Typhoons, erosion likely cause of Keelung seal rock decapitation

2026-09-07

The “seal rock” along the Daping coast in Keelung’s Badouzi area gained fame for its unique shape resembling a seal craning its neck to gaze out to sea. Especially as it emerges only during low tide, the site is popular with visitors looking for a photo. But recently, people have noticed that the seal’s head is missing! The Keelung City Government confirmed that it broke off, with initial assessments suggesting it was due to years of natural erosion.

The seal rock along the Daping coast in Keelung’s Badouzi has a rounded body, resting front flippers, and a tail... But where’s the most important part, its head?

People visiting the famous “seal-shaped rock” recently have noticed the crucial missing piece. A post about it led to an outcry online, with people lamenting that they never had a chance to visit. Before, the seal looked like it was at attention, craning its neck to gaze out over the ocean. But now its characteristic feature is gone, leaving only the body behind.

Member of public
Sad about rock
I saw the news today about the head breaking off, so I came to see it for myself. It’s such a shame that it broke. We’ll never see what it was like ever again.

The city government believes the destruction was caused by recent typhoons and long-term wind and wave erosion. Both the seal rock and the famous Queen’s Head rock in Yehliu are part of the Taliao Formation. Years of wave erosion sculpted the unique seal-like shape, which only emerges at low tide.

Tsai Fu-ning
Keelung Economic Development Dept.
We encourage the local community to keep offering tours to these geological formations, while also paying continued attention to conservation.

The circumference of the Queen’s Head rock measured only 116.59 cm in 2024. Although it’s safe for now, as to how long it can hold on—only time and nature will tell.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#sealrock #Keelung #Badouzi #geologicalformation #coastline #QueensHeadrock #Yehliu #erosion

頭咧? 基隆大坪海岸"海豹岩"斷頭崩毀市府研判颱風+風化造成

2026-09-07

基隆市八斗子大坪海岸的熱門景點"海豹岩"，因為大石頭外型，酷似伸長脖子遠眺的海豹，加上只有退潮時，才會露出水面，吸引不少民眾朝聖，不料近日卻有民眾發現，海豹的頭不見了!基隆市府證實，海豹岩已經「斷頭」，初步研判，與長年受自然風化侵蝕有關。

渾圓的身體，趴著的前腳和尾巴，但再往上看，基隆八斗子大坪海岸打卡熱點「海豹岩」，最重要的那顆頭，怎麼消失了?

有民眾日前到「海豹岩」，卻發現原本栩栩如生的頭部，已經徹底斷裂消失，貼文一出，讓不少網友直呼可惜，說「都還沒去過」。前後比一比，原本完整的海豹岩，就像一隻伸長脖子、眺望遠方的海豹；最有辨識度的頭部整塊斷裂後，只剩底座。

[[民眾]]
“今天看到那個有斷頭的那個資訊，然後我就今天特別過來看一下，它斷掉之後就很可惜，就沒辦法再看到它以前那個樣子的風景”

市府研判，是颱風連番侵襲，加上大浪與長期風化造成。海豹岩與野柳女王頭同屬「大寮層」地質，受到長年海浪侵蝕逐漸雕塑出像海豹趴臥的特殊外型，每天只有在退潮時分才會露臉。

[[基隆市產發處長蔡馥嚀]]
“也鼓勵這個社區，未來能夠一樣就是朝著這個，地質地貌的這個生態導覽的方向，繼續服務，也可以持續關注這個海洋的議題”

女王頭脖圍2024年監測數據，也只剩116.59公分，雖然目前安然無恙，但能撐多久，只能說，一切看老天爺怎麼決定。

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

Dedicated academics are healing Hualien’s landslide-scourged forests

Hualien has seen one disaster after another, leaving the upper reaches of the Mataian Creek with vast piles of rubble on mountains that lookshockingly barren. There is a need for reforestation, but the traditional way of climbing mountains and manually planting seeds is not only dangerous, but also has a low seed survival rate. A dedicated team at National Ilan University has come up with a solution that involve using drones to drop cultivated native tree seed ballson the mountains. Let’s find out how they are restoring Taiwan’s forests, tree by tree.

Round, translucent crystal balls are stacked in a Petri dish, looking like marbles or longans. However, they are a secret weapon for restoring Taiwan’s forests.

Push open the laboratory door, and researchers are busy placing seeds into a compound solution of sodium alginate and calcium chloride. After a few minutes, tiny "germinating pearls" are born.

Chung Chih-hsin
National Ilan University
Actually, we usually choose native Taiwanese species—specifically sun-loving trees that are well-suited for these landslide areas, such as the Taiwan crepe myrtle, Formosa acacia and similar species.

On July 21 last year, Tropical Storm Wipha caused a large-scale landslide in the upper reaches of the Mataian Creek in Hualien, covering an area of 500 hectares and creating a barrier lake. The massive loss of soil and rock also created a crisis of exposed barren mountains. However, traditional "dry granulation" mostly makes use of soil pressure, which, while fast, makes the granules prone to cracking, being eaten by small animals and lacking the moisture needed for germination. Chung Chih-hsin, an associate professor in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at National Ilan University, led an interdisciplinary team to develop "wet seed granulation," using sodium alginate to create "moisturizing capsules." This April, they successfully airdropped 40,000 native tree seed balls onto the upper reaches of the Mataian Creek using drones, and they have already successfully germinated.

Chung Chih-hsin
National Ilan University
The last task we did was to produce 40,000 seeds at once, but of course we can still make adjustments based on timing and the rainy season. Our observation is that the success rate for this seed granulation is about 80%.

Faced with Taiwan’s barren, landslide-prone high mountains, traditional reforestation methods face severe challenges. Through technological innovation, there is hope that these fractured forests can be revitalized.

#Reforestation #Taiwandisasters #landslides #disasterrecovery #Hualien

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

2026-09-07

Heavy rains transform lakeside park into magical underwater park

2026-09-07

7 females accuse pharmacist of sexual assault and harassment

More details are emerging in the case involving a college student who was drugged while worked part-time at a pharmacy in Tamsui. The woman alleges that the pharmacist spiked her drink while she was not looking. Investigators say she was not the only alleged victim. So far, at least seven women have come forward, reporting alleged sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, and sexual harassment. The pharmacist, surnamed Chen, has been detained incommunicado.

In New Taipei City’s Tamsui, the female college student who worked part-time at a pharmacy where she was drugged is no longer the only victim.

A social media user posted online that she had previously worked at the pharmacy. She says the pharmacist would order her to go into the storage room, where he would proceed to hug and grope the victim. This behavior grew more frequent, leading to the part-time worker quitting the job. The pharmacist’s reaction to the drugging incident was just as callous as his behavior.

Mr. Chen (Sept. 4)
Pharmacist in detention
I originally thought that she’d maybe just take one sip, think it tasted strange, and then she’d probably spit it out. So after that I’d just tell her it was just a joke.

The pharmacist had put a drug containing benzodiazepine into the water bottle of the woman. She noticed something was strange when she went to open the bottle yet found that she couldn’t get the top to twist open. The perpetrator pretended not to notice, and even made a joke at the victim’s expense.

-Help me open it, please.
-Isn’t it a bit ridiculous you can’t even open your own bottle?

With her shift coming to an end, he then switched to play the role of the false hero, offering to give a ride home to the young woman, who was disoriented as she went to leave.

-Or would you like for me to give you a ride?
Would you like a ride home?

For the ongoing police investigation, there’s a growing list of female victims: one accused him of sexual assault, another is attempted sexual assault, and three have come forward claiming sexual harassment.

Hsing Yueh
Lawyer (not involved in case)
Putting a Schedule III drug in the victim’s water without the victim’s knowledge is a direct violation of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.

Wu Ching-yi
Political commentator
As for me, I think she was incredibly brave to have contacted the police immediately after realizing that she might’ve blacked out.

The pharmacist has, nonetheless, been brazen when questioned; prosecutors revealed that he continues to repeat himself and is unclear about the process of when he spiked the drink. With his vague testimony and the list of victims growing, it appears this case isn’t going to be settled anytime soon.

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

#sexualassault #Tamsui #pharmacist #drugged #spiked #sexualharassment

2026-09-07

45-year-old woman dies due to eye bag removal surgery

2026-09-07

Taoyuan and Gumi, South Korea celebrate 10 years as sister cities

Taoyuan and Gumi, South Korea are celebrating their 10-year sister city relationship. Gumi is nicknamed “the city of electronics” and is home to the largest factory of Nongshim noodles, a type of spicy instant noodles found in supermarkets all over Taiwan. Gumi even participated in Taoyuan’s Longgang Rice Noodle Festival this past April. Since Aug. 18, Taoyuan has been hosting an expo celebrating the cities’ twin town relationship.

Kim Jangho, Mayor of Gumi, South Korea, and Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng are taking a picture with two boxes that contain Taoyuan’s beloved mascot duo, A-Tao and Yuan-Go. A month-long special exhibit celebrated the diplomatic relationship of the two cities, which became sister cities 10 years ago.

Chang San-cheng
Taoyuan Mayor
At this exhibit that shows our 10 years together as twin towns, you can see that in the last few years we truly have had frequent interactions with one another.

On display were Gumi’s local specialties and famous tourist sites as well as exhibits showcasing the city’s culture and history. Visitors could take part in a stamp rally; for this activity, stamps set up in different areas explained the sister city relationship. The city of Gumi also put together a video that depicted the cities’ types of exchange, including education, culture and even their economic relationship.

Kim Jangho
Gumi Mayor
I, from the bottom of my heart, would like to express my gratitude, to be able to organize this type of exhibition, an event that showcases Gumi’s famous tourism hotspots and our local products.

Located in North Gyeongsang Province, which is in the southwest, Gumi is South Korea’s largest ICT industry hub; the city also has the biggest factory of Nongshim, a company that makes instant noodles popular in Taiwan. This past April was the first time Gumi’s city government was invited to take part in Taoyuan’s Longgang Rice Noodle Festival, where visitors could also eat authentic ramen noodles cooked up by chefs from Gumi.

Chang San-cheng
Taoyuan Mayor
This year had the unique aspect of featuring Gumi-style ramen, allowing us to add an international touch to this edition of the Longgang Rice Noodle Festival.

Taoyuan and Gumi established their bond through delicious food, and in the next 10 years they’re planning to further strengthen their sister city relationship by having a variety of types of exchange.

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

#SouthKorea #Gumi #Taoyuan #sistercities #diplomacy #noodles #ramen

2026-09-07

Minister of Culture visits London’s world-famous Barbican Centre

It was once dubbed one of London’s ugliest buildings, but today, it’s a bustling cultural base with countless fans right in the heart of London. Though the Barbican Centre may be famous for its imposing brutalist concrete walls, behind them lies a surprising urban oasis, complete with lush gardens and a massive indoor conservatory. Taiwan’s Culture Minister Li Yuan has visited the Barbican as part of his UK tour. During the visit, he took inspiration from the unique blend of nature, housing and culture, in hopes of bringing these ideas back home to Taiwan.

Lush gardens, shimmering ponds. People enjoy the amazing weather outdoors. The brutalist concrete architecture of this complex previously earned it a reputation as the ugliest building in London. But now people are loving it.

Lin Yung-chi
FTV reporter
We’re at the Barbican Centre, a stunning apartment complex housing thousands of families. There’s a church, a school, a library, and an abundance of arts spaces. Culture is right at your doorstep here.

The 40-acre site integrates residences with spaces such as cinemas and galleries, and houses Europe’s largest performing arts center. Fans of the building call it a utopia in the heart of the city, and many artsy individuals have moved in over the years.

The Barbican Centre even has a massive conservatory packed with 1,500 plant species that have taken over the concrete structure. This architectural marvel was the first stop on the itinerary for Minister of Culture Li Yuan, who is on a tour of the UK. The guided tour of the facilities presented an opportunity to learn.

Li Yuan
Minister of Culture
An urban forest is essentially a green space created within the city. It’s a concept that we will work on as part of a four-year plan encompassing all the institutions under the Ministry of Culture.

The Ministry of Culture is set to launch a project next year to integrate ecological planning at museums, cultural facilities and 100 cultural bases. The plan is not just about urban forests, but about equal access to culture.

Li Yuan
Minister of Culture
What I’ve seen here at the Barbican Centre, is the environment I envisioned for Taiwan: a space with a close connection between residential areas, nature and culture. Our goal is to promote cultural equality, and ensure that people can easily access culture near their homes.

Patrick Moran
Barbican Centre
The conservatory is really emblematic of the utopian idea of the Barbican, that this was a new way to live. Thinking about how London could be very different, how people’s relationship to culture. We’re going into a very big refurbishment, renewal project, which I mentioned earlier. The Minister was saying those ideas of making the institution more open.

The Barbican Centre is set to undergo a year-long renovation, and will reopen to the public with a brand-new look.

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

#barbicancentre #london #getthelondonlook #brit #culture

2026-09-07

Scooter rider spotted wearing wire mesh tube around head

2026-09-07

Winning beans in coffee contest come at over NT$2,000 per kilogram

Taiwan has held its first ever Taiwan Coffee Auction, a contest where 37 specialty coffees from across Taiwan were appraised by a team of international judges. The winning Gesha coffee beans came from a plantation in Guoxing Township in Nantou in central Taiwan. They are priced at a whopping over NT$2,000 per kilogram, and there are hopes they will fetch over NT$10,000 after they’re put to an international auction in October. They have a rich aroma with notes of honey, osmanthus and caramel. Let’s find out more.

The DPP’s Taipei and New Taipei City mayoral candidates Puma Shen and Su Chiao-hui make a joint appearance at an afternoon tea event, drinking specialty Taiwanese coffee to perk themselves up and show their support for Taiwan’s coffee industry. Chiayi County Commissioner Weng Chang-liang also made a special trip to Taipei to support the first edition of the Taiwan Coffee Auction.

Weng Chang-liang
Chiayi County Commissioner
Many coffees are actually named after their places of origin, showing that coffee is inextricably linked to the local environment. So, with so many talented people participating in this competition today, we wish everyone the best of luck in winning the awards they’re aiming for.

Led by chief judge Darrin Daniel, a panel of 12 international judges meticulously evaluated the roasting, grind and brewing of specialty coffee beans, selecting the top 20 from 37 specialty coffees from 26 plantations across 8 counties and cities in Taiwan.

Darrin Daniel
Chief Judge
We had a very excellent year. I could say that there’s incredible diversity of flavors from different regions. We had experienced for me one of the highest scores I’ve ever given.

The champion Gesha coffee beans from Guoxing, Nantou, are made with unique honey processing. The coffee has a rich aroma of honey, osmanthus and caramel, with a mellow and layered taste that is addictive.

Lin Yen-chien
Taiwan Coffee Auction winner
The coffee beans we’re using for this year’s competition are mainly Gesha variety. Gesha is a relatively new variety in Taiwan and it’s quite popular worldwide. Based on our past auction records, I’ve seen it fetch nearly NT$10,000 per kilogram before.

Krude Lin Che-hao
Coffee Industrial Alliance of Taiwan
Taiwan is a democratic, free, and egalitarian society. Under these circumstances, plantation owners invest their passion, dedication, and expertise to refine their production methods.

On October 28th, an open bidding process will be held on an international platform. Through healthy competition among local farmers, Taiwanese coffee beans will be gradually promoted to an even larger international stage.

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

#Taiwancoffee #Geshabeans #coffeemaking #Nantoucoffees #Taiwancoffeeuaction

2026-09-07

Typhoons, erosion likely cause of Keelung seal rock decapitation