Taichung ranks as the most congested city in Taiwan and 5th most congested in Asia

Taichung ranks as the most congested city in Taiwan and 5th most congested in Asia

2023-02-17

If you drive a car, you probably have some preconceptions about which city in Taiwan has the worst traffic. For many people, the capital Taipei immediately comes to mind. But according to a recent survey, the dishonor actually goes to Taichung, which comes in first as the city with most congested traffic and the fifth most congested in Asia.

Scooters stream down from Taipei Bridge, leaving barely a gap between them. This sight is known locally as the “scooter waterfall.”

At peak hours, Taipei gets gridlocked as traffic comes to a standstill.

Taipei resident
Taipei has the worst traffic. Deliveries in Neihu and in Linkou can take up to one hour.

Taipei resident
Taipei has a large population, and more traffic as well.

Taipei resident
I think Taipei’s traffic is the worst. I recently went to the airport via Jianguo Expressway, and I was stuck on it for more than an hour.

Locals say Taipei must surely have the worst traffic in Taiwan.

But according to a survey carried out by a Dutch satellite navigation system manufacturer, the most congested city in Taiwan is actually Taichung. Travelling 10 kilometers in the city takes an average of 24 minutes and 40 seconds, making Taichung the city with the 5th worst traffic in Asia. After Taichung, Kaohsiung and Taipei round off Taiwan’s Top 3, followed by Tainan and Taoyuan.

Taipei resident
Taichung! For real? I really wasn’t expecting that.

Taipei resident
Taipei is most congested. It can’t be Taichung. Deliverers in Taipei like me would know.

Some in Taipei find it hard to believe. But what do people in Taichung think about the ranking?

Taichung resident
Really? I thought Taipei’s traffic was worse!

Even locals are shocked to find out they are worse off than Taipei dwellers. Perhaps something to think about next time you’re stuck in traffic.

英國倫敦全球最塞車台中居全台之冠

2023-02-17

你覺得台灣哪個城市最塞車呢，不少人都認為是台北，不過，荷蘭衛星導航製造商，調查全球56個城市車況，發現第一名是台中，開車每10公里，要花上24分40秒，接著是高雄，台北只排到第三名，至於全球最塞車的城市，則是英國倫敦。

台北橋出口塞的密密麻麻，一輛接一輛，幾乎看不到縫隙，難怪被稱為機車瀑布。

尖峰上下班時間，台北到處都是塞塞塞，彷彿大型停車場。

[[民眾]]
“台北(最塞)，內湖送貨，還有林口那邊，最久有一個小時”

[[民眾]]
“台北，人口比較多，車流量也比較多”

[[民眾]]
“我的認知是台北，我剛從建高要往機場，光建高就塞了一個多小時”

民眾都說台北最塞，不過荷蘭衛星導航製造商調查，全台最塞車的城市，居然是台中，開車每10公里就要花24分40秒，是亞洲第五塞，第二是高雄，大家認為最塞的台北，只佔第三名，接著是台南、桃園。

[[民眾]]
“台中嗎，真的假的，完全不知道是台中”

[[民眾]]
“台北最塞，不是台中，我們在台北送貨就知道”

怎麼不是台北最塞，北部的民眾，好驚訝，那最塞的台中人怎麼看?

[[民眾]]
“真的嗎，我覺得台北比較塞耶”

台中擠下台北，成為台灣最塞車的城市，荷蘭這個調查，也顛覆不少人的印象。

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Wreckage of a suspected Chinese spy balloon is found in the island of Dongyin in Matsu

Amid Sino-U.S. contention over a suspected Chinese spy balloon that drifted into U.S. airspace, Taiwan now has a balloon incident of its own. The military’s Dongyin Area Command in the outlying Matsu archipelago says it discovered the wreckage of what is suspected to be a small Chinese balloon in one of its shooting ranges yesterday. It was labeled a "meteorological instrument" in simplified characters which are used in China. The military is conducting a probe of the wreckage. Amid speculation that Taiwan might copy the U.S. and start shooting down intruding Chinese balloons, Taiwan’s defense minister says Taiwan will take a lenient approach and determine the risk, before it makes a decision to fire at a balloon.

In this video on the internet, several people are handling an unidentified airborne object. In simplified Chinese characters, it has “GTS 13 Radiosonde” and non-toxic, harmless “meteorological instrument” printed on it. This is a suspected Chinese weather balloon. And it was found in the outlying Taiwanese archipelago of Matsu.

Voice of Chen Yu-lin
Ministry of National Defense
Following a search by officers and soldiers, wreckage of a balloon was picked up in a shooting range with a diameter of 1 meter. The instrument box had writing in simplified Chinese characters, “Taiyuan No. 1 Radio Factory” and “GST13 Radiosonde.” A preliminary assessment has found that the wreckage was from a meteorological detection instrument.

Chiu Kuo-cheng
Minister of national defense
It was discovered at around noon yesterday. After we found it, we made an assessment and a preliminary inspection of its appearance. It said what factory in Taiyuan it came from and also said it was a weather balloon, but I think we will take a lenient approach in judging our opponent’s intentions. We won’t jump to conclusions. I have dispatched a team to do some research, and once we understand the fine details, we will make a conclusion.

The military stressed that it will carefully study the balloon wreckage. As the U.S. military recently shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon with a missile, many are wondering that if a balloon intrudes into Taiwan’s airspace, will its military do the same thing?

Chiu Kuo-cheng
Minister of national defense
I just said we would take a lenient approach. There is something going on, but whether something somehow was attached to the weather balloon, or it had things that were harmful to people, we’ll just have to wait for our assessment. If an entity relating to aviation or sea navigation traverses inside our national borders, then of course we must deal with this. This does not amount to a first strike, but rather is called a responsive countermeasure.

Whether it’s UAVs or airborne balloons, the military says it will be proactive in dealing with China’s gray zone operations.

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Hsinchu’s longest-running second-hand bookstore to close down after 45 years

A second-hand bookstore in Hsinchu is about to shut down after 45 years in business. Book lovers in Hsinchu have been taking refuge in Seaside Books since 1978. It was founded by a post-war Chinese immigrant, who then passed it on to his dear friend. Now owner Huang Shou-yu is finally ready to call it quits. The locals are now rushing to spend a few more precious moments in their beloved store, and pick up a bargain at the same time.

With the rise of online retail, bricks-and-mortar bookstores like this one are a vanishing breed. This eye-catching blue sign, reading “Seaside Books,” has hung here for 45 years. But now, the owner is preparing to close the shutters for the last time.

Resident of Hsinchu
There aren’t many stores like this. These days, people don’t love books that much, nor do they value them. So I think it’s really a pity for a store with as much warmth as this to close down.

Resident of Hsinchu
Back in the days when we weren’t so affluent, sometimes students actually couldn’t afford books. Seaside Books offered relatively low prices. I bought lots of novels from here. Then I married and had children, and when my daughter was small, we often came here to buy children’s books.

Located near Hsinchu Train Station, Seaside Books is the oldest second-hand bookstore in Hsinchu. It has been a stable fixture and a comforting sanctuary over the decades for countless local book lovers.

Huang Shou-yu
Seaside Bookshop owner
It’s a really tough decision for me. I took the store on 18 years ago. I’ve been wanting to close down for about a year now.

Store owner Huang Shou-yu has kept the business going for many years, in memory of a beloved friend. Forty-five years ago, Chinese nationalist army veteran Chen Yao rented the store and opened "Seaside Books," naming the store to reflect his love for his homeland across the Taiwan Strait. Over 27 years, he and his landlady, Huang Shou-yu, became as close as family. Before his death, he handed the store over to her.

Huang Shou-yu
Seaside Bookshop owner
Some of the books are still in great condition. At the very end, I will sell them off more cheaply.

Huang has reluctantly placed all her stocks out for sale with discounts, for a final clearance. She plans to close for the last time within a month or two. In the meantime, she hopes to give the store a send-off fit for a local treasure.

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Restaurant with vintage cars serves up gourmet meals for dogs

Taiwan has its fair share of themed cafes. There’s an Alice in Wonderland-themed cafe and a llama cafe and many more. Today, FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us to a restaurant with two quirky themes that you don’t often see paired together: vintage cars and gourmet cuisine for dogs. The restaurant has been around for a while; it was once featured in a popular TV show "Meteor Garden" about 20 years ago.

Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
Are you a fan of the TV series “Meteor Garden”? This themed restaurant was where the two actors from the show went out on a date. Now, 20 years later, this restaurant has transformed into a pet-friendly restaurant, serving up meals for dogs.

This first dish is sirloin beef bowl. Aside from meat, there are also veggies on the side like broccoli, carrots, and cabbage.

There is also penne gratin with pumpkin and beef. These mouthwatering meals are not for me. It’s for this husky, Poly, and this dachshund, Aloha. Over the years, the store has won many loyal patrons who bring their pets here.

Kristina Chang
Poly’s Owner
The fresh dog food here is good, and you can also play with the dogs in the store. My dog likes beef rice, but actually, he likes all of the food here. I tried the salad and seafood noodles myself. They are also delicious.

The founder of the restaurant, Gasper Lee, hired a pet nutritionist to design meals for pets. The restaurant was designated a so-called “Michelin-starred restaurant” for pets by the Taipei Animal Protection Office.

Gasper Lee
Founder
It can’t be seasoned. It’s cooked in a salt-free and oil-free way. It can be boiled, steamed, or fried a little. A pet nutritionist taught us. In addition, we have more than 10 years of experience in dog care. So we know the ratios and formulas that will suit them best.

This restaurant in Taipei was established in 1999 by Lee, an avid collector of antique cars. The restaurant is filled with classic cars, parking meters, fuel stations, and American car license plates. It even became one of the filming locations of the TV show “Meteor Garden.” Many fans of the program still come here to relive the show.

Maricris Agustin
Patron
I am from the Philippines. I am a fan of “Meteor Garden.” It was one of the places where the show has taken place so I went here because of that. I feel like I watched the drama again while eating here. I think I was just in high school or elementary and now I am working when I watched the drama

Bruno Singier
Patron
I think it is pet-friendly here, you see a lot of people bringing their pets. Sometimes it is dogs, and cats as well. I know that there has been people bringing some other pets as well like snakes and maybe iguanas.

In 2016, Lee decided to start serving healthy and delicious pet meals.

Gasper Lee
Founder
In the very beginning, I liked to collect antique cars, parking meters, antique fuel stations, and mini cars, and then re-create them. We started the pet business because of our shop dog, this dachshund. After seeing the dachshund, many customers asked if they can bring their dog over. I said: “yes.” Then they also asked if dogs can have their own meals. So we learned several recipes from pet nutritionists and sold fresh pet food in the store. We didn’t expect that it would be so well received when it launched.

Over the years, more and more Taiwanese are becoming proud pet owners. The Taipei City Animal Protection Office has created a “Michelin” guide for pets, selecting 10 pet-friendly restaurants across Taipei that provide high-quality meals. Seeing this demand, stores across Taiwan are also providing and developing more pet-friendly products and services, along with cooking meals to cater to pets and their owners.

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Keelung ‘green care station’ offers new skills for the older adults of fishing villages

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Student
It’s so hard. I forget everything. I’m knitting this for the children.

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It changes their way of talking, their demeanor, their energy! Secondly, the hand-knitting stimulates their braincells.

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Chen Wen-chin
Keelung Fishermen’s Association
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Yu concentrates on his knife as he carefully carves an openwork design with many intricate layers.

He looks totally calm and unflustered as he completes the work. Nobody would guess that before becoming a sculptor, Yu held a knife for very different reasons. As a young man, he was sent to prison twice for violent firearms offences.

Brother of Yu Jung-ching
At school, he was a headache for the teachers and the principal. But I knew that he’d liked drawing pictures since he was little. No one taught him really; you could say he was self-taught. He’s been to prison, twice, I think. I just knew that the more he was in prison the more of a big deal he was, and when he got out he was high up in the hierarchy.

Once out of prison, Yu led a drifting life around Taipei, and had a big reputation in the world of crime. But then, a decade ago, everything changed. He realised that nobody was looking after his aging father, and decided to go back to his hometown to care for him. That’s when he turned to carving.

Yu Jung-ching
Sculptor
I grabbed a piece of wood and started to carve it. When it was done, my friend saw and asked who had done it. I said “Me, I used a utility knife.” He said, “That’s not bad. You could be a wood carver.”

As soon as he turned his hand to it, Yu discovered he had real talent. Getting encouragement from his friend, he started learning all the techniques he could, even creating these complex openwork sculptures. Before long, collectors were interested.

Yu Jung-ching
Sculptor
I don’t want those paths that you wouldn’t consider, dishonourable paths. Because if you rely on your own hard work, so long as you’re willing to tough it out, everyone can walk a different path, like I did.

Now Yu’s days are intimately connected with the knife, but it’s a knife that brings beauty and creation, not a weapon. His story shows it’s never too late to turn over a new leaf.

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