Throughout this country you´ll of course find plenty of wonderful Chinese cuisine from the mainland, Singapore, and beyond, but there are quite a few dishes which are quintessentially Taiwanese. Five of the most prominent:
Widely considered Taiwan’s national dish, this comforting bowl (top) features slow-braised beef — usually shank or tendon — simmered in a fragrant soy-based broth with star anise, ginger, and chili. Served with chewy wheat noodles and
When I first witnessed a performance of Peking opera (the best-known form of Chinese opera, with Peking by the way being the traditional English spelling of Beijing) years ago in Beijing’s ornate, early-19th-century Huguang Guild Hall, I admit I was mesmerized by the gestalt of this elaborate art form. Unlike Western opera, it’s even more stylized, with exaggerated gestures, vocalisations, and heavily symbolic costume and makeup (and in some cases obviously extremely fakey beards
Japan´s vibrant capital and largest city (its metropolitan area with a mind-bending population of 37 million) blends futuristic innovation with pockets of traditional charm, its streets filled with a variety of allures including historical landmarks, culinary and cultural delights, world-class shopping, amazing entertainment, and of course cutting-edge technology. It´s a truly extraordinary and unique experience for the visitor.
Tokyo, a city where ancient traditions seamlessly blend with cutting-edge innovation, continues to captivate travelers with its ever-evolving landscape. As we step into 2025, Tokyo unveils a thrilling array of new attractions, immersive experiences, and timeless destinations that promise unforgettable adventures for both first-time visitors and seasoned explorers. This is a Tokyo 2025 travel guide packed with the latest must-visit spots, insider tips, and compelling reasons to add Tokyo to you
Dreaming of turquoise waters, rich culture, and a tropical escape that feels worlds away from mainland Japan? Okinawa is calling. This southern Japanese paradise offers more than just beaches—it’s a destination where history, nature, and wellness converge. Here’s why Okinawa should be at the top of your travel list in 2025.
Okinawa is Japan’s southernmost prefecture, made up of over 160 islands scattered across the East China Sea. With its subtropical climate, you
Established in 1993, this country´s largest and one of the most popular of its 29 national parks covers around 27,000 square kilometers (10,425 sq. miles), of the famous Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Mountains on the northern edge of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia´s north, an hour´s flight from capital Ulaanbaatar (formally romanized as Ulan Bator), and stretching around 380km (236 mi.) from east to west and just 80km (50 mi.) from north to south.
In this national park known for its stunning natural be
Every winter, visitors flock to the Niseko area - a two-hour drive from Hokkaido´s capital Sapporo - to experience the amazing, high-quality powder that has made it a magnet for winter travel in Asia. Consisting of three towns, including Niseko itself (pop. 5,000), this beautiful winter wonderland caters to the tastes of all those looking for a perfect nature getaway in winter. Furthermore, the area boasts a slew of lodges from homey Alpine-style chalets to large, luxury ski-in/ski-o
Peter Van Bossche; other photos by Victor Block unless otherwise noted
How often do a toilet and a tea ceremony form perfect metaphors for the culture of a country? But so it is in the Land of the Rising Sun.
The toilet falls into the realm of delightful personal discoveries. First a warm toilet seat along with musical options with a variety of buttons that cleaned more areas with water spray than I have nether-region body parts, a portion of the large bathroom mirror that remained perfectly
The Andaru Collection Niseko features only six private villas. Each villa unit has two exclusive-use floors, with personalized service to all guests from across the world. The sight of these villas standing side-by-side, like a kamakura, Japan's traditional snow hut, evokes the feeling of a fairy tale village.
They are located in Niseko, the most prominent ski resort region of Hokkaido, Japan's northern-most main island. It is a 2-hour drive Southwest from Sapporo, Hokkaido's capital and largest
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Officially the Republic of China, this island with a population of around 24 million – just a bit larger than the state of Maryland and just under half the size of Scotland – has been in the news lately both thanks to its controversial January 13 presidential elections and to its perennial potential (and especially in the context of other current crises in Ukraine and Gaza) as a world flashpoint due to mainland China´s obsession with eventually and forcibly annexing it. Taiwan is both o
Cherry blossoms at Himeji Castle (April 2023)
I’m writing today to tell you about another Japan Railways “rail pass,” in particular about my recent experiences using the Seishun 18 Ticket (青春１８きっぷ). As for why there have been some Japan-related posts lately, well– I’ve been in Tokyo for a couple of weeks.
What is the Seishun 18 Ticket? It´s essentially a cheaper version of the JR Pass that is only available during three different times in one calendar year:
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Known as one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in China, Huangshan is situated in Huizhou region of the country's southeast-central province of Anhui. Millions of visitors make a trip each year to catch a sight of theses magnificent granite peaks cradled by beds of clouds and frequently depicted in traditional Chinese paintings. And named after the mountain, the area around Huangshan City (pop. 1.5 million, a 4½-hour drive west of Shanghai) is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: th
David Paul Appell
China’s largest city is unquestionably an amazing, fun, and fascinating place to visit – a mix of ancient and cutting-edge culture/architecture, along with fabulous dining, shopping, and entertainment. But on weekends, many Shanghainese love nothing more than to ditch the Big Wonton and head out west into the countryside to reconnect with traditional Chinese culture and history in a handful of charming, historic towns, whose islands and canals make them feel like
Formerly a colony of Portugal until it was handed back to China in 1999, this city spread against a backdrop of green hills over several islands, with a population of just over 705,000, is a Chinese special administrative on the Pearl River, just 60 kilometres from Hong Kong (making it an easy day trip, by the way). One of world’s more densely populated areas, Macau is best known and is known as Asia´s biggest gambling mecca. Besides the casinos which dominate the skyline (top), it´s is also k
