New weekly Kaohsiung-Matsu flights hope to boost tourism in outlying county

New weekly Kaohsiung-Matsu flights hope to boost tourism in outlying county

2025-06-16

Located on the very front lines of past cross-strait conflict, Matsu has many remnants of the wartime history between the KMT and CCP. These days, the sites are popular selling points for tourism. To promote travel to Matsu, a regular flight began this month between Kaohsiung and the outlying county. Operators hope that more people from southern Taiwan will come visit and experience Matsu’s unique culture and chill island atmosphere.

This broadcast station on Matsu’s Beigan Island used to be on the front lines of cross-strait conflict. An enormous megaphone and microphone are set up as artworks, presenting the tense history.

Local business owner
Before we went through an era of open warfare, so the way cross-strait relations are now, locals think it’s fine to just live their lives.

A tunnel that was previously used by the military is now a must-see tourist hotspot. Boat operators hope that tourism will make Matsu more prosperous.

Boat operator
After things opened up following the pandemic, travel from China still hadn’t restarted. But travel to Matsu exploded, and over these past two years, we’ve gotten back to normal levels.

It’s not just old war sites that are tourism hotspots. Visitors also come to see Matsu’s unique landscapes. The old stone houses built into the cliffside in Qinbi Village feel just like the Mediterranean. Out in the blue water there’s also a turtle-shaped island, poking up from the sea. Hostel owners are renovating the old stone houses, creating beautiful spaces that put visitors at ease as soon as they step inside.

Qinbi hostel operator
This area is protected, so every building has to look the same. But however you want to furnish the inside is up to you. When I got back two years ago, it wasn’t my style, so I changed it.

Chen Ju-lan
Lienchiang County tourism head
Right now, Matsu has clear skies with a light breeze, just perfect. I greatly encourage everyone in Taiwan to come to Matsu and check it out.

To promote Matsu tourism, a flight was added every Monday from Kaohsiung in addition to one already offered from Taipei. Locals hope the new route will bring new visitors to their small county.

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

#LienchiangCounty #Matsu #Taiwantravel #tourism #wartourism #flightroute

馬祖戰地遺跡成觀光亮點 "高雄直飛航班啟航"助攻南部客源

2025-06-16

馬祖過去是海峽的最前線，留下了許多過去國共對戰的歷史遺跡，如今這些遺跡也都變成了當地觀光的最佳賣點，為了衝刺馬祖觀光，六月開始開啟高雄到馬祖的固定航班，希望讓更多南台灣的遊客有機會到馬祖體驗當地人文風情，感受最chill的海島生活。

馬祖北竿的芹壁廣播站，過去是海峽的最前線，巨大的傳聲筒跟麥克風裝置藝術，講述的是當年那段兩岸劍拔奴張的緊張歷史。

[[馬祖當地業者]]
“因為過去可能經歷過那種戰爭的年代，所以在現在其實兩岸的關係，會讓這邊居民覺得就是，過生活就好了”

昔日的戰爭坑道，如今變成了觀光客必訪的熱門景點，小船業者就盼，更多觀光客，能讓馬祖更加興盛。

[[北海坑道遊船業者]]
“疫情剛開放之後，還沒有開放大陸，我們那時候馬祖旅遊整個都爆了，這兩年有恢復到正常”

不只過往戰爭歷史是賣點，馬祖獨特的景觀，也是不少觀光客指名造訪，芹壁聚落一整排沿著山坡興建的石屋老建築，有如來到地中海。湛藍的海洋中，還有一座宛若烏龜的烏龜島，就矗立在海中央。民宿業者在復舊的石屋中，打造了絕佳美景的空間，一走進去，壓力瞬間釋放。

[[芹壁民宿業者]]
“我們這邊是保護區大家都要長得一樣，裡面你要怎麼豪華那是你的事，兩年前我回來它不是我的風格，我就把它改了一下”

[[連江縣交通旅遊局長陳如嵐]]
“現在馬祖藍天白雲，微風輕拂，非常的舒服，所以非常歡迎全國的朋友，來我們馬祖，來走走看看”

為了促進馬祖觀光，六月起除了台北到馬祖的航班，更新增了每週一班來回高雄馬祖，地方就盼新路線啟航，能帶來新的氣象。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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YouTuber Holger Chen returns from 6-day Shanghai trip

YouTuber Holger Chen returned to Taiwan from his Shanghai visit Sunday evening, to hoards of supporters and the press at the airport. Speaking to reporters, Chen said his next focus would be to make sure the mass recall campaign against KMT lawmakers end in failure. Netizens couldn’t help but muse about the difference in his demeanor while in China and Taiwan. Over there, Chen was well-mannered and never uttered a single curse word, as he’s known to do back home in Taiwan. But he appeared to be back in his element again. Let’s take a look.

Fans of YouTuber Holger Chen cheers on and welcomes him with banners saying “peace ambassador”as soon as Chen touches down at the airport. What is Chen up to next?

Holger Chen
YouTuber
I want to complete an important mission first, which is to put on a stop on this stupid mass recall. If there are large-scale events necessary to promote this, and if I were to be invited to stand onstage, I will, no questions asked.

Chen seems to be in his element again in Taiwan, splattering his speech with curse words as he’s known for doing. He does so while criticizing the mass recall campaign and the ruling DPP.

Meanwhile, DPP lawmakers seem amused by his change in attitude, as Chen has been agreeable and respectful during his Shanghai trip.

Lai Jui-lung
Lawmaker (DPP)
At this point in time, as soon as Chen returns to Taiwan, he’s making his feeling of the mass recall clear. He said he wanted the mass recall to end in failure. That’s clearly the goal of the CCP. Since they have the same goal, then Taiwanese people should start to doubt his motive, and worry that maybe the CCP has struck a deal with Chen to one extent or another.

Chen reiterates his position on the mass recall campaign against KMT lawmakers as soon as he returns to Taiwan. For that, DPP lawmakers suggest that there must’ve been an under-the-table deal between Chen and the Chinese authorities during his recent trip. Meanwhile, Chen also says the government’s warning that people should refrain from traveling to China is overstated.

Holger Chen
YouTuber
I’d like to know how many Taiwanese are here with me on this return flight. Are these not people here? Which one of you cannot return to Taiwan?

Chen Po-wei
Former legislator
I’m not against China because of their technological advancement. I’m against China because they want to invade us. Chen is right about Taiwan belonging to the people of Taiwan. But does Taiwan belong to the CCP? So what’s your problem, cozying up to China?

Meanwhile, the Mainland Affairs Council retorts that from 2024 to the end of May this year, they’ve received a total of 132 reports of nationals who went missing or suspected of having their freedom of movement restricted while traveling in China. Chen and others on the same flight may be able to return, but not everyone can.

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

#館長 #crossstrait #shanghai #taiwan #china #上海旅遊

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Undercover school bag retrieved after accidentally thrown into garbage truck

Dealing with recent relentless rainfall, one mother in Southern Taiwan decided to put her child’s school bag in a plastic bag to keep it dry. But the child’s grandmother mistook it for trash and accidently threw it into the garbage truck. The mother hurriedly chased down the truck, and with the sanitation workers’ assistance was thankfully able to recover her child’s school bag.

On a rainy day, a woman throws two trash bags into the garbage truck. But she didn’t know that one of the bags had a child’s school bag inside.

Tseng Shih-hung
Garbage truck driver
That mom rode her scooter, chasing us in a panic. She told me she used a plastic bag from the supermarket to wrap her child’s school bag, but the grandmother didn’t know and threw it out thinking it was trash.

The mother chased the garbage truck on her scooter, finally catching up with it four stops later. She asked the sanitation workers for help recovering the bag.

Tseng Shih-hung
Garbage truck driver
The mom kept pleading with me, saying that all her child’s things for studying are in there. I thought, okay, the trash has only been pushed down once and isn’t so messy yet, so I’ll dig through and see.

Two sanitation workers climbed onto the truck and began taking out trash one bag at a time. They found the school bag pushed into a corner, still wrapped up in a plastic bag.

Tseng Shih-hung
Garbage truck driver
It was at about this area here. If the trash had been pressed one or two more times, it would have been pushed inside and there would be no way to get it out.

According to regulations, once trash has been thrown into the garbage truck, you need to submit an application to look for it before it goes through the incinerator. Much to this mother’s relief, the sanitation workers saw her anxiety and agreed to help dig through the garbage right away.

Tseng Shih-hung
Garbage truck driver
Usually, a whole mountain of trash goes into the incinerator. It’s even harder to find something. The chances are much slimmer.

Thankfully there was not much trash that day and the mother was able to retrieve her child’s school bag. This is a good reminder to look through your trash before throwing it out.

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

#trash #garbagetruck #schoolbag #rain #sanitation #plasticbag #mother #child

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Bullied student wins award for film documenting brain surgery

A middle-school graduate from Keelung was often bullied because he moved slowly, only to later find out it was because of a brain tumor. On top of that, he was raised by his aunt after his parents left when he was young. The beleaguered student made a film of his surgery and recovery, which was recently recognized with a special education art award. Everyone at the ceremony was moved by the boy and his aunt embracing in tears after the long road they’ve walked together.

Winning students take to the stage to receive awards at the Keelung Special Education Student Art Awards ceremony. But for a moment, the presenter swaps out with someone else.

The recipient, a student surnamed Huang, is the nephew of presenter Huang Jou-ping. Over his three years in middle school, Huang had two surgeries for a brain tumor, a facial reanimation surgery, and countless rehab sessions. But his aunt always stayed by his side.

Huang Jou-ping
Huang’s aunt
I told him, Li-kai, it’s not that bad. No problem at all. He said you’re lying. You were just crying.

Three years ago, the surgery to remove the brain tumor left an obvious scar. Just 14 days after starting middle school, he started to get bullied, and even made the news.

Huang Jou-ping
Huang’s aunt
In his classroom group, the bullies would recount how they beat him up that day.

Talking about the past, Huang’s aunt is just as emotional. She also couldn’t bear to see him abandoned by his parents, so she took it upon herself to become his guardian.

Huang Jou-ping
Huang’s aunt
I’ve never even considered giving him up. I know what it’s like to not be loved by your family.

Huang
Student
My aunt is a mother, a father, classmate, friend, all of them.

She also attended Huang’s graduation ceremony as a parent. Huang gave her a handwritten letter thanking her for not giving up on him.

Huang Jou-ping
Huang’s aunt
He actually wrote, “You’ve given my life hope.”I feel like I’ve done something wonderful.

Although there’s a risk the tumor will come back, Huang is facing life with optimism. He’s now even won an award for his film sharing moments from his unique family life.

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

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Dealer offers free racecar rental for winning ring toss game

A racecar can go from 0 to 200kph in under 10 seconds. To satisfy the need for speed, you have to spend thousands on just a single-day rental. But one dealer has a solution: a ring toss game. Win and you can get a free rental for a day. The gimmick has gotten a lot of takers, but be careful. If you damage the car, you have to pay. Even people lucky enough to win don’t dare to take their prize out for a spin.

Driving a racecar brings a thrill. But for this NT$17 million vehicle, even a day rental costs NT$60,000. One dealer set up a ring toss game. Lucky winners get a day for free.

Lu I-hsiung
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Usually, a one-day rental is NT$60,000. But if you drive it free for a day, you might catch the bug. Racecars are like that.

At this dealership, if you spend just NT$20 to play ring toss and win, you can choose from six different cars. But if you win, are you really brave enough to drive it?

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I think I’d need someone there to teach me. If I don’t know how, and I run into trouble, then I’d be screwed.

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I won, but I was conflicted. I don’t know how to drive. I’m just a normal guy who works in construction. I’m scared to take it out. I need more details.

If you’re reluctant to take it out for a spin, the dealer has another option.

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You have to be careful, because the company actually declined to insure this car. Or we have a second option, which is for us to take you out. For example, you choose a day, and for three hours, we’ll pick you up. You don’t have to drive. We’ll take you.

If you damage the car, you have to pay for repairs yourself. Even if the dealer takes them for a spin first to show them how to drive, many customers are still too afraid to try. But the gimmick of winning it at ring toss has certainly become a hot topic among racecar enthusiasts.

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Small fluorescent fingers sway in the current, as tiny clownfish swim among adorable mushroom-shaped and colorful coral.

Delta Electronics Foundation presenter
This is Delta’s LED technology. We try to develop the most suitable light spectrum for corals.

World-renowned 91-year-old zoologist Jane Goodall came back to Taiwan for the first time in seven years especially to visit the Chaojing Coral Conservation Center at Keelung’s National Museum of Marine Science and Technology. The center has been undertaking a coral restoration project in collaboration with the museum and Delta Electronics.

Jane Goodall
Renowned zoologist
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Bruce Cheng
Delta Electronics founder
I think we all feel very pleased because you do many good things for the world, for nature, and for all of us.

Delta founder Bruce Cheng and Jane Goodall planted a coral seedling together to symbolize their hopes for the project. Together, the company and museum established Asia’s first zero-emissions coral conservation center that uses automated technologies to provide the optimal light spectrum for fast coral growth.

Kuo Chao-yang
NMMST project assistant
We also have an outdoor cooler, and in winter when the water temperature is lower, we use heating rods.

Through use of technology, the center has already preserved more than 40 species of native Taiwanese coral. This summer, it hopes to reach its goal of establishing a coral colony of 10,000.

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

#coral #coralreef #conservation #marinelife #JaneGoodall #DeltaElectronics #oceans #CoralConservationCenter

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