Taitung partners with Chiikawa for hot air balloon festival

Taitung partners with Chiikawa for hot air balloon festival

2026-04-06

The 2026 Taiwan International Balloon Festival is to begin on July 4. After pairing with the two major Japanese IP brands Hello Kitty and Doraemon, this year, the globally beloved Chiikawa is joining the lineup. The county is also planning the world’s first drone show featuring Chiikawa. With fans already this excited, the county predicts it will welcome over 1 million visitors again this year.

An adorable Doraemon hot air balloon takes to the sky, capturing everyone’s attention. Every year during the Taiwan International Balloon Festival, tens of thousands of people flock to Luye Highlands in Taitung to watch the balloons.

There’s also a Hello Kitty balloon that’s just as eye-catching. After already working with these two classic Japanese IPs, the popular Chiikawa is set to join the lineup this year. Adding to the hype ahead of a movie release at the end of July, Taitung has designed a special Chiikawa hot air balloon as well as a series of themed events.

Hung Kuo-chin
Taitung Tourism Department deputy director
It’s the first time Chiikawa mascots are to come to Taiwan, and we’ll hold Taiwan’s first meet-and-greet for Chiikawa. In addition, we will hold the world’s first Chiikawa-themed drone show here in Taitung on April 11.

Chiikawa will also be joined by friends Hachiware and Usagi. And with the world-first drone show on the horizon, fans are getting excited.

Hung Kuo-chin
Taitung Tourism Department deputy director
This year we have eight light installations and six drone and firework shows. We’d like to invite everyone who loves Chiikawa and hot air balloons to come to Taitung this summer and join us for this exciting event.

The Taiwan International Balloon Festival officially kicks off on July 4th. With Doraemon, Hello Kitty, and now also Chiikawa balloons to enjoy, this summer, everyone’s eyes will be on the skies over Taitung.

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

#hotairballoon #Chiikawa #HelloKitty #Doraemon #Taitung #balloonfestival #droneshow

全球首場無人機吉伊卡哇展演！台東攜手熱門IP萌度爆棚

2026-04-06

2026台灣國際熱氣球嘉年華會將在7月4號登場，繼日本2大IP，Hello Kitty和哆啦A夢之後，今年再找來火爆全球爆紅的吉伊卡哇助陣，更有全球首次和吉伊卡哇的無人機展演，讓粉絲超期待，縣府預估，今年遊客有機會再衝破百萬人次！

超萌哆啦A夢熱氣球緩緩升空，一亮相立刻成為全場焦點，每年台灣國際熱氣球嘉年華，台東縣鹿野高台湧入上萬民眾，卡位看熱氣球。

還有少女心爆發的Hello Kitty造型，同樣吸睛，繼兩大日本經典IP之後，今年再加碼，全球爆紅的吉伊卡哇正式加入，搭上7月底劇場版電影上映熱潮，台東不只推出全新造型熱氣球，還規劃一系列活動。

[[台東觀光處副處長洪國欽]]
“台灣第一次邀請吉伊卡娃人偶來到台灣跟大家見面，也將舉辦台灣第一場的人偶見面會，除此之外全世界唯一的第一次的無人機吉伊卡哇展演，也將在4月11號在台東的高空上面展演。”

不只主角登場，連吉伊卡哇的好朋友小八貓、免免也會一起現身互動，再加上全球首場吉伊卡哇與無人機展演，話題一次拉滿。

[[台東觀光處副處長洪國欽]]
“今年我們也搭配了8場光雕、6場無人機展演和煙火，所以邀請所有喜歡吉伊卡娃的好朋友，喜歡熱氣球的好朋友，今年暑假一定要來台東跟我們共襄盛舉。”

台灣國際熱氣球嘉年華7月4日正式登場，不只哆啦A夢、Hello Kitty，更重棒邀請吉伊卡哇加入熱氣球行列，今年暑假，台東天空不只熱鬧，還可愛到讓人捨不得眨眼。

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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Endangered Formosan landlocked salmon natural offspring found

People recently saw a group of newly hatched Formosan landlocked salmon in the Qijiawan River, showing that the species is now naturally reproducing and has overcome the threat of extinction. This endangered species is endemic to Taiwan and its population had dwindled to just over 200 in the 1980s. Years of conservation efforts by public and private agencies have helped the fish rebound.

A school of small gray fish swim energetically in the river. They may seem ordinary, but these are Formosan landlocked salmon, an endangered species endemic to Taiwan.

Liao Lin-yen
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Formosan landlocked salmon begin hatching in November. They rise to the surface after about 90 days at around 10 degrees Celsius, so these fish look to be about two months old.

These treasured baby fish were seen in February. The Taiwan Salmon Eco Center said it has waited a long time for this moment, as the species was on the verge of extinction with a population of only 200 in the 1980s. Over the past 30 years, the Shei-Pa National Park has restored habitats and released fish fry, helping the population to recover.

Liao Lin-yen
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In addition to maintaining a core population in the Qijiawan River, our restoration efforts have covered the Hehuan, Nanhu, and other rivers. Over the past five years the population has been over 15,000, reducing the risk of extinction. But facing climate change, typhoons, and drought, I think we need to work more to create additional habitats for them across these rivers.

The baby Formosan landlocked salmon found in the Qijiawan River prove that the fish can naturally reproduce and is no longer in danger of extinction. But as climate change and human activity continues to threaten habitats, conservation requires ongoing efforts.

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

#conservation #endangered #extinction #Formosanlandlockedsalmon #fish #ecology #climatechange #restoration #recovery

2026-04-06

Creative spin blends east and west at traditional banquets

Southern Taiwan is known for its extravagant and luxurious banquet culture but that doesn’t mean that the master chefs involved aren’t looking for ways to innovate old traditions. A Po, a creative Tainan-based chef, serves up a deluxe sushi platter adorned with artistically-arranged cut apples and flowers. He also makes a mullet roe salad cup that fuses Eastern and Western cuisines. Let’s find out more.

This sashimi platter, adorned with intricate carved garnishes and floral decorations, is presented in a luxurious manner reminiscent of an emperor’s banquet. There’s also a mullet roe salad cup, featuring whole grilled mullet roe topped with apple slices and romaine lettuce. It’s a veritable fusion of East and West.

A Tainan-based banquet chef, A-po, with 13 years of experience, has even found creative ways to elevate post-meal fruit platters. His newly launched “Nine-Compartment Fruit Box” is presented like a bento box; each box contains nine kinds of seasonal fruit, arranged in an exquisite display that is truly eye-catching.

Member of the public
Commenting on new banquets
I’ve never received this kind of fruit gift box before. When I attended weddings in the past, it was usually just a single fruit tower, so I feel the host is extremely sincere and generous.

Member of the public
Commenting on new banquets
These days, banquets are getting more and more extravagant. If I received one, I would be very happy, it would feel like the host is showing great sincerity.

A-po
Banquet manager
We use relatively sweeter and fresher seasonal fruits, packaged in a nine-compartment fruit box. It’s bold yet refined. It also is a way for guests to take any leftovers home.

In the past, some master chefs have presented lobster cold dishes in gift boxes, packed whole abalone and fruit jelly into pull-top cans, and even showcased rows of giant prawns. Southern banquet culture is bold and extravagant, with each event posing a new creative challenge.

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

#Taiwancuisine #Taiwanbanquets #fusioncuisine

2026-04-06

Restaurant offers modern twists on traditional Shanghai dishes

Have you ever tried a Shanghai salad? This famous dish, a variation on potato salad, was developed in the 1930s when many foreigners were living in Shanghai.Now a restaurant in Taipei is serving its own version, presented to look like a small garden, with dark biscuit crumbs making a layer of “soil” over the potatoes.

This may look like a miniature garden, but it’s entirely edible! Hidden underneath the “soil” made of biscuit crumbs is a soft potato salad with avocado and ham.

The potatoes and ham are cut into cubes, then the chef adds fresh avocado and dressing before tossing the salad.

Balsamic vinegar is also added for a bit of sourness.

The chef sprinkles a full layer of biscuit crumbs over the salad, then adds asparagus, carrots, mushrooms, and even some flowers, making the dish look like a miniature garden.

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In Shanghai at that time, there were lots of foreign businesspeople in the concessions. Pretty much every restaurant in Shanghai would serve a potato salad.

Shrimp are also essential to Shanghai cuisine, like in this cold noodle dish. The chilled noodles absorb the flavor of the sauce, which has been simmered with lobster and Sichuan peppers.

After being cooked, the noodles are soaked in an ice bath to give them a springier texture.

The shrimp are then fried in a wok on low heat, keeping them tender, and then rinsed to remove any excess oil.

Finally, the shrimp are stir-fried with Shaoxing wine to bring out their flavor. They’re placed on top of the noodles, followed by a drizzle of lobster sauce and pepper oil. Lemon and kumquat slices are added for a finishing touch.

Tsai Cheng-hung
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The broth is made by simmering fresh lobster heads for about four hours. With the lemon, the flavor is more suitable for the summer.

The restaurant even offers special watermelon buns, which are decorated by hand and filled with a salted egg and watermelon seed custard. Full of creativity, this restaurant is offering modern twists on traditional Shanghai cuisine.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#restaurant #potatosalad #Shanghai #Shanghaisalad #Shanghaicuisine #shrimp #coldnoodles

2026-04-06

Authentic Tainan night market experience at Tokyo Skytree Town

The “Taiwan Matsuri” festival is celebrating its tenth year bringing Taiwan’s night market experience to Japan. Last weekend, the largest-ever Taiwan Matsuri event kicked off at Tokyo Skytree Town, with support from the Tainan City Government. Until May 31st, visitors to the famous Japanese landmark can also teleport to Taiwan’s historic capital.

Meng Chia-mei
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Relax with a typical Taiwanese massage and enjoy a fried chicken larger than the face. You might think you’re at a Taiwanese night market, but no, this is actually Tokyo Skytree Town.

This is the largest “Taiwan Matsuri” event ever held in Japan. To celebrate ten years of Taiwan’s night market experience up north, the organizer has teamed up with the Tainan City Government and brought the city’s famous hand-painted lanterns and various night market snacks all the way to Tokyo, more than 2,000km away.

Visitor
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Braised pork rice, yes, braised pork rice, because I really like pork. I’ve never been to Taiwan. I’d love to if I have the opportunity.

Visitor
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I think the fried chicken cutlet is really delicious. It has a crunchy coating. It’s really delicious. I’ve never been to Taiwan. I really want to go visit.

Koah-pau, boba, and other Taiwanese classics can all be found in Tokyo, delighting the senses. Fried chicken cutlet seems to be a favorite in Tokyo. Even though one portion would set you back NT$240, multiple times more expensive than in Taiwan, the stall still sold 1,000 in a single day.

Wu Chen-wei
Taiwan Matsuri in Tokyo Skytree Town
We hold this event at Tokyo Skytree every year. This year, we expect 1.5 times bigger a crowd than last year, because we’ve expanded operations and emphasized Taiwan in our promo. Most customers are Japanese, but because we’re at a tourist attraction, there are also quite many customers from other foreign countries.

Organizers hope cultural exchanges with local Japanese will boost Taiwan tourism. The Japanese were the largest tourist group to Taiwan by nationality in 2025, numbered at 1.48 million and accounting for 17.3% of all international visitors. However, in the same year, Taiwanese made 6.73 million trips to Japan. The industry hopes to balance the numbers.

Wang Fu-min
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According to our stats, Japanese tourists usually spend about three days and two nights, and they tend to spend all three days and two nights in Taipei alone. But Southern Taiwan, or even Eastern Taiwan would benefit from more campaigning on our part. What’s more, we currently have eight flights a day between Songshan Airport and Haneda Airport, and once they arrive at Songshan Airport, with just a few steps, they can take a domestic flight and travel to Kinmen.

Getting international tourists to expand their footprint beyond the capital city may be the key to boosting Taiwan tourism among the Japanese.

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Russian-born bus driver experiences Taiwan’s chaotic road traffic: exclusive

A Russian-born bus driver in Kaohsiung gets to experience Taiwan’s infamous traffic first-hand. This weekend, he was blocked by a passenger car that stopped for no reason in front of him at an intersection, just as he was about to head to the next stop. The driver even went as far as to approach him, seemingly attempting to intimidate him. His name in Mandarin is Lin Ya-li, and he’s been in Taiwan for seven years now, was not fazed. The passenger car driver knew he was in the wrong, and left duly when the bus driver suggested calling the police. Although he didn’t report the incident himself, the police say they’ll deal with the car driver accordingly. Let’s hear from the bus driver himself in our exclusive report.

In this video captured by a member of the public at an intersection, a gunmetal grey car is blocking a bus. The car driver steps out and approaches the bus driver, who’s on the driver’s seat on the bus’s left-hand side. Seemingly unhappy, he yells at the bus driver. It seems as though the two are in a traffic dispute.

The bus’s dashcam footage reveals how things came to be. The bus had just stopped at Jiangong Road when it was closely followed by the grey car. The driver wanted to overtake the bus from the right, but that was when the bus was about to depart and also switched towards the left lane.

The bus driver then rolled down the window and gestured a thumbs-up. The car driver slowed down just as it overtook the bus, but then he stopped and blocked the bus. That was when the car driver approached the bus driver.

- So you just won’t yield to the bus, is that correct?
- Why must you drive over to my side?
- Let me ask you a question…
- Did you not break traffic rules?
- How about I call the police? Yes or no?

Only when the bus driver threatened to call the police did he drive off.

Tseng Chao-yuan
Jueming Police Station, Kaohsiung
In the footage, the passenger car stopped in the middle of the lane while driving, not due to an emergency. It’s a violation of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, subject to a fine of NT$6,000 to NT$36,000, an immediate ban on driving and a 6-month suspension of the vehicle’s license plate.

As for the bus driver, he’s a Russian-born permanent resident in Taiwan, known in Mandarin as Lin Ya-li. He’s been in Taiwan for seven years now. He used to be a truck driver, but switched to buses four months ago. This was the first time he’s caught in a traffic dispute. Fortunately, he quickly resolved the issue by remaining calm, but even before this incident, he’s already developed mixed feelings toward Taiwan’s road traffic, especially in the south.

- What do you think about Taiwan’s traffic?
- Hahaha…

Lin Ya-li
Bus driver
You may have already turned on a turn signal, but drivers that just won’t yield to you may even double down and go faster. Scooters are on all sides of your bus. They’d completely encircle the bus. How am I supposed to drive? Every day I go home exhausted, not physically but mentally.

He also says that it’s a lot more difficult to obtain a driver’s license in Russia than in Taiwan, and traffic law enforcement is also stricter.

Lin Ya-li
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It’s really strict in my country. It doesn’t matter what kind of vehicle you’re driving. If you cross the double white lines, even just by the tiniest bit, you’ll have your license suspended for six months.

Coming from a country with stricter traffic rules, it’s no wonder passengers are satisfied with his careful and smooth driving.

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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Onlookers unsettled as 100+ prostrate themselves on street

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A large group of people wearing red walk side by side in twos with their hands clasped and praying as they move. But then…

The red-clad believers fall to their knees and prostrate themselves on the ground. The strange ritual shocked passersby, and video of their moves was uploaded online, receiving comments like, “What kind of cult ritual is this?”

Member of public
Commenting on rite
I don’t know. They weren’t doing any harm. No harm, but no good either. I don’t know what they were doing. It lasted about 15 minutes.

Member of public
Commenting on rite
It was very abrupt and strange. They shouldn’t do that in crowded areas. Maybe in the outskirts it would be better.

The peculiar parade was organized by the China Body Mind Spirit Capacity Association and started at 3 in the afternoon on Tomb Sweeping Festival, around the Taoyuan Arts Center. Members say it was a city-cleansing ritual, an event bringing together body, mind and spiritual practice to fill urban spaces with positive energy.

Cheng Chi-chi
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We applied for the relevant permits and coordinated the event with volunteers to direct traffic. The ritual is meant to connect our minds with the earth and thank the earth for all the plentiful resources it gives us.

The city cleansing brought together more than 100 participants and it is a practice that has even been recognized by Guinness World Records. Though participants say they aimed to spread positive energy, for some onlookers it was simply an unsettling sight.

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

#cult #parade #red #uniforms #taoyuan #performance

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