Latest news with #TaiwanTourismAdministration
The Star
21-05-2025
- The Star
A floral escape in the mountains of Taiwan
Witness the vibrant blooms at Yangmingshan's Bamboo Lake in Taipei, Taiwan. — Taipei Travel Net Walking through a field of white calla lilies and surrounded by fresh mountain air is one of the best ways to welcome spring in Taiwan. While lilies bloom here from March to April, this same field transforms into an expanse of vibrant hydrangeas throughout May to June. This scenic field of flowers at Yangmingshan's Bamboo Lake, located in Taipei city, is home to the 100-day Bamboo Lake Calla Lily and Hydrangea Festival. The event is technically made up of two parts: The lily festival, which was held recently, has been celebrated for over two decades, while the hydrangea festival will kick off on May 23. The latter is currently in its 13th year, and will run until June 22. Themed 'A World Of Imagination', this year's event showcases creative foliage displays crafted by local farmers. Visitors can also experience two unique installations that make for ideal photo backdrops: The Tree Frog Dream House and the Wheel Of Love. Enjoy scenic nature walks, discover clear mountain creeks, join craft workshops, and sample local delicacies at the festival. 'Flowers create a unique bond between nature and people. As Taipei continues to enhance its Muslim-friendly offerings, we are committed to providing well-equipped facilities and thoughtful services to ensure all travellers feel welcomed and at ease,' Abe Chou, the director of Kuala Lumpur's Taiwan Tourism Administration office, said in a press statement. Recognised as one of the Muslim-friendly destinations, ranking third among non-organisation of Islamic Cooperation nations in the 2024 Global Muslim Travel Index, Taipei offers a range of halal dining options, prayer facilities at major attractions, and services tailored for Muslim travellers. Additionally, Taipei was awarded the 'Most Promising Muslim-Friendly Travel Destination City' by CrescentRating, a Singapore-based research organisation.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Taiwan Welcomes the World to a Vibrant 2025 Mazu Festival
VANCOUVER, BC, May 12, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Taiwan Tourism Administration has announced the successful conclusion of the 2025 Mazu (Matsu) Festival, a weeks-long religious and cultural celebration that drew record crowds and international visitors across Taiwan. Centered around processions honoring the sea goddess Mazu – one of Taiwan's most revered deities – the festival showcased the island's rich folk traditions, community spirit, and hospitality. Celebrating Taiwan's Beloved Sea Goddess Mazu, also known as the "Queen of Heaven," is a deity worshipped in Taiwan as a protector of seafarers and bringer of blessings. Mazu's legend has grown over centuries; today she is venerated by millions for her benevolence and protection in all aspects of life. The annual Mazu Festival (held during the third lunar month) is the most important celebration of this goddess's birthday and is one of Taiwan's largest religious events, recognized alongside the world's top pilgrimage traditions. Each spring, entire communities mobilize to honor Mazu with spectacular rituals and pilgrimages, praying for peace and good fortune. Island-wide Pilgrimages Draw Record Crowds This year's festival unfolded from early April to mid-May, featuring two major Mazu pilgrimage routes that spanned hundreds of kilometers across central Taiwan. In early April, the famed Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage set off from Zhenlan (Jenn Lann) Temple in Dajia, Taichung. The nine-day, eight-night journey covered about 340 km, winding through Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, and Chiayi counties before returning to Dajia. The procession's route included over a hundred temples and villages – 110 temples according to organizers – as local devotees turned out to welcome the goddess's palanquin. Festivities began with a dramatic night-time sendoff on April 4, when an estimated 600,000 worshippers packed the streets to bid Mazu farewell at the start of her journey. Along the way, many temples hosted performances and ceremonies to honor Mazu, from firecracker displays to traditional drum and lion dance parades. Communities large and small offered free food and shelter to pilgrims, embodying the festival's spirit of hospitality and faith. Two weeks later in May, the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage – Taiwan's longest religious procession on foot – commenced in Miaoli County. Departing Baishatun's Gongtian Temple just after midnight on May 2, a record-breaking 329,118 devotees registered to accompany Mazu's palanquin on its journey south. This 10-day pilgrimage is unique in that its route is not pre-set; at each fork in the road, temple guides cast divination blocks seeking Mazu's guidance on which way to go. As a result, the convoy often detours through small villages and rural shrines, bringing Mazu's blessings to remote communities. The Baishatun procession ultimately traveled over 300 kilometers (nearly 400 km round-trip) from Miaoli, through Taichung and Changhua, to its destination at Yunlin's Beigang Chaotian Temple. There, thousands gathered for a jubilant welcoming ceremony as the Mazu effigy arrived on May 3, greeted by ringing temple bells and cheers of devotees. Rituals, Traditions and Cultural Highlights Throughout the festival, colorful rituals and performances highlighted Taiwan's living folk culture. As Mazu's palanquin traversed city streets and country lanes, worshippers jostled for a chance to touch or shoulder the ornate sedan chair, believing it brings good luck. Some devotees even lay flat on the ground, allowing the palanquin to pass over them – a traditional act of faith said to bathe the believer in Mazu's blessings. At night, the sky was lit up by fireworks and the cacophony of firecrackers, though in a nod to sustainability some processions used eco-friendly, smokeless firecrackers to reduce air pollution. Key cultural events accompanied the religious observances. In Taichung, a Mazu International Culture Festival brought folk arts to life with temple courtyard stages featuring Taiwanese opera and puppet theater. Troops like the renowned Ming Hwa Yuan drama troupe performed classical opera pieces in Mazu's honor, while puppet shows and acrobatic dance troupes entertained pilgrims and tourists alike . Along the pilgrimage routes, local performance troupes and marching bands joined in, creating a carnival-like atmosphere celebrating both the sacred and the festive. Unprecedented Turnout and Global Participation The 2025 Mazu Festival saw unprecedented participation, reflecting a post-pandemic resurgence of Taiwan's temple culture and its growing appeal to international visitors. Organizers estimate that well over one million people in total took part in this year's Mazu pilgrimages and related events. The Dajia pilgrimage alone drew crowds peaking at around 800,000 during its grand finale in Taichung, while the Baishatun trek's flexible entourage swelled beyond the official 329,000 registered pilgrims as many joined informally en route (potentially over 400,000 in all). These figures mark all-time highs for the festival. Not only did devotees from across Taiwan turn out in droves, but thousands of tourists traveled to witness the spectacle. According to local travel agencies, special Mazu pilgrimage tour packages were hugely popular – one leading tour operator served over 3,000 tour participants this year (a 50% increase from the previous year) as overseas visitors jumped at the chance to experience the celebrations. "The Mazu Festival is a living expression of Taiwan's spiritual heritage and community vitality," said Sylvia Lee, Director of the San Francisco Office of the Taiwan Tourism Administration. "We are proud to see record participation this year, not only from our citizens but also from international visitors. We especially invite our Canadian friends to experience this one-of-a-kind journey next year — to walk with Mazu, share in our traditions, and feel the warmth of Taiwan's hospitality." For related photos and files, please click here. To learn more about Taiwan's temple culture, and to plan your trip to Taiwan for next year's Mazu Festival, visit the Taiwan Tourism Information Centre in Vancouver at Unit 626, 6081 No. 3 Road, Richmond, BC V6Y 2B2. ABOUT TAIWAN TOURISM ADMINISTRATION The Taiwan Tourism Administration is the official government agency of Taiwan (R.O.C.) responsible for domestic and international tourism policy development and execution. The Western Canada market is managed by the San Francisco office of TTA. The marketing slogan currently in use for Taiwan is "Waves of Wonder." The official ambassador of the TTA is OhBear, a cartoon Formosan Black Bear, the national animal of Taiwan. For more information about Taiwan tourism, please visit the official website of the Taiwan Tourism Administration: Follow us on social media in North America: Instagram: @ Tour Taiwan - America Media Contact Alex Trup, Marketing DirectorTaiwan Tourism Information Centertticyvr@ SOURCE Taiwan Tourism Administration View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
12-05-2025
- Cision Canada
Taiwan Welcomes the World to a Vibrant 2025 Mazu Festival
VANCOUVER, BC, May 12, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Taiwan Tourism Administration has announced the successful conclusion of the 2025 Mazu (Matsu) Festival, a weeks-long religious and cultural celebration that drew record crowds and international visitors across Taiwan. Centered around processions honoring the sea goddess Mazu – one of Taiwan's most revered deities – the festival showcased the island's rich folk traditions, community spirit, and hospitality. Celebrating Taiwan's Beloved Sea Goddess Mazu, also known as the "Queen of Heaven," is a deity worshipped in Taiwan as a protector of seafarers and bringer of blessings. Mazu's legend has grown over centuries; today she is venerated by millions for her benevolence and protection in all aspects of life. The annual Mazu Festival (held during the third lunar month) is the most important celebration of this goddess's birthday and is one of Taiwan's largest religious events, recognized alongside the world's top pilgrimage traditions. Each spring, entire communities mobilize to honor Mazu with spectacular rituals and pilgrimages, praying for peace and good fortune. Island-wide Pilgrimages Draw Record Crowds This year's festival unfolded from early April to mid-May, featuring two major Mazu pilgrimage routes that spanned hundreds of kilometers across central Taiwan. In early April, the famed Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage set off from Zhenlan (Jenn Lann) Temple in Dajia, Taichung. The nine-day, eight-night journey covered about 340 km, winding through Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, and Chiayi counties before returning to Dajia. The procession's route included over a hundred temples and villages – 110 temples according to organizers – as local devotees turned out to welcome the goddess's palanquin. Festivities began with a dramatic night-time sendoff on April 4, when an estimated 600,000 worshippers packed the streets to bid Mazu farewell at the start of her journey. Along the way, many temples hosted performances and ceremonies to honor Mazu, from firecracker displays to traditional drum and lion dance parades. Communities large and small offered free food and shelter to pilgrims, embodying the festival's spirit of hospitality and faith. Two weeks later in May, the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage – Taiwan's longest religious procession on foot – commenced in Miaoli County. Departing Baishatun's Gongtian Temple just after midnight on May 2, a record-breaking 329,118 devotees registered to accompany Mazu's palanquin on its journey south. This 10-day pilgrimage is unique in that its route is not pre-set; at each fork in the road, temple guides cast divination blocks seeking Mazu's guidance on which way to go. As a result, the convoy often detours through small villages and rural shrines, bringing Mazu's blessings to remote communities. The Baishatun procession ultimately traveled over 300 kilometers (nearly 400 km round-trip) from Miaoli, through Taichung and Changhua, to its destination at Yunlin's Beigang Chaotian Temple. There, thousands gathered for a jubilant welcoming ceremony as the Mazu effigy arrived on May 3, greeted by ringing temple bells and cheers of devotees. Rituals, Traditions and Cultural Highlights Throughout the festival, colorful rituals and performances highlighted Taiwan's living folk culture. As Mazu's palanquin traversed city streets and country lanes, worshippers jostled for a chance to touch or shoulder the ornate sedan chair, believing it brings good luck. Some devotees even lay flat on the ground, allowing the palanquin to pass over them – a traditional act of faith said to bathe the believer in Mazu's blessings. At night, the sky was lit up by fireworks and the cacophony of firecrackers, though in a nod to sustainability some processions used eco-friendly, smokeless firecrackers to reduce air pollution. Key cultural events accompanied the religious observances. In Taichung, a Mazu International Culture Festival brought folk arts to life with temple courtyard stages featuring Taiwanese opera and puppet theater. Troops like the renowned Ming Hwa Yuan drama troupe performed classical opera pieces in Mazu's honor, while puppet shows and acrobatic dance troupes entertained pilgrims and tourists alike . Along the pilgrimage routes, local performance troupes and marching bands joined in, creating a carnival-like atmosphere celebrating both the sacred and the festive. Unprecedented Turnout and Global Participation The 2025 Mazu Festival saw unprecedented participation, reflecting a post-pandemic resurgence of Taiwan's temple culture and its growing appeal to international visitors. Organizers estimate that well over one million people in total took part in this year's Mazu pilgrimages and related events. The Dajia pilgrimage alone drew crowds peaking at around 800,000 during its grand finale in Taichung, while the Baishatun trek's flexible entourage swelled beyond the official 329,000 registered pilgrims as many joined informally en route (potentially over 400,000 in all). These figures mark all-time highs for the festival. Not only did devotees from across Taiwan turn out in droves, but thousands of tourists traveled to witness the spectacle. According to local travel agencies, special Mazu pilgrimage tour packages were hugely popular – one leading tour operator served over 3,000 tour participants this year (a 50% increase from the previous year) as overseas visitors jumped at the chance to experience the celebrations. "The Mazu Festival is a living expression of Taiwan's spiritual heritage and community vitality," said Sylvia Lee, Director of the San Francisco Office of the Taiwan Tourism Administration. "We are proud to see record participation this year, not only from our citizens but also from international visitors. We especially invite our Canadian friends to experience this one-of-a-kind journey next year — to walk with Mazu, share in our traditions, and feel the warmth of Taiwan's hospitality." For related photos and files, please click here. To learn more about Taiwan's temple culture, and to plan your trip to Taiwan for next year's Mazu Festival, visit the Taiwan Tourism Information Centre in Vancouver at Unit 626, 6081 No. 3 Road, Richmond, BC V6Y 2B2. The Taiwan Tourism Administration is the official government agency of Taiwan (R.O.C.) responsible for domestic and international tourism policy development and execution. The Western Canada market is managed by the San Francisco office of TTA. The marketing slogan currently in use for Taiwan is "Waves of Wonder." The official ambassador of the TTA is OhBear, a cartoon Formosan Black Bear, the national animal of Taiwan. Media Contact Alex Trup, Marketing Director Taiwan Tourism Information Center [email protected] SOURCE Taiwan Tourism Administration
Korea Herald
07-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
THE MICHELIN GUIDE EXPANDS TO NEW TAIPEI CITY, HSINCHU COUNTY AND HSINCHU CITY
TAIPEI, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After its debut in Taipei in 2018, and progressive expansions to Taichung in 2020, and Tainan and Kaohsiung in 2022, the MICHELIN Guide announced that it will expand further to include three more Taiwanese gastronomic destinations – New Taipei City, Hsinchu County, and Hsinchu City – in its scope. The upcoming 2025 MICHELIN Guide Taiwan restaurant selection will be revealed later this year, and it will now cover a total of seven destinations – Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, along with newly added New Taipei City, Hsinchu County, and Hsinchu City. Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide shared: "We are thrilled to explore the beauty and culinary diversity of New Taipei City, Hsinchu City, and Hsinchu County in our Taiwan 2025 Selection. Since the launch of the MICHELIN Guide in Taiwan in 2018, we have gradually expanded from Taipei to include Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. Now in its eighth year, this marks the third round of expansions in Taiwan, and we are delighted to continue our journey in Taiwan." "These destinations offer a unique blend of tradition and innovation, from vibrant seafood scenes to rich cultural heritage. Our inspection team is eager to uncover more gastronomic treasures of northern Taiwan, celebrating the dynamic flavors and experiences that make this region a must-visit destination. We can't wait to share these discoveries with the world," added Gwendal Poullennec. New Taipei City, encircling Taipei, is part of the Greater Taipei metropolitan area. Less than 60km from central Taipei, it has a vast territory with varied topography and historical background, and it is a heaven for seafood enthusiasts and adventurers, as it boasts a vibrant culinary scene with seafood specialties, mountain delicacies, and traditional small eats. Although they share the same name – Hsinchu – Hsinchu County and Hsinchu City are two different cities with different vibes and distinct personalities. As the heartland of the Hakka group, Hsinchu County offers a rich blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. This area has preserved many unique Hakka ancient houses, hence offering traditional Hakka dishes and seasonal treats. Other dishes such as rice noodles and Hakka savory dumplings also showcase the rich snack culture. On the other hand, Hsinchu City is a well-developed urban area but rich in cultural heritage and temples, and surrounded by diverse local small eateries, offering a unique ambiance with a fusion of technology and culture. Taiwan Tourism Administration, MOTC, Director General Chou Yung-Hui stated, "The announcement of new cities has once again expanded the culinary map of the MICHELIN Guide Taiwan. This not only showcases the vitality and local culinary culture of different cities but also highlights their unique charm. Furthermore, the recognition of the diverse flavors and characteristics of the local cuisine in these three newly added cities, will inject new energy and vitality into Taiwan's food and tourism industries." "We sincerely invite global travelers to explore Taiwan in depth, enjoying the marvelous transition from the azure ocean to majestic mountains within a single day, while savoring the delicious blend of creativity and tradition. Let every journey be filled with surprises and endless possibilities. In 2025, come and experience the MICHELIN Guide recommendations of Taiwan's seven major cities!" Director General Chou Yung-Hui added. With the inclusion of three additional cities, the highly anticipated 2025 MICHELIN Guide Taiwan restaurant selection will continue to celebrate the diversity and richness of cuisines in Taiwan. The MICHELIN Guide Methodology Created in 1900 by the Michelin tire company, the MICHELIN Guide supports automobile mobility and highlights world culinary scenes. It guides international travelers and local foodies to the best restaurants, promoting travel culture. The selection follows MICHELIN Guide's method based on five universal criteria: The MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Selection The MICHELIN Guide awards distinctions to special restaurants within its selection - One MICHELIN Star: "High-quality cooking worth a stop", Two MICHELIN Stars: "Excellent cooking worth a detour", and Three MICHELIN Stars: "Exceptional cuisine worth a special journey". Additionally, the Bib Gourmand category recognizes restaurants offering good quality food at moderate prices. The MICHELIN Guide is committed to maintaining the highest global standards in its restaurant selection process. Our team of anonymous and expert inspectors conduct continuous and rigorous evaluations of restaurants. These evaluations are carried out objectively and independently, ensuring that external factors do not influence the results. This dedication to impartiality and excellence guarantees that only the outstanding dining establishments are recognized.
