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Travel + Leisure
3 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
This Luxury Dessert Train Has a 3-course Tasting Menu, Coastal Views, and Takes You to Hidden Gems in Taiwan—Here's What It's Like
After planning two trips to Taiwan in three months, my biggest takeaway is simple: book early. Otherwise, you too might fight yourself taking five trains in one day just to chase your dream—namely, riding the dessert train and still making it to the final night of the Taiwan Lantern Festival. Stressful? Yes. But still worth it. Honestly, next time I'd ride seven trains and maybe even sacrifice a pinky toe. (How important are those, really?) Officially named Haifeng —meaning "Sea Breeze"—this train debuted in December 2024 and carries just 60 passengers on a curated journey along Taiwan's scenic western coast in Tiffany-blue train cars with upholstered sofa-style seats facing out, oversized windows, and gold trim everywhere. The precisely curated retro-lux aesthetics and over-the-top elements left me wary—I boarded in Taichung with a healthy dose of skepticism. But, as so often happened in Taiwan, I found myself suspending cynicism, setting aside my worry that I was only seeing the "touristy" bits and embracing the sheer delight of it all. This train wasn't just about dessert; it was about slowing down and seeing Taiwan through an indulgent, artfully composed lens. Interior and seating area on board the Seaside Breeze train. Twenty minutes into the ride, with soft piano music tinkling through the cabin, we paused at the sleepy seaside town of Xinpu. The town's claim to fame is that it is the closest station to the ocean on Taiwan's western coast, but it's the 1922 cedar station house—a relic from the Japanese occupation, its peeling paint worn thin by decades of ocean air—that captivated me more than the rocky shore. The town is so small that Haifeng's 60 passengers more than doubled Xinpu's usual daily foot traffic. From there, the train slowed to a leisurely 20 miles per hour so that passengers could fully appreciate Taiwan's coast and shoreline views. Though nothing outside could compete with the moment a uniformed attendant arrived bearing a two-tiered, Tiffany-blue box filled with desserts, accompanied by a souvenir menu with pop-up paper cutouts. I pulled the gold knob on the top drawer and dove into the trio of savory bites, featuring upscale renditions of classic Taiwanese dishes: a sweet potato ball stuffed with duck, a mustard seed seafood salad sandwich, and my favorite—a taro and scallion scone, made with locally grown taro and served with lemon-kumquat jam and a dollop of creamy, salty butter. From the bottom drawer, I grabbed a macaron bearing the train's name and logo, topped with a vivid strawberry from the town of Dahu—home to 80 percent of Taiwan's strawberry industry and just inland from where I sat—and spread with yuzu cream cheese. My second bite was a rice whiskey canelé crowned with a puffed rice crisp and flavored with lei cha , a traditional green tea-flavored, porridge-like drink considered to be a hallmark of Taiwan's Hakka community, the second largest ethnic group on the island—many of whom live in Hsinchu, the route's terminus. I also indulged in a shot-glass parfait of chiffon cake layered with razor-thin grape and cantaloupe slices, custard, and Chantilly cream—all while enjoying the seaside views. Not long after my box was cleared away, we arrived in Houlong, where we disembarked again to visit the 250-year-old Ciyun Temple, built to honor Mazu, a sea goddess who protects seafaring adventurers like sailors and fishermen. This stop included a guided tour, though only in Chinese. (Haifeng is, for now, largely designed for domestic travelers. English signage is minimal, and booking typically requires using Lion Travel's U.S. website or a bit of Google Translate finesse.) Back on board, the final dessert arrived as the train rolled forward: a petite box of ice cream from Minimal, the Michelin-starred shop in Taichung, and a souvenir keepsake seashell-shaped spoon. The flavors rotate, as do all the foods, and the info card described it as flavored with lactic acid and purple shiso. I pulled out my phone for a quick retranslation of the Chinese, wondering if something had been lost, and got clarity: it was designed to imitate Yakult, the beloved yogurt drink. The experience aboard Haifeng was nothing short of brilliant. I visited two small towns I would have never otherwise visited, indulged in a tasting menu that showed off local specialty ingredients, and got a delicious lesson in Taiwanese history, spirituality, and cuisine. Best of all, the desserts rivaled anything I ate in Taiwan. The entire 3-hour journey costs NT$3,600 (about $110). There are faster ways to get around—a direct train on the same route would have taken just 75 minutes, and the high-speed rail covers it in 25 minutes—but as the saying goes, this train is about the journey. It's touristy—literally designed to show off Taiwan to tourists. But it's also the opposite of touristy: a slow, intimate introduction to destinations that don't often make the guidebooks. The itinerary and menu change each season. In April started departing from Nangang, on the edge of Taipei, heading out to Yilan, on the east coast. My only regret now? Not booking in time to catch the new route on my next trip.
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Taiwan plans AI projects to boost economy by US$510bil
Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai said Taiwan aims to leverage its information and communications technology sector to become a 'smart technology island'. (EPA Images pic) TAIPEI : Taiwan plans to launch its 'Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects' initiative, aimed at generating more than T$15 trillion (US$510 billion) in economic value by 2040 as it strives to become a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI). Premier Cho Jung-tai said in a Facebook post late yesterday that Taiwan aims to leverage its information and communications technology (ICT) sector and world-leading semiconductor manufacturing capabilities to become a global AI influencer and a 'smart technology island'. Under the initiative, Taiwan has identified three core technologies as strategic priorities: silicon photonics, quantum technology and AI robotics. Silicon photonics is a technology that Taiwan's TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, and many other firms in the industry are actively developing. The government aims to position Taiwan as a global leader in silicon photonics by aligning the sector with future AI development needs. Taiwan also hopes to become a key hub for AI robotics by tapping its hardware and ICT supply chains. Industry groups, including one led by Foxconn chairman Young Liu, have backed the move with the formation of the Taiwan AI Robotics Industry Grand Alliance yesterday to support the local development of AI robotics and related ecosystems. Taiwan also plans to establish a quantum technology industry chain. The 10 projects also include the development of sovereign AI – ability to build and control domestic AI technologies – and computing infrastructure, efforts to balance AI development across different regions of the island, and the introduction of AI across a wide range of industries. The government also calls for expanding investment in AI innovation, with more than T$100 billion (US$3.08 billion) in venture capital funding, as it seeks to become a global hub for AI talent and investment. The initiative targets the creation of 500,000 jobs and the establishment of three international-level research laboratories.
Wall Street Journal
17-07-2025
- Wall Street Journal
Taiwan's Annual Military Drill Moves Out of the Shadows—and Into Everyday Life
TAICHUNG, Taiwan—In the stillness of a small village on the outskirts of this central Taiwanese city, two CM-34 'Clouded Leopard' armored vehicles rumbled down narrow country lanes, unloading soldiers tasked with countering a simulated Chinese landing force pushing inland. On the other side of town, two CM-11 'Brave Tiger' battle tanks concealed behind a community center fired mock rounds at a rice paddy, the blasts echoing through the village.
Al Jazeera
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
In Taiwan, migrants flee oppressive workplaces for life on the periphery
This story was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center. Taichung City, Taiwan – Bernard keeps a low profile. Heading to work on the streets of Taiwan, the 45-year-old Filipino migrant worker dodges glances and often checks his face mask to make sure his appearance is concealed. To hide his accent, he often speaks in a near-whisper. Often, he declines invitations to social occasions from his fellow countrymen, worried that a 'Judas' among them might report him to the authorities. Hired at one of Taiwan's many electronics factories, Bernard came to the island legally in 2016. But since June 2024, he has been among Taiwan's growing population of undocumented workers. He blames his broker, a private employment agent to which migrants are usually assigned, for his current predicament. Bernard's broker tried to confiscate his passport, he said, then tried to convince him to resign and forgo severance payments from his employer. He refused both times, he said, causing a rift between them. 'They [brokers] only speak to you when they come to collect payments or when they want to trick you,' Bernard, who asked to use a pseudonym out of fear of repercussions, told Al Jazeera. Brokers in Taiwan take a cut of their clients' wages and have significant influence over their conditions and job prospects, making their relationships prone to abuse. When Bernard's contract expired in 2022, he said, his broker blacklisted him among other employers. Desperate to support his daughter's education in the Philippines, Bernard ditched his broker and decided to overstay his visa to work odd construction jobs, he said. These days, he said, he feels 'like a bird in a cage'. In public, Bernard would not even utter the word 'undocumented' in any language, only gesturing with his hands that he ran away. Taiwan's undocumented workforce is rising fast. The number of unaccounted-for migrants on the island has doubled in the last four years, reaching 90,000 this January, according to the Ministry of Labor. Despite Taiwan's image as one of the region's rare liberal democracies, a growing number of Southeast Asian migrant workers are living under the constant threat of deportation and without access to social services. Taiwan institutionalised its broker system in 1992 in a bid to streamline labour recruitment. Brokers influence almost every aspect of a migrant worker's life, from where they live, to their meals, to the terms of their employment contracts, and even how they access public services. Migrant rights advocates say it is precisely this level of control that is prompting large numbers of workers to flee their workplaces. Over a third of all complaints made by migrants to the Ministry of Labor are broker-related, according to official data. As of January 2025, Vietnamese made up the biggest share of the undocumented at 57,611, followed by Indonesians at 28,363, and Filipinos at 2,750. Joy Tajonera, a Catholic priest who runs the Ugnayan Center, a migrant shelter in Taichung City, said the Taiwanese government has taken a lax approach to the issue. 'The system allows the brokers a power to be used to the disadvantage of migrants,' Tajonera told Al Jazeera. 'Meanwhile, employers play innocent.' Brokers typically charge migrants a monthly service fee of $50 to $60, and also collect fees for job transfers, hospital insurance, leave, and most of the necessary documentation to work in Taiwan. In some cases, they impose age limits for certain jobs. Tajonera said many undocumented workers can actually earn more without a broker, 'but then you lose all social protections and health insurance. It's not that they want to run away. It's their situation, they can't take it any more.' 'Shameless and stupid' Taiwan's Labor Ministry said in a statement that the increase in undocumented migrants was driven by pandemic-related disruption to deportations. It said it has taken various steps to improve conditions for migrant works, including raising the minimum wage, conducting regular inspections of recruitment agencies, introducing a new suspension mechanism for agencies with high rates of absconding workers, and encouraging labour-sending countries to reduce agency fees. 'Through pre-employment orientation for industrial migrant workers and one-stop orientation sessions for household caregivers, the ministry aims to enhance workers' awareness of legal requirements, inform them of the risks and consequences of going missing, and ensure employers fulfill their management responsibilities,' the ministry said. However, since last year, the Taiwanese government has also increased the maximum fines for migrants caught overstaying their visas from $330 to $1,657. Lennon Ying-Da Wang, director of the public migrant shelter Serve the People Association, called the government's move to increase penalties 'shameless and stupid'. 'Instead of addressing the reasons for running away, this will just prevent people from surrendering,' he told Al Jazeera. Wang said a lack of protections, particularly for those working in childcare and fisheries, is the key reason why many migrants abscond from their workplaces. Neither industry is subject to Taiwan's monthly minimum wage of $944, according to Taiwan's Labor Standards Act. Wang said migrants in practice often receive half that amount minus deductions by brokers. 'Migrants just want a decent salary,' Wang said. 'But there's an unspoken rule among some brokers not to hire migrant workers who ask for help from shelters. That forces them to run away.' Despite his sympathies, Wang, as the director of a state-funded facility, is not allowed to take in migrants who have absconded from their employers as they are subject to deportation. On a quiet, nondescript road at the edge of Taipei lies Harmony Home, an NGO catering to undocumented young mothers and children. While the women and children who stay at Harmony Home cannot be deported for humanitarian reasons, the state is not obligated to shoulder the costs of their care or medical needs. Harmony Home, which has taken in more than 1,600 children over the past two decades, has recently seen a sharp uptick in minors coming through its doors, founder Nicole Yang said. 'Last year, we had about 110 new kids. By April this year, we've already got 140,' Yang told Al Jazeera. 'We also care for 300 others who live at home while their mother works.' Li-Chuan Liuhuang, a labour expert at National Chung Cheng University, said that while the broker system will be difficult to 'uproot immediately', the government could improve oversight by 'making the recruitment procedure and cost structure more transparent'. In Lishan, a mountainous area of Taichung, hundreds of undocumented Southeast Asians pick peaches, pears and cabbages for local landowners. The presence of runaway migrants, many of whom fled fishing trawlers, is not only tolerated but relied upon for the harvest. Liuhuang said she would like to see such migrants being allowed to work on farms with proper labour protections, but she believes this would not be easy for the public to accept. 'The government will have to commit more efforts for this kind of dialogue,' she told Al Jazeera. Mary, who asked to use a pseudonym, said she absconded from her job as a childcare worker to work illegally at various mountain farms after becoming frustrated at earning less than half the minimum wage and having her grievances ignored by her broker. Sitting beside a cabbage patch, Mary, 46, said she always felt anxious around the police in the city. But in Lishan the rules are different, she said, as landowners have an unwritten agreement with the authorities about the runaways. 'There's no way the boss doesn't have connections with the police. He always knows when they come and tells us not to go out,' she told Al Jazeera. Even so, there is no guarantee of avoiding mistreatment in the mountains. After the harvest, employers sometimes withhold payments, threatening anyone who complains with deportation, Mary said. 'If I complain that the boss doesn't give me the salary, I will get reported. Who will help me?' she said.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lien Jade Announces Development of Alioth Palace in Taichung
Real Estate Developer at the Center of Taichung's Luxury Real Estate Market Shares Plans for Upcoming Residential Buildings TAICHUNG, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lien Jade Real Estate, Taiwan's premier luxury property developer, is pleased to announce plans for the development of Alioth Palace, twin residential towers that will become the tallest residential buildings in Taichung, the second-largest city by population in Taiwan. This landmark development not only reinforces Taichung's position as an emerging investment destination in Asia's competitive luxury real estate market, but also embodies Lien Jade's deeper commitment to urban aesthetics and residential quality — creating enduring spaces that resonate with both the rhythm of the city and the lives within it. In the past decade, Taichung has transformed into a cosmopolitan hub, with real estate values surging 12.8% in 2024 year-over-year, significantly outpacing the projections. The city's strategic position within Taiwan's economic corridor and high-speed rail connectivity has cemented its status as a critical node in Taiwan's economy, ranking as Taiwan's #1 economic performer for 20 consecutive quarters across multiple indicators. Taichung offers a perfect balance of urban sophistication and livable charm. The city represents a rare opportunity to enter a luxury market with significant growth potential while still maintaining exceptional value for investors. Founded in 1994, Lien Jade has reshaped Taiwan's concept of luxury residences through its commitment to architectural innovation and "East meets West" design ethos. The company's architectural philosophy exemplifies a fusion of Eastern philosophical values with Western aesthetics, facilitating both private contemplation and social interaction. From their first villa project to developments like Peace Palace — which pioneered the 360-degree Sky Lounge concept in Taiwan — Lien Jade has elevated industry standards while transforming Taichung's skyline. Each Lien Jade building is conceived not merely as a residence, but as a cultural dialogue with the city—sculpted with craftsmanship, refined through detail, and shaped alongside the urban fabric to reflect a shared pursuit of architectural beauty in our time. The new development, Alioth Palace, is located in Taichung's 7th District — the primary central business district of Central Taiwan. Spanning a site area of 1,838 ping (approximately 6,079 square meters), it marks Lien Jade's largest project site to date. Guided by the design philosophy of "Retreat from the bustle, return to tranquility," the project aims to offer residents a calm and refined living environment amidst the city's dynamic rhythm. At the heart of the project lies a generously planned "central courtyard garden" of over 1,000 ping, with two towers rising 51 stories high. Overlooking the 3-hectare Maple Garden Park, each residence features a grand 14.5-meter frontage, expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, and a consistent mid-sized layout of 62 ping per unit. Alioth Palace is poised to become a new landmark in Taichung's skyline and a defining chapter in the city's vertical evolution. For 30 years, Lien Jade has upheld a philosophy of human-centered architecture at the heart of every project. Alioth Palace embodies this belief, fusing calm, scale, and timeless design in the city's most vibrant quadrant. Taichung's rise as a luxury destination is evidenced by the influx of international brands establishing flagship stores in the city, alongside a burgeoning cultural scene featuring Michelin-starred restaurants and world-class performing arts venues like the landmark "National Taichung Theater". Its public infrastructure, human-centric spaces, and everyday living environments infuse the city with a strong sense of aesthetic vitality — together shaping a vision of the ideal urban life. The city's strategic location — just a short high-speed rail journey from Taipei — coupled with its more temperate climate and balanced urban planning, has attracted a growing community of international business people and cultural elites. With major manufacturers returning operations to Taiwan and significant technology investments flowing into the region, Taichung stands poised to become next global city while offering real estate values that remain accessible compared to other premium Asian markets. Taichung's rise as a business and luxury destination is further fueled by Taiwan's booming semiconductor and tech industry. The city has become a key node in this industrial expansion — with TSMC building out advanced fabs in "Central Taiwan Science Park", Foxconn investing in high-precision manufacturing hubs, and global tech leaders like Google and Micron reinforcing their footprint in the region. This surge in innovation-driven growth is not only reshaping Taichung's economic landscape but also accelerating demand for high-end residential offerings. As more professionals and capital flow into the city, Taichung's 7th District is quickly evolving into a prime destination for luxury living and international investment. About Lien Jade Real Estate: "It takes two to complete the duet of architecture — one who creates it, one who resonates with it." Lien Jade Real Estate has long been committed to shaping the city through thoughtful development and a deep sense of corporate social responsibility. Since its founding in 1994, the company has upheld an uncompromising standard of safety and practicality, while believing that architecture must embody both human warmth and artistic beauty. Through this philosophy, Lien Jade continues to redefine Taichung's skyline with architectural integrity and refined aesthetics. To date, Lien Jade has completed 14 landmark buildings, including the iconic residential projects Grand Palace and Plato Palace, as well as its flagship commercial development The Landmark, each representing a distinct expression of the brand's architectural language. In addition, the brand currently has four projects under development — all located in the heart of Taichung and exclusively within the 7th Redevelopment Zone. This highly focused approach to a single urban district represents a rare and distinctive strategy in the industry. In 2000, the company established the Lien Jade Peace Culture and Education Foundation, followed by the Lien Jade Culture and Education Foundation in 2013. Through these initiatives, Lien Jade has actively supported cultural education, social welfare, sustainable living, and the promotion of aesthetic values — fulfilling its mission to build not just buildings, but a better urban life. Website： Instagram: Images available here: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Lien Jade Real Estate 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
