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Category：Life

Taimali office redirects visitors from scenic road after bottlenecks cause traffic hazar

Huayuan Bay in Taitung’s Taimali has become a popular tourist destination thanks to a road in the rural township that looks straight out over the Pacific. But since the road is narrow and steep, vehicles are often unable to pass each other. The township office has mapped out an alternate route and put up signs warning non-residents to avoid driving directly up the mountain to help ensure the safety of visitors as well as locals.

Under perfect blue skies, the pavement seems to stretch out endlessly into the Pacific Ocean. This picturesque lane near Huayuan Bay in Taitung’s Taimali Township has become a viral sensation.

Resident
Lives near picturesque site
Everyone comes to the guardrail by the turn to see the ocean or passing trains.

This new viral destination was discovered by a Taipower employee who was repairing storm-damaged power lines up a nearby mountain. While on a break, he discovered the spot was not only perfect for viewing the ocean, but also for seeing the nearby highway and passing trains with the right timing. Later on, he brought his wife to enjoy the view, who posted about it online.

Resident
Recounting an accident
A motorbike slipped here. The driver was covered in injuries.

While beautiful, the spot also holds hidden dangers. Since the roadway is narrow with a steep grade, tourists often get into accidents. And during holidays, heavy traffic causes congestion when trying to pass oncoming vehicles or find parking, causing headaches for the locals.

Chang Chih-wen
Taimali head of tourism and agriculture
This road is primarily used by residents for agricultural activities. So when passing oncoming traffic, there’s a legitimate safety concern.

Chen Ying, who’s running for Taitung County commissioner, took to social media to steer non-residents away from using the road. The Taimali Township Office has also posted notices recommending that visitors take the gentler Xiushan section of County Road 60 instead to ensure the safety of locals and tourists alike.

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#tourism #Taitung #Taimali #viral #scenicspot #trafficsafety #hiddengem

2026-09-30

NCKU installs sediment monitor to prevent further flooding disasters

It’s been a year since a barrier lake along the Matai’an River overflowed, causing devastating flooding in Guangfu township, Hualien. Now, even a year on, over 200 million cubic meters of silt remain accumulated upstream. To ensure the safety of people’s lives and property, a team from National Cheng Kung University installed an automated high sediment concentration monitor on the river’s temporary bridge last week. The system can keep track of sediment content in the river water 24 hours a day and transmit the data in real time, assisting personnel in instantly assessing flood risks.

A disaster prevention team from National Cheng Kung University just finished setting up this sediment concentration monitor on the temporary bridge over Hualien’s Matai’an River. Over 200 million cubic meters of earth and sand are still piled up upstream, posing a threat to downstream residents.

Doong Dong-jiing
NCKU hydraulic engineering department chair
The biggest challenge on-site is the impact from massive amounts of earth and sand. Normal upstream rainfall, changes in river water levels, and fluctuations in sediment concentration shouldn’t damage the equipment, as we’ve already implemented some protections.

The system can keep running 24 hours a day, constantly monitoring the sediment content in the water and transmitting data back in real time to assess flood risks.

Shih Mon-hsien
NCKU Coastal Ocean Monitoring Center project specialist
When floods or heavy rains strike, we can control it remotely to make high-frequency observations. By switching to the event mode, we can take a reading every six minutes.

In addition to continuous, intensive monitoring, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency is also planting more vegetation along hillsides to prevent rockfalls and landslides.

Huang Chun-tse
FANCA Hualien branch director
In early September, we completed seeding five types of vegetation over about 20 hectares. Altogether this year, we’ve planted about 40 hectares of vegetation.

Experts from across disciplines are working together to prevent another disaster caused by Hualien’s extreme landscape.

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#MataianRiver #barrierlake #floodcontrol #Hualien #sediment #NCKU #FANCA

2026-09-30

Ex-inmate makes new life selling grandmother’s rice soup

A food stand from Yunlin is bringing the old-fashioned taste of Donggang all around Taiwan. Behind the stand’s bowl of rice soup is an inspiring story of second chances. The owner went to prison young, and after he got out, he and his wife used NT$100,000 in savings and a small truck to turn a family recipe into a fresh start in life.

A long line of people wait at a food stand, all for this remarkable dish.

The chef adds a generous amount of shrimp, scallops, squid, and oysters to the boiling pot. The layer of red oil on top is natural shrimp oil from Pingtung’s Donggang, and the scallions, fried in port fat, add a distinct flavor to this traditional seafood rice soup from Pingtung.

Member of public
Likes the food
It smells so great. I watched from there and saw him put a lot of ingredients in. I’ve never seen it made fresh like this. It’s really rare.

This nourishing soup, which is convenient to take away, was a traditional dish for farmers during the rice harvest. The stand’s owner, Watermelon, travels all over Taiwan. He sets up his stand rain or shine, because a little rain is nothing to him.

Watermelon
Food stand owner
I’m a former inmate and when I was getting out, my grandmother passed away. It’s tough when you get out of prison. You don’t know what to do and feel like society has changed so much that you can’t keep up. I actually hated rice soup when I was growing up, but now it’s saved me.

Watermelon was imprisoned twice when he was younger and missed saying goodbye to his grandmother. After his release, he struggled to reintegrate with society. Now it’s his grandmother’s rice soup that is giving him a second chance.

Watermelon
Food stand owner
When I was young, rice soup was the only thing I knew how to make. I didn’t really have any other skills. So I decided to keep my grandmother’s recipe alive. It was even harder when I first started out because no one came. People didn’t know me.

Watermelon drives his food stand around Taiwan, sourcing quality ingredients and impressing countless customers with his grandmother’s dish.

Watermelon
Food stand owner
The goal is for every person in Taiwan to taste my family’s rice soup.

For his customers, this bowl of rice soup is a warm, delicious meal. For Watermelon, it’s the taste of his childhood and savior of his adulthood.

#foodstand #ricesoup #seafood #seafoodsoup #Pingtung #Donggang #redemption #secondchance

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2026-09-29

Obese dog? This weight loss clinic in Kaohsiung can help

The Kaohsiung City Government has opened up a weight loss clinic for obese dogs. These pampered pooches are often overfed by their owners and don’t get enough exercise. The process is often more about training the owners than the dogs, with vets recommending that they put their dogs on a high-fiber, high-protein diet low in calories that feature vegetables, among other measures. Let’s find out more.

This is a Chihuahua and it weighs a whopping 9 kg!

This black American Bully is even more astonishing. It weighs a massive 21kg. Pampering from owners have caused these dogs’ weight to spiral out of control, forcing owners to enroll them in a weight loss program.

Owner
Has fat pet
Because it’s a short-muzzled dog, if it gets too fat, it puts a lot of strain on its knee joints and makes it pant too much, which isn’t good for its health. We adopted it three years ago; it weighed 15.5 kg then and now it weighs 22 kg. It also doesn’t like to walk.

Owner
Has fat pet
I’ve bought weight-loss dog food before, but it doesn’t seem to be working. The more it eats, the more it gains weight. I’ve also taken them for walks, but they seem to eat even more afterward.

Vets warn that if dogs are so obese that they lose their necks, this can not only cause joint problems, but also make it difficult to breathe. They suggest a diet low in calories featuring vegetables can be used to sneakily replace their usual fare.

Ho Chu-yuan
Veterinarian
If he becomes obese, his breathing efficiency will decrease, making him more prone to heatstroke. His joint and spinal degeneration will also occur faster and more severely than other older dogs. We recommend a high-protein, high-fiber diet. If he’s still hungry, boiled broccoli, carrots or zucchini are things dogs readily eat.

Losing weight doesn’t have to mean spending money at a training center. The Kaohsiung Animal Protection Office is teaching owners to hide food inside old cardboard boxes or containers. This forces chubby dogs-who usually do nothing but eat and sleep-to work a little harder for their meals.

Kuo Ming-chin
Kaohsiung Animal Protection Office
With proper guidance from the owner, and by secretly hiding a little food among these toys, the pet not only gets exercise, but also, importantly, engages its mind.

Studies show that dogs have a 70% success rate when they lose weight. The key lies with the owner. Spending more time with your furry friend, engaging in mental and physical activities, will help your beloved dog stay healthy and with you for longer.

#furryfriend #mansbestfriend #dog #fatdog #doggo

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2026-09-29

Health minister outlines “Health Token” rewards program in FTV exclusive

Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang marked his first year in office by giving an exclusive interview to FTV, where he elaborated on his “Health Token” policy that rewards the public for getting medical checks and vaccinations. Shih also talked about his traumatic experiences working as an emergency physician at NTU Hospital during the SARS outbreak where he watched an infected colleague collapse. Let’s find out more.

- The loss of any one of them is, in my opinion, our responsibility.

The memory of working as an emergency physician at National Taiwan University Hospital during the SARS outbreak—watching a colleague get infected and collapse—is deeply etched in the mind of Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang. That painful memory has now become nourishment, enabling Shih to make more well-rounded and flexible choices in his decision-making. This has led to the launch of the ’Health Token’ policy, which encourages the public to get health screenings and vaccinations

Shih Chung-liang
Minister of Health and Welfare
The higher the difficulty, the more tokens we award. For instance, a breast cancer screening earns 1,000 tokens. But with colorectal cancer screening, past data shows that among those who test positive during initial health checks, only around 80% actually go on to get a colonoscopy. Not everyone returns for it because the procedure is more demanding—so we offer 1,350 tokens for that.

Faced with the dual challenges of a declining birth rate and an aging society, Shih’s top priority is to transform the healthcare system.

Shih Chung-liang
Minister of Health and Welfare
For the elderly, our first priority is to shorten the period of life spent in poor health. The second thing is whether our system can be used more intelligently and flexibly."

In the interview, Shih spoke candidly and with confidence, expressing his hope to enhance the resilience of Taiwan’s healthcare system during his term.

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#Taiwanhealth #Taiwanminister #Taiwanhealthminister #Taiwanhealthpolicies #superagingsocieties #Healthtokens #healthtokenpolicy

2026-09-29

Taiwan gears up for exotic fireworks display and to celebrate National Day

With the mid-Autumn Festival long weekend just ending, Taiwan is now gearing up for the Double Ten National Day long weekend that begins on Friday Oct. 9. This year, the National Day Gala will be held on Friday Oct. 9 and for the first time will be held in New Taipei City. Meanwhile the holiday’s annual firework’s display will be held in Taitung County for the first time in nine years. Let’s find out more.

Dazzling fireworks explode in the night sky, including spherical and plum flower-shaped fireworks as well as fireworks in the shape of “double ten” characters, adding vibrant color to Taitung’s night sky.

With National Day approaching, the official gala will be held for the first time in New Taipei City on October 9th at Banqiao First Stadium. A total of eight performances are planned to showcase the rich cultural landscape of Taiwan.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei City Mayor
To my knowledge, it seems that from the Taipei County era to the New Taipei City era, there has never been a National Day Gala here. This is our first time, and this is my last year in office. I can actually use my position as mayor to organize this National Day celebration for our country. Happy birthday, ROC!

The National Day fireworks display will be held in Taitung County, making use of Taitung’s mountain and sea landscapes and reflecting the characteristics of Austronesian culture. It will last for about 30 minutes with more than 19,000 fireworks.

Yao Ching-ling
Taitung County Commissioner
The last time we hosted a National Day fireworks display was in 2017. After nine years, we are extremely happy to have the opportunity to host the National Day fireworks again. We will have snacks on site, and there are many other ways to watch the fireworks. You can also watch the fireworks from the sea. The venue can accommodate 300,000 people, and rest assured, the entire city of Taitung is your viewing spot.

A National Day-themed gift box has also been launched. Connecting Taitung and New Taipei City, the box features a selection of representative local products from both places as a symbolic blessing from the cities. Beyond visual and auditory experiences, it allows people to get to know local specialties through taste.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#Taiwanholidays #Taiwannationalday #Newtaipeicity #Taitung #Taiwanfireworks #Taitungtourism

2026-09-29

ITRI is spawning new tech that reduces labor for mushroom farmers

Growing traditional log-cultivated shitake mushrooms in Taiwan once took up a lot of labor and time. Farmers would have to drill holes in a log, one by one, and inoculate mushroom spawn. Now the Industrial Technology Research Institute, otherwise known as ITRI, has come up with new technologies that make the process much more efficient. The work of three traditional mushroom farmers now being done by one person. Let’s find out more.

Mushroom farmers use machinery to drill holes in logs and then tap tools to inoculate the spawn. Traditionally, growing "log-cultivated shiitake mushrooms" is time-consuming and labor-intensive, taking more than half an hour to process one log. However, ITRI has developed labor-saving equipment that allows one mushroom farmer to perform the work of three.

Hsia Wen-chien
Mushroom farmer
It significantly reduces manpower. Previously, lifting, flipping, and handling each log took about ten minutes. Now, that’s unnecessary; it can be done in a flash. The entire process can be done in just one or two minutes.

The cut wood is placed on an iron frame, and then its wheels can roll left and right, and back and forth, making it convenient for mushroom farmers to drill in the holes. It is equipped with hanging rollers and a rebound mechanism to reduce the effort required to bore holes.

The newly designed inoculation machine can automatically insert the spawn. In response to extreme weather conditions, ITRI has also developed a "smart spray system" that automatically activates to regulate temperatures when they exceed 28°C or when humidity is below 80%.

Lee Shih-chi
ITRI Central Region Campus director
Our original intention was to make our technological tools easy for local people to use.

By introducing technology, ITRI not only improves efficiency and saves costs and labor, but also creates higher output value and competitiveness for local mushroom farmers.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#Taiwanmushrooms #mushroomfarming #laborsaving #shitakemushrooms #ITRI

2026-09-28

EXO’s Baekhyun drives fans wild with perfect Mandarin JJ Lin duet

2026-09-28

Kind and selfless borough warden helps community with recycling

In Zhongquan Borough in Changhua, the borough warden Lin Lien-fa has playfully dubbed himself the “garbage chief.” For more than 20 years, he has set up a neighborhood recycling zone, where he personally helps the locals sort their recyclables and send them to various garbage trucks on designated days. His kindliness has made life much more convenient, as well as reduced headaches for sanitation workers Let’s find out more.

On different recycling days, the mobile dumpsters in this borough are lined up and tipped into the collection truck, one by one, in an orderly process, ensuring no one gets the day wrong or mixes up the sorting.

He personally takes the recyclables from the locals, and what’s touching is that he has done this not just before elections, but for twenty years.

Lin Lien-fa, the Zhongquan Borough warden in Changhua, explains that he has been assisting residents with recycling for many years. His work became especially important after Changhua City instituted a new system of collecting different kinds of recyclables and rubbish on different days. Many people simply can’t remember what item needs to be disposed of on what day, which is also a headache for sanitation workers. This borough warden sorts it all out on their behalf, making it convenient for everyone.

Lin Lien-fa
Zhongquan borough warden
I consider myself a "garbage chief" because I’m happy to serve the residents and neighbors here, and to help make the environment a better place.

He calls himself the “garbage chief,” not because he’s notorious, but out of sheer goodwill. His generosity has won him a great reputation. People living in other boroughs even come to ask him for help.

Member of the public
Loves Lin’s work
It’s really great! Sometimes you’re in a rush and can’t wait for the garbage truck, then usually you need to wait another day or two. Here, we can drop off it off any time

Member of the public
Loves Lin’s work
When I need to head out or have errands to run, I just come by and drop it off. It’s very convenient.

Large pieces of furniture that are no longer usable are dismantled, and the collected materials are sold to fund community operations.

Chang Chiu-hsiang
Zhongquan Community Executive Director
This portion serves as the community’s self-raised funds, which go toward community activities, emergency relief, and other expenses.

Look at these volunteers—they’ve all stepped up of their own accord to join the borough chief in doing good deeds. For people’s daily lives, recycling can be very troublesome, but with the community services from this borough warden and volunteers, life is so convenient.

#Changhuarecycling #communityservice #Taiwanrecycling #Taiwanpoliticians

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2026-09-25

Adorable party at Shoushan Zoo as animals enjoy Moon Festival feast

2026-09-25