Jaunted

Tags: Besties? / Taiwan / China Travel / China Airlines / → All Tags

China and Taiwan Now Joined By Air

We called it, and now it's happening: as of this week, there are regular, direct flights between Taiwan and China.

Yep, instead of having to fly through Hong Kong airspace (and usually change planes), travelers will be able to make the short hop from China to nearby, related-in-a-complicated-way Taiwan. In Taiwan they're expecting a massive wave of Chinese tourists and the Chinese seem to think this is a clever way to get Taiwan politically closer.

Far be it from us to figure out how to say anything diplomatically about the power struggle going on there. We're just pleased we won't need to go to all the trouble of sailing a paper boat across the Taiwan Strait. Even a dodgy China Airlines flight would be better than that.

Related Stories:
· Ban on Travel Between Taiwan and China Ends [Telegraph]
· Gateway to Taiwan: New Agreement Would Allow Direct Flights [Jaunted]
· Great Seas, Small Boats Travel: Crossing the Taiwan Strait [Jaunted]
· China Airlines Flight Hits Turbulence, New Low [Jaunted]

[Photo: alidarbac]

Tags: Taiwan / China Travel / China Airlines / → All Tags

Gateway to Taiwan: New Agreement Would Allow Direct Flights

Taiwan's Ma Ying-jeou won't take office until next Tuesday, but the president-elect has already gotten busy trying to solidify a deal that will allow regular direct flights from the Chinese mainland. Talk of the agreement is creating a buzz on the island nation--er, territory?--as its citizens anticipate a massive influx of new tourists.

Ma has so far only committed to expanding weekend charter flights by this July, but has said he hopes to have regularly scheduled flights by the end of this year.

Taiwan first banned direct flights between China when the mainland came under Communist rule in 1949, largely over sovereignty concerns. Direct charter flights resumed under a 2006 agreement, according to the International Herald Tribune, but have only been allowed during major holidays.

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Tags: Taipei / Taiwan / Hotels / Food / → All Tags

Get Festivo in Taiwan

¿Es loco, no? And that's as much Spanish as we remember from high school. Anyway, who knew that Taipei was bubbling over with the Latin spirit? The powers that be at the Grand Formosa Regent, that's who, and they're up to their old tricks again.

The Grand Formosa is a great high-end hotel. That's why management's obsession with throwing festivals, particularly food festivals, is especially confusing. Then they go and turn up the camp by giving them names like the "Central American Gourmet Fiesta." There's a definite A+ for effort here, as they have flown in top chefs from six Central American countries, but is dining in Taipei so boring that someone needs to organize a theme party? No, it isn't, and we'd rather pig out at Taipei 101 anyway.

Teasing aside, we suspect this might be something most appreciated by the hotel's heavy load of Japanese guests who, by nature of geography, might have a harder time finding varied ethnic eats at home than those in the Americas. Either way, if you're in the area, it's Belizean food today, and Costa Rican food tomorrow, so get thyself to 41 Chung Shan North if you're so inclined. They do have a nice lobby that's worth a tour.

Tags: Taiwan / Taipei / Airports / → All Tags

Taiwan Airport's New Name (and Nickname)

This just in from the Ilha Formosa: Taiwan's busiest airport, Chiang Kai-shek International, has been renamed Taiwan Taoyuan International. The change swung through cabinet quickly, and was officially approved on September 6. The airport code, TPE, will stay the same.

"TTI" lies about 25 miles outside Taipei, in Taoyuan county, and was previously named for former president Chiang Kai-shek. Claims that the switch was not politically motivated have been doubted by, oh, pretty much everyone, but at least officials from the People's Republic of China should be tickled pink.

Also, in what is surely a nod to those who have suffered extended layovers there, a poster on FlyerTalk is reporting that when the airport's name is shortened for convenience, it translates to "cut off your head" in Taiwanese.