2025 Taipei Hot Springs Season to kick off Oct. 30 to Nov. 3

2025 Taipei Hot Springs Season to kick off Oct. 30 to Nov. 3

2025-10-16

As the weather starts to get chillier, Taipei is gearing up for the annual Taipei Hot Springs Season, returning from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3 in Beitou. A series of cultural performances and hot spring vouchers will be on display. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us behind the scenes for a sneak peek at this year’s highlights!

Dancers combine synchronized steps with drumming and songs. Eisa is a folk dance from Okinawa, Japan, traditionally performed during the Obon Festival. The annual Taipei hot spring season will begin on Oct.30 and run until Nov. 3, featuring nearly 50 Japanese performers showcasing the historical Eisa folk dance.

Satoru Okuhara
Depot Island Street Association representative director
In Japan, this is a very traditional art form, usually performed during the Obon Festival parades as a way to honor deities and express gratitude to ancestors. Nowadays, it is passed down to new generations, allowing young people to take up this tradition with more energy and ensuring that this powerful art continues to be preserved.

Other performances from Japan include the Yamagata Hanagasa, Namahage drum, and more. Taiwan’s own Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Culture Group will present classic Taiwanese opera performances. Beitou, nestled in northern Taipei, is famous for its hot spring resorts. During the event period, in addition to exciting performances, various special offers will be available on-site, including hot spring vouchers. This year’s Hot Springs Season will also feature over 50 stalls in a cultural and creative market, along with a variety of activities such as mini tatami DIY workshops, drum DIY, guided tours of Beitou’s cultural sites, and a special hot spring shuttle bus service.

Lin Chih-yu
Taipei Hot Springs Association Managing director
At our on-site exhibition, we have over 50 booths, including all hot spring hotels from Beitou. Our members are offering very special discounts, and visitors can purchase hot spring vouchers, accommodation vouchers, bathing vouchers, and meal coupons at great prices. There are also more than a dozen booths from Japan present. The biggest highlight is Okinawa Depot Island—their American Village is hosting a lucky draw event where you can win round-trip air tickets and accommodation from Taipei to Okinawa.

In honor of International Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the festival will host free breast cancer screenings. And since it kicks off on Halloween weekend, families can enjoy a festive trick-or-treat event. The festival will be held from Oct. 30 till Nov. 3 around Xinbeitou MRT Station, including Qixing Street, Qixing Park, and Guangming Road.

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

#hotsprings #beitou #japan #okinawa #Eisa #coupons #deals #relax #halloween

2025台北溫泉季　10/30-11/3登場

2025-10-16

隨著天氣逐漸轉涼，台北即將迎來一年一度的「台北溫泉季」，活動將於10月30日至11月3日在北投登場。一起來看看今年活動亮點！

舞者們結合舞步、太鼓和歌唱。「Eisa」是沖繩舊盂蘭盆節之夜表演的傳統藝術。「2025台北溫泉季」於10月30日登場，至11月3日，屆時將有近50位日本表演者展演這項歷史悠久的Eisa舞蹈。

[[沖繩Depot Island街道協會代表理事奧原悟]]
"在日本是一個非常傳統的傳統藝術，通常都是在舊盂蘭盆節的遊行，他們會用來祭祖跟感謝祖先的一個活動，現在都傳承給新的人承接這個新的傳統，讓新的年輕人可以表演的更有活力，讓這個震撼的活動可以傳承"

來自日本的其他表演包括山形花笠舞踊、生剝鬼太鼓等。台灣的明華園戲劇團將帶來經典表演。北投位於台北北部，以其溫泉度假村而聞名。活動期間，除了精彩的表演外，現場還將提供包括溫泉券等各種優惠活動。今年溫泉季現場也聚集逾50攤文創市集擺攤，並推出迷你榻榻米DIY工作坊、鼓DIY、北投文化導覽等豐富活動。

[[北市溫泉發展協會理事長林致宇]]
"我們現場展攤，有超過50個攤位以上，包含北投所有的溫泉飯店，我們的會員們都有在現場做非常優惠的價格，還有溫泉券、住宿券、泡湯券、吃飯的餐券等等，都可以用優惠的價錢買到，包含日本也有10幾個攤位來到現場，其中最大的亮點就是我們OKINAWA Depot Island，他們美國村有一個抽獎活動，可以抽台北到沖繩的來回機票跟住宿"

因應國際乳癌宣傳月，也將舉辦免費乳癌篩檢活動。由於溫泉季在萬聖節週末開始，還有應景的”不給糖就搗蛋”活動。台北溫泉季於10月30日至11月3日在新北投捷運站周邊舉行，包括七星街、七星公園、光明路等。

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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Local authorities host road safety classes for seniors

The Taipei Department of Transportation has taken definitive action to promote road safety for seniors, visiting local community centers to educate elderly people on how to be safe when using roads in common dangerous scenarios. The department even introduced a simple board game to help seniors easily grasp the concepts, ensuring they stay safe out on the streets.

A local borough warden patiently explains a traffic safety board game to seniors sitting around the table. The game helps them more easily understand how to stay safe on the roads.

The instructor, certified by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, simplifies complex and dangerous traffic situations for the class to understand.

Resident
You need to pay attention to cars on the left and right sides. Do not cross the street when there isn’t enough time. At a zebra crossing, the most important thing is to wave your hand. For us elderly people, I think this is very beneficial.

The instructor even uses a white board to visually explain safety concepts. The Taipei Department of Transportation organized several of these classes in local community centers to educate seniors on road safety.

The instructor, well-versed in traffic safety work, uses his expertise to teach groups of seniors how to be safe amid modern traffic.

Wang Chun-yao
Borough warden
Min’an Borough actually has a relatively high proportion of elderly people. Sometimes elderly people might not respond to situations as fast as younger people. Through regular awareness campaigns, we help them pay more attention to details in this area, so they can be safer when using the roads.

Yellow hats were also handed out to attendees, as they increase pedestrian visibility and promote road safety. These road safety courses have been well-received, and local authorities hope seniors will apply what they learn to stay safe.

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

#seniors #elders #village #communitycenter #roadsafety #trafficsafety #safetycourse #safety

2025-10-16

University lecturer teaches class in full Halloween costume and makeup

Some teachers can be scary, but perhaps not as much as an English lecturer at Tunghai University showed up to class dressed up as a scary nun. She had a full costume and her face fully made up, much to the amusement of students. It turned out that she only did so because the university had an English-language Halloween event at noon, and she was worried she wouldn’t have time to dress up after teaching two classes in the morning.

Wang Yu-fei
FTV reporter
It’s almost Halloween, and many people are dressing up as their fantasy selves. At Tunghai University, a professor showed up in class in full costume and makeup as “The Nun” and caused a stir.

The professor gave a lesson as usual, even while decked out in full robes and face paint, creating a somber atmosphere. Students at the class couldn’t help but post about it on social media.

Student
Commenting on lecturer
I would be really focused. If my professor dressed up like this, the class would probably be quite interesting.

Student
Commenting on lecturer
I would ask to take a photo with the professor after class, because it’s really fresh and special.

Student
Commenting on lecturer
I would believe that the professor would be diligent in class prep too.

We tracked down the professor herself. She’s been at Tunghai University for four years now. She came to the morning classes in full costume because there was an English-language Halloween event later that day, and she was worried she wouldn’t have time to do her makeup.

Lin Yu-han
Tunghai University lecturer
I have two courses to teach in the morning, so I was afraid that there wouldn’t be time to do the makeup, so I did it early. There were students outside the classroom peering in and appearing confused. They’d ask each other what was up.

The professor never misses out on Halloween. In private, she’s dressed up as Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” the Joker and a Blue Man. This is the first time she showed this side of her in class.

Lin Yu-han
Tunghai University lecturer
I like trying out different makeup looks for Halloween and dress up in corresponding clothing. Yesterday at noon, the English Language Center had a makeup competition. Some students put a lot of effort into it. It made me happy to see that.

Not only were her students in for a fun surprise, the university also responded that it wasn’t a problem since the classes went on as usual. It’s great fun for students and great publicity for the university.

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

#halloween #thenun #funny #costume #makeup #joker

2025-10-16

Experts share advice on handling portable battery fire

As people take their phones with them everywhere, it’s also common to bring along a battery pack for extra charge. But more stories have been coming out lately of power banks exploding or catching on fire. If it happens to you, what should you do? An expert said that the only solution is bringing it to an open area and submerging it entirely in water.

The moment this lithium battery explodes, the flames leap straight up to the ceiling, followed by plumes of dangerous smoke and scorching temperatures. With more reports of batteries exploding or catching on fire, it’s important to exercise caution.

Meng Chia-mei
FTV reporter
If your power bank keeps emitting smoke or a burning smell, it could be a sign of an impending fire. Don’t hesitate—bring it to an open area outside, and submerge it directly into a bucket of water.

Lin Chin-hung
Disaster management specialist
You want enough water to entirely submerge the battery. Our recommendation is to leave it until the reaction stops. If it stops bubbling, that’s a clear indicator. Secondly, keep an eye on the temperature. That is, when it’s submerged, is the water getting hotter?

Experts suggest leaving it submerged for seven days. Once you’re sure there’s no reaction inside and there’s no charge left, then you can give it to a sanitation worker to throw away. If the battery does start to catch on fire, remove anything flammable in the vicinity and prepare lots of water. But on public transit, this would be hard to do. The fire extinguishers provided in the cars are actually completely useless.

Voice of fire safety expert
(voice altered)
All mass transit cars, trains, high-speed rail cars, and other public transit have dry chemical fire extinguishers. But if you spray it with dry chemicals, on the one hand it can’t mitigate the hazards posed by the lithium, and on the other, the dust it generates can cause respiratory discomfort and greater panic, maybe creating even more smoke than the battery itself.

Experts say that this kind of dry chemical fire extinguisher can’t stop a lithium battery fire. Only water-based ones like foam or enhanced liquid extinguishers could effectively lower temperatures. As for fire blankets or bags, experts are divided. The simplest way is to ensure that cars are stocked with the following items.

Voice of fire safety expert
(voice altered)
The simplest thing is to have a metal bucket near water. Of course, most important are the tongs. Ones used for collecting trash are fine.

Incidents involving power banks are on the rise. Public transport may need to become better equipped to keep up with safety requirements.

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

#powerbank #battery #lithiumbattery #fire #firesafety #fireextinguisher #PSA #publictransit #MRT #publicsafety

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Outrage after EVA Air asks dead flight attendant to justify leave

The EVA Air case becomes more shocking by the day. This time, more outrage has erupted over a text message exchange between the airline’s admin and the recently deceased flight attendant, on the day of her funeral. She was asked to submit proof for the family care leave she had taken on Sept. 27, when she was in the hospital. The flight attendants union explained that their colleague had not taken a sick leave when she should’ve to avoid retaliation, if she were able to return to work.

On the day of her funeral, a text message was sent to the recently passed EVA Air flight attendant by her company requesting proof for family care leave she had taken on Sept. 27. The insensitive text immediately angered the flight attendant’s family, who sent a pdf document of her death certificate to the company admin.

Chou Sheng-kai
Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union
Even if this person wasn’t a flight attendant, wasn’t one of our colleagues. Even if it were just an average Jane Doe, I don’t believe anyone with the most basic sense of humanity can accept the family members of the recently deceased being treated this way. It added multiple insults to the injury. So many of us were angered to the point of tears. We also think it’s humiliating and a slap in the face to flight attendants in general.

What’s more, the flight attendant should’ve taken a sick leave, theoretically. So why did she take a family care leave?

Chou Sheng-kai
Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union
Under the Gender Equality in Employment Act, workers are protected from unfair treatment should they take family care leave or menstrual leave. She’s someone who needed taking care of, but she had to lie to the company and say that she’s taking a day off to take care of family members.

EVA Air has since issued an apology stating that the admin personnel was unfamiliar with the company’s procedures and that they will solemnly reflect on the mistake. However, the company has yet to address controversies on its leave policy for cabin crew.

Chou Sheng-kai
Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union
Looking back at this period of time, it’s clear that they’re only doing the bare minimum and paying lip service. They kept saying that they’ll reflect and deal with this seriously. But you’ll see that they kept humiliating her family members. Even with thousands of flight attendants coming out to identify problems with their policies and revealing how they’ve been treated unfairly, the company still hasn’t said a word in response and there’s no way to reach the management.

The union also emphasized that the flight attendant had taken leave over three national holiday periods, meaning that her performance over this period would come last place among all 5,000+ flight attendants in the company. Had she lived, her poor attendance record would deprive her of choosing and moving work shifts. Worse, she could even be penalized with a hellish work schedule.

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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Book publisher mistaken for China fugitive after dental surgery

A Taiwanese book publisher heading to Frankfurt’s annual book fair came into trouble at the airport, where she was mistaken for a Chinese fugitive. Upon arriving in Germany, the woman failed an automated face ID check and was held in a separate room for 4 hours while officials verified her identity. She explained that her facial structure had changed due to orthodontic braces and surgery, and even had to show them a membership card from a chain drugstore to prove she was not a criminal.

A Taiwanese publisher heading to the Frankfurt Book Fair faced trouble entering Germany after she was mistaken for a Chinese fugitive.

Cheng Ting
Publisher
I used to wear braces. I had five teeth removed and even had orthodontic screws. I used to have buck teeth, so I looked different. The officer said, “You’re from China, right?” I said I was from Taiwan. He looked confused and I was thinking, if they thought I was a Chinese fugitive, would they deport me to China?

Publisher Cheng Ting flew to Germany on Oct. 13 from Bangkok, where she had taken part in another book fair. But she got stuck at the German border, after failing an automated face ID check. She tried to explain the situation to officers, saying that her dental braces changed her facial structure. But she was taken to a separate room for four hours and was suspected of being a fugitive from China. Though she managed to clarify the misunderstanding, the incident had sparked concern in Taiwan.

Lin Chu-yin
Lawmaker (DPP)
Often, when we present our green ROC Taiwan passports, customs officials think they are fake. In this case, a membership card from a drugstore is what saved her. It was the only ID they accepted with her transliterated name on it.

A drugstore membership card became Cheng’s only proof of identity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it received a call from her asking for help.

Lin Chia-lung
Foreign minister
At the time of the incident, our representative office received a call from Ms. Cheng asking for help, and looked into the matter.

Eric Huang
MOFA Department of European Affairs
We will ask our representative office to get an explanation from Germany regarding the circumstances that led to this misunderstanding.

A travel influencer says that it’s best to carry multiple photo IDs when traveling abroad. And when renewing passports, bring the old one along as well just in case.

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

#bookfair #publisher #frankfurt #taiwan #germany #bucktooth #orthodontics #faceid #braces #fugitive #china #passport #travel #airport

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