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New Red Line station on Taipei MRT to open on Aug. 30

The Taipei Metro’s Red Line is about to get longer, after more than 10 years of construction. The extra track section on Taipei’s Xinyi District has been granted an operation permit by the transport ministry. It will open to the public on Aug. 30. Let’s hear from the mayor of Taipei.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei Mayor
The eastern extension of the Red Line was one of the most challenging metro sections ever, due to the complex geology of the ground and the challenges that arose during construction. I am extremely thankful to the construction team, the administrative team in the city government and all partners who assisted in the completion of the line extension. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications issued the operating permit on the 18th. Thank you. I would hereby like to announce that the additional station will officially be open to the public on Aug. 30, and to celebrate we will launch several promotional campaigns.

The Red Line will extend 1.4km past Xiangshan Station along Section 6 of Xinyi Road, all the way to the Guangci Bo’ai Park. The final station will be Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station. The depth of the tunnels reaches almost 10 stories underground, making it one of the most challenging metro construction sections. To celebrate the completion of the project, Taipei will hold promotional campaigns including lucky draws with the chance to win round-trip tickets to London and Tokyo.

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

#taipemetro #taipei #mrt #metro #urban #urbandesign #taipei

2026-08-20

Republican Senator says she’s ‘not that informed’ on Taiwan

A Republican Senate candidate in South Carolina is facing a political firestorm after giving a startling answer about Taiwan and the South China Sea in a recent televised debate. Darline Graham, who stepped into her late brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat, was asked whether the issues are tied to US national security. She admitted she simply wasn’t informed in the subject. Her opponent immediately pounced, while critics questioned whether the political newcomer has the experience to hold the seat.

Earlier this summer, US Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham died, leaving his seat to his younger sister, Darline Graham. But with an election coming up, she’s had to justify her appointment ahead of the Republican Party’s runoff vote. In a debate on Wednesday, she showed her ignorance of cross-strait issues.

Greta Van Susteren
Moderator
Are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States? And if so, why or how?

Darline Graham
US Senator
I’m just going to be honest here. I’ve not on national security… I’m not that informed on national security

The unexpected answer gave her opponent the perfect opportunity to strike back.

Ralph Norman
Republic runoff candidate
Taiwan’s a definite ally. So what the president is doing right is he’s enabling Taiwan to defend themselves against China.

Before his death, Graham visited Taiwan on three occasions and touted himself as an expert on diplomacy and national security. He even promoted pro-Taiwan bills and was seen as a close ally of Taiwan, making his sister’s reply especially shocking. One day later, she accepted a TV interview to try and stop the criticism.

Darline Graham
US Senator
I tripped up on one question last night, regarding Taiwan. Of course Taiwan is our friend.

Darline Graham is a newcomer to politics, but she was endorsed to her appointment in succeeding her brother by US President Donald Trump. Experts say her recent blunder may have severely damaged her support.

Katie Porter
Former US Representative (Dem)
This woman needs a lot of polish and she needs it really fast.

Elex Michaelson
CNN News Anchor
The concern about her is. Does she have the juice? Is she experienced enough? Can she do this job?

Darline Graham has admitted that she is not a politician, but defended herself arguing that voters are more concerned about their livelihoods than the South China Sea. Nevertheless, her Taiwan blunder has put extra scrutiny on her this electoral season.

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

#darlinegraham #gop #republican #taiwan #southchinasea #debate #election #lindseygraham

2026-08-20

President Lai announces new raises for all government workers

This year’s Father’s Day may’ve been on a Saturday, but for members of the military, Aug. 8 was just one more workday in a packed schedule for the Han Kuang military exercise, which lasted 10 days. The hard work of military personnel, along with civil servants and public school teachers, will not be in vain though, as President Lai and the Executive Yuan have announced new raises for all government employees, to take effect in January next year.

President Lai Ching-te made a personal appearance at Taichung to commend members of the military, as they recently finished this year’s Han Kuang Exercise, which lasted 10 days and 9 nights. In addition to giving bonuses to his brothers-in-arms, who were part of an all-out nationwide effort, the event also gave members of the military a chance to share some Father’s Day moments.

Tung Chuan-sheng
234 Combined Arms Brigade
As a soldier, I must commit everything I have to my duties. On Father’s Day, when I had just a little bit of free time, my wife and our two children called me to wish me a happy Father’s Day. For me, that was a very touching moment, so much so that I suddenly started crying; it made all the hard work of that day’s drill seem like nothing.

Chao Pei-yu
234 Combined Arms Brigade
Our unit also made a Father’s Day video. At that time there was a lot of noise, but when the video was played everybody quieted down right away. Once somebody would see their beloved family members, including their children, appear on the screen, some of us would laugh, others had their eyes turn red, and some even shed a few tears.

On top of the recent Han Kuang Exercise, since March the military has been busy preparing to protect the country, with joint operations planning, computerized exercises, and immediate combat readiness drills all on their agenda. The most important reason for President Lai appearing at a military base was to hand out bonuses to these hard-working troops.

President Lai announced that, beginning in July, raises would be given to those that would serve on the frontlines as well as special forces and other combat forces. Those in brigade units are to receive an additional NT$4,000 a month. Conscript soldiers will also be given raises comparable to what volunteer soldiers receive. Recently the Executive Yuan announced that raises of NT$2,000 a month would be given to military personnel, civil servants, and public school teachers as well as supervisors. Furthermore, starting next January a 4% raise will be given to all those working under the government.

Lai Ching-te
President
Ever since I assumed office, going back to the Tsai Ing-wen presidential administration, this is the 5th time we’ve raised the salaries of military personnel, civil servants, and public school teachers. A more reasonable system will reward our troops for the responsibilities and risks they bear as well as the skills they possess. This will also show that our country reveres our military, and this is also an important investment in strengthening our national defense, showing that the government is the biggest supporter of you all.

The troops, public servants, and teachers have received five raises during the 10 years the DPP has been in power, and these most recent raises reflect that the ruling party is committed to both continuing to improve the pay of the military and being the biggest supporter of the troops.

#supportourtroops #military #HanKuangExercise #raises #money #payforprofessionalism

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

2026-08-19

Fail test launch sends rocket crashing into mountainside

An explosion near the village of Macaran in Pingtung sent locals into a panic early Wednesday morning, as they believed China had launched an attack. But it turns out that the projectile had actually been launched from Taiwan. The Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology was test-launching a satellite at Jiupeng Base when the rocket lost control and went crashing into a mountain. The institute has released a statement saying that the self-destruct mode was activated after an anomaly was detected in the early stage of the launch. The rocket landed within the perimeter of the base. Let’s hear more.

Resident
Macaran Village
My first thought was that China was attacking us! I was so shocked.

Pan Hsun-ho
Macaran Head
It was lucky that it didn’t fall on our town. It seems to have fallen within the grounds of the base.

Wang Pin-ching
Pingtung County Government Spokesperson
Test launches should be suspended until the cause of the incident is determined. We urge the institute to review its procedures and make any necessary adjustments.

Chen Kuan-ting
Legislator (DPP)
Accidents happen, be it in tests by the NCSIST or other research organizations. The important thing is to not let these incidents halt training or drills. They should be used to learn and improve.

Chung Chia-pin
Legislator (DPP)
There are military exercises and artillery drills constantly being held at the base. It would be better to provide locals with some form of insurance coverage so that they can claim compensation if their property gets damaged.

No injuries have been reported, though the sight of the rocket hurtling straight into the mountainous area was quite alarming. As test launches become more routine, finding a balance between these activities and the safety of nearby residents will be an important issue that the military has to address.

#rocket #rocketlaunch #fail #jiupeng #taiwan #pingtung

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

2026-08-19

Tourists splashing water, littering spark outrage at Taitung’s ‘Sky Mirror’

The "Sky Mirror" on Huayuan Mountain in Taitung’s Taimali is popular with visitors who want to take stunning photos where the image of the sea meeting the sky is reflected in a pool. But to get better pictures, some people have been throwing rocks and trash into the pool for a ripple effect, triggering outrage, especially since it’s a privately owned storage pond that the leaseholder was kind enough to open to the public.

Visitors stand by the edge of a reflecting pool, the ocean beyond perfectly melding into the reflected sky into one continuous expanse of blue. It makes for the perfect social media photo. But recently, these scenes were also caught on camera.

To make ripples on the surface, people were spotted throwing stones into the pool and reaching in to splash the water around. One man even poured water inside and then tossed the plastic bottle on the ground. Video of the bad behavior drew ire online, as people criticized them for lacking respect and questioned who would clean up after them.

Visitor
Touring Taitung
If you leave your trash here, who do you expect to clean up after you?

Visitor
Touring Taitung
Taiwan has so many beautiful places. When people visit, they need to take good care of it so that others can enjoy it, too.

This breathtaking spot up in the mountains of Taitung’s Taimali is actually a privately owned storage pond for agriculture. But people discovered that beyond reflecting the sky, it also lines up perfectly with the blue ocean in the distance. Now dubbed the “Sky Mirror,” it’s attracted many people to come take photos. The leaseholder, a local village warden, opened the site to the public free of charge to promote local produce, but ended up having to pick up trash every day. Even after posting signs and setting out trash cans, some visitors seem not to notice.

Chang Ching-liang
Leaseholder
I spend all day over there picking up trash. People go there to smoke and throw their butts all over the place. It looks like it snowed with the cigarette butts everywhere!

After the spot went viral, the pool has even turned murky due to eutrophication, affecting the fish living inside. At one point the owner even closed it off, but now that it’s open again, some selfish visitors keep making a mess of this beautiful spot that people work so hard to maintain.

#Taitung #scenic #photospot #SkyMirror #badbehavior #traveletiquette #tourism

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

2026-08-19

Running club organizes ‘pilgrimage’ to home of Taiwan’s richest man

The rags-to-riches story of the founder of King Slide Works Lin Tsung-chi, coupled with his recent ascent to become Taiwan’s richest person, has made his childhood home and the temples he supports into Kaohsiung’s newest attractions. Visitors have been flocking to the sites in Hunei District, hopping that Lin’s good fortune would rub off on them. A local running club has even organized a "pilgrimage" that runs past the tycoon’s home and favorite temples.

Runners from a local club pose for a photo in front of an unassuming seven-story brick townhouse. It’s the childhood home of King Slide Works founder and chairman Lin Tsung-chi, who’s been all over the news since becoming Taiwan’s richest person.

The text on this promotional poster says it’s for a “Hunei Riches Pilgrimage Run.” This local running club goes out together every week. Jumping on the latest trend, this past week, they started from Weizainei Ciji Temple and ran past Guanyin Pavilion, which is frequently visited by Chairman Lin, as well as his childhood home. The 24-kilometer half marathon drew 26 participants.

Member of public
Commenting on sights
He’s Taiwan’s richest man. We visited his old home.

This home, where the King Slide founder still lives today, has become a popular destination. The nearby Guanyin Pavilion where he often prays displays a group picture with Chairman Lin near the entrance. Some visitors have traveled all the way from Tainan, hoping to absorb some of his good fortune.

Visitor
Commenting on sights
We just came to take a look. The area is wonderful! Good places produce good people.

The local borough warden said that Chairman Lin is low-key and thrifty. He’s also passionate about religion and charity, and keeps good relationships with his neighbors.

Voice of Hung Tien-mou
Dahu Borough Warden
Whenever there’s a need in the community—especially something religious—he’ll donate money to help out. He usually drives himself around and gets along great with his neighbors. We used to play golf together seven or eight years ago.

Earning the title of Taiwan’s richest person is no easy feat. Now his childhood home has become a local landmark, with even the running club designing a route around it in the hopes of soaking in some of his incredible luck.

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

#LinTsungchi #Taiwansrichestman #KingSlideWorks #Kaohsiung #wealth #runningclub #pilgrimage

2026-08-19

Vision of Taiwanese robots starting to rival human eyes

Now might be a good time to get your eyes checked, because robot eyes made by Taiwanese tech companies are getting close to seeing just as well as humans can. For millennia, human eyes have been sharper than those of most animals, allowing us to easily distinguish between colors and quickly find what we’re looking for. The world is changing though, as robots at this year’s Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robot Show have both eyes and arms with human-like capabilities.

Over at the Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robot Show 2026, this mobile robot’s incredible eye has a 10x zoom lens that, in less than 10 seconds, can see these 3 contact lens boxes a few meters away and then spot which one has a prescription of 3.5.

Chen Cheng-lung
Chairman of Solomon
Currently, it’s the world’s only robot that can proactively observe its environment just like a human can. It knows where to focus in on so it can find objects. Most robots can only see things 1 or 2 meters away, which is kind of like a human eye struggling with near-sightedness. Our patented technology allows our robot to first see faraway things very clearly and then start moving, kind of like the expression “look before you leap.”

Along with its mechanical arm technology, Solomon’s latest product has software that enables the robot to locate a specific object within a group of dissimilar things. Its 3D camera technology can also identify and then accurately grab objects that are black, reflective, or even transparent. Also historic is the attendance for this year’s expo, with 886 companies from Taiwan and abroad taking part in this 3-day event. Many of Taiwan’s innovative products have stood out from the pack.

Boasting precision and consistency, the built-in vision technology, which is AI-powered and has 3D modeling capabilities, allows this Techman Robot machine to move wafer trays like those found at semi-conductor plants. And over here, this production line doesn’t need to stop, as the mechanical arm can both identify and detect issues in order to make sure each part has been properly installed.

Haw Chen
CEO of Techman Robot
On the other side of the strait they have some humanoid robots that can dance, but we’re focusing on tech that can do real tasks, doing some applications that are more practical in nature. So our robots don’t need to look like humans, but we’re employing similar technology in collaborative robots so that our tech can be quickly brought to life.

In the past, mounting a server onto a rack usually involved at least one hydraulic lift table and two people, but now all that’s needed is a collaborative robot, which has two robotic arms that can move loads under 100kg. At this expo in Taipei, the robots have arrived, practical applications are being introduced, and, therefore, big opportunities for business are on the horizon.

#thefutureishere #TAIROS #Taipei #robot #3D #HAL

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

2026-08-19

Taiwan’s gymnastics team full of confidence for Asian Games

The countdown is on for the 2026 Asian Games, which will kick off next month in Nagoya, Japan. Taiwan will be fielding athletes in many different sports, and one of the key disciplines to watch out for this year is gymnastics. The National Sports Training Center on Wednesday held a media day with the King of the Horizontal Bar Tang Chia-hung, the Prince of the Pommel Horse Lee Chih-kai, and their coach. Tang is considered a strong contender for the gold medal on his return to the Asian Games after an 8-year hiatus. Let’s hear more.

Lin Yu-hsin
Gymnastics Head Coach
As long as Chia-hung stays healthy and executes his routine’s full difficulty, he should definitely be bagging a medal for horizontal bar. It may very well be a gold one, so let’s hope he’s in good health.

Tang Chia-hung
Gymnast
Of course my goal is gold. I’m not going to play it safe. Every competition is a different experience.

Lee Chih-kai
Gymnast
I’m hoping to go for a third consecutive title. It’s all about making history. That’s what makes competition so exciting: making history and breaking records.

Lee has won two gold medals in a row for pommel horse at the Asian Games. But due to an injury that required surgery, he ended up missing out on the Olympics after his back-to-back titles in the Asiad. After two difficult years, he’s finally found his confidence thanks to a bronze at the Asian Championships earlier this year. The Asian Games will be held from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4. With Lee and Tang at the helm, Taiwan’s gymnastics team is looking forward to outdoing their previous haul of one gold and two bronzes.

#gymnastics #asiangames #gymnast #gym #pommelhorse #horizontalbar #athlete #athletic #sports

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

2026-08-19

Zhuangwei offers scholarships for local university students

There’s only half a month left of summer vacation and many high school graduates are now preparing to enter college. Tuition fees and related expenses can be a big burden. The Zhuangwei Township Office in Yilan has stepped in to help out. It is offering scholarships of NT$10,000 for students who have been resident in the seaside township for at least a year and are admitted into a tertiary institution. The aim is to encourage them to continue studying and narrow the gap between them and their city counterparts.

With only half a month left of summer vacation, many high school and vocational school graduates are about to embark on their university life. However, university tuition fees are several times higher than those for high school and vocational school, putting immense pressure on many parents and students.

Wang
Yilan university student
Maybe I’ll spend more money at the beginning of the semester.

The Zhuangwei Township Office in Yilan recently announced a great perk: students who have been registered residents of Zhuangwei for a full year and are admitted to public or private colleges or universities nationwide will receive a scholarship of NT$10,000.

Mr. Lin
Local resident
How wonderful! We didn’t have these resources before when we wanted to go to study, especially since it’s not easy for local governments to provide them.

Hearing such good news, the older generation couldn’t hide their envy, exclaiming that they didn’t have such welfare benefits when they were in school. But where does the Zhuangwei Township Office’s scholarship fund come from? It turns out it’s from taxation savings reallocated to the community. An assessment found 180 people to be eligible.

Shen Ching-shan
Zhuangwei Township Mayor
Awarding these scholarships encourages our children to continue their studies. This is the first year of the pilot program, so in principle, we’ve budgeted around NT$1.8 million.

Zhuangwei Township is in an agricultural county, and its tax revenues were not very good in the past. However, in recent years, thanks to improvements, it not only has a tax surplus but has also become one of the top-ranked townships in Yilan County. This time, special scholarships are being issued not only to help students continue their studies but also to help them narrow the gap with their urban counterparts.

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

#Taiwanscholarships #Zhuangweitownship #studyperks #Taiwanwelfare #Yilanscholarships

2026-08-19

Businesses offer talisman cake, joss paper bread for Ghost Festival

Every year, the Ghost Festival generates NT$34 billion in business. Nowadays, brands aren’t just striving to have the most lavish offering table. They’re going all out with creative marketing. The furniture behemoth IKEA is selling cakes shaped like talismans, while PX Mart has pastries shaped like the Buddha’s hand and eye. Even champion baker Jay Wang is making layered toast with clearly defined sheets inspired by joss paper, all looking to cash in on this auspicious month.

Yellow talismans with red lettering to mark a safe home rest inside a glass display case. As the camera gets closer, you can tell they’re not from a temple. They’re from an oven.

Yeh Wei-hsiang
FTV reporter
Who said you can only get talismans at a temple? Brands are getting creative this Ghost Month, hoping that by eating a talisman, you can ingest its power.

Peace and safety, all packed into a dessert. Customers have been lingering by the display case, struck by the novelty.

Customer
Hasn’t tried it
No, I don’t know. I’ve never tried it. I think I would like it.

It’s like a talisman.
It’s a crepe cake? It looks like there are layers. It seems all right because of the design on top.

With Ghost Festival right around the corner, businesses are getting creative.

Incense lit. Joss paper burning. Table piled with offerings. But wait—why is he eating the joss paper? This mille-feuille toast fits right onto the altar table alongside the other offerings. The champion baker behind it shared the inspiration for his creation.

Jay Wang
Champion baker
I have a connection with traditional temple troupes, having taken part in many performances before. We burned a lot of joss paper back then. Given the environmental concerns, we hope to encourage this eco-friendly option. After praying, you can “burn” it in your stomach.

When shopping for Ghost Festival offerings, most people turn to instant noodles, canned goods, and drinks. This year, a supermarket is also selling pastries shaped like the Buddha’s hand and eye to offer a new twist for the altar table. To capture a slice of lucrative Ghost Festival sales, businesses are not only competing on scale, but also creativity.

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

#GhostFestival #GhostMonth #offering #josspaper #talisman #Taoism #creative

2026-08-19

Many KMT and TPP legislators unhappy about NT$10,000 handout

President Lai Ching-te recently announced a nationwide NT$10,000 cash handout that’ll be part of next year’s budget. The intention of the handout is to allow the residents of Taiwan to enjoy “the fruits of Taiwan’s economic development.” Yet many opposition lawmakers, for one reason or another, are unhappy about the handout coming to fruition.

President Lai Ching-te recently announced next year’s nationwide NT$10,000 cash handouts, which are supposed to help residents in Taiwan tangibly enjoy the fruitful growth of last year’s economy. But some opposition party politicians have different opinions on this money matter.

Lai Shyh-bao
Legislator (KMT)
Back when we first talked about this financial concept, the other side said this is “impoverishing Taiwan,” that it’s “selling out the country.” But this time we’ve caught Lai Ching-te “impoverishing Taiwan, selling out the country.” The DPP can, but we can’t! Talk about double standards.

Lin Chun-hsien
Legislator (DPP)
The KMT is acting all flustered, lashing out at people, like only the KMT can propose an idea like these NT$10,000 cash handouts. Next year’s nationwide cash handout is already part of the annual budget, so if the opposition parties oppose it, being that the KMT and TPP has the majority, then the KMT can just remove it from the budget. I don’t know what the KMT is getting so mad about.

Last year KMT and TPP legislators passed a bill requiring the Executive Yuan to hand out cash payments. This time the Executive Yuan is directly putting the handouts into next year’s central government budget. This year’s budget didn’t pass its third reading until this August, thereby leading to a situation in which the NT$10,000 handout has become a bargaining chip whenever the budget is brought up.

Jacky Chen
TPP caucus convener
For the investigation of the budget, the Taiwan People’s Party has absolutely carried out a rigorous inspection; the TPP would never just take it easy, insisting that it must pass just because you want to do a NT$10,000 cash handout.

Chuang Jui-hsiung
DPP Legislative Caucus
With last year’s nationwide handout, that NT$10,000 in cash, why did the Democratic Progressive Party object to it at first? Because it was borrowing money. The government has increased its sources of revenue, and so the money that needs to be spent has already been allocated. And since there’s no need to borrow money, then of course the president has mulled over this issue.

Chen Pei-yu
Legislator (DPP)
Back when Chiang Wan-an and Wang Hung-wei called for a NT$20,000 handout, Chien Shu-pei said that Taipei City’s surplus is enough to let you raise the amount. And the same goes for Mayor Lu Shiow-yen; we’ve already run the numbers for you, so Taichung could give up to NT$50,000, which means you can increase the amount. We encourage you all to bring even more joy to the lives of city residents.

Once the budget is passed by the Executive Yuan Council on Aug. 20, then it’ll most likely be passed on to the Legislative Yuan the next day, meaning this NT$10,000 handout is about to become a hotly contested issue.

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

#money #LegislativeYuan #KMT #TPP #DPP #cashhandout #budget #moremoneymoreproblems

2026-08-18

Massive hornet’s nest causes popular botanical garden to close

A gigantic hornet’s nest has forced a popular botanical garden in Yilan to shut its gates after a dangerous swarm was discovered hanging right above the entrance. The nest, bigger than a basketball, belonged to highly aggressive black-bellied hornets. Workers suited up in full protective gear and used a crane to remove it. But experts warn the threat may not be over, with stray hornets still lurking nearby. The garden will remain closed until September 1 as staff wait for the dangerous insects to disperse.

Staff stand around looking tense. Visitors pass by, wondering what is going on. Look up! A huge hornet’s nest hangs over their heads.

A brave worker wearing a protective jacket is hoisted up to the top of the tree on a crane to carefully detach the nest.

Yang Shang-hua
Yilan Agriculture Department
Even after the nest is removed, some hornets might remain and regroup to build a new, smaller nest.

The Renshan Botanical Garden in Dongshan, Yilan, was notified of a gigantic nest bigger than a basketball hanging right over its main gate. Its residents were identified as black-bellied hornets, one of the most dangerous and aggressive species islandwide, dubbed “mountain enemy No. 1.” Staff closed off the access on Monday afternoon to remove the nest, but even one day later, the danger isn’t past.

Liao Yueh-hui
Zhongshan Village Chief
Even though it’s been taken down, there might still be some roaming hornets that could attack visitors. So the garden will be closed for two weeks. We’ll wait until all the hornets are gone before reopening.

Due to safety concerns, the botanical garden will be closed until Sept. 1, to make sure no dangerous hornets remain.

#hornet #safety #mountain #yilan #botanicalgarden #garden #landscape #traveltips

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

2026-08-18

Eco-reward backfires on popular Tainan iced treats store

There’s a delicious iced treats store in Tainan that sells a cup of mango shaved ice for only NT$49. The incredibly cheap price has attracted loads of customers and the store offers another sweetener: if customers bring their leftover cups back for recycling, they receive another NT$5, making the overall deal an amazingly cheap NT$44. Unexpectedly, these kind eco-friendly intentions were misinterpreted. A customer reported the store for allegedly reusing its single-use disposable containers. The store was forced to deny this and say it was only trying to protect the environment. Let’s find out more.

A bowl of refreshing shaved mango ice topped with mango sauce, condensed milk and a dollop of ice cream makes for a must-have summer treat.

This mango shaved ice store located on Guohua Street in Tainan sells a bowl of mango shaved ice for only NT$49, attracting many customers. The store has also posted a notice encouraging customers to return their cups after finishing their shaved ice, and the store will refund them NT$5.

Operator
Iced treats store
The main reason is that there are a lot of tourists here, and they often leave their cups on Guohua Street or in the entrances of nearby shops after they finish eating, which causes a lot of trouble for many people. We thought we could encourage customers to bring their cups back and dispose of them with a reward.

However, this thoughtful eco-friendly gesture was reported, with someone alleging the owner was reusing single-use containers. Left frustrated, the owner quickly stepped forward to clarify.

Operator
Iced treats store
Say people bring back a hundred cups a day for us to throw out. It’s just not realistic for us to wash those hundred cups, because between washing, disinfecting, and everything else, it’s just not cost-effective.

Member of the public
Thinks it’s a good deal
I think at this price of NT$49, with a refund afterwards of NT$5 is a really good deal.

Member of the public
Approves of iced treats store
If they offer a NT$5 refund, it might encourage people to bring the bowl back for a refund, thus reducing the amount of waste.

After the Tainan City Government Public Health Bureau inspected the site, it confirmed that the containers had not been reused. This iced treats store has only been open for a year, but it is very popular because of its amazingly generous prices. The store owner admitted operating on low profit margins and high turnover, hoping that spending money to collect the cups won’t lead to their good intentions being misunderstood.

#recycling #Taiwanesetreats #Tainansnacks #cheapsnacks

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

2026-08-18

Tainan ‘female ghost’ walking tour signups fill in seconds

Even during Ghost Month, local tourism doesn’t stop! As usual, all four sessions of Tainan’s annual “strongest female ghost” walking tour sold out instantly. The Cultural Affairs Bureau is also hosting events for Qixi Festival, hoping that a little romance will dispel the haunted energy.

Tainan’s historic West Market was recently taken over by a massive red rope coiling its way throughout the building, catching the eye of many passersby who are wondering what it could be for.

A sign next to the installation says it’s a “red thread of fate,” a part of this year’s Tainan Qixi Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine’s Day. The city hopes visitors will immerse themselves in the"City of Love," even during Ghost Month.

Huang Ya-ling
Tainan Cultural Affairs Bureau director
When people come to Tainan, they can connect with many expected strokes of fate through both invisible and visible red threads.

Speaking of the unseen, there’s also the can’t-miss walking tour for Chen Shou-niang, the"strongest female ghost,” which is held every Ghost Month. This year there will be four sessions with a total of 120 spots. Sure enough, reservations filled up in seconds.

Yin Chieh-hsien
Tainan tourism services specialist
As always, we welcome the public to come and listen to the tour. Anyone who joins for the entire walk will still receive an amulet from the temple.

The walking tour sets off from Mother Gu Temple and visits locations mentioned in the legend, before concluding at the Chaste and Filial Shrine at the Confucius Temple, where Chen Shou-niang’s spirit tablet is enshrined. By following in her footsteps, participants can experience Chen’s story and local folklore.


Ghost Month may bring many taboos, but people are still looking to go out and explore. Whether seeking romance or exploring urban legends, the ancient capital opens its arms to travelers from all walks of life.

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#Tainan #ghoststory #ghostmonth #ChenShouniang #walkingtour #QixiFestival #WestMarket #redthread

2026-08-18

Tow trunk heartthrob keeps cool after getting hit by man

Last summer, tow truck driver William Meng left the hearts of many throbbing after a news story showed him moving illegally parked scooters. Just a few months later, it was Meng’s face that was left throbbing because an illegally parking elderly man attacked the amateur bodybuilder. Meng kept his cool and called the police to handle the situation, showing that he has both brawn and brains.

Tanned and toned tow truck driver heartthrob William Meng was just doing one of his two day jobs, taking away some illegally parked scooters when he was attacked by this 71-year-old man, who had climbed onto the truck in order to yank his scooter off.

This old man had a lot of fight in him, punching and even slapping this hunky heartthrob’s head. The young man kept calm, calling the police instead of fighting back.

The tow truck driver had already finished packing up the scooter of the old man, who wouldn’t get down and even ended up getting pulled off the truck after he attacked police officers. This incident happened in New Taipei’s Sanchong back in October of last year. Meng said this experience was a first for him, and that he’d already reported the elderly man. The minor celebrity with major muscles did his best to stop the enraged older man, whose behavior could’ve damaged other vehicles and even his own health.

William Meng
Hunky tow truck driver
I was worried that if he pulled his scooter down, that other scooters would fall on him, so he might get hurt. So, I tried to get in his way, to stop him from opening our truck’s drop-side, which likely made him even angrier, even more unhappy. He kept on attacking me, kept on hitting my back, even slapping me once or twice. I was getting fed up, especially since the police and I were just doing our duty.

After this elderly man attacked Meng, injuring his back, neck, and even his face, the scooter-moving celebrity was then accosted by another person: this time it was a selfie seeker.

A 2025 news story showing Meng towing scooters revealed his impressive physique and good looks, which drew comparisons to celebrities near and far, like Korean actor So Ji-sub.

William Meng
Hunky tow truck driver
Training to get this big, it’s just something we like to do. It doesn’t mean that we can take punches, or that we can use it to fight people.

This illegal scooter parking episode turned into a one-sided brawl, where the tow truck heartthrob kept his cool instead of using self-defense, while the old man might be in trouble for an Offense of Obstructing an Officer in Discharge of Duties.

#towtruck #muscle #hunk #workout #bodybuilder #heartthrob #SoJisub #소지섭 #asianmen #hunky #hunkymen #男神

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

2026-08-18