Changhua eco-park home to thousands of rhinoceros beetles

Changhua eco-park home to thousands of rhinoceros beetles

2026-06-22

Thousands of rhinoceros beetles make their home in the trees of an ecological park in Changhua’s Dacun Township. This busy beetle community makes for quite the spectacle, open to visitors who want to learn more about these friendly insects.

Rhinoceros beetles may not look agile or walk very fast, but they can soar through the air.

This park in Changhua’s Dacun Township is home to thousands of rhinoceros beetles. Some are fighting for territory, while others are busy reproducing. The trees provide them with ample food, giving them lots of energy.

Kuo Chun-yin
Eco-park director
It’s biting the tree right now. It will slowly bite through the bark, and gradually work its way upward, scraping as it goes. Because of gravity, the tree sap then slowly flows down.

Trees are the secret to coinciding with the beetles. The director of this ecological park said he has spent more than a decade carefully maintaining the grounds with more than 400 trees on site. They attract the beetles, providing them with a safe habitat.

Kuo Chun-yin
Eco-park director
Nearly 200 ash trees were planted here from saplings. We haven’t used any pesticides for the past 17 years, and the fallen leaves make an excellent habitat for rhinoceros beetles.

Every year at the start of the summer, a massive colony of beetles gathers here, bringing their entire families for the annual rendezvous.

Kuo Chun-yin
Eco-park director
In previous years, there have been nearly 1,000 of them. This is their peak activity period, and we expect this year’s numbers will likely be even greater.

Mr. Kuo welcomes everyone to come and observe these friendly beetles up close. The park provides a guided tour to introduce them and advises people to wear long sleeves to prevent mosquito bites.

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#rhinocerosbeetle #beetle #bug #insect #park #ecopark #Changhua #beetleseason

獨角仙也親人! 直擊大村生態秘境展翅飛翔還會停身上

2026-06-22

在彰化大村，有一處生態園區，十多年來，光臘樹生長得枝繁葉茂，餵養了上千隻獨角仙，天天上演生態奇觀，在記者拍攝的同時，獨角仙還非常親近人的，飛翔後停留在人的身上。透過鏡頭一起去看看。

你看過，外表憨憨、走路慢慢的獨角仙，展開翅膀四處翱翔嗎?

這個園區，時時刻刻上演著生態奇觀，為了爭奪地盤大打出手的啦，正忙著繁衍後代的也不少。牠們都吃得很飽，所以活力十足。

[[生態園區主人郭俊銀]]
“牠現在正在咬，然後牠會這樣子，慢慢把這個樹皮咬破，牠就往上慢慢的這樣子鏟上去，因為有地心引力，所以這個樹汁就慢慢的流下來。”

樹，就是人與獨角仙之間，互相連結的密碼，位在彰化大村，園主說，十多年來，苦心維護這一公頃的園區內，四百多棵樹，其中光臘樹大概兩百多棵，以樹招來獨角仙，安心的棲息。

[[生態園區主人郭俊銀]]
“將近大概200棵的光蠟樹，都是從小種的，這17年來我們堅持不噴藥，而且落葉之後就形成獨角仙很好的一個棲地。”

每年初夏，五月開始，披著鋼鐵盔甲的甲蟲大軍，呼朋引伴，帶著子子孫孫，一期一會，來到這裡!

[[生態園區主人郭俊銀]]
“那往年大概都會有將近1千隻，這個是大爆發期，我們預估今年應該也會差不多會超過這個數量。”

園區主人邀請大家前來，穿上防蚊蟲的長袖衣褲，邊聽導覽解說，邊近距離觀賞牠們，多多了解人類的甲蟲朋友。

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German tourist praises Taipei Metro’s cleanliness and accessibility

People living in Taiwan may take its public transportation for granted, but international visitors often find it outstanding. One German tourist highlighted the punctuality and accessibility of Taiwan’s trains and subway, comparing it to Germany, where trains are often late and public toilets charge a fee. He said he was pleasantly surprised to see station staff in Taiwan personally escort visually impaired passengers.

Taiwan’s railway, high-speed rail, and subway connect at Taipei Main Station, the nation’s biggest public transit hub. A German tourist recently praised the punctuality and accessibility of Taiwan’s trains and subway.

Chris
German tourist
Some of our restrooms in public they are really, really disgusting. Even on the highway, you have to pay for them. Your public transportation, at almost every train or metro station, it’s very, very safe. The airport metro and high-speed railway are always punctual.

Chris said that while security and cleanliness in Germany’s railway stations need improvement, Taiwan’s stations are clean, with free restrooms and orderly waiting lines on the platforms. But what surprised him most was their accessibility.

Chris
German tourist
I can’t imagine! My grandfather in Germany is almost blind, and if I see this, a security guard is helping him walking up the stairs, putting his hands behind his back so he doesn’t fall, it’s absolutely mind-blowing.

Taipei Metro provides comprehensive accessibility services for visually impaired passengers, including staff escorts, tactile paving, accessible elevators, and audio guidance. FTV recently filmed Ingo Brandenburg, president of Taiwan operations for the German multinational company Bayer, riding the metro. He spoke highly of it, also citing its accessibility services.

Ingo Brandenburg
Bayer Taiwan president
Coming from Europe, we cannot believe it is clean, it is punctual, it is on time, and it gets you everywhere. You have elevators on every train station and metro station, high-speed rail station, so visually impaired or any other impaired, you have thought this really well through. The service is fantastic.

Taiwan passenger
Staff are notified if someone has mobility issues and will come help. In other countries like Korea, there are stairs almost everywhere. Not long ago I saw someone faint on the metro, and someone came to help right away.

Even taking the chance to try a Taiwan Railways bento box, Chris emphasized that Taiwanese people might appreciate their country even more after traveling abroad.

Chris
German tourist
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Taiwan’s accessible, reliable public transportation stands out internationally, leaving a strong impression on foreign tourists.

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For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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2026-06-22

Late-night hair salon houses six friendly cats

Around the corner from Taichung’s Zhonghua Road Night Market is a hair salon that’s great for night owls and animal lovers alike. The salon is home to six cats, all adopted by its animal-loving owner. It’s also open until late at night, making it great for people who work late. It’s only been open for about half a year, but its friendly cats and late hours have made it very popular.

A pedestrian stops in front of a store, observing the cats inside. Some sit on a cat tree, others lay on the floor, and a curious gray cat comes to the window to say hello to the visitor.

Member of public
Surprised by hair salon
It took me a little while to realize that this is a hair salon. At first, I thought it was a pet café or something like that.

It may seem like a pet store, but this is actually a hair salon. It’s home to six friendly cats, some of whom even jump up on customers’ laps while they are getting their hair cut.

Customer
Loves hair salon
It’s very therapeutic. They’ll all jump up. The orange one even took a nap on my lap.

Customer
Loves hair salon
One jumped on my lap when I came last time. It’s very cute. I took a photo with it.

This salon, close to Taichung’s Zhonghua Road Night Market, is open from the afternoon until late night. The owner keeps her cats at the store so they aren’t home alone, but she didn’t expect they would help her business prosper.

Customer
Loves hair salon
They’re open until really late. One time I was still getting my hair done at three or four in the morning.

Customer
Loves hair salon
It’s a great place to come when I get off work late.

Women with long hair love coming here to get their hair washed and styled, all while enjoying some quality cat therapy.

Zoey
Hairdresser
We weren’t originally planning to open a pet hair salon, but I started adopting more cats, and my friend even gave me one when we opened the salon, so I suddenly had six cats to care for.

Chiang-chiang
Hairdresser
People can come here to pet cats and relax. People who don’t own any cats can come here to pet them. There’s no need to buy anything, it’s okay to just pet the cats. This is a great place to relax.

Many people enter the store to say hello to the cats and end up becoming customers. These cute cats have brought a lot of business to the hair salon, a perfect place for night owls and cat lovers alike.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Nostalgic, cheap popsicles fly off shelves as summer arrives

At the weather keeps getting hotter, there’s nothing better than enjoying an icy treat. If you’re on a budget, you can’t go wrong with the shop near Kuei-Shan Power Station in Xindian District. At only NT$8 for the cheapest popsicle, many people make special trips up the mountain just to get one. Supermarkets have also announced their best-selling iced treats, all of which come in at under NT$20. Let’s take a look at this summer’s most popular budget-friendly eats.

- With prices rising, what can you even get for NT$10 anymore? I came to Taipower’s Kuei-Shan Power Station, because the cheapest popsicle here is only NT$8!

It’s so satisfying to bite into an icy, flavorful popsicle. As the temperature continues to climb, the best summer companion is one of these classic treats.

- I got the peanut. It’s so sweet and tasty.
- It’s super hot and muggy! So I wanted to eat some ice cream to cool down.

Lines of people wait to place an order as the staff busily restock and pack boxes, unable to catch a moment of rest. Riding on its reputation as the cheapest place around, this stand offers a plain popsicle for only NT$8, and flavors such as pineapple and passion fruit for just NT$12. Many people make the trip up the mountain just to get one, some of them digging in right away, while others get a few boxes to take home.

Customer
Cones every summer
I come here every summer. It’s cheap for one, and also delicious and packed with real ingredients. Look at everything in here! I get five or six of every flavor to keep in my freezer. It lasts for about a month.

This shop by the power station isn’t the only one drawing in business. Supermarkets are also seeing a surge in popsicle shoppers.

- There are tons of frozen treats to choose from in this supermarket aisle, but which is the most popular? Let’s find out.

Number one are these ice bars many people remember eating as kids. With a wide array of flavors, supermarkets can easily move over 10,000 of them in a single month. Coming in second are these traditional popsicles, selling at only NT$12 each. Third are these classic red bean milk popsicles, followed by ice cream sundaes in fourth and fifth.

Member of public
Likes the ice lollies
I like the soda one. It’s cheap and tasty.

Member of public
Likes the ice lollies
I like the milk flavors. The kids like anything mango or red bean. We usually go for the family value packs since they’re much more economical than buying individual ones.

Liu Ju-hui
Supermarket PR assistant manager
Compared with the same period last year, we can already see that overall revenue for frozen desserts has grown by nearly 20%. In terms of leaders, sales are mostly dominated by classic popsicles and Taiwanese flavors. Their low price makes them an easy impulse purchase for shoppers.

Nostalgic flavors are the favorite for Taiwanese shoppers. With simple ingredients and friendly pricing, sales of these icy treats are sure to keep rising along with the heat.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#popsicle #icecream #frozentreat #cheap #affordable #KueiShanPowerStation #Xindian #summer #supermarket

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Kaohsiung MRT’s famous cat now has his own comic series

Kaohsiung’s most famous cat now has his own comic series. It was launched last Wednesday, along with a new special livery offline. Over the years, Mikan has featured in several promotional campaigns. Last year, Mikan’s IP generated around NT$24 million in revenue, according to the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation, making him the city’s very own lucky cat.

Mikan the Stationmaster has an exciting new collab. This time, he’s become the main character in an online comic series.

The story follows Mikan as he’s turned into a human boy and given assignments to complete—the sweet life of unlimited comfort and universal adoration as a cat is over. Offline, the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation is also celebrating the launch with a special livery.

Member of public
Fan of Mikan
I’m looking forward to it. Before I’d have to go to Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station to see Mikan the cat himself in person, or hunt down his merch.

Every year, Kaohsiung Metro celebrates Mikan’s birthday on April 4 with a series of events and special in-station features. This year, the fare gate even opens with his meow. Occasionally, Mikan will appear at the service desk at Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station to meet fans. Mikan and his cartoon likeness have also featured in a wide range of collabs and tie-ins. For example, in January he collaborated with Beigang Chaotian Temple, dressing up as the Tiger Deity and in the temple’s procession robe, to worshippers’ delight.

Caroline Chang
Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation
Last year, Mikan generated around NT$24 million in revenue. This year, we’ll have a series of collabs with internationally renowned IP characters.

Originally a stray cat, Mikan was adopted by the Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station staff. He’s named after the satsuma mandarin for the way he curls up into a ball, resembling a citrus fruit. With more and more collabs and even his own comic series, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Mikan has become Kaohsiung Metro’s very own lucky cat.

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Driver speeds off while 3-yo niece was still getting in car

A woman in Yilan put her 3-year-old niece in immense danger, driving off while the toddler was still getting in the car. She had gone into a convenience store with her daughter and the niece. The two kids were successively getting into the back seats. After her daughter got in the car, she drove off with the rear door still open. The little girl still tried to get in when her aunt went off without her, but it was not possible for her little legs to catch up with the car, so she soon rolled out onto the road. Fortunately, an eyewitness helped her up immediately after she fell, lifting her out of danger.

A sedan parked on the roadside had one rear door open. Two little kids were getting into the car, but only the first got in safely. The latter, a younger girl, hadn’t even put a foot in when the driver speeded off with the door still open.

The toddler tried to catch up, her legs frantically moving. Soon, she rolled off and fell onto the road. An eyewitness standing under the arcade helped her up immediately.

More shockingly, the driver didn’t even notice that the kid hadn’t gotten in yet.

Member of public
Shocked
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Member of public
Shocked
It’s so scary! The kid could’ve got run over.

The frightening scene was captured at Yilan’s Luodong Township. The driver had her daughter and 3-year-old niece with her, and was about to leave after picking up a package from a convenience store. She thought both kids were safely seated when only her daughter was, and drove off without the 3-year-old.

Chen Yu-chu
Women and Children Police
Causing injury to a child without intent is fineable between NT$60,000 to NT$600,000 according to law.

The police later found that the driver had violated several other traffic rules, including parking on a red line and making a U-turn around double yellow lines, and she could be fined up to NT$23,400 in total. Fortunately, the toddler wasn’t hurt. Otherwise, no amount of money could alleviate her of the guilt.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Barrier lake in Hualien just 7km from site of Matai’an flood

Ever since last year’s Matai’an Creek flood in Hualien, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency has regularly monitored the surrounding area to prevent a similar disaster from happening again, and now the agency has discovered a new 3-hectare barrier lake located just 7km to the north of the site of last year’s disaster.

Deep in the mountains in Hualien, an aerial photograph reveals that a 3-hectare barrier lake has formed next to a large landslide. The barrier lake is only 7km to the north of where the Matai’an barrier lake breach disaster occurred last year.

Huang Chium-tse
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
There’s an elevation difference between the riverbed and the settlement downstream, so currently there’s no need to be overly concerned. Our evaluation is that the barrier lake’s location is very deep in the mountains and it’s not accessible by road, which is why we haven’t recently had anybody get close to that body of water.

Ever since the Matai’an Creek disaster, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency has routinely monitored the nearby area. The agency found a new barrier lake where the upper reaches of Wanli Creek passes through Lintianshan Forestry Culture Park. The body of water is deeper in the mountains than last year’s barrier lake at Matai’an Creek. The closest settlement is Wanrung Village at 22km away; and there’s also Xibao Bridge and Wanli Creek Bridge, which are 24km and 27km away, respectively. Many landslides have occurred near Wanrung Village, so the closest cars can get is 3.5km, and there’s no hiking path that leads to the body of water. As a result, a helicopter was sent to inspect the area on Monday morning.

Huang Chium-tse
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
Based on preliminary data, we’ve already notified the Ninth River Management Branch, and they’ll help us monitor water levels. Hualien County Government, Fenglin Township Office, and Wanrung Township Office were also immediately notified about the situation.

Hsieh Yu-chen
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The words “barrier lake” strike fear in the hearts of everyone, so I personally went door-to-door, notifying every resident that a barrier lake has formed, and the riverbed isn’t all that far from us.

With Typhoon Mekkhala—the year’s seventh typhoon—looming, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency won’t be taking any chances, which is why an emergency response team has been formed in order to closely observe the barrier lake’s water levels as well as the possibility of a breach.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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