Starjophiel

27/10/2026

Wu Miao Ba-wan, Tainan’s steamed meatball 🥟

If you’ve had ba-wan up north, forget it for a second. Tainan does it differently.

Ba-wan is a big, wobbly, see-through dumpling filled with pork. In northern and central Taiwan they usually fry it in oil. In Tainan, we steam it. The skin is softer, lighter, and the sauce is on the sweet side. Very Tainan.

My go-to is Wu Miao Ba-wan, right next to the Sacrificial Rites Martial Temple on Yongfu Road. The pork is marinated the day before, so the filling is packed with flavor. Order two ba-wan and a bowl of their clear bone broth. That’s the move. Add some garlic paste and chili if you like a kick.

Heads up:

‼️It’s closed on Tuesdays.

‼️Weekdays it opens in the afternoon, and on weekends it closes when they sell out. Don’t show up late and expect there to be any left.

Since you’re there, step into the Martial Temple next door, then walk across to Chihkan Tower. That’s a perfect Tainan afternoon right there.

24/10/2026

Hsinchu rice noodles: made by the wind 🍜

People call Hsinchu the “Windy City,” and once you’ve been there in autumn, you’ll get it. Around this time of year a strong, dry wind starts blowing in from the northeast. Locals call it “jiu jiang feng.” It messes up your hair, but it’s also the reason Hsinchu rice noodles are so good.

Here’s the thing. The noodles are made from rice, steamed, pressed into thin strands, and then dried outside. That cold, dry wind dries them fast and evenly, which gives them that springy, chewy texture. October to winter is peak drying season. If you drive past the noodle factories on the edge of town, you’ll see racks and racks of them out in the sun.

How to eat them like a local:

Go to the area around the City God Temple. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Hsinchu train station.
Order a plate of fried rice noodles (chao mifen) and a bowl of pork ball soup (gongwan tang). This is THE Hsinchu combo. Don’t overthink it.
Add some chili sauce. Trust me.

Want to bring some home? Dried rice noodles are light and make a great souvenir. Check the package for "純米" (pure rice) if you want the real stuff. A lot of cheaper ones are mixed with cornstarch.

Hsinchu usually gets skipped because people think it’s just a tech town. Give it one afternoon. Your stomach will thank you.

21/10/2026

Beitou turns into a hot spring party this week ♨️

Taipei Hot Spring Festival is on from Thursday to Monday, Oct 22–26. If you’ve never been to Beitou, this is the week to go.

Everything happens around Xinbeitou MRT station, Qixing Park and Beitou Park, so it’s super easy to get to. Take the Red Line to Beitou, then switch to the little pink branch line for one stop.

This year they’ve brought over a YOSAKOI dance team from Hokkaido. Think big, loud, synchronized dancing with wooden clappers. There’s also Taiwanese opera, old-school nakashi singing (a Beitou thing, ask a local grandpa about it), and around 50 shows across the five days. Plus a whole lot of food stalls.

The festival itself is free. Once you’re done walking around, go soak. Beitou has everything from fancy hotel baths to cheap public pools. The public ones are where you’ll see the locals.

Heads up: Oct 24–26 is a long weekend in Taiwan, so Saturday and Sunday will be packed. If you can, go Thursday or Friday evening instead.

19/10/2026

Tea, fog, and mountains: a day in Alishan’s tea fields 🍵

Everyone goes to Alishan for the sunrise and the old forest railway. Fair enough. But if you ask me, the tea fields on the way up are the real reason to go.

Alishan high mountain oolong grows at over 1,000 meters. It’s cool up here, and the fog rolls in almost every afternoon. The tea grows slowly, so the leaves come out sweet and smooth. That’s why people in Taiwan will happily pay a lot for a small bag of it.

My favorite area is Shizhuo. There are a few short walking trails right through the tea gardens, all with pretty names like the “Cloud Trail” and the “Mist Trail.” You can walk one in under an hour. Go after lunch, when the fog starts drifting through the tea rows. It looks unreal.

Right now is autumn tea season, so you might see farmers picking leaves by hand on the slopes. Just watch from the path and don’t walk into the rows.

The best part: tea tasting at a family tea farm. Lots of them along the road will invite you in to sit down and try their tea. They’ll keep refilling your tiny cup, so just enjoy it. There’s no pressure to buy, but if you like it, picking up a small pack is a nice way to say thanks. It also makes a great gift to take home.

Getting there: head to Chiayi first, then take the bus up the mountain. Mountain weather changes fast, so bring a jacket, even if it’s hot down in the city.

17/10/2026

Taipei Pride is on Oct 31, and you should be there 🌈

Every year on the last Saturday of October, the roads around Taipei City Hall close to cars and fill up with people instead. It’s the biggest Pride in Asia, and honestly one of my favorite days of the year in this city.

This year is the 24th edition, and it lands on Halloween. So yes, expect costumes. A lot of them.

How it works is pretty simple. Take the MRT Blue Line to Taipei City Hall station and follow the rainbow flags. You don’t have to register or sign up for anything. Just find a group you vibe with and walk. Plenty of locals join halfway through the route, so don’t stress if you’re running late.

The march starts and ends at Citizen Plaza, and the party doesn’t stop when the walking does. There’s a market and a stage show that keep going into the evening. After that, most people head to Ximending, and with Halloween on the same night, it’s going to get wild.

A few things I’d tell a friend:

Eat before you go. The convenience stores nearby get cleaned out by the afternoon.
Bring a small bag, sunscreen, and a fan. Late October can still get warm in the sun.
If City Hall station is packed, get off at Taipei 101/World Trade Center on the Red Line and walk over.

See you there!



https://www.taiwanpride.lgbt/2026-info-1

15/10/2026

Tainan Arts Festival is on until Nov 22, and here’s why you should go 🎭

This year’s theme is “Suí-ooh!” It’s Taiwanese Hokkien for something like “so pretty!” If you spend even a day in Tainan, you’ll hear an auntie say it at a market stall. That’s pretty much the vibe of the whole festival.

The shows aren’t stuck in one concert hall. They’re spread all over the city: Tainan Cultural Center, Taijiang Cultural Center, Wu Garden (a gorgeous old garden right in the middle of town), and the Phoenix Tree Theater at NCKU. You get street performances, work by young local artists, and some international acts too.

Some shows are free and some need tickets, so check the program first and book anything you really want to see.

How I’d spend the day:

Morning: walk around the old streets near Wu Garden while it’s still cool.
Afternoon: catch a show.
Evening: eat. Beef soup, milkfish congee, shrimp rolls. Tainan people take food very seriously, and honestly they should.

The festival runs for almost two months, so you don’t have to rush. Pick a weekend, take the HSR down, and stay at least one night. Tainan is a city you need to slow down for.



https://tnaf.tainan.gov.tw

12/10/2026

A concert in the middle of a rice field? Yep, that’s Chishang 🌾

Every year when the rice in Chishang turns gold, the town does something kind of amazing. They put a stage right in the paddy fields and hold a concert there, with the mountains behind it. This year it’s on Oct 24–25.

Chishang is a small farming town in Taitung, on the east coast. It’s famous for its rice. Like, really famous. There’s even a “Chishang bento” you’ll see sold all over Taiwan, and the town is where it comes from.

Even if you don’t make it to the concert, the trip is worth it. Rent a bike in town and ride through the fields. It’s flat and easy, and in late October it’s all gold before the harvest. Bring water and a hat, because there’s not much shade out there.

A few things I’d tell a friend:

Check the official page for concert info early. It’s a popular one.
Book your train tickets ASAP. Trains to the east coast sell out on weekends, especially this one.
Stay the night if you can. Chishang after dark is quiet in the best way.

If you want to see a side of Taiwan that isn’t night markets and skyscrapers, this is it.



https://tour.taitung.gov.tw/en/

26/08/2026

24/08/2026

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18/08/2026

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