Promotion highlights 19 hot spring destinations around Taiwan

Promotion highlights 19 hot spring destinations around Taiwan

2025-08-21

If you think winter is the only season to visit hot springs, think again. Over this year and next, 19 hot spring destinations from north to south are promoting their attractions year-round, including the best places to dine. Travelers can enjoy a soak and then some good food, warming both their stomachs and their souls.

The Tourism Administration’s adorable mascot Oh Bear leads bathrobe-clad cheerleaders in stepping to the beat, driving up the energy at this opening ceremony. Famous chefs also present specialties from hot spring areas around Taiwan in mouthwatering displays.

Chef
It has water bamboo and mushrooms, cooked using an Indigenous grilling method. Then plum and tealeaves were made into a salt-and-pepper seasoning to give it more flavor.

From north to south, 19 hot spring areas around Taiwan can be enjoyed in different ways year-round. Like in Beitou, the unique green sulfur spring has traces of radium, which does wonders for muscle relaxation. Taichung’s Guguan is a naturally carbonated spring that you can drink as well as soak in, known as being the “heart spring,” as it’s great for circulation. Then there’s Guanziling in Tainan, a natural mud spring with turbid gray water that’s great for the skin.

Hsu Tsung-min
East Valley Scenic Area director
Going to the hot spring is something we do all the time, not necessarily something we’d travel for. When we need to relax, we’ll go to the hot spring in our area to get out and unwind.

Health and wellness is becoming a greater priority. For hot springs, that means business opportunities year-round. Cooperating businesses are not only offering discounts, but travelers can also register their receipts to win prizes and help support local economies.

Hsu Tsung-min
East Valley Scenic Area director
Taiwan has 19 hot spring areas. Each one has its own unique characteristics and specialty food.

Going to the hot spring can be an everyday activity, but traveling around Taiwan to different springs can introduce a host of new flavors and experiences to the everyday.

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

#hotspring #travel #relaxation #thermalspring #mudspring #sulfur #tourism #discounts #TourismAdministration

四季都能泡! 溫泉環島遊串聯全台19溫泉區結合各地美食

2025-08-21

誰說只有冬天才能泡溫泉！2025年至2026年溫泉環島遊，串聯全台19個溫泉區，從北到南一路玩到明年，還結合各地特色美食，讓遊客一邊泡湯，一邊品嚐在地好味道，暖心又暖胃。

穿著浴衣、踩著節拍，觀光署最萌吉祥物「喔熊組長」帶著啦啦隊熱情開場，還邀請知名主廚，把全台溫泉鄉的特色食材搬上桌，光看就讓人口水直流。

[[知名主廚]]
“用的是茭白筍跟香菇，去用原住民料理的方式去燒烤，然後用梅子跟茶葉，做成胡椒鹽去做調和，讓它更有味道”

從北到南，串聯全台19個溫泉區，不管春夏秋冬，都有不一樣的泡湯玩法。像是北投，獨特的青黃泉，水中含有微量放射性的鐳元素，對肌肉放鬆非常偶幫助。台中的谷關溫泉，屬於碳酸泉，不只可以喝也可以泡，對心血管非常好，又稱心臟之湯。還有台南關子嶺，屬於泥岩溫泉，泉水混濁呈灰黑色，助於養顏美容。

[[交通部觀光署花東縱谷國家風景區管理處處長許宗民]]
“泡湯是我們的一個日常，不見得是一個旅遊的過程，在我們身心覺得需要放鬆的時候，都會來到我們周邊的這些溫泉區來放鬆、來體驗”

養生觀念越來越受到重視，看好四季都可以泡湯的觀光商機，不只合作商家推出優惠，登錄發票還能抽好禮，更能拉抬地方商機。

[[交通部觀光署花東縱谷國家風景區管理處處長許宗民]]
“台灣有19個溫泉區，每一個溫泉區都有它的特色跟美食”

把泡湯變成日常，環島溫泉旅遊，也把在地的美味，推廣給更多人品嘗。

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

Related News

Taiwan to conduct routine ID checks on core government personnel

Starting on Jan. 1 next year, the government will ramp up checks to ensure that people who work in key government positions do not hold IDs from China, including Hong Kong and Macau. The measure applies to workers in the military, public education system and civil service. The matter was brought up at a regular press event by the Mainland Affairs Council on Thursday. The spokesperson stressed that the enforcement of the law is in no way a test of people’s loyalty to the country.

Internet celebrity Holger Chen just returned from another seven-day trip to China’s Greater Bay Area. On his last day, he complained that he couldn’t get authenticated on Chinese Tiktok to do livestreams, costing him NT$4 million.

Liang Wen-chieh
MAC spokesperson
According to their regulations, you can’t have extensive tattoos and you can’t make vulgar content either. In Holger Chen’s case, it’s not surprising that he’d be refused. Perhaps he isn’t bootlicking hard enough. He needs to work harder, that way maybe he’ll get the green light.

At the regular press event, the council also presented results of a council-led poll. 74.3% of respondents said that the ROC and the PRC are not subordinate to each other. Another 74.5% said that public servants should not be allowed to hold IDs of the Mainland Area. Starting 2026, checks will be ramped up for core personnel in the military, education system and civil service to check whether they hold IDs from China, Hong Kong or Macau.

Liang Wen-chieh
MAC spokesperson
We’re now targeting core personnel. As for others, we’ll take it one step at a time, and determine later which categories of government personnel should be included. The checks should not be taken to be so called “loyalty checks.” The Cross-Strait Act also stipulates that it is prohibited to employ or continue to employ people of the Mainland Area to work without permission or beyond the scope of the permission. Any violation of that law will result in criminal penalties.

The spokesperson also responded to a question regarding the interior ministry’s recently proposed amendment that would allow it to refuse restoring Taiwan citizenship to those who had previously lost it after obtaining Mainland Chinese IDs. If passed, the three qualifying criteria to be met by those individuals would include making significant contributions to Taiwan’s national defense, international image or social stability, or benefiting Taiwan’s overall interests.

Liang Wen-chieh
MAC spokesperson
Taiwan citizenship is really precious. It’s not like you can get it just because you want to, and you can discard it just because you want to. These conditions had always been our standard when determining whether a former national should regain their Taiwan identity. We’re only making it explicit now.

The new policies are introduced to implement the president’s 17 major strategies to respond to national security and united front threats Taiwan currently faces.

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

#taiwan #china #crossstrait #內政部 #陸委會

2025-08-21

Quiet cars coming to Taiwan Railway trains starting Sept. 22

2025-08-21

Writer Yang Shuang-zi wins award for contributing to Taiwanese culture

Renowned author Yang Shuang-zi wrote "Taiwan Travelogue," a novel that brought her international fame. She recently won an award that honors young people who have contributed to promoting Taiwan’s identity. The award committee says her writing about Taiwan’s history has helped the international community come in contact with Taiwan’s unique culture, while also influencing Taiwanese society. In particular, it has helped to strengthen the younger generation’s Taiwan identity. Let’s meet the writer.

Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi receives a certificate, along with a painting. She has won a “New Generation Taiwan Spirit Award.” In recent years, Yang has penned many literary works, all of which are related to Taiwan’s history and unique consciousness. In this way, she has successfully promoted Taiwan’s history and culture on the global stage.

Yang Shuang-zi
Writer
When we look at Taiwan’s recent historical developments, being a Taiwanese is incredibly difficult. A large portion of our people are muddled and completely undecided about this. The fact that we can maintain the status quo is actually because 10% to 20% who are activists have shouldered the burden and worked hard to move forward.

As a writer who was able to receive this honor in the course of her career, Yang said she wanted to thank the previous generation who worked hard for Taiwan’s democratic consciousness, giving them her highest stamp of approval.

Yang Shuang-zi
Writer
The award truly commends us for how we present Taiwan to the world or how we uphold the concept of what it means to be Taiwanese. As a literary writer, I feel deeply honored to have this recognition

The award selects one winner annually with the aim of honoring young people who have contributed to promoting Taiwan’s identity. Chuang Wan-shou, an 86-year-old retired National Taiwan Normal University professor dedicated to nativist Taiwanese education, also attended the event.

Chuang Wan-shou
Retired NTNU professor
The award will continue forever – into their 15th, 20th, 30th and 40th editions. The Taiwan spirit will flourish eternally.

The award honors a unique Taiwanese perspective and serve as a catalyst for positive growth in Taiwanese society.

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

#taiwan #culture #literature #award #ethnologe

2025-08-21

Two bearded dragons smuggled in ‘toy’ parcel delivered to convenience store

A carton that contained something ordered online kept shaking, causing quite a stir in a convenience store in New Taipei. A clerk grabbed the box, which supposedly contained toys, only to confront a live lizard that lept out from it. And it wasn’t alone; there was another reptile companion inside the package.

The parcel keeps shaking. What’s inside? Surely not live reptiles, right?

The clerk was flabbergasted after a lizard leapt out of the box and chilled among the parcels. They immediately called animal protection officials.

Member of public
Wouldn’t they be caught at the customs inspection? You have to declare the packages. It’s crazy! Border officials should pay more attention.

Member of public
It’s insane. But it’s hard to catch things like this. It’s really cruel to the animals. It also shows there are cracks in animal quarantine procedures.

The buyer later admitted to spending NT$20,000 to get two red bearded dragons imported from Guangdong, China. Though the buyer was unaware of whether the seller had notified authorities, it still broke the Act on Wildlife Conservation.

Yang Shu-fang
Animal protection official
According to the Act on Wildlife Conservation, the import or export of live wild animals and products made from protected wildlife is prohibited without the approval of the central competent authority. Violators may be fined between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000.

Bearded dragons are mostly native to eastern Australia. They are a diurnal reptile species and grow 40 to 50 cm long. They are highly sought after as pets for their gentle temperament, and they typically cost more than NT$10,000.

Lai Hsing-shih
Taiwan Insect Museum
They can even go for several weeks without eating. When food is scarce in their environment, their metabolism slows down, putting them into a semi-dormant state. These lizards are known as bearded dragons. When they are courting or very angry, their chins turn black.

The lizards made it through the mail alive, thanks to their slowed metabolism inside the cardboard box. They were quite dehydrated, however, and were eager to gulp down water. Unscrupulous sellers and buyers are clearly trampling on the welfare of these creatures.

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

#beardeddragon #wildlifeprotection #news #newtaipei #lizard #caught #taobao #taobaofinds

2025-08-21

Taiwan to cut 15% commodity tax on drinks without added sugar

2025-08-21

Delivery companies cooperate with supermarkets to delivery fresh groceries

2025-08-21

Pingtung business builds Hulk statue to block misfortune from bad fengshui

Because of its located at the base of a T intersection, which means bad fengshui, one shop in Pingtung’s Hengchun came up with the idea of putting a statue of the Hulk outside to ward off evil spirits. They even held a consecration ceremony for the 250cm-tall Marvel superhero, receiving a fair amount of hits for the video of the event posted online.

A man in black takes a brush to the face of a large statue as part of a consecration ceremony. But why does this statue look so familiar?

That’s because it’s the Hulk of Marvel fame. This stone statue of the green superhero was created to stand outside a shop in Pingtung’s Hengchun Township. People online were fascinated.

Member of public
It’s not good to face the corner of other people’s homes, so they put this here. Some people will put fengshui items like a bagua mirror or shanhaizhen to block bad energies.

Passersby are curious what the statue is for. After all, it’s pretty eye-catching to have a giant green Hulk standing just outside your store. If you ask the owner, he’ll tell you it’s because there’s an alley just outside the entrance. Afraid of the bad fengshui caused by being at the end of a T-intersection, he had the idea to build the Hulk there to stop the bad energy.

Business owner
We put the Hulk there to ward off evil spirits. We figured we may as well put something a little special there, so that’s how we ended up with the Hulk.

Master Da Chien
Folklore expert
From the perspective of fengshui, even if he invites a Taoist priest to come consecrate it and invites the spirit of the Hulk to embody the statue, it doesn’t matter, because it’s great for advertising and will be a good gimmick.

Regardless of how it does at warding off evil spirits, the presence of this huge green movie star on the roadside has already been successful at drawing attention to the business.

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

#Hulk #TheHulk #Marvel #statue #fengshui #Pingtung #evilspirits #viral #consecration #oddity

2025-08-21

High speed rail extension to Yilan clears environmental assessment

2025-08-21

Ministry of Economic Affairs showcases 11 cutting-edge techs at robotics expo

The Taiwan Automation Intelligence & Robot Show opened on Wednesday at Nangang Exhibition Center. At the four-day event, the economics ministry’s "MOEA Tech Hub" is showcasing 11 interdisciplinary R&D innovations, ranging from AI-powered healthcare solutions to a digital twin welding system. Let’s take it look.

An AI-powered robotic arm allocates medication to be dispensed. On the other side, there’s AI-powered image sensors and mobility aid that makes physical activity less strenuous for caretakers. All these technologies are developed to relieve burdens on medical professionals.

Chang Jen-yuan
ITRI
Wherever there’s demand, we’ll conduct R&D to meet that demand. What we have here is a mobile robot that can circumvent obstacles and recharge itself, and has over 10 hours of battery life. This helps reduce the hours needed by medical professionals to carry out their tasks by around 50%.

The Taiwan Automation Intelligence & Robot Show kicked off on Wednesday at Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei. The AI-powered healthcare robotic system was developed jointly by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, China Steel Corporation and National Taiwan University Hospital, and promises to reduce 20% of work by humans. Meanwhile, China Steel is also showcasing its Digital Twin Giant Gantry Welding Robot, which enhances welding precision and reduces human error, making it ideal for large-scale production such as ship-making.

Lin Yu-jen
ITRI smart robotics division
Its software reduces errors in experiments. In the future, once it’s introduced to new factories, it can then successfully produce the items it’s already simulated and then be introduced.

Many companies and institutes are participating at the show this year. And the 2025 edition is its biggest yet, with more than 1,000 exhibitors showing their latest tech, and a specially designated booth exhibiting 11 inter-disciplinary R&D innovations. The four days of this trade show mark a new milestone in smart healthcare and industrial transition.

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

#TAIROS #ITRI #technology #technews #robotics #AI

2025-08-21