Romantic road trip takes a wrong turn to get stuck on sandy beach

Romantic road trip takes a wrong turn to get stuck on sandy beach

2026-05-26

On Monday, a couple from Hong Kong got their rented car stuck on a sandy beach in Taitung on their romantic road trip. They saw a four-wheeler driving onto the beach, and followed without hesitation. But their car was simply not built for it. Without sufficient power, the car only sank deeper into the sand with the press of the accelerator. Eventually, they got help from the police, turning the nightmarish scenario into just a small hiccup to never forget.

A white sedan is stuck on the sandy beach. A man in black tries to lift it up from a tire with a large piece of wood, but it’s no use. The car won’t move an inch.

Driving it away is also out of the question. Worse, the push of the accelerator only forces the vehicle deeper into the sand. As the waves come ever closer, the driver has no other option but to call the police for help.

- Nobody’s hurt?
- No.
- Only the car’s stuck.
- The sea water was closer just now, and the car couldn’t move.

The incident occurred on Monday, at Zhiben Beach in Taitung, to a couple from Hong Kong. They were on a road trip with a rented car. When they saw an off-road vehicle moving toward the sandy beach, they followed without hesitation. But as soon as the wheels touched the sand, the vehicle sunk right in and couldn’t break free.

- Those cars are four-wheel drive.
- Yours is a two-wheel drive only.

When the police and rescuers arrived, they had thought that couple might have gotten trapped. But luckily, all they needed to do was to free the vehicle from the sand, using a four-wheel drive vehicle with a winch. In the end, it was a largely harmless and unforgettable experience on the couple’s road trip.

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

#taitung #taiwantravel #roadtrip #beach #goodtoknow

香港遊客浪漫看海變調開車闖沙灘受困求救

2026-05-26

昨天(25)一對香港遊客租車到台東知本海邊遊玩，看見吉普車能直接開上沙灘，以為一般轎車也沒問題，沒想到一下沙地，整輛車立刻卡死，越踩油門陷越深，眼看海浪越來越靠近，趕緊報警求救。

白色汽車深陷沙灘動彈不得，黑衣男子拿著巨大木頭，試圖把輪胎撐起來脫困，但不管怎麼撬，車子依舊卡得死死的，完全沒反應。

即便猛踩油門、試圖催動引擎，輪胎狂噴沙塵，車子卻越陷越深，眼看海浪一步步逼近，駕駛趕緊報警求救。

-都沒有受傷 ?
-沒有沒有
-就是車卡住
-就剛剛那海水比較近，車沒辦法(動)

事發在台東知本海灘，週一(25)一對來自香港的遊客租車自駕出遊，看到有吉普車直接開上沙灘，以為一般汽車也能「跟風」，沒想到才剛開下沙地沒多久，前輪立刻陷進鬆軟沙堆，整輛車卡住整整一個多小時，進退兩難。

-他們(吉普車)那四個輪子都有動力
-那你們(車)就只有兩個

警消獲報到場，原本以為有人受困受傷，沒想到竟然深陷沙坑，最後找來具備四輪傳動和絞盤功能的車輛，協助拖救，才終於順利脫困，也讓這趟台東行，意外成了香港遊客的「沙灘冒險記」。

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民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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18-yo Una Lin named Red Bull Dance Your Style Northeast champion

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She dances confidently and energetically to the music, her steps full of power. Every beat and movement is precise and on point, drawing cheers and excitement from the audience.

Participants dance to an unpredictable, genre-spanning DJ playlist, taking freestyle to the next level. Taiwan-born Una Lin was the crowd favorite, making her the US Northeast champion of Red Bull Dance Your Style, an international competition.

Una Lin
Dancer
I’ve played this scene countless times in my head. Every time I’m lying on the bed, I’d picture how wonderful it would be to take this stage someday. I’ve really done it. It’s like my dream has come true.

Lin says her mind went blank when she was announced as the winner. Moreover, she did not imagine that she would even be able to compete in the Northeast regional round, having been eliminated in the New York City Qualifier. Only later did she realize there was a second chance.

Una Lin
Dancer
Later, I saw that there was going to be a regional round, and it’s open to two additional contestants that weren’t invited, meaning anyone could compete for the two additional slots. There were many, many sessions that day, ten, I recall. When I was five I started with ballet in extracurricular group classes, also folk dance and contemporary dance. It was later that I turned to street dance. I’ve been practicing street dance for ten years now.

Drawing on her varied dance repertoire, Lin got the crowd’s seal of approval with a stunning performance that’s since gone viral. Even the likes of Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and former President Tsai Ing-wen have left comments to wish her the best. In September, Lin will be competing in the US nation-wide round. She also says that she wishes to compete for Taiwan someday.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Chiayi student records 300 book reviews for NT$50 rewards

To encourage kids to read, the Taiwan Rural Children’s Education Foundation is offering a NT$50 reward for every three-to-five-minute book review students post online. One elementary schooler surnamed Lai in Chiayi has uploaded over 300 videos in the past three years. He said he plans to save the money to take care of his grandma when she gets older.

Holding a book in front of the camera, a student shares her thoughts after reading it.

Each student is fully invested in the task, not just because they’re learning, but also because they can earn money.

Student
Shih-Tzu Elementary
You can get NT$50 for recording a three-to-five-minute video, so I’m really happy. I’ll keep at it!

Student
Shih-Tzu Elementary
I think reading is really important. I’ve learned a lot of new things.

Hsu Hsiu-ching
Shih-Tzu Elementary principal
NT$50 is a lot for students in rural areas, since many families around here aren’t very well off.

The Taiwan Rural Children’s Education Foundation launched this initiative to encourage kids to read. All they have to do is upload a video, and they’ll get NT$50.

One fourth grader at Yun Shui Elementary has already uploaded an impressive 300 videos.

Lai Ching-chang
Yun Shui Elementary student
I’ve saved up since first grade until now in fourth grade, and earned more than NT$10,000. When my grandma and mom get old, I want to take care of them.

Teacher
Yun Shui Elementary
Reading itself brings a sense of accomplishment. When you add earning pocket money on top of that, it brings a different kind of joy and fulfillment.

The student happily shows off his piggy bank, where he has NT$15,000 saved up. It’s the accumulation of all his hard work over the years.

Grandmother
Grateful for Lai
I’m so grateful for him. But I hope that he’ll use the money for further education.

Mother
Cheers for Lai
We’ll always share his videos with the whole family. Everyone cheers him on.

Luo Ji-zhi
Foundation executive director
The number of participating schools is growing, so our expenses are far outstripping our funding. We hope the public can support our work so we can help more children in rural communities.

Since its founding over three years ago, the foundation has invested millions into serving rural elementary schools across Taiwan. They’re hoping more people will chip in so they can keep inspiring kids to learn.

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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Spray paint artist Chen Jo-xin makes a splash with her urban murals

Spray-painted graffiti can be seen around Taiwan’s streets and alleys, but did you know spray painting is a form of art? Spray paint artist Chen Jo-xin, who has formal art qualifications, takes commissions from clients and has been running her own studio for five years. She and her team have created spray paint murals in Miaoli, Wufeng and shopping malls in Hong Kong. Let’s find out more

Wearing a protective mask, she holds a spray paint can in one hand and a mobile phone in the other. She carefully looks at the image on her phone, before letting loose with her spray can.

She sprays black paint to outline the image, and then the artwork is complete.

Chen Jo-xin
Spray paint artist
This is considered small; there are also large ones that can be painted up to six or seven stories high. A pop star was celebrating the 10th anniversary since her solo debut, and fans were asking us to paint a wall for her. In the past this would have been done with advertising billboards, but now there are beginning to be different ways to express appreciation.

Chen Jo-xin studied art-related subjects throughout her student years. She’s also been a spray paint artist for five years. Initially Chen treated her creations as a hobby. Now she has set up a studio and formed a team. Her creative footprint can be found in Miaoli’s Xihu Leopard Cat Embankment, Taichung’s Wufeng District Farmer’s Association and even in shopping malls all the way over in Hong Kong.

The orange tiger against the red wall, with its tension-filled lines, makes the tiger seem as if it could burst through the wall at any moment. Spray-paint murals, whether on low walls or towering building facades, tested not only her skill, but also her courage.

Chen Jo-xin
Spray paint artist
One of the projects that left the deepest impression on me recently was a mural we painted beside National Freeway No. 1. It was in Changhua — we painted the Great Buddha of Changhua on a wall about six stories high. So the client asked us to paint a huge Buddha. I’m from Kaohsiung, and there aren’t any legal graffiti walls there. But there are in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Pingtung. Taipei also has a lot of places that are great for painting, so whenever I come here, I usually do some painting.

Different professions are worlds apart, as the saying goes. The teams’ photographer jokes that although she usually takes photos with the click of a finger, she found pressing on a spray paint can not an easy task.

Photographer
Part of art group
This part of my hand was really sore the next day because I’m used to pressing a camera shutter very lightly. At first, I could barely press the spray can down properly. And when I was trying to control the lines while filling in colors, the paint would build up really thick.

Member
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I think the most difficult thing is the large murals that are done at high altitudes. People who are afraid of heights may need to receive training to overcome their acrophobia.

Spray painting art allows a creator’s canvas to push outside the limitations of paper. Instead it can extend to every corner of a city.

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

#graffiti #spraypaint #urbanaesthetics

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Invasive fish plaguing Sun Moon Lake turned into local delicacy

In addition to the snakehead fish, Sun Moon Lake is dealing with several other invasive species. The red devil cichlid is considered the second-most troublesome, but because it’s small, bony, and doesn’t have a lot of meat, it doesn’t make for a nice meal. Even so, some local businesses have turned them into a tasty snack by coating them in flour and deep-frying them to make them crispy.

Fish fry enticingly in bubbling oil, but they aren’t ready to be eaten yet. The chef coats them in flour and fries them again.

These small, red fish are a new delicacy in Sun Moon Lake. Tourists love these snackable, fried red devil cichlids.

The red devil cichlid is one of three major invasive species threatening the lake’s ecosystem, along with the giant snakehead and jaguar cichlid. Giant snakeheads can be grilled or steamed, but red devil cichlids are small and don’t have a lot of meat. To cook them effectively, vendors coat them in flour and deep-fry them three times to make them crispy, then add pepper, salt, and basil.

- It’s really crispy, almost like a fish-flavored potato chip.
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Vendors and tourists are helping deal with this invasive species by cooking and eating it. Red devil cichlids have been plaguing Sun Moon Lake for over 15 years, but they were largely considered inedible. Mr. San, who has been fishing here for over 40 years, decided to start catching and cooking them. He heads out onto the lake every day at 3 a.m. to check his traps.

Mr. San collects fish until sunrise, bringing back invasive species to cook and sell.

Mr. San
Fisher
Among the people in our community here, I’m the only one still working as a fisher. No one else in our village is doing it anymore.

Fried until crispy, these fish can be eaten whole. As Sun Moon Lake struggles with invasive species, eating them is one way to keep their population down.

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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Pet owners are having a blast running across the grass with their furry friends, playing Frisbee. But did you know that the pets are not just randomly playing? They also have made friends with the use of high tech tools.

Chen Chih-fan
FTV reporter
It’s not just humans who can use dating apps to find matches—now even dogs have their own dedicated dating apps, where they can be paired up with a simple swipe.

Member of the public
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Member of the public
Likes the concept
I think it’s possible to get to know the owners through their pets, and the owners can connect and socialize as well.

Beyond its dating and matchmaking features, this pet-friendly travel app, launched two years ago, integrates pet-friendly information from across Taiwan. Whether it’s dining or accommodation, you can quickly find pet-friendly venues. Currently, it has accumulated over 70,000 users and has data on more than 8,000 pet-friendly locations.
When you open a listing, you can see details like business hours, entry rules, and even size or weight restrictions for pets—all clearly displayed. This makes it easy for owners to plan ahead and avoid unpleasant surprises when traveling with their furry companions

Huang Chun-ying
Creator of pet app
When we founded it, there was no AI yet. So back then, we went from venue to venue, sometimes visiting, sometimes stopping by for a meal and casually asking if we could bring our dogs. If so, we’d add them to our list. Our goal is to make it easier for all pet owners to take their furry friends out. We want them to be able to just open the app and go, like we humans do.

Taiwan has over 1.74 million pet cats and over 1.46 million pet dogs. Sniffing out opportunities in the pet business, tech companies are constantly innovating—which not only makes it easier for pet owners to search for ways to care for their pets, but also allows them to find like-minded people and make friends.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Ms. Chen reunited with dog after posting NT$500,000 reward

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The NT$500,000 escapee, Mei-chi the dog has at long last been reunited with her owner, Ms. Chen. After a neighbor reported seeing the pupper, Ms. Chen rushed out to their house for a tearful reunion, embracing her beloved friend without even taking off her helmet.

Ms. Chen
Mei-chi’s owner
I’m so grateful to every kind soul who offered to help out, and refused the reward. They knew what I was going through. And to all the haters I’d just like to say… you are despicable! We shouldn’t waste everyone’s time when there are people with good intentions making an effort.

Ms. Chen was offering a generous reward of NT$500,000 for her dog. But the high figure brought forth accusations that she was a scammer, and her phone rang off the hook with harassment. With Mei-chi found, and haters proven wrong, Ms. Chen broke down in tears of relief.

Ms. Chen
Mei-chi’s owner
Of course it wasn’t a scam! Why would I scam anyone! I was hoping that none of it was real. Thank goodness I found her.

Mei-chi was like family for Ms. Chen, who raised the mixed-breed dog for 12 years since she was a puppy. The dog went missing on Sunday, and roamed the streets alone for two nights, until a neighbor found her chilling in his yard on Tuesday morning.

Mr. Liao
Found Mei-chi
It was about 8 or 9. I took a photo and sent it on the group chat, to tell them I found her. I won’t accept the money in full. Just a small amount is enough.

- Thank you so much!
- It was nothing.
- Really, thank you!
- We’re all family.
- It must be fate. We were classmates and now we meet again.

Mr. Liao’s daughter is apparently classmates with Ms. Chen’s husband, and their families have long lived near each other. Though he says he doesn’t want the full reward, Ms. Chen says she will definitely keep her promise and give him the full amount.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#goodnews #dog #found #reward #money #uplifting

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