatively dramatic rent hikes.

As salaries fail to keep pace with housing prices, experts recommend easing the financial burden by applying for government rental subsidies. Although rental hikes are finally subsiding, most tenants are still waiting to see any real relief in their bank accounts.

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#rent #realestate #Taipei #DGBAS #propertymarket #costofliving #rentalsubsidies #rentindex

2026-06-16

Yilan township local expertly catches fish from sewers

A diner in Luodong Township, Yilan thought he might’ve had too many drinks on Monday night when he stumbled upon a local man reeling in a fish from the sewers. Only it wasn’t his imagination. The man did actually catch a fish. Let’s hear more.

Voice of eyewitness
Dined at izakaya in Luodong
I find it really absurd that sewers can possibly be so clean. Usually, there are only rats and cockroaches. But we’re speaking of angling at those large sewers. That’s nothing to write home about. I also fish myself.

Member of public
Luodong Township resident
In the past when it rained often, the water levels get quite high. Water from the upstream would flow down via the Sports Park, and the fish would make their way here from there.

The angler had set up on Fuxing Road in the township. All he needed to do was to remove the drainage grate, grab a stool and wait for a fish on the hook. He looked like quite the expert of roadside angling. According to locals, the drains used to be part of the irrigation system, and the water passing through is still quite clean, so it’s quite common for them to fish there.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#fishing #leisure #hobby #yilan #taiwan

2026-06-16

Yilan school gifts grads pens with misprinted proverb

Another day, another creative graduation gift! Yuan Shan Junior High School in Yilan gifted its grads pens that say “The early worm gets the bird” — quite the difference from the usual phrase. The school explained that it was a misprint by the factory 13 years ago, but later became a massive hit. It eventually morphed into an inspirational phrase, meant to tell students that although their school is small, its students have grand ambitions.

This ordinary pencil case comes with an ordinary pen with an inspirational phrase. The early bird gets the... wait a minute. It says “The early worm gets the bird!” Is it a typo?

Member of public
I was confused for a moment, but then it made me smile. I think its pretty clever. It’s like a brain teaser, using a clever way to subvert your logic.

This is one of 100 pens given to graduates of Yilan’s Yuan Shan Junior High School as a gift this year. By subverting the classic proverb “The early bird gets the worm,” it’s generated a lot of discussion and proven popular among students.

Student
It subverts tradition.

Student
Maybe the school means to encourage us to break through our limits. To become another you and achieve things you normally wouldn’t be able to do.

But make no mistake: This isn’t a cynical phrase meaning the worm will get eaten by the bird. The school clarified that 13 years ago, they asked the manufacturer to make pens in both Chinese and English. The English turned out right, but the Chinese swapped the words for bird and worm. A student noticed and reported it to the school, but since it was funny and inspirational in its own way, they decided to make it a tradition.

Chu Yung-chih
Head of student affairs
We’re a small school, meaning we’re “early worms.” But even though we’re small, our students have grand ambitions. So to us, this misprinted phrase can serve as a source of great strength.

Yilan’s Yuan Shan Junior High only has 212 students across 10 classes, averaging out to fewer than five classes per grade. Although small like the worm in the phrase, they’ve found the limelight with this creative gift.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#graduationseason #grads #creative #earlybird #Yilan #students #misprint #proverb #funny

2026-06-16

Boss orders pure gold chicken drumsticks to gift employees

Have you ever seen a chicken drumstick made of pure gold? A business owner in Kaohsiung custom ordered 40 of them to give to his employees, leaving onlookers envious. But the jeweler said you can get more than just drumsticks. Also popular are their burgers, excavators, and even fire trucks, all made of gold.

Golden drumsticks are lined up in neat rows, glittering in the light. But don’t eat them! They’re all made of real gold. The owner of a steel company in Kaohsiung bought 40 of these to give to his employees, leaving everyone else jealous.

- It’s great! That boss is so generous. Which company is it? Are they hiring?

- What do you think about it?
- They’re very creative.

The business owner said that one drumstick is about 3 grams, worth NT$16,000. The store also offers chicken wings and entire roast chickens, all made of gold.

Chuang Shu-ting
FTV reporter
You can arrange these chicken wings and drumsticks on a literal golden platter to make a delicious fried chicken combo. But beyond these chicken figurines, there’s a whole world out there of eccentric collectables.

There’s also a cement mixer, fire truck, hamburger, and lighter, not to mention dogs, bears, and horses. The wheels and claws even move on the excavator and forklift.

Voice of jeweler
Sells eccentric wares
They may look large, but they only weigh about 7.5 to 11.25 grams, valued at NT$50,000 to NT$60,000 at most. Since they’re light, the entry-level price remains accessible.

Inspired by his own interests, the jeweler sources all kinds of eccentric figures to sell at his store—even a fully functioning golden straw. Every piece looks exquisite.

Voice of jeweler
Sells eccentric wares
We have a lot of clients who like to collect them to display. It’s safe to say that each younger customer of mine has two or three of these.

Traditionally, the gold market has been dominated by the sale of standard bullions, nuggets, or jewelry. But in the past few years, these intricate figures have been taking the market by storm. They not only retain their value, but also attract interest from a younger generation of buyers.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#gold #friedchicken #goldcollectibles #companygift #goldmarket #eccentric

2026-06-16

Retiree builds electric miniature railway park

A retired civil servant in Pingtung built a miniature railway park that takes up his entire living room, with high-speed and normal train models running along the tracks. While helping his grandson assemble a toy train set, he unexpectedly developed a passion for building miniatures. Using cardboard and wood, he made a mini railway park entirely by hand, scaled to less than one hundredth of the real size, complete with lifelike scenery.

A train runs down a track, winding around houses and trees, passing platforms, and crossing bridges. This miniature railway park was built entirely by hand and takes up the whole room.

With the flip of a switch, the trains slow to a stop. This miniature railway was created by 62-year-old Lan Wen-hsien. After retiring from the Jiadong Township Office in Pingtung, Lan went with his grandson to a train exhibition and was inspired to start building his own railway models.

Lan Wen-hsien
Railway enthusiast
At first it was just for my grandson, but as I built it, I found it really interesting. Beyond the trains themselves, you can create any scene you want, like railway bridges and farms, and even rivers.

Now there are four railway parks assembled in his living room, with lifelike stations, bridges, and fields.

Lan Wen-hsien
Railway enthusiast
There are two types of turf. One is more lifelike, and the other is made of paper. I buy scrap wood from a lumberyard, so it’s very cheap.

Lan built the model with recycled materials, assembling the tracks piece by piece. He even connected electricity to the tracks so that the trains can move.

Lan Wen-hsien
Railway enthusiast
I knew nothing about electricity before. It looks like a toy, but it’s kind of complicated. I didn’t understand how positive and negative currents worked, but if they collided, the trains wouldn’t move.

Lan taught himself about electricity, installing remote controls that can change the train’s speed and direction. His friends were astonished at what he built.

Chang Meng-wei
Friend
It’s incredible. I’ve never seen a railway model of this scale or with this kind of scenery. Everyone is asking where the model is and if they can see it.

Lan has collected hundreds of different model trains and set them up along tracks in his home, each section with its own unique scenery. With his newfound hobby, Lan has found a way to enjoy retired life to the fullest.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#modeltrain #railway #trains #tracks #electricity #miniature #model #Pingtung #retired

2026-06-16

Wealth god shrine next to Kaohsiung mall frequented by staff

Every department store hopes for stellar sales and crowds of shoppers. Next to the parking garage for a mall in Kaohsiung’s Caoya, a shrine to the God of Wealth was built especially for the staff. Employees stop by to pray before their shifts, asking for their counters to make good sales and see an endless flow of customers. The sight has become a unique feature of the shopping center.

While on her way to work, a retail employee stops by this God of Wealth shrine for a quick prayer. Before the mall doors open, staff stop by one after another to pay their respects.

Mall employee
Prays at shrine
I’ll stop by on my way to work. It’s become a habit to pray for the day to go well.

This shrine in Kaohsiung’s Caoya is in a unique spot, right next to a department store parking garage. It’s there for the exclusive use of the retail staff to pray for sales, making it known as the “mall god shrine.” With an altar full of snacks and other offerings, it’s easy to see how effective it is.

Mall employee
Prays at shrine
I’ll go whenever I can to pray for the mall’s sales to keep improving. Everyone goes.

This tiny shrine nestled right next to the mall is frequented by employees praying for booming business, making it a quirk of the neighborhood.

Down a small alley over in Sanmin District, there’s another Wealth God temple that’s also a must-go spot among locals looking for a little pocketbook assistance.

This temple houses the Martial God of Wealth who can help with sales, as well as the Civil God of Wealth for regular income and financial wisdom. Since it’s in the city center, many people working in sales-driven jobs come here to pay their respects.

Member of staff
Temple
We’ve gotten a very positive response online. A lot of young people come here to pray for wealth.

Although tucked away in an inconspicuous alley, locals will tell their neighbors to come pray for business prosperity and wealth, becoming a pre-work ritual for many local professionals.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#GodofWealth #shrine #temple #prayer #mall #departmentstore #Kaohsiung #retail #religion

2026-06-16

Truck scares fellow drivers with precariously stacked scooters

Drivers in Nantou’s Mingjian Township were met with a frightening sight recently, when a flatbed truck roared by with six scooters stacked up on the back, seemingly without anything tying them down. People were afraid to drive behind it for fear that one would fall off. Police said that the driver broke the law, and could be fined up to NT$18,000.

The driver is absolutely right—those scooters are stacked too high!

On this slick road in Nantou’s Mingjian Township, motorists noticed a vehicle carting what seemed to be at least six scooters crammed onto the truck bed. They bounced around with every bump, scaring the drivers behind it. If one were to fall off, it could cause a massive accident.

The bikes on the back of this truck were stacked up three high. No wonder people were calling it scooter Jenga.

Member of public
They didn’t even tie them down properly, yet managed to stack them up so none of them fell off. Even though it’s pretty dangerous, I couldn’t look away.

Lee Cheng-chang
Nantou precinct deputy chief
The loading height for small vehicles cannot exceed 2.85m from the ground. Furthermore, according to Article 29 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, carrying an oversized load can incur a fine of up to NT$18,000.

The driver was surely angling to cut corners by stacking the scooters up that high, but now they’re facing a fine of up to NT$18,000. The police said they’d set up a checkpoint along that section of road to pull over any suspect vehicles, and would issue fines on the spot.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#jenga #scooterjenga #roadsafety #trafficviolation #Nantou #driving #oddity

2026-06-16

Wild culinary mashups at Pingtung University turn heads

The cafeteria at National Pingtung University has shot to fame on and off campus for its unusual sweet and savory combinations. They not only offer milk hot pot noodles with boba or fresh slices of strawberry, but recently even introduced a chocolate soup, essentially adding noodles to classic drinks. They’ve even put their spin on pork cutlet curry by adding a strawberry or chocolate sauce on top. You can even get a pudding on top of minced pork rice.

This steaming bowl of noodles in a milk broth is almost ready to be served. All it needs is an extra scoop of... boba? Another bowl is getting a topping of fresh strawberry. These eccentric meals can be found in the student cafeteria at National Pingtung University.

Student
Trying the food
This is my first time eating such a weird bowl of noodles. When I first saw it, I was afraid, but now that I’ve tried it, I actually think they complement each other pretty well.

Student
Trying the food
If they also add tea, I think it would be even better. It would be like a cup of bubble tea.

Pairing salty soup noodles with sweet tapioca or strawberries is strange enough, but the chef wasn’t finished there. It’s not just curry they douse their pork cutlet in. They also put strawberry jam and fresh strawberries right on top of the fried meat. Despite how bizarre it sounds, it’s become a hit among students, and has even gotten attention off-campus.

Wang Hsin-lan
Cafeteria vendor
The school asked us to make some new products to give the students more choice, so we decided to collaborate with a drink shop.

Yang Po-yuan
NPTU deputy dean of student affairs
As long as all sanitary conditions comply with guidelines, we’re on board with the vendors serving a variety of creative offerings.

These sensational dishes have sparked conversation online, prompting the vendor to double down with even more creations. Just from looking at this dark broth, can you tell what it is? That’s right—it’s chocolate. The curry didn’t escape experimentation either. That one is served with a turtle-shaped chocolate.

Student
Likes the experimental food
I’ve tried the hash brown with pudding or strawberry. They’re actually pretty good. Not too much.

But wait, there’s more! You can also get minced pork with a fried cutlet over rice, drizzled with honey and topped off with pudding. If the sight itself is too much of a shock, just wait until you taste it! As the chef’s imagination runs wild, students are looking forward to whatever bizarre combination they dream up next.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#weirdfood #cafeteria #Pingtung #foodmashup #creativecooking #controversy #boba #bubbletea

2026-06-16

Taiex surges 1,227 points as US and Iran reaches tentative peace deal

Taiwan shares surged on the first trading day of the week, closing up 1,227 points for 45,396 points, with a transaction volume of NT$1.06 trillion. The surge was mainly driven by leading semiconductor, AI and finance-related stocks, such as TSMC, MediaTek and Hon Hai.

According to an analyst, markets across Asia rallied thanks to a tentatative peace deal between the US and Iran, as well as a US rally driven by the SpaceX IPO. Japan’s Nikkei Index also reached a historic high on Monday, with an intraday gain of 3,600 points; while South Korean stocks also grew by more than 5%.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#stocks #investment #finance #international #getrich

2026-06-15

Debris avalanches halt traffic in Nantou amid persistent rain

Persistent heavy rain over the weekend has now caused severe landslides in the mountainous Renai Township in Nantou. Debris avalanches have descended upon the 18.2km and 36.5km marks of Nantou County Road No. 89 on Sunday, obstructing traffic. Drivers passing by had had to turn back in haste. The township mayor said that as of Monday, the 36.5km mark has been cleared. However, the public is urged to refrain from traveling in the mountains before the rain stops.

There seems to be no end to the heavy rain, and neither to the debris avalanche it caused.

- It’s probably becoming a dead end in a second.

Drivers rush to turn back as the landslide comes rushing toward the road surface.

- Scary. The landslide is still sliding.

The passer-by exclaims in shock at the sight. Past 2 p.m. Sunday, a debris avalanche descended upon the 18.2km mark of Nantou County Road No. 89 in Renai Township, obstructing traffic. The same happened at another segment of the road.

Voice of Chiang Tzu-hsin
Renai Township Mayor
The 36.5km and 18.2km marks got covered in landslide yesterday in the afternoon and the evening, which obstructed traffic. They’re being cleared as quickly as possible at the moment.

Renai Township had the highest 24-hour accumulated rainfall in Nantou this rainy spell, which was caused by a lingering front. Many roads in the mountainous area had fallen rocks and trees. The obstruction was the heaviest on Nantou County Road No. 89, also known as Lixing Industry Road.

Voice of Chiang Tzu-hsin
Renai Township Mayor
The 36.5km mark has been cleared. The 18.2km mark is more heavily obstructed. We’ve asked the county government’s contractor to report back, and they said it’ll only be cleared at around noon.

Because the head scarp of the landslide on the 18.2km mark was higher, plus it’s still raining, clearing can only begin when the rain becomes lighter. The Renai Township office urges drivers to take a detour and avoid heading into the mountains.

The township office also says that the 36.5km mark has been cleared, but urges travelers away from the mountains before the rain stops.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#rain #weather #landslide #naturaldisaster #taiwan

2026-06-15

Yilan residents spooked by aircrafts conducting land surveys

Local residents in Yilan have been panicking over the sight of aircrafts hovering close to the ground recently. More precisely, at less than 300m above ground. Some people even joked that the aircrafts may have been carrying out a reconnaissance mission. On Monday, the county government clarified, after consulting with the central government, that the aircrafts were conducting land surveys.

Two lightweight aircrafts hover in the air, their loud noises attracting Yilan locals’ attention. It’s a curious sight indeed, in a town without an airport. What’s more, it’s flying quite close to the ground, at around 200m to 300m above, over Dongshan, Luodong and Jiaoxi, making onlookers nervous.

- Aircrafts must fly above a certain limit from the ground. If it’s flying too close, the public may worry that it might crash.
- Even more so in crowded areas.
- Yes, it would make people nervous.

Member of public
Local resident
It’s rare to see this kind of lightweight aircraft. There isn’t an airport in Yilan, so it’s quite surprising to see a lightweight aircraft. It’s really not flying high above the ground.

The planes have caught the attention of netizens online. One commented that they’re ultralight aircrafts, while another joked that the aircrafts are on a reconnaissance mission. One knowledgeable commenter identified the aircrafts as the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, which the government deploys for aeriel photography, 3D topographic laser scanning, and GIS data capture.

Huang Chih-liang
Yilan County Transportation Department
We’ve confirmed with the transport ministry’s Civil Aviation Administration that the aircrafts are operated by RealWorld Aviation Corporation, which is commissioned to conduct national land surveying and mapping. Subsequently, we’ve asked the Civil Aviation Administration and other central government agencies to give local governments an early notice should they plan to conduct such missions, so that local governments could communicate with residents accordingly.

Turns out the aircrafts are for land surveying, only the local Yilan government wasn’t notified. The county government urges central authorities to notify locals in advance, to prevent public panic.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#cartography #GIS #3Dmodeling #maps #survey

2026-06-15

Joss paper piles up at Tainan incinerator

Spirit money has piled up at a Tainan incinerator after the Qingming Festival. These offerings are commonly burned during festivals to honor ancestors, but incinerators are struggling to keep up with the city government’s centralized burning policy. City councilors said supporting measures have fallen short, but the Tainan Environmental Protection Bureau said over 60% of the paper money has already been burned, and they expect to finish by the end of June.

Spirit money is piled all the way up to the ceiling, completely blocking the wall. On the other side of the facility, there are two more mountains.

On top of the mountains, there are burlap sacks full of even more joss paper. This is an incinerator in Tainan’s Annan District which collected massive amounts of spirit money over the Lunar New Year and Qingming Festival, when people burn them as offerings to ancestors. But this paper is still sitting here, yet to be burned.

Member of public
Finds it unreasonable
I think it’s unreasonable. It makes more sense to burn it within a week.

Member of public
Considering situation
The money from the Qingming Festival is left until Lunar New Year, and we don’t know how to explain this to our ancestors.

Lin Yen-chu
Tainan City Councilor (KMT)
We burn about 2,000 tons a year. Now Ghost Month is coming, and our brothers are only out for a month, but they won’t even have any money when they go back.

The Environmental Protection Bureau said the massive amount of joss paper has caused delays in burning it all. In addition to reducing the amount, the bureau said it would promote constructing incinerators at major temples to decentralize processing.

Huang Jen-wei
Environmental Protection Bureau official
During the Qingming Festival, about 373 tons of paper money were collected and sent to dedicated incinerators. More than 60% has already been processed. The bureau’s incinerator still has about 150 tons in storage, and it’s expected to be fully incinerated by the end of June.

With the Ghost Festival approaching, authorities are reminding people that sincerity is most important in worship. People can burn less joss paper and donate the equivalent value instead, which would reduce air pollution and ease pressure on incineration facilities, while still honoring traditional beliefs.

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

#papermoney #QingmingFestival #LunarNewYear #GhostMonth #tradition #worship #ancestors #offerings #pollution #environment

2026-06-15

Famous ‘Palace’ unit sells for NT$650m after 9 years

After nine long years on the market, Taipei’s most infamous unit in “The Palace” has finally sold! After turning up empty-handed across multiple listing cycles, a buyer has finally stepped forward, paying down NT$650 million in cash for the property. But who has this kind of purchasing power? Let’s find out...

Chen Meng-hsuan
FTV reporter
The iconic “Palace” mansion on Renai Road is home to celebrity host Dee Hsu, along with many other political and business elites. The unit on the 21st floor of Building D, known as the “legendary Palace unit,” has finally found a new owner after nine years on the market.

Formerly the most expensive unit in the complex, the property boasts a huge living room that easily accommodates three sofas with space left over for a grand piano. The dining room has a 10-person table, while in the master suite, the walk-in closet alone is 10 ping. Formed by joining two units and with four parking spaces, the floor area is a massive 316 ping, or 1,045 square meters. It was finally sold to a private individual from Hualien surnamed Hsieh for NT$650 million.

Huang Shu-wei
Real-estate expert
The orientation is excellent, right at the center. Both the layout and finishes are top-of-the-line. But since luxury home mortgages in Taiwan are capped at 30% financing, any prospective buyer would need a lot of leverage, so the turnover for this property was low compared to the broader market.

Even though it closed for NT$120 million less than the previous owner, it’s still a premium over other luxury properties. The latest filings show that this 20-year-old unit, which underwent extensive renovations by the previous owner, socialite Lu Sheng-wen, officially transferred ownership in May. And the buyer didn’t take out a mortgage, choosing instead to pay in cash.

Huang Shu-wei
Real-estate expert
The individuals who buy luxury properties are either planning to live there, or are diversifying their assets. Therefore, they have strong pools of liquid capital and don’t have much need for a loan.

After going on the market many times over the past decade, the unit has finally found a new owner. But since the closing price was revised downward, its cost has slipped from a high of NT$2.9 million per ping, to NT$2.2 million, proving that “The Palace” isn’t what it used to be.

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

#ThePalace #luxuryapartment #property #realestate #Taipei #housing #highnetworth

2026-06-15

Taiwan, Korea eye 4m visitor goal at Kenting tourism conference

The charm of Korean dramas attracts no small number of tourists from Taiwan, but what are Taiwan’s charms to attract Korean visitors? Figuring out how to balance the scales is an important question for Taiwan’s tourism industry. The 39th Taiwan-Korea Tourism Exchange Conference was held recently in Kenting, bringing together 200 tourism industry leaders from both sides. They also visited major attractions, hoping to boost two-way visitor numbers to a balanced 4 million.

At the 39th Taiwan-Korea Tourism Exchange Conference, Tourism Administration Deputy Director-General Huang Shih-fang and Taiwan Visitors’ Association chair Chien Yu-yen exchanged views with industry, government, and academic leaders from South Korea.

Huang Shih-fang
Tourism Administration deputy director-general
In Taipei, you can see South Korean visitors everywhere. By hosting the conference in Pingtung this time, we hope to draw tourism to the south. I believe Pingtung has many local features that are unique from our urban areas.

Chou Chun-mi
Pingtung County Commissioner
In the past few years, the number of visitors between Taiwan and Korea has hit new highs. Many of our friends from Korea love Taiwan’s vibe. In Pingtung, they appreciate the maritime and Indigenous cultures.

While Korean culture has swept the globe in recent years, Taiwan has become a favored destination for Korean tourists. In 2025, mutual visits between Taiwan and Korea reached 2.85 million, with over 1.01 million Koreans coming to Taiwan. This year, they hope to exceed the 3 million mark, and are setting their sights on 4 million next year.

Chien Yu-yen
Taiwan Visitors’ Association chair
We want more of our Korean friends to experience Taiwan’s nature and small towns. They love the vibe of Taiwan’s small alleys. Last night, we took the participants to Kenting’s main street and ran into some Korean tourists. Some people are even already eyeing the goal of 4 million mutual visits.

In addition to sitting in seminars, the participants also got to visit some of Pingtung’s attractions like the aquarium and Eluanbi lighthouse. Both sides hope that their continued cooperation will keep pushing tourism numbers to historic highs.

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#tourism #TaiwanKorea #Pingtung #Kenting #travelindustry #internationalexchange #Koreantourists

2026-06-15

Diver retrieves phone from ocean, still working after day underwater

A diving business in Penghu recently retrieved a call from a distressed tourist who dropped their phone in the ocean. The instructor immediately put on his wetsuit and went out to find it, successfully retrieving it from the muddy ocean floor. But what’s most surprising is that even after being submerged for a day, it was still working like normal.

A fully equipped diver searches through the murky seabed. Before long, they find what they’re looking for.

An iPhone 15 lies right there in the mud at the bottom of the ocean. The diver lets out a gasp as he picks up the phone, then exclaims in surprise as the screen lights up like normal.

The phone’s owner was a tourist who came to Penghu’s Caiyuan Harbor to fish. When they went out to sea a few days ago, they accidentally dropped their phone into the water. But they didn’t give up hope, and contacted a local diving business for help. The instructor figured it wouldn’t be difficult to find, as the ocean isn’t very deep in that area. But to his surprise, the visibility was so bad he could barely see his own hand.

Yen Chi-tien
Diving instructor
The depth was about 5 meters and visibility was around 0.2 meters. I looked for nearly 10 minutes. It was nearby, but still took 10 minutes of searching.

He did eventually find the phone. Considering it had been submerged for over a day, it was lucky he found it in the first place. Even luckier still, it was completely undamaged.

Member of public
I think it’s crazy, but also pretty amazing. It was down there a whole day and still works.

Chen Ko-chieh
Phone repairman
If it’s still turning on when you pick it up, don’t mess with it. If you can turn it off, turn it off first. Then take it apart to see if there’s any water remaining inside.

The iPhone 15 has an IP68 water resistance rating, meaning it can last for up to 30 minutes in water up to 6 meters deep. But surviving an entire day on the muddy ocean floor is another matter entirely, amazing even the professionals.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#iPhone #scubadiving #Penghu #lostphone #lostandfound #durable

2026-06-15

Train in Hualien got delayed after trainmaster got bitten by centipede

A train in Hualien was delayed on Sunday evening for the unlikeliest reason: a centipede bite. A 20cm-long Chinese red-headed centipede bit the ankle of the 32-year-old trainmaster surnamed Hsu, which immediately caused swelling and great pain. The Tze-chiang Express No. 241 got delayed for 13 minutes as a result of this incident, which the stationmaster said was a first. Let’s hear more.

Tsai Shang-cheng
Hualien County Fire Department
When we arrived on the scene, the patient told us that he was bitten by a 20cm-long centipede. The patient was conscious. We assisted in getting him to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. He’s doing well at the moment.

Lu Tai-yu
Taiwan Railway Hualien Stationmaster
This is the first time something like this has ever happened. Centipedes are quite active in summer. We’ll have the sanitation contractor more thoroughly clean and disinfect our facilities.

The trainmaster has been ejected from the hospital and is recovering at home. Although train delays are not unheard of, the cause being a centipede bite was a first for Hualien Train Station. After the incident, the station has ordered a more thoroughly cleaning of facilities to prevent another painful centipede bite to staff members.

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#taiwan #traintravel #centipede #worms #hualien

2026-06-15

Volunteers build bridge in Chiayi without disrupting water supply to key businesses

Well-known for its good deeds, the Chiayi Charitable Organization mobilizes hundreds of volunteers on the weekends to repair bridges and pave roads. They arrive on packed tour buses from around the country, working together to improve community infrastructure. This time, they built a bridge in Chiayi’s Shuishang. Since it runs over the vital Chianan Canal, to avoid interfering with the Chiayi Science Park, for the first time, they used a significantly more difficult method that doesn’t disrupt the flow of water.

Workers pour concrete from an excavator, while scores of volunteers work together to haul dirt and rocks. This time, the renowned Chiayi Charitable Organization has brought over 200 volunteers to Chiayi’s Shuishang to build a new bridge.

Volunteer
Building bridge
We’re here to build a bridge! We’re great friends. If he goes, I go. We’ve been doing this from the very beginning until now. Don’t think about what you’ll get out of it. As long as you’re happy, that’s what matters.

Volunteer
Building bridge
It’s fun! It’s like we’re benefiting from the good deeds of the charity, getting to travel around and see nice places.

Some of the volunteers are nearly 90 years old, yet still show up to help out. For this project, the bridge goes over the Chianan Canal. To make repairs in the past, they had to stop the flow of water. But this time, to avoid disrupting operations at the Chiayi Science Park and construction of a new TSMC fab, for the first time, the organization tried out a much more difficult method.

Tsai Kun-chang
Chiayi Charitable Organization director
Stopping the flow would mean companies like TSMC and Formosa Chemicals wouldn’t have any water to use, resulting in huge losses. So this time, we did our best to avoid that.

Cheng Hsiu-yu
Chiayi Charitable Organization chair
We usually work on the weekends, but since the Labor Standards Act now says you can’t ship materials on Sundays, we’ve switched to Saturdays.

Whether donating money or getting their hands dirty, these volunteers will traipse across the country to pave the way forward for Taiwan’s small communities.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#charity #volunteering #Chiayi #bridge #construction #ChiananCanal #civilengineering #communityspirit

2026-06-15

Pingtung resident donates property to protect viral ‘Moai statue’ tree

In Pingtung’s Jiadong Township, there’s a century-old bishop wood tree that has become popular as a photo spot for its resemblance to an Easter Island Moai statue. One Kaohsiung local was so enchanted by the tree that they bought the home right next to it. But since the surrounding roads are narrow, it’s been hit twice by motorists. To protect the tree, the homeowner agreed to move their wall back by a meter to straighten out the road, protecting both the tree and drivers.

In the small village of Shiguangjian in Pingtung’s Jiadong Township stands a century-old bishop wood tree. It’s not just a landmark for the locals, who have grown up alongside this iconic tree. Now it’s also a popular photo destination, since it looks just like an Easter Island Moai statue.

- The nose is very similar, don’t you think? And the eyes.

One person from Kaohsiung was so taken with the tree that she bought the house right next door to be her neighbor in retirement. But since the road surrounding the tree was less than 3 meters wide, it was hit twice by passing motorists. To protect it, the homeowner decided to donate some of her land.

- It used to be here, around here. She moved it back here. The road is wide now. There shouldn’t be as many accidents.

Voice of Ms. Yang
Homeowner
The road is meant for people to use. If it makes things easier on everyone else, it’s easier for me too. Besides, if someone hits the tree and it needs to be replanted, it wouldn’t grow back the same.

The road around the tree sees a lot of traffic since it’s near the local swimming pool. By volunteering to move her wall back by a meter, Ms. Yang gave up her own property to straighten the path. Now it’s about 4.5 meters wide, protecting both the tree and motorists.

Lai Wen-yi
Jiadong Township Mayor
We moved the utility poles to the opposite side and laid a fresh layer of asphalt thanks to the efforts of everyone here.

Local resident
Jiadong
It’s great. Protecting the tree like this is wonderful. It has history. We shouldn’t let it be destroyed.

The township office is currently drafting plans to promote the tree along with other nearby tourist attractions. Thanks to the generous neighbor who recognized the benefit to donating her land, this story proves that a little community spirit can go a long way.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#Pingtung #Moai #Moaitree #communityspirit #trees #historictree #roadsafety #photospot #viral #EasterIsland #selfless

2026-06-15