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Claw Machine Arcade Taiwan

Claw Machine Arcades in Taiwan: Why Are There So Many?!

Claw machine arcades are one of Taiwan’s great novelties, inspiring the curiosity, delight and bewilderment of travelers and new-comers alike. If you’re wondering what a claw machine arcade is, well, it’s exactly what it sounds like: an arcade filled exclusively with claw machines. Before I came to Taiwan, I had never seen a claw machine arcade. I’d seen many a claw machine, sure, but usually only one or two at a time in the context of an arcade mostly full...

Dihua Street, Dadaocheng

Your Guide To The Historic Dadaocheng Neighborhood in Taipei

A Little Background Located alongside the Tamsui River in Taipei’s Datong District, Dadaocheng (大稻埕, also known by the Taiwanese “Twatutia”) has everything a traveller could possibly want, from history to local culture, delicious food, a wharf (love those), trendy pier and plenty of shopping. Dadaocheng’s commercial past has made it into the unique cultural enclave it is today – one in which we can catch a glimpse of old Taipei in its maritime glory. During the late 19th into the...

2021 Things to do in Taipei Treasure Hill Light Festival Treasure Hill Artist Village

Falling in Love with Taipei’s Treasure Hill Light Festival, 2021

If you’re looking for an immersive art experience in the Taipei area, look no further! In the Gongguan District, on a slope overlooking the Xindian River, an artist community glows. Treasure Hill Artist Village is the very embodiment of Taiwan’s wrestling contradictions. It carries the past into the future, consciously reflecting upon a rich history dating back to the early settlement of the Taipei Basin. Each year the village holds a Light Festival, this year running from March 27th –...

Cherry Blossom Season in Taipei

3 Amazing Spots for Cherry Blossom Viewing in Taipei

I’ve always had a thing for cherry blossoms. I don’t really know why or how or when it began. I just know that they stop me in my tracks every time, flooded with pure delight. To see a cherry blossom in full bloom is to step utterly into the present moment, savoring the simplicity of being in all its sensual wonder. Japan is most famous for its long-held Hanami (flower viewing) custom during sakura season, when friends and family gather...

origins of ghost month in keelung

Understanding the Origins of the Ghost Month Festival in Taiwan

When the lanterns start going up around Keelung in the summertime, you know we’re gearing up for GHOST MONTH! Ghost month? What is that? Should I be scared? Is it like Halloween? If you read the article below from Focus Taiwan, or this one from Taiwan News, you might find some cause for alarm. There’s a long list of things you shouldn’t do during Ghost Month, lest you bring bad luck on yourself or your family, or you get tricked...