[{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"439","ar_id":"2003831064","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-30","ar_head":"Wind Lion Gods welcome visitors to Kinmen","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"People visiting Kinmen during the Lunar New Year holiday should visit the Wind Lion Gods, the guardians that embody the memories and history of the outlying county and serve as a symbolic part of its cultural landscape, the Kinmen County Tourism Department said.The Wind Lion Gods \u2014 or \u201cWind Lion Mas","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/30\/2003831064","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831064","ph_attr":"Photo: CNA","ph_cap":"A statue of the Wind Lion God is pictured in Kinmen in an undated photograph.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/30","ph_fname":"P02-250130-602.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/30\/P02-250130-602.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/30\/thumbs\/P02-250130-602.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"By Chiu Chih-jou and Jonathan Chin","ar_views":"453","ar_id":"2003831065","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-30","ar_head":"Doctor offers advice on gambling addiction","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"A doctor has offered tips to avoid getting addicted to gambling.Quite a number of people have reported becoming addicted after trying out gambling on a whim during Lunar New Year holidays, while the ease of making bets using mobile devices is making it harder for gamblers to resist their urges, said","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/30\/2003831065","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831065","ph_attr":"Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times","ph_cap":"People scratch lottery tickets at a lottery shop in Taipei yesterday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/30","ph_fname":"P02-250130-002.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/30\/P02-250130-002.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/30\/thumbs\/P02-250130-002.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"CARE: ","ar_byline":"By Jonathan Chin","ar_views":"476","ar_id":"2003831066","ar_sbhdbody":"Pet owners should arrange for a sitter or send their pet to an animal hotel or daycare, or a veterinary clinic for older pets, a veterinarian said","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-30","ar_head":"Pet cats, dogs must not be left alone for long periods: doctor","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"Pet owners going on vacation should not leave their cat alone for more than three days or dog for more than one day, the New Taipei City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office said.If they are planning to be away for the Lunar New Year holiday \u2014 which runs until Sunday \u2014 they could either ar","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/30\/2003831066","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831066","ph_attr":"Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times","ph_cap":"A dog is pushed in a pet stroller in Taipei yesterday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/30","ph_fname":"P02-250130-005.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/30\/P02-250130-005.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/30\/thumbs\/P02-250130-005.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"474","ar_id":"2003831033","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-29","ar_head":"Lai embarks on tour across Taiwan for Lunar New Year","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"President William Lai (\u8cf4\u6e05\u5fb7) embarked on a three-day journey across the nation today to make public appearances and give out auspicious blessings and gifts to the general public in celebration of the Lunar New Year.Lai's trip is in observation of the Lunar New Year custom of paying visits to bring au","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/29\/2003831033","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831033","ph_attr":"Photo: Annabelle Chih, Reuters  ","ph_cap":"President William Lai gives out a red envelope to a woman at the Dalongdong Baoan Temple in Taipei yesterday, the first day of the Lunar New Year.\r\n","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/29","ph_fname":"3.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/3.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/thumbs\/3.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"485","ar_id":"2003831032","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-29","ar_head":"Migrant worker dies in fire at dorm in New Taipei City","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"A fire at a migrant worker dormitory in New Taipei City's Tucheng District (\u571f\u57ce) early this morning killed a migrant worker in her 30s and left five others injured.According to firefighters, the fire broke out on the first floor of the four-story dormitory around 1:30am.The fire, which quickly spread","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/29\/2003831032","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831032","ph_attr":"Photo copied by CNA","ph_cap":"Firefighters tackle a fire in a residential building in New Taipei City's Tucheng District early this morning.\r\n","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/29","ph_fname":"2.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/2.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/thumbs\/2.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"410","ar_id":"2003831031","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-29","ar_head":"Lows below 6\u00b0C forecast for Miaoli tonight and early tomorrow","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"Temperatures across Miaoli County are forecast to drop below 6\u00b0C between late tonight and early tomorrow, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).As of this noon, the CWA issued an \"orange\" cold surge advisory for Miaoli, warning of \"very cold\" weather due to the effects of radiative c","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/29\/2003831031","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831031","ph_attr":"Photo provided by the Central Weather Administration","ph_cap":"A Central Weather Administration chart shows the weather forecast for this week. The green line indicates eastern Taiwan, the red line indicates central and southern Taiwan, and the blue line represents northern Taiwan.\r\n\r\n","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/29","ph_fname":"1.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/1.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/thumbs\/1.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"HOLIDAY EXERCISE:","ar_byline":"By Yang Yuan-ting \r\nand Esme Yeh","ar_views":"1081","ar_id":"2003831012","ar_sbhdbody":"National forest recreation areas from north to south offer travelers a wide choice of sights to connect with nature and enjoy its benefits","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-29","ar_head":"Agency lists top spots for hiking","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"Hiking is a good way to improve one\u2019s health, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said, as it released a list of national forest recreation areas that travelers can visit during the Lunar New Year holiday.Taking a green shower of phytoncides in the woods could boost one\u2019s immunity system and","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/29\/2003831012","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831012","ph_attr":"Photo courtesy of the Forestry and Nature Conservation","ph_cap":"People hike a trail on Dongyanshan in Taoyuan in an undated photograph.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/29","ph_fname":"p02-250129-lead.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/p02-250129-lead.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/thumbs\/p02-250129-lead.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"By Lee I-chia","ar_views":"477","ar_id":"2003831013","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-29","ar_head":"Park agency offers advice on visiting Hehuanshan","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"The Taroko National Park Administration Center urged people to follow national park rules, and pay attention to traffic safety and their health when traveling to Hehuanshan (\u5408\u6b61\u5c71) in central Taiwan to view snow or stars during the Lunar New Year holiday.As temperatures are forecast to drop below zero","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/29\/2003831013","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831013","ph_attr":"Photo courtesy of the Taroko National Park Administration Center via CNA","ph_cap":"Police on Sunday stand next to a sign that bans vehicles from enterning Hehuanshan in Nantou Coutny without snow tire chains when there is snow in the mountains.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/29","ph_fname":"p02-250129-603.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/p02-250129-603.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/thumbs\/p02-250129-603.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"By Lee I-chia","ar_views":"472","ar_id":"2003831014","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-29","ar_head":"CDC, FDA issue food safety tips","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"With the Lunar New Year ushering in a host of feasting with family and friends, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reminded people to practice good hand hygiene while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued food safety tips.Hospital visits for acute diarrhea usually increase during the Luna","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/29\/2003831014","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831014","ph_attr":"Photo: Lee Wen-te, Taipei Times","ph_cap":"People gather for a dinner in Changhua County on Lunar New Year\u2019s Eve yesterday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/29","ph_fname":"p02-250129-002.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/p02-250129-002.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/thumbs\/p02-250129-002.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"\u2018CIGUEI\u2019:","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"433","ar_id":"2003831015","ar_sbhdbody":"Turtles made \r\nof bags of rice are crafted to pray for luck, prosperity and safety during the festival, which falls on Feb. 12 this year","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-29","ar_head":"Penghu temples show \u2018rice turtles\u2019 for Lantern Festival","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"Temples across Penghu County have crafted giant turtles made of rice in preparation for the traditional \u201cCiguei\u201d (\u4e5e\u9f9c) ceremony held on the islands during the Lantern Festival, which falls on Feb. 12 this year. Ciguei, meaning \u201cpraying for turtle(s),\u201d is a ceremony held to pray for luck, prosperity a","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/29\/2003831015","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831015","ph_attr":"Photo: CNA","ph_cap":"A giant turtle made of rice bags is displayed at Longmen Guanyin Temple in Penghu County\u2019s Husi Township on Monday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/29","ph_fname":"p02-250129-601.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/p02-250129-601.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/thumbs\/p02-250129-601.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"467","ar_id":"2003831016","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-29","ar_head":"Happy New Year","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"People shop at a store selling Lunar New Year spring couplets and decorations in Taipei yesterday. The Year of the Snake begins today.","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/29\/2003831016","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831016","ph_attr":"Photo: CNA","ph_cap":"","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/29","ph_fname":"p02-250129-a602.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/p02-250129-a602.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/thumbs\/p02-250129-a602.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"442","ar_id":"2003831017","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-29","ar_head":"Lunar treats","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"A crested porcupine eats fruit cut to resemble french fries and an apple burger prepared by caretakers at the Shoushan Zoo in Kaohsiung yesterday to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The Year of the Snake begins today.","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/29\/2003831017","photo":{"ar_id":"2003831017","ph_attr":"Photo courtesy of the Shoushan Zoo","ph_cap":"","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/29","ph_fname":"p02-250129-001.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/p02-250129-001.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/29\/thumbs\/p02-250129-001.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"425","ar_id":"2003830982","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-28","ar_head":"More railway tickets to go on sale for 228 memorial holiday","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"Tickets for additional Taiwan Railway services over the 228 Peace Memorial Day long weekend will go on sale at midnight on Jan. 30, according to the Taiwan Railway Corp (TRC).The TRC said on Monday it plans 97 additional services from Feb. 27 to March 3 in light of the anticipated surge in passenger","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/28\/2003830982","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830982","ph_attr":"Photo provided by a reader","ph_cap":"A train travels past a field of canola flowers in Changhua County\u2019s Huatan Township in an undated photograph.\r\n","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/28","ph_fname":"3.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/3.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/thumbs\/3.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"511","ar_id":"2003830981","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-28","ar_head":"Yushan records second-lowest temperature in 20 years","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"The nation's tallest mountain, Yushan (Jade Mountain, \u7389\u5c71), recorded its second-lowest temperature in two decades early today, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).The weather agency reported a temperature of minus 14.5\u00b0C at 2:04am, which was 0.5\u00b0C lower than the previous record set ","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/28\/2003830981","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830981","ph_attr":"Photo courtesy of the Yushan National Park Administration","ph_cap":"The monument on Yushan\u2019s main peak is pictured in an undated photo.\r\n","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/28","ph_fname":"2.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/2.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/thumbs\/2.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"378","ar_id":"2003830980","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-28","ar_head":"Taiwan Sports Lottery sales hit record last year","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"Taiwan Sports Lottery reached a new milestone in 2024, with total sales topping NT$64 billion (US$1.94 billion), the highest annual total in its nearly two-decade history.In a news statement today, the Sports Administration said the record NT$64.3 billion in sales last year contributed over NT$7 bil","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/28\/2003830980","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830980","ph_attr":"Photo: Taipei Times ","ph_cap":"Taiwan Sports Lottery signage is pictured at an outlet in Taichung in an undated photograph.\r\n","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/28","ph_fname":"1.JPG","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/1.JPG","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/thumbs\/1.JPG"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"THINGS TO NOTE:","ar_byline":"By Esme Yeh","ar_views":"502","ar_id":"2003830963","ar_sbhdbody":"Food should not be reheated more than twice, and items that are stale, without expiration dates or half-eaten should be thrown away, experts said","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-28","ar_head":"Medical experts encourage food safety for the holiday","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"Refrigerators should not be fully stocked and cooked Lunar New Year holiday dishes should not be heated more than twice to ensure food safety, medical experts said.Gastroenterologist Chiang Chien-chang (\u6c5f\u5efa\u660c) said the risks of infectious diseases or food safety tend to increase during the Lunar New Y","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/28\/2003830963","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830963","ph_attr":"Photo: Taipei Times","ph_cap":"A table displaying Lunar New Year dishes is pictured in an undated photograph.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/28","ph_fname":"p02-250128-web new p02.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/p02-250128-web new p02.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/thumbs\/p02-250128-web new p02.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"By Wu Po-hsuan ","ar_views":"847","ar_id":"2003830964","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-28","ar_head":"One-Forty helps migrant workers adapt to families","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"One-Forty, a non-profit organization that aims to support Southeast Asian migrants in adapting to Taiwanese families, said this year it has helped many migrant domestic workers write Lunar New Year spring couplets and learn holiday customs.Fatma, a 38-year-old Indonesian domestic worker who has work","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/28\/2003830964","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830964","ph_attr":"Photo courtesy of the One-Forty","ph_cap":"Migrant workers write Lunar New Year spring couplets during an activity held by the One-Forty.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/28","ph_fname":"p02-250128-pic2CCC.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/p02-250128-pic2CCC.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/thumbs\/p02-250128-pic2CCC.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"COMMUNITY SPIRIT:","ar_byline":"By Esme Yeh","ar_views":"820","ar_id":"2003830965","ar_sbhdbody":"As authorities were busy with post-typhoon cleanups elsewhere, residents cleaned fallen leaves and cut small fallen trees blocking the hiking trails","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-28","ar_head":"FEATURE: Taipei Grand Trail\u2019s more than 130 trails reopen after typhoon damages","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"All hiking trails damaged by Typhoon Kong-rey have been repaired and has reopened for people who want a refreshing hike in Taipei during the Lunar New Year holiday, a city official said.The Taipei Basin is known for its easily accessible hiking trails. It has more than 130 trails combined into the 9","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/28\/2003830965","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830965","ph_attr":"Photo: Esme Yeh, Taipei Times","ph_cap":"The damaged section on the trail connecting the Elephant Mountain trail to Jiuwu Peak is pictured in Taipei on Nov. 8.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/28","ph_fname":"p02-250128-pic2BBB.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/p02-250128-pic2BBB.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/thumbs\/p02-250128-pic2BBB.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"1162","ar_id":"2003830966","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-28","ar_head":"Snow falls across northern, eastern and central Taiwan","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"Snow fell in the mountainous areas of northern, central and eastern Taiwan in the early hours of yesterday, as cold air currents moved south.In the northern municipality of Taoyuan, snow started falling at about 6am in Fusing District (\u5fa9\u8208), district head Su Tso-hsi (\u8607\u4f50\u74bd) said.By 10am, Lalashan Natio","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/28\/2003830966","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830966","ph_attr":"Photo courtesy of Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area","ph_cap":"A stuffed animal is pictured in snow in Yilan County\u2019s Taipingshan yesterday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/28","ph_fname":"P02-250128-001.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/P02-250128-001.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/thumbs\/P02-250128-001.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"436","ar_id":"2003830967","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Taiwan News","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-28","ar_head":"Representing Taiwan","dp_urlname":"taiwan","ar_desc":"Director of theTourism Administration\u2019s Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York Jin Juang, third right, with a certificate of merit in her hand, poses with Taiwanese exhibitors at the New York Travel and Adventure Show in New York on Sunday. Taiwan was voted as the best booth of the Asian re","ar_url":"News\/taiwan\/archives\/2025\/01\/28\/2003830967","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830967","ph_attr":"Photo courtesy of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York via CNA","ph_cap":"","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/28","ph_fname":"P02-250128-602.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/P02-250128-602.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/28\/thumbs\/P02-250128-602.jpg"}}]