Vandal decries NT$10 ticket hike at nature park with marker graffiti

Vandal decries NT$10 ticket hike at nature park with marker graffiti

2026-01-13

A nature vandal has taken issue with a recent price hike at Xitou Nature Education Area, leaving graffiti all over the park. Tree trunks, signs and furniture have appeared with messages scribbled in black marker complaining about the change and saying that the park was “bullying old people.” Since Jan. 1, visitors aged 65 and up have had to pay NT$10 more than before, for a grand total price of NT$40. Let’s hear more.

Sung Ying-ping
Xitou Nature Education Area
We’re going to have to use a more organic solvent like turpentine to remove the graffiti. We’ve reported the incident to the police, who will investigate the matter.

Visitor
Visiting Xitou
It’s alright. A few dozen dollars more isn’t a big deal.

Visitor
Disapproves of graffiti
You can express your opinion, but not through graffiti. It’s a form of violence and it’s not OK.

In the graffiti, the vandal alleged that the price increase was unjustifiable, but the park says otherwise. It says personnel costs have gone up, and several projects are underway to improve the facilities. What’s more, admission for older adults remains the cheapest out of all tickets in the park. Regular admission is now NT$250, an increase of NT$30, while other concession tickets stand at NT$200 and NT$130.

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

#park #nature #graffiti #vandalism #tree

溪頭65歲以上特惠票漲價! 樹木遭洩憤亂塗鴉

2026-01-13

南投溪頭自然教育園區，從今年元旦起調漲門票，其中針對65歲以上民眾的特惠票，從30元漲到40元，沒想到此舉引發民眾不滿，園區內樹木涼亭等多處地方，被寫下「欺負老人、漲價無理」的字眼，讓園方相當無奈，目前已經報警處理。

[[溪頭自然教育園區技士宋英平]]
“我們只能用松香水，那種比較有機溶劑的部份去做清除，那本案也已經通報警方，後續將由警察機關立案調查。”

[[遊客]]
“沒差，來運動差幾十塊沒差吧。”

[[遊客]]
“你可以溝通，這樣(亂塗鴉)是不行的，這樣是暴力的行為不行。”

溪頭自然教育園區，因為人事成本增加，加上園區內還有其他工程進行，考量營運成本，在今年元旦調整票價，全票從220元變成250元，優待票180元變成200元，半票110元調漲為130元，針對65歲以上民眾的特惠票，則是從30元漲至40元。

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

Taipei International Book Exhibition to open from Feb.3 until Feb. 8

The 34th Taipei International Book Exhibition will soon take place at the Taipei World Trade Center from Feb. 3 till Feb. 8.This year’s Guest of Honor country is Thailand. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a preview!

The 2026 Taipei International Book Exhibition will open this February, with Thailand as the Guest of Honor. The Thai Pavilion, themed “CreaTHAIvity,” will highlight the richness of Thailand’s cultural heritage, creativity, and diverse storytelling traditions. Eleven acclaimed Thai writers and illustrators will join the exhibition, offering readers an opportunity to directly engage with the writers.

Kallaya Leewongcharoen
Thai Trade Office director
“CreaTHAIvity" in this context means the embedded Thai living style into imagination. The highlights of the pavilion we will include elements that come from Thai culture, like we use the collectors. Two collectors from Ramaiken, which is the Thailand’s national epics, written by King Rama I of Thailand.

In addition, the Thailand Pavilion will feature more than 30 activities and performances, ranging from introductions to Thai cuisine and Muay Thai demonstrations to interactive sessions and lessons on Thai language and culture.

Rex How
Taipei Book Fair Foundation chairman
Thailand—through its advertising, films, music, diverse commercial ambitions, and as a regional hub in Southeast Asia—has been selected as the theme country. This year, their large-scale participation offers Taiwanese audiences and readers the chance to slowly gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of Thailand.

Kallaya Leewongcharoen
Thai Trade Office director
It is really an honor of Thailand to be part of Taipei International Book Exhibition 2026 as a Guest of Honor. We bring 37 book publishers to join us, so we have many cultural events as well. It isn’t only looking books in our pavilion, but also culture that visitors can enjoy.

This year’s theme is “Reading is Amazing.” Several other countries, including France, Belgium, Czechia, and India, will also exhibit at the event. The fair will host activities including book-signing events, lectures, performances, and DIY workshops.

Josué Serres
French Office in Taipei
The first one that I think is very interesting. Her name is Magali Le Huche. She is a very famous book illustrator for children. One of her most famous books in France is called Paco. This one. It is a book for children with music in it. You can listen to the music and also of course, read the story. Actually, it is one of the most favourite books of my son. So, it is very famous in France. I will be very glad to have her in Taiwan. She will of course, present her latest books and will also organize a live drawing exercise for the public with some music from the Beatles.

The Taipei International Book Exhibition will be held at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 from Feb. 3 until Feb. 8.

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

#TaipeiInternationalBookExhibition #TIBE #台北國際書展 #Thailand #Books #BookWorms #泰國 #Events

2026-01-13

Lantern Festival returns to Chiayi, incorporates Alishan in design

The early months of 2026 not only bring the Lunar New Year, but also the annual Taiwan Lantern Festival! Held in Chiayi this year for the third time, the main lantern is inspired by Alishan’s ancient trees and will have a light show every half hour. The handheld lanterns this year combine the Year of the Horse zodiac symbol with Taiwan’s tourism mascot OhBear, depicting the Taiwanese black bear riding a wooden horse.

The Taiwan Lantern Festival is returning to Chiayi this year for its 37th edition. Differing from previous years, this year’s main lantern is not centered around the Chinese zodiac.

At 21 meters tall, the main lantern is modeled after a towering tree, with the upper section featuring a circular ring that symbolizes the sun rising amid mountain peaks.

Yao Chung-han
Artist
For the last part, we will use the lantern’s light to showcase Taiwan’s technology. The light will transform the main lantern into another shape, and through this white light, we will offer a prayer for this land, a prayer for Taiwan.

The visual display takes the audience on a journey through Taiwan’s oceanic origins and development of life to the formation of civilization. This year’s festival, running from March 3 to 15, will also feature two secondary lanterns and 23 exhibition zones.

Weng Chang-liang
Chiayi County Commissioner
This time we coordinated with the Taiwan Railway and high-speed rail and will provide more than 20,000 parking spaces on site. Because it is only 13 days and the festival is so spectacular, we expect there will be lots of people, so we will do our best to make transportation smooth.

The handheld lanterns this year are irresistibly adorable, combining this year’s zodiac animal with Taiwan’s tourism mascot OhBear, showing the black bear playfully rocking on a wooden horse.

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

#TaiwanLanternFestival #Chiayi #YearoftheHorse #Alishan #ancientforest #sacredtree #OhBear #tourism #lanterns #lightshow

2026-01-13

7-Eleven ibon kiosks to offer tourism information nationwide

7-Elevens across the country will soon offer detailed travel information for foreign visitors. The Tourism Administration has announced a partnership with 7-Eleven to make the convenience store’s ibon kiosks a hub for tourist information in Chinese, English and Japanese. By scanning a QR code, foreign travelers can access up-to-date details on scenic spots, and upcoming festivals. Let’s take a closer look.

The Tourism Administration’s adorable mascot Oh Bear is on the same stage as 7-Eleven’s superstar mascot Open Chan in a rarely-seen coupling. The goal is to promote tourism in Taiwan.

As foreign tourists in Taiwan inevitably visit convenience stores, the Tourism Administration has signed an MOU with 7-Eleven to cooperate over tourism.

Chen Yu-hsiu
Tourism Administration Director General
We hoped there was an opportunity to cooperate with convenience stores so that people could obtain information. We are now emphasizing the simultaneous promotion of quality and quantity. We hope to provide our international travelers at the very least with complete information that they need.

Over 7,200 stores across Taiwan will be upgraded to “traveler convenience stores.” In the future, travelers will be simply able to scan a QR code at the ibon kiosks to obtain the most up-to-date and accurate travel information. Simultaneously an “Oh Bear AI Assistant” will be launched, providing comprehensive information on regional cuisines, tourist attractions and festivals.

Chen Yu-hsiu
Tourism Administration Director General
In the first phase, we will include information on attractions and services, including transportation, from various central government ministries. The second phase will add on information from local governments. In the third phase, we will also include the private sector. For example, we aim to be the top choice for searches for Michelin-starred restaurants or restaurants with 500 Plates ratings. This is a crucial strategy.

In addition, the Tourism Administration continues to promote its “Taiwan, the Lucky Land 2.0” campaign this year. Any international traveler who has visited Taiwan before and brings a new friend to travel in Taiwan will have the opportunity to be in a lucky draw for a consumption or accommodation voucher worth NT$5,000, with hopes that more international tourists can travel to Taiwan.

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

#tourism #taiwan #travel #taiwantravel

2026-01-13

’Crane King’ Hu Han-yen shows off multi-million-dollar Taipei home

Taiwan’s “Crane King” Hu Han-yen, the chairman of Chi Deh Crane Engineering Co, recently posted a video of his luxurious home in Taipei’s Ximending area, packed with opulent, high-end furnishings as a replica of his “white house” in Zhubei. He said that when he bought it over a decade ago, it was over NT$500,000 per ping. Now it’s worth more than NT$1 million per ping, leaving people in awe of his astounding returns.

The famous “Crane King” chairman of Chi Deh Crane Engineering Co, Hu Han-yen, recently posted a video to Facebook showing off his luxurious apartment in Taipei’s Ximending.

From its crystal chandeliers and golden chairs, to the gilded ceiling and walls, the space radiates opulence with its high-end furnishings. But the highlight? Natural light from three sides, with a 270-degree panoramic view of the city from the garden.

Hu Han-yen
Crane King
The Grand Hotel, Chinese Culture University, planes taking off from Songshan airport. Look, it’s beautiful. I’ve owned this place for over 10 years and I’ve still never spent a night in the master bedroom.

Hu’s Taipei apartment is in the heart of Ximending, a neighborhood coveted for its convenience. The 14-year-old, 27-story building modeled after the Burj Al Arab in Dubai is a landmark in the area. The ground floor houses the Japanese dollar store Don Quijote along with numerous other retailers. Over the past 14 years, property prices have soared.

Hu Han-yen
Crane King
I was right to invest in this property at the time. I bought it for NT$500,000 per ping. Now it’s worth more than NT$1 million.

Chen Ping-chen
Realtor
The average market price hovers around NT$800,000 per ping. We’ve even seen some transactions going for over NT$900,000. So there’s definitely room for appreciation for early investors at this stage. In the northern Wanhua area around Ximending, there are even presales going for over NT$1.4 million per ping.

With Taipei real-estate prices soaring as they are, people are impressed by the Crane King’s timely investment.

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

#CraneKing #realestate #Taipei #Ximending #HuHanyen #property #propertyprices #luxuryapartment #interiordesign #investment

2026-01-13

Endemic salmon airlifted to mountain river for conservation

2026-01-13

Korean cheerleader Lee Dahye responds to standup comedian

2026-01-13

Lai Jui-lung to run for Kaohsiung mayor for DPP

2026-01-13

Traveler loses Taiwanese nationality after Russia trip through travel agency

2026-01-13

Massive gold bar in New Taipei City Gold Museum now worth NT$1B+

2026-01-13

Fire dancer left with burns on face during mid-show mishap

2026-01-13