Elderly man in New Taipei has hoarded rooftop pile of trash

2026-07-06

The animated film “Castle in the Sky” is a beloved Studio Ghibli classic that many reminisce over, but New Taipei’s Xinzhuang District over the years has become home to something local residents would rather forget: a trash heap in the sky. An elderly man claims the almighty above told him to start collecting all these old goods on his roof several stories up in order to research nuclear energy, but local residents have their own concerns, like bad odors, cockroaches, mice, and, most dangerous of all, falling trash.

It’s scorching hot, and these workers with the Environmental Protection Department are dealing with the stifling heat as well as the stifling scents in this trash. All this junk has been piling up for years in what’s essentially a trash heap in the sky. This hoarder residence in New Taipei’s Xinzhuang District is a public health and safety disaster just waiting to happen.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon may be a myth, but this trash heap hanging over Xinzhuang is an unwanted reality that, for years, residents have put up with. The combination of old complaints about its bad odors, cockroaches, and mice along with new concerns about looming typhoons potentially leading to people getting hit by trash dropping down from above was the impetus for the District Office and Environmental Protection Department to start cleaning up the mess.

Local resident
Ecstatic
For the local residents, it’s something everyone’s excited about; it’s like a weight has been lifted off your chest. Typhoon Bavi is coming, and if something ends up falling down and hitting someone, well, then the government will be liable. Seeing the government using their authority like this is something that we’re extremely excited to see.

This astonishing heap of trash is believed to be about 50 ping, which is why the authorities have estimated that they’ll need up to 14 working days to clean up the entire mess. As for the elderly hoarder, his master plan for the trash was studying nuclear energy.

Mr. Gao
Owner of trash heap
I’ve done it all for nuclear power. These people just don’t get it; it was God who told me to do this. You people have all the authority, so you clean it up. What can I do about it? There’s nothing I can do. Starting last night at 3 a.m., I went to burn incense and talk with God. I told him there’s nothing I can do. When the authorities come, there’s nothing I can do.

The cost of cleaning up this mountain of trash will be about NT$2 million, which will need to be entirely paid for by the elderly resident. If he isn’t willing to foot the bill because he doesn’t have the money, then his home may be foreclosed.

Tsai Ming-hsiang
Borough chief in Xinzhuang District
We need to plan ahead, in case a future typhoon does hit Taiwan directly, because we’ll need to extend the removal process if two weeks isn’t enough to clean it all up.

In the short term, the removal process may take around half a month, but in the long term light can finally be seen at the end of the tunnel, as this potential trash heap crisis will finally be taken away from the eyes and minds of local residents.

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

#hoarder #New Taipei #Xinzhuang #trashy

強制清運! 新莊獨居翁驚人"天空垃圾屋" 估兩週才清得完

2026-07-06

真的是苦了周遭鄰居，也累壞了清潔人員！新北市新莊區中正路上，有一間超級誇張的「垃圾屋」，一名獨居老翁，長年把大型廢棄物和垃圾，往屋頂丟，久而久之，成了空中垃圾場的詭異景像，就怕颱風來襲，物品會被吹落、砸傷人，環保局一早就派員清運，驚人的垃圾量，預估要花上兩個禮拜才能清完。

頂著高溫烈日，環保局清潔隊員忍著刺鼻惡臭，把一袋袋廢棄物往車上倒，而這些垃圾，全都來自新莊這一處超誇張的垃圾屋，滿坑滿谷的雜物，也引發衛生和安全的疑慮。

大家都只想要空中花園，沒人想要空中垃圾山，附近鄰居忍受臭氣和蟑螂、老鼠好幾年，早就怨聲載道，加上擔心颱風來臨，這些堆砌的廢棄物掉落砸傷人，區公所和環保局祭出鐵腕，強制清運。

[[附近居民]]
“對附近的鄰居來講都是大快人心，就很像心上的一個大石頭如釋重負，巴威颱風其實也要來了，如果不小心被吹掉下來砸到人，政府其實也是責無旁貸，看到政府的公權力有徹底的執行，其實是非常的開心”

這驚人的垃圾量，估算堆置面積約50坪，就算每天清運，預估也要花上2個禮拜，才有可能完全清乾淨，而堆積垃圾的老翁說，自己是為了研究核能，才收集雜物。

[[新莊垃圾屋主高先生]]
“就為了這個核電的事情，是他們不懂啊，這老天爺叫我做的，你有公權力，你清啊，我能怎樣呢，我又沒辦法，我昨天從晚上，三點半起來燒香，給老天爺講，我說沒辦法，公權力出來我就沒辦法”

環保局清運垃圾山的費用大約200萬元，都得由老翁自行負擔，如果想以沒錢為由賴帳，他的房屋恐怕就會被貼封條查封。

[[新莊全安里里長蔡明祥]]
“就是怕萬一颱風來的時候，先未雨綢繆啊，(清理)兩個禮拜還不夠，就延長”

雖然清運工程還要持續大半個月，但長期以來的垃圾屋危機，終於迎來曙光，也讓附近居民總算放下心中大石。

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Passenger denied boarding pass due to damaged passport

A traveler was recently prohibited from boarding their flight because their passport had water damage, forcing them to buy a last-minute ticket on another airline. Travel experts warned that if you’re traveling abroad, you should remember to check the condition of your passport, as airlines may not let passengers board if it’s damaged.

People wait in line at the airport to get their boarding passes and check their bags. With summer vacation in full swing, it’s peak travel time. But one passenger was recently denied a boarding pass by Starlux Airlines because their passport had water damage.

The passenger booked a last-minute ticket on another airline, but the staff there was also unsure whether they could accept the passport, as the inner pages had been warped from the water and the golden lettering on the front cover had started to wear away. People online said passports need to be kept in good condition, as airlines have strict rules.

Traveler
It’s about the airline’s policies. There’s no right or wrong. But if you think the airline might think it’s not okay, then I would just follow the rules. If the government has rules in place, then I would follow them. I would definitely prepare first by getting a new one. I wouldn’t just use a damaged one.

Traveler
I don’t travel abroad that much, so if I saw my passport was damaged when I was getting ready to leave, I would get a new one. But if I traveled abroad a lot, I might not pay attention to details like that.

A passport is an international identity document, so any damage to the cover or inner pages, residual stains, loose stitching, or water damage may impact verification.

Uncle Jesse
Travel expert
Airline staff need to check if a passport is damaged at check in, because if the passenger is denied entry to their destination country, the airline would be held responsible, and in serious cases may face a fine. What happens most often is that people put souvenir stamps in their passport, but only immigration officers are authorized to stamp passports, which is important to note. Also, only a signature can be on the signature line. Anything else written there would be considered defacement.

Passports must be properly cared for and replaced if they are damaged, or else it could affect your 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

#travel #passport #boarding #passportdamage #international #airline #Starlux

2026-07-06

Polarizing Taichung classic reimagined as jelly dessert loved by young and old

Jute shoot, a specialty crop of Taichung, used to be a local favorite. Older generations loved to eat it in a soup with sweet potato, but young people these days can’t stand its bitter flavor. In North and South districts, two separate tofu pudding shops had the idea to make the shoots into chewy jellies. It not only gets rid of the bitterness, but when paired with tofu pudding, even children love it. Let’s check it out!

Only people born and raised in Taichung can appreciate jute shoot soup, a summer favorite. Many others are put off by its bitter flavor. But now there are dessert shops that have found a way to make it into a jelly.

It has a color like matcha, and can be added to tofu pudding after cutting it into squares. But is it good?

Member of public
It’s new for me. It tastes like grass jelly. I think it makes jute shoots into something more palatable.

Jute shoots, or mayi, refer to the tender young shoots of the Corchorus capsularis plant. Harvest is in summer, making it perfect for cooling the body. This shop in North District decided to offer the shoots as a topping for tofu pudding because it’s a local specialty.

Ms. Kuo
Shop owner
We tried out 20 to 30 different recipes. It’s such a distinct ingredient, with a bitter and sticky quality to it.

Member of public
My kids all hate jute soup. But after having it as a jelly, they were more accepting of it.

Coincidentally, another tofu pudding shop in South District similarly wanted to bring Taichung’s local specialty to wider audiences.

Ms. Huang
Shop owner
I initially thought of adding dried whitebait as well, but was afraid people wouldn’t like it. Our Taichung tofu pudding has jute jelly and candied sweet potato.

Member of public
Jute shoots are delicious, but none of the friends I’ve shown around Taichung have wanted to try it. But now that you can get it as a dessert, we come all the time.

As summer continues on, eating jute jelly with icy tofu pudding is the perfect antidote to even the most sweltering Taichung afternoon.

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

#juteshoots #mayi #jutejelly #tofupudding #douhua #Taichung #dessert #jelly

2026-07-06

Officials share tips when encountering bears in wild

As the population of Formosan black bears continues to grow, they’ve begun venturing further into lower-elevation areas to look for food. To protect people who work in these areas, the Taichung branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency is offering a course on how to respond when encountering a bear in the wild.

While working near the Central Cross-Island Highway, Taipower personnel were startled to find a Formosan black bear.

They were lucky to capture this rare cellphone footage, but it was likely also terrifying. If they were to startle it, who knows what may have happened. In recent years, there’s been evidence of black bears venturing further down the mountain in search of food. The Taichung branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency now offers courses on how to avoid conflict with the creatures.

Hung Hsing-yu
FANCA Taichung branch official
Since personnel often need to enter sparsely populated areas to do their work, they’re at higher risk of encountering bears.

Participants in the course included Taipower personnel, highway maintenance staff, and forest rangers. Their work often takes them into mountainous areas, meaning they’re more likely to encounter bears. To prevent conflict, the agency advises staying in a group, and bringing a bear bell and bear spray. When actually encountering a bear, it advised remaining calm and slowly moving away while facing toward the bear.

Hung Hsing-yu
FANCA Taichung branch official
Properly handle your food waste and garbage, and bring bear spray. If you encounter a bear, stay calm, face the bear, and back away slowly. Avoid approaching or chasing it, as it could startle them.

As the Formosan black bear population continues to grow, their habitat keeps expanding, making conflict with humans more likely. To stay safe, it’s critical for anyone working in the mountains to learn what to do in the off chance that they come across a bear in the wild.

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

#bears #Formosanblackbear #Taipower #FANCA #wildlife #bearencounter #hikingsafety #mountains

2026-07-06

Taichung family restaurant pairs tofu pudding with savory buns

One tofu pudding place at Taichung’s Zhongxiao Night Market has been around for 50 years, progressing from its humble beginnings as a small stand to finally buying a storefront. To give customers more choice, 30 years ago it also started selling guabao, or pork belly buns. Its unique pairing of sweet pudding with savory pork has been unexpectedly popular.

A chef scoops tofu pudding into a bowl and adds toppings like peanuts and sweet rice balls. Now this delicious bowl of douhua is ready to be served!

This douhua place at Taichung’s Zhongxiao Night Market has been around for 50 years.

Cheng Ni-ya
Owner
We started off as a stand on the side of the road. We were really at the mercy of the elements. It was hard work, honestly. Sometimes as soon as we pushed the stand out, it started pouring. But you’ve already prepared everything, so everyone just gets soaked that day, everything is wasted, and nothing is sold. As we slowly got more experienced, my in-laws decided that it would be easier to do this if we bought a storefront.

Progressing from a small stand to a storefront, this tofu pudding shop was handed down from one generation of the family to the next. Now there are three generations working there all together.

Cheng Ni-ya
Owner
Now we’re in the third generation. The shop has been running for almost 50 years, and I hope it will reach 60.

But douhua isn’t the only thing on the menu.

While the guabao bun is hot, she adds pickled vegetables, pork belly, coriander, and peanut powder. Pairing sweet pudding with this savory bun is a popular choice here.

- It’s a new experience, like buying dinner and dessert together.

- It’s more filling, which some people like.

Pairing guabao with douhua is definitely a unique choice, so why did the restaurant start offering it together?

Cheng Ni-ya
Owner
My mother thought that since douhua was selling pretty well, it could be paired with guabao, like a fusion restaurant, so customers could have something savory too. We started selling guabao in 1994.

Both options here are exceptional, making it a popular choice for a savory snack as well as a sweet treat.

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

#douhua #tofupudding #guabao #Taichung #sweetandsavory #restaurant #nightmarket #ZhongxiaoNightMarket #familybusiness

2026-07-06

Deflated Chiikawa hot air balloon amuses visitors at Taitung event

2026-07-06

Media personality Yaita Akio punched in the face by Chinese-born HK man

2026-07-06

President Lai thanks Chen Chien-jen, the new President of Academia Sinica

Monday may have been the 36th Convocation of Academicians, but for former Vice President Chen Chien-jen it’s a very special occasion, as the event is Chen’s first since he took over as President of Academia Sinica in June. During their speeches, President Lai Ching-te thanked Chen for his contributions to Taiwan and Chen expressed his gratitude to the institution’s past presidents and its many academicians.

Walking next to President Lai Ching-te is Chen Chien-jen. Both men are attending the opening ceremony of the convocation of Academia Sinica, an institution that Chen has been leading since mid-June. This is the first public appearance Chen and Lai have had together since Chen took over as president of the research institution. After stepping onto stage together, President Lai thanked Chen for his contributions to the government over the years.

Lai Ching-te
President
Dr. Chen, President of Academia Sinica, often says that he aspires to be “the light of the world” and “the salt of the earth,” and that he hopes to be a candle, that by being lit can bring light to Taiwan. During a time when our country is facing massive challenges, Dr. Chen brings calm to the masses, and people admire him for being a pillar of professionalism.

Chen Chien-jen
Academia Sinica president
When I first took over as president of this institution, I felt the enormous amount of responsibility this position entails. All the success Academia Sinica has had up to this point is a result of the past presidents of this institution as well as the many years of hard work of all the members. Also important is the many years of support from President Lai, the Executive Yuan, Legislative Yuan, and all of society in general.

This convocation is Chen’s first since he took over as the institution’s president. Over 200 academicians from Taiwan and abroad returned to Taipei to attend the event. President Lai expressed his gratitude to the current and past presidents of Academia Sinica, as the long-term, close-knit relationship the institution and government has had has helped Taiwan find success in many different fields of science and technology.

Lai Ching-te
President
In the last decade, Academia Sinica has achieved incredible research results in many important fields. These accomplishments have played a close role in the government’s planning for the future. For example, Academia Sinica developed its own 20-qubit superconducting quantum computer. Things like this are part of the government’s Ten AI Initiatives Promotion Plan.

Chen Chien-jen
Academia Sinica president
For many of the challenges we’re facing, like the restructuring of geopolitics and the rapid development of artificial intelligence, Academia Sinica is serving as a national-level academic research institution that seeks to provide new methods to solve issues society is currently trying to deal with.

In the past, Chen was Vice President when Lai was Premier, and even though they have very different roles now, both leaders are once again working together.

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

#quantumcomputing #AcademiaSinica #AI #kindwords #research

2026-07-06

Man in sandals spotted jogging along median shoulder of highway

2026-07-06

Controversial stinky tofu’s new Bitan shop fined on 2nd day of opening

A stinky tofu restaurant from Hualien, famous for its extra-flavorful tofu, has opened a new location in New Taipei’s Bitan Scenic Area. But already, on its second day of opening, local authorities have stepped in. Not for the horrible stench, but for the shop’s failure to put up signage for its waste storage area. Even though the smell has not gotten the shop into trouble yet, as it has for other locations, locals say the odor is still not completely inescapable.

Deep-fried until golden and crispy, and paired with zesty fermented cabbage, this stinky tofu is not to be missed for many street food lovers. Not least from this famous, or rather, infamous chain store from Hualien. The new shop in Bitan sees no end in the line of customers, and also authorities.

Wu Jui-lin
FTV reporter
Yuli Qiaotou Stinky Tofu’s Bitan shop has just opened. And on its second day in business, inspectors from the Department of Environmental Protection have already showed up at its doorsteps, all because the store failed to put up signage for the waste storing area.

Passers-by took photos of the inspected site. Although the shop is notorious for its extra flavorful tofu, complaints were made not for their signature dish, but for their failure to signal the shop’s waste storage area in accordance with the law. If the shop does not remedy the situation by the due date, it will be fined up to NT$3 million, which the store can only expect to make after selling tens of thousands of portions.

Visitor
Bitan Scenic Area
I was wondering why it’s not open today. Are they normally off on this day of the week? Or did someone protest?

The visitor had wanted to stop by the well-known establishment, but too bad it’s closed today. Before the Bitan shop opened, the stinky tofu store had already made headlines for its stench. After the Taipei store in Dazhi opened, local residents had filed multiple reports. One person was so stressed out by the smell that they almost went bald from pulling out their hair. As a result, the Taipei store was fined NT$585,000. Another store in Keelung had closed down in May this year after locals repeatedly filed complaints.

- No one knows.
- I have no idea who reported them.
- Me neither.
- The complainer has nothing better to do.
- Have you been getting more customers recently?
- More or less.

Nearby shop
Bitan Scenic Area
The smell isn’t too bad. Some of it gets in here, but it’s still tolerable. But if you were to step out, because of the heat and wind, the smell is a little worse. It probably smells a little stronger when they’re fermenting the stuff, but it’s not such a big deal when they’re not open.

Although it’s true that the tofu shop’s opening drew in larger crowds and business to the area, it’s only the beginning of a nightmare for local residents. New Taipei’s Department of Environmental Protection has pledged to conduct more frequent inspections of the notorious eatery.

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

#stinkytofu #臭豆腐 #food #streetfood #newbusiness

2026-07-06