Indoor ski school creates winter wonderland in hot Kaohsiung

Indoor ski school creates winter wonderland in hot Kaohsiung

2026-03-09

Kaohsiung certainly never snows, so winter sports enthusiasts often take advantage of their holidays to chase slopes abroad. But now, the city has its very own ski school. It’s gotten popular recently, averaging over a dozen customers daily during the peak season. It even has a winter wonderland with temperatures kept at 3 degrees below zero, where visitors can play around in the softly falling powder constantly generated by snow machines.

Following their instructor’s directions, students put on ski boots, protective padding, and helmets in preparation for their lesson.

They’re here to learn how to ski. Standing on an indoor slope simulator, they learn how to keep still as the machine starts up to practice their stance. Then they glide down slowly, getting a feel for the sport.

Student
Learning to ski
I skied once many years ago. It was a pretty good experience. But since it’s been a while, it feels a little awkward. I’m afraid I’ll end up rolling down the mountain. So I figured I should take a class first.

Student
Learning to ski
I wanted to learn before going to Japan to ski so that I won’t be as afraid or nervous. I think it’s great. The instructors here are also very attentive. They’ll give attention to every student. It makes learning easy and fun.

With the instructor monitoring their movements and adjusting their posture, the students gradually become familiar with skiing techniques.

Yin Yin
Ski school assistant manager
We’re special as the first ski school in southern Taiwan. We all underwent professional training before becoming instructors. Skiing started getting pretty popular last year, so by now we’ve grown by 20 or 30%.

The school also has a slope where kids can go sledding and enjoy the delights of a winter wonderland right here in Kaohsiung—no need to travel abroad.

The business spent thousands to import a snow machine, keeping the temperature at 3 degrees below zero to create an indoor snowscape. Families have a blast playing in the powdery snow.

Visitor
Experiencing snow
I figured, since there’s snow here, I can bring the kids to come experience it. His sister came to play as well. They’re having such a good time together. It’s also the only place in southern Taiwan. We’re from Tainan.

It might not snow in Kaohsiung, but that’s no problem. Coming here to get a taste of a snowy winter is just as good.

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

#snow #skiing #wintersports #skischool #indoorslope #Kaohsiung #winterwonderland #sledding #wintertravel

高雄也能"滑雪"? 高雄滑雪學校享受室內滑雪趣

2026-03-09

高雄不會下雪，因此許多民眾都喜歡趁著假期出國滑雪，而高雄第一間成立的滑雪學校，近期相當熱門，旺季業者平均每天都接十幾組客人，特別的是，他們還有溫度零下三度的飄雪樂園，飄雪機不斷噴出細緻雪花，讓遊客體驗粉雪樂趣。

在教練的指導下，穿上滑雪鞋，戴好護具與安全帽，學員們準備進行滑雪課程。

他們要學習的是雙板滑雪，站上室內滑雪機，隨著機台啟動，學員有時固定原地、練習站姿，有時緩緩往下溜，感受滑行。

[[滑雪學員]]
“很多年前我們其實有滑過一次，那經驗還不錯，那因為隔有點久了，就是有點生疏，就很怕就是說會連滾帶爬的下山，想說提前先來上一下課這樣”

[[滑雪學員]]
“想說去日本滑雪的時候，先來學一下，比較不會害怕，比較不會緊張，我覺得很棒，而且這裡的教練還蠻細心蠻仔細的，會照顧到每個學員，我們學習起來非常的輕鬆，非常的愉快”

有了教練幫忙盯動作並調整姿勢，學員漸漸熟悉滑雪技巧。

[[滑雪學校副店長茵茵]]
“特色的話，我們是南部的話是第一間的滑雪學校，我們都是有經過專業培訓後，才成為教練的，以去年來說，其實滑雪它就開始變得蠻熱門，所以到現在的話有兩到三成的成長”

這裡還有飄雪樂園，小朋友坐上雪橇車，從上往下滑，不用出國就能在高雄，感受到雪國魅力。

業者千萬引進國外的飄雪機，讓室內空間雪花紛飛，溫度約在負三度，地面上的人造雪，是質地細緻的粉雪，民眾攜家帶眷，玩的超開心。

[[民眾]]
“想說這有雪，可以讓小朋友來體驗一下，最主要是他姊姊來玩的啦，小寶寶就一起，非常開心，也是南部唯一，因為我們從台南來的”

高雄不下雪，但沒有關係，民眾走進飄雪樂園偽出國，也是好選擇。

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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Pay-upon-delivery ‘ghost packages’ now the most common scam

Investment scams, in which victims are gradually lured into parting with large amounts of money for non-existing returns, are no longer scammers’ most-utilized method. Instead, they now favor “ghost packages,” in which the victim believes they’re shopping online, only to receive nothing after paying upon delivery. For scammers, it’s a low-stakes method, because victims usually accept the relatively small losses and tend not to seek remedy or report the case to authorities. However, the police is encouraging victims to still report the cases and reminding them that they can apply for a refund with the convenience store where the package was delivered.

The shopper cuts open the package and finds nothing inside, after forking out some cash.

They’re not the only victim of this scam. Last year, singer and TV personality Fifi Yu wrote on social media that she paid a bit over NT$1,300 for a package, only to receive a bag of packing material. According to the National Police Agency, reported losses from scam totaled more than NT$6 billion, and “ghost package” delivery scam was the most common method.

Chuang Ming-hsiung
Central Investigation Bureau
Scammers are taking advantage of the fact that victims have no way of tracing the source of the package once they paid and found out that they did not receive what they expected to. The sum victims paid ends up becoming losses to scam, and there’s no recourse.

The police showed us a fake online shopping website created by scammers. It looks almost legitimate, save for a few details upon closer inspection.

Chuang Ming-hsiung
Central Investigation Bureau
The address of most e-commerce websites ends with .com.tw or .org .tw for some organizations. Recently, there are fishy-looking websites that end with .store.biss.cc selling heavily discounted goods. People must pay attention in these cases.

Despite scam awareness-raising campaigns by the police, members of the public still fall prey to “ghost packages.” It’s becoming scammers’ favorite because victims tend to let things slide, seeing that most losses aren’t large in sum.

Chuang Ming-hsiung
Central Investigation Bureau
There’s a refunding mechanism available in all four major convenience stores. You can apply for a refund using the in-store kiosk system, such as ibon, specify details of the package, including serial codes and other delivery information, and get refunded within a certain period of time.

The police is encouraging people not to let petty scams like “ghost packages” slide. Even though the losses aren’t great, it’s still your own hard-earned cash.

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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CCP’s infiltration of Taiwan’s military broadens to include rank-and-file soldiers

China has long been targeting Taiwan’s military for infiltration, but it used to mainly target high-ranking retired generals. Not anymore. Security experts say its strategy has changed in recent years to also target rank-and-file soldiers. Experts say that just finding out the morale in these grassroots units can help China determine their combat effectiveness. CCP agents often initially offer soldiers loans and later on offer to waive their debts or interest payments if they hand over information. Let’s find out more.

We are at the Zuoying military district in Kaohsiung, home to Taiwan’s largest naval base. Recently, a series of Chinese espionage infiltration cases have been reported.

- They’ll come to develop new areas because we have a lot of military personnel here.
- Are they targeting military personnel?
- I think so.

This young woman in the photo is soliciting people to fill out questionnaires on bustling Zuoying Avenue. On the surface, she is introducing investment and financial management opportunities, but in reality, it may be a CCP trap.

Mr. Wu (voice altered)
Retired Zuoying military region officer
The questionnaire asks what your current occupation and social class are, and then tells you that we offer small loans. People in need will actually call that number.

If a soldier is unable to repay the debt, they may be required to provide military intelligence to write the debt off.

Mr. Wu (voice altered)
Retired Zuoying military region officer
These documents or manuals are harmless and not confidential, so I’ll just take photos of them and we can just waive the interest for this period

A National Security Bureau analysis shows in recent years, the CCP has been targeting active-duty rank-and-file military personnel for infiltration. But why are these rank-and-file soldiers, who clearly have no access to classified intelligence, becoming infiltration targets?

Shen Ming-shih
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
If he just tells you what kind of weapons they have, and what the resistance will or combat morale of the rank-and-file soldiers is like, that alone provides the CCP with a very solid basis for assessing the combat effectiveness of the unit.

For rank-and-file soldiers, who may fall into a treason trap over a few tens of thousands of New Taiwan dollars, is there a "stop-loss mechanism" and a relevant legal system in place?

Hsu Kai-chieh
Taipei District Court
Once he realizes that his actions won’t be punished, we can actually take control of this so-called infiltration line and use it to feed him more of this so-called false intelligence, thereby getting him to do even more.

The CCP’s infiltration of Taiwan is already being deployed systematically. Addressing legal loopholes and maintaining the first line of defense is not just a challenge for the military—it is a national security crisis that society as a whole must confront.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#Chinesespies #Chineseinfiltration #Taiwanespionage #counterintelligence

2026-03-09

Beyblade buyer takes seller to court over 0.06g disparity

Two Beyblade fans in Taiwan have taken the game so seriously that they’ve ended up in court. For the uninitiated, Beyblade is a game played with spinning tops that are battled against each other, so metrics such as weight and speed are key to winning. Recently in Taiwan, a player bought a spinning top advertised as weighing 37.95g on Facebook. But he was horrified when he found that the top he received was actually underweight by 0.06g, or about the weight of 5 staples. He asked for a refund, but the seller refused, and now they are going to court.

3, 2, 1, Let it Rip! Beyblades are launched onto the arena spinning as fast as can be and knocking into each other. The first one down loses. It’s a fun game. But for two fans, it’s serious business, and they’re going to court because of it.

The grievance started after a buyer purchased a 37.95g Beyblade on Facebook. But when he received it, he weighed it and noticed it was 0.06g lighter than advertised. He found it unacceptable and told the seller so, asking for a refund. The seller refused, saying the disparity could be due to the tuning of the weighing scale. After a dispute, the buyer was so furious he decided to sue.

Mr. Hsu
Blader
I think most players would be OK with it, if there’s a small discrepancy. But it’s inevitable that some people would like to stir up trouble.

So just how heavy is 0.06g? Is the drama justified? A regular sheet of paper weighs 5.29g, a piece of toilet paper, 1.84g. Ultrathin weighing paper is just 0.27g, but that’s still heavier than the 0.06g from the dispute. We put five small staples on the scale to finally reach the minute amount. Surely such a minuscule weight difference can’t have such a big impact, right?

Mr. Hsu
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Some players might take a look at big data and think that a certain weight is better, and if it’s a bit lighter it could be a bit worse. But it’s really just a reference. Heavy doesn’t guarantee the win, and lighter doesn’t mean you’ll lose.

Such an infinitesimal difference isn’t decisive for victory, but trying to convince the buyer any other way seems like a no-go at this point. Now, it’s up to the courts to decide.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Stuart Fairchild thanks Taiwan fans for outpouring of support

A new baseball star is on the rise in Taiwan. It’s none other than Taiwanese-American MLB player Stuart Fairchild, known locally as Feizai. Fairchild put on a stunning show at the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo, where he represented his mother’s home country for the first time. During the competition, he crammed in two home runs in just four games, helping lead Taiwan to victory. He says the experience has been dreamlike, and is very grateful to all the support from the fans.

- I am the lucky boy.

With a few words in Taigi, Fairchild melted his fans’ hearts.

Stuart Fairchild
Baseball player
I just want to say, thank you so much for your support during the WBC. I’ve had an absolute blast, and this entire time has felt like a dream.

It was the first time that the Taiwanese-American MLB player played for his mother’s home country at the World Baseball Classic. The outpouring of love from the fans left a deep impression on him.

From the moment he landed at the airport, he was greeted with boundless admiration. Though it was his first time sporting the Team Taiwan uniform, he made an indelible mark in baseball history, hitting two home runs, driving in six runs, scoring five runs and stealing three bases, all in four games.

Stuart Fairchild
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It’s been so fun getting to know my team, and the coaches and the staff here, as well as all you fans who have shown us nothing but love. We appreciate it so much and we love you.

Fairchild is overwhelmed with the support he’s received. He and his wife say they have had a wonderful time.

Stuart Fairchild
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We’ll see you soon in Taiwan.

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His wife is not just passionate about the sport, but also about Ou-Gao, Team Taiwan’s black dog mascot.

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Beijing angered after premier goes to baseball game in Tokyo

Among the fans watching Team Taiwan play at Tokyo Dome this past week was none other than Taiwan’s premier, Cho Jung-tai. His presence at the competition was remarked upon by baseball fans. But not just that, it also marked a new milestone bilateral relations between Taiwan and Japan, which ended up triggering the wrath of Beijing. That’s because Cho’s visit to Japan is the first by any sitting premier of Taiwan since the two countries severed diplomatic ties. According to Japanese media, China immediately contacted Japan’s embassy in China to condemn Cho’s visit. Japan reportedly replied that Cho was visiting in a personal capacity, and that his trip was in line with the Japan-China Joint Communique of 1972. Let’s hear more.

Voice of Yaita Akio
Indo-Pacific Strategy Thinktank
Whenever Taiwan makes any kind of diplomatic effort, China complains. But what’s most beneficial for Taiwan this time around is that Cho Jung-tai had already returned to Taiwan by the time that China found out. China-Japan relations are in bad shape, and China hasn’t been left with many cards to play. That is quite good for Taiwan’s diplomacy.

Ho Hsin-chun
Lawmaker (DPP)
Premier Cho Jung-tai was able to step on Japanese soil. They explained it very clearly. It was a visit made in a personal capacity to watch the World Baseball Classic. If you want to watch the baseball games and cheer for Team Taiwan, it’s something everyone can do. We’re all in this together. It’s a wonderful thing.

Chuang Jui-hsiung
DPP Legislative Caucus
Regardless of what capacity Premier Cho Jung-tai went to Japan in, I feel that everyone definitely feels that it is a breakthrough in Taiwan-Japan relations. China’s cries are to be expected, but this time the KMT was quicker than Beijing to get mad.

Cho’s visit to Tokyo angered China and also the opposition KMT. KMT Caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang demanded that Cho provide receipts to prove that it was a private trip paid for by himself. In response, the DPP says that it’s unthinkable that officials or legislators would be required to justify their every private expense. Pundits say the KMT is trying to force Cho into saying the trip was a diplomatic affair, in order to give China room to involve itself in the matter.

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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WTCC holds conference in Sydney, Australia, revealing FM’s stopover

The World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce is holding a semi-annual conference, attended by Taiwan’s global business community, in Sydney, Australia. At the opening ceremony on Monday morning, Taiwan’s leadership delivered remarks, either in person or via a pre-recorded video. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung’s pre-recorded video surprised everyone, as it was recorded right in front of the Sydney Opera House when he stopped by over the weekend.

The 32nd semi-annual conference of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce, or WTCC, has kicked off in Sydney, Australia. The opening ceremony on Monday morning has a surprise for everyone.

Johnson Hsiung
WTCC Chair
Minister Lin could not attend our conference in person due to his busy schedule, but he still made a pre-recorded video in front of the Opera House to wish our event a success.

Wang Yun-hsuan
FTV reporter
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung was on a state visit to Tuvalu last week. Upon returning, he stopped over in Australia. He’s also made a mark at this LED billboard in the ICC Sydney.

The foreign minister’s rare stopover in Australia was recorded and featured at the WTCC conference.

Lin Chia-lung
Foreign Minister
Sydney is a city which I emulate in my tenure to promote meetings, exhibitions, events and festivities. Today, Taiwan’s business communities from the world over are gathered here to devise the future of WTCC, as well as promote Taiwan’s global connections and welcome the world to Taiwan.

Chiang Chi-cheng
Deputy Legislative Speaker
We all hope to further improve bilateral relations, and of course exchanges between officials comprise a part of closer bilateral relations.

Lin Chu-yin
Lawmaker (DPP)
Taiwan is now an indispensable partner for international society and liberal democracies. You can see this in Premier Cho Jung-tai’s personal trip to watch a baseball game at Japan’s Tokyo Dome, as an incumbent premier. We’ve also witnessed how our foreign minister took Taiwan to the world through a series of events and engagements.

President Lai Ching-te also gave remarks via a pre-recorded video before the foreign minister. After 14 years, the WTCC’s conference is being held in Australia again, during which two MOUs were signed with Fu Jen Catholic University to promote alliances between Taiwanese overseas businesses and the university, as well as facilitating overseas Taiwanese of age to study in Taiwan.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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