Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks it will be clear which team wins the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge and thus has developed the best AI algorithm for an autonomously controlled cultivation of dwarf tomatoes a team of WUR experts also set up a greenhouse for autonomously controlled cultivation Researcher Pinglin Zhang explains the usefulness of this reference greenhouse and why the additional sensors and cameras deployed by the teams can also provide valuable knowledge for WUR dwarf tomatoes are currently growing in five greenhouse compartments controlled by AI algorithms developed by the teams who participate in the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge A sixth compartment is also growing dwarf tomatoes but is controlled with input from a team of WUR experts 'Our compartment we also call the reference greenhouse Cultivation here is also autonomously controlled but without AI algorithms We set up the greenhouse as a regular grower would control the greenhouse we can make a good comparison between the results of greenhouses controlled with AI algorithms and a greenhouse controlled in a commonly used autonomous way.' Additional sensors and camerasAnother difference is that the participants have been allowed to use additional sensors and cameras since this year 'In all six compartments - so including ours - there are basic sensors for example for measuring temperature and relative humidity inside the greenhouse and real-time weather conditions outside some teams have installed their own sensors and cameras Think of a sensor that measures the weight of a pot Or a thermal camera measuring the temperature around leaves and fruit So the teams have more input they can use in control than we have in our reference greenhouse.' Data processed by algorithmThe teams have developed their algorithm so that the data collected by the sensors and cameras is directly processed to make an optimal decision Zhang: 'A low weight can indicate insufficient water You can also use information on weight to determine when to harvest Just like the redness of the fruit that cameras record Whether this also ultimately leads to the most productive harvest with the best quality fruit will be seen at the end of the challenge.' From greenhouse to plant levelAs a researcher Zhang deals with greenhouse technology for growing crops more efficiently and sustainably 'Data from sensors can help growers optimize energy consumption for lighting I am also looking at sensors on a smaller scale in a project I am working on measuring the microclimate: the temperature and humidity around a plant the presence of bacteria that can cause diseases More focus on the plantIn the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge Zhang also sees an increasing focus on monitoring the plant with smart sensors and cameras the focus was almost exclusively on greenhouse climate That provides valuable data for controlling the greenhouse but gives less information on how the plant itself grows While that is ultimately the most important thing for good production Some teams in the Challenge really work with state-of-the-art technology It is also very interesting and valuable for us as WUR to see the latest developments in sensors and cameras.' how does Zhang envisage the future of autonomous growing You have different degrees of autonomous control of a greenhouse is already well embedded in greenhouses in the Netherlands and other Western countries If you talk about autonomously defining growing strategies or applying robotic techniques to crop management That is one of the things we hope to explore further with the Challenge How far we are exactly and whether fully autonomous growing is possible at all That in turn makes this very interesting.' Source: Wageningen University & Research FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 HortiDaily.com shaped by incredible landscapes and cultural traditions To many travelers, a trip to Taiwan begins and ends in Taipei for its dense night markets and syrupy-sweet bubble tea But beyond the capital’s crush of scooters and skyscrapers lies an island defined not just by its food More than half of Taiwan is forested with ecosystems ranging from subtropical jungle to alpine cedar groves you can drive from sunlit coastlines to mist-covered peaks These five destinations show Taiwan’s wilder side—from Indigenous seaside villages to remote mountain forests—where tradition and nature are deeply intertwined Pinglin is a mountain town and district shaped by tea Nestled in the lush hills of New Taipei City the main source of drinking water for more than six million people in the Taipei metro area the government introduced strict environmental regulations in the 1980s limiting large-scale construction and industrial development While these restrictions have frustrated some locals and developers they’ve helped preserve one of Taiwan’s most pristine rural landscapes “Pinglin is incredibly rich in tree ferns,” says Phaedra Fang, an assistant researcher at the National Taiwan Museum and occasional tour guide “They’re an ancient group of plants—around since the dinosaurs And there are just so many of them there.”  Pinglin Old Street is lined with cozy teahouses serving the season’s newest flush—often steeped and poured by the farmers themselves (Related: The story behind bubble tea, Taiwan's iconic drink.) Located eight miles from the mainland of Taiwan Xiaoliuqiu is the country’s only coral island with a significant number of residents and off-shore diving adventures.Photograph by Jui-Chi Chan Xiaoliuqiu IslandJust off Taiwan’s southwest coast Xiaoliuqiu is a coral island framed by gliding green sea turtles and shimmering tide pools It’s one of the island’s most accessible dive spots—under five hours from Taipei including a quick 25-minute ferry from the port town of Donggang Taiwan straddles a unique geographic divide. Its northern half is largely subtropical, while the southern half shifts into a tropical zone. “Taichung is the dividing line,” says Dennis Wong, co-owner of Fun Divers Taiwan The dive shop has been guiding underwater excursions around the island since 2013 Taichung marks where the waters start to warm and the marine life becomes more vibrant Thanks to its position in the Taiwan Strait on the west coast Xiaoliuqiu is shielded from the strong currents that batter other southern sites and the waters brim with life: blue-spotted stingrays Scooters make it easy to explore the island’s volcanic terrain above ground but most divers head out by boat to access the best offshore sites such as Broken Shipwreck where you can explore the remains of a small cargo boat and the glittery reef that surrounds it Peak season runs from May through September when the sea is glassy and clear (Related: Why you should hold your breath and try freediving in Taiwan.) With some of the best surf in Taiwan, Dulan draws wave-chasers year-round to its black sand beaches and wild Pacific swells. But this east coast village is more than a surf spot—it’s also home to the Amis Amis women still wade into the shallows to gather shellfish by hand trails thread through fields of wild taro and thickets of edible greens foraged from forest edges and folded into everyday meals a fish and chips joint slinging deep-fried locally caught mahi mahi Occasionally, the village plays host to the Amis Music Festival a grassroots celebration of indigenous identity that brings together artists from across Taiwan and beyond Performances spill into open fields with the ocean on one side and green slopes rising behind Travelers can time their trip to witness firsthand the Millet Harvest Festival a traditional festival celebrating the Rukai Indigenous people in Dulan Pingtung  Taiwan’s southernmost county is often called the island’s breadbasket Its sun-drenched plains produce much of the nation’s fruit—from wax apples and lychees to pineapples and bananas—thanks to a tropical climate and year-round growing season But its mountains hold stories just as rich as its plains The region is layered with biodiversity and history which includes the ancient trails once used by Indigenous people and early Western explorers to get to remote Indigenous stone-slab villages Tropical flora thrive in these hills—like prickly ash and hibiscus—and you might spot wild boar “The clouded leopard may be gone but its spirit still lingers in the forests here,” says Fang Once sacred to Indigenous communities and considered a guardian of the mountains the Formosan clouded leopard hasn’t been officially sighted since the 80s—but stories persist Locals speak of fleeting shadows slipping through the undergrowth of something leaping from cliffs or vanishing into trees That deep connection to land and memory is still alive in places like New Laiyi Village a relocated settlement of the Paiwan—an Indigenous group native to Taiwan’s southern mountain ranges residents have returned to traditional farming Their vegetable shop serves as both a farmers’ market and cultural hub—selling seasonal produce and hosting workshops on agricultural knowledge once at risk of being lost It’s part of a wider effort across Pingtung to sustain indigenous lifeways through food (Related: A taste of Taiwan, from comforting noodles to spicy broths.) The Alishan Forest Railway runs through the Alishan National Scenic Area a nature reserve and mountain resort in Chiayi County Alishan TownshipBest known for its sunrise views and century-old forest railway Alishan is a high-mountain region in Chiayi County about a two-hour drive from the nearest high-speed rail station “Alishan is key to understanding Taiwan’s forestry and transportation history,” says Fang The narrow-gauge Alishan Forest Railway—originally built during Japanese rule to haul cypress logs from deep in the mountains—still clatters through switchbacks and spirals feel more like a time machine than public transit After years of storm damage and partial closures part of Taiwan’s broader effort to restore its historic railways farmers cultivate Taiwan’s celebrated high mountain oolong at elevations above 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) misty air slows leaf growth and concentrates aroma The sharp contrast between warm days and cold nights intensifies the tea’s floral flavor while the mineral-rich soil adds clarity and depth (Related: Exploring the magic of Taiwan's 'Spirited Away' city.) Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Admiring the bold colors of Zhengbin Fishing Harbor is just one way to spend time on a day trip from Taipei © Panuwat Dangsungnoen / Shutterstock Within the dense forests that encircle the colorful Taiwanese capital, the beauty of rural Taiwan awaits, made accessible by Taipei’s ultra-efficient public transport system Along with a full spectrum of green spaces from the steep alleyways of Jiufen Old Street to the old-world Pingxi railway Read on to discover our favorite day trips from Taipei The sheer number and range of hiking opportunities near Taipei will leave you breathless, as will the area's countless parks and reserves. Yangmingshan National Park is one of the most accessible natural preserves lording over Taipei City with lush peaks coated in silver grass and an extensive network of trails winding through meadows and pastures There are several ways to climb 1120m (3675ft) Mt Qixing – the meandering 2.4km (1.5-mile) Miaopu trail starting near Yangmingshan Visitor Center follows a stone-paved path with signs in Mandarin and English; signs along the route highlight other attractions such as Menghuan Pond and the Lengshuikeng natural springs allowing you to extend your trip depending on energy levels How to get to Yangmingshan: To reach the visitor center hop on shuttle bus 260 from Shimin Boulevard behind Taipei Main Station and alight at Yangmingshan Bus Terminal (30NTD/US$1 walk back to the main road and head uphill; look for a sign on your right marking the path to the visitor center Pick up a detailed map here (or get human advice!) to locate any trails you wish to try the 108 bus can drop you back at the visitor center to catch the 260 bus returning to Taipei City Originally constructed to connect a series of coal mining towns during the Japanese occupation the charming Pingxi railway line is less than an hour from Taipei This 12km (7.5-mile) single-track railway runs parallel to the Keelung River and stops at a number of slow-moving villages that are rich with mining heritage spectacular natural attractions – and cats Houtong Cat Village will win you over early on so pause for some quality time with the dozens of docile kitties that sunbathe on the steps and corrugated roofs around the village You can also visit the coal mining museum (and ride a handcar into the tunnels) followed by a coffee in a cutesy cat-themed cafe while you wait for the next scheduled train – they usually run every hour Sandiaoling and Shifen are two competing waterfalls on the Pingxi Line; the former is worth visiting for forested hiking trails leading to swimmable pools; the latter is considered the best option for mindblowing views The Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail is a half-day trip in itself linking the Hegu and Motian cascades and Pipa Cave via a suspension bridge and nature trail The 40m (131ft) Shifen Waterfall is considered Taiwan’s most scenic cascade and it has the added bonus of an adjacent "old street" of vintage houses the mining town that gave the railway its name known for its nostalgic old street and Sky Lantern Festival when nearly 100,000 visitors paint their wishes onto paper lanterns and release them into the night sky you can stroll along tracks lined with souvenir stalls stands serving sizzling Taiwanese sausages Concerns about the environmental impacts of sky lanterns are on the rise, with many counties in Taiwan banning them entirely. Releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi is legal as long as visitors follow a few rules established by the city’s government there are a few ways you can minimize your environmental impact such as collecting and recycling debris at Sky Lantern Shell Recycling Stops throughout the city How to board the Pingxi Line: The Pingxi Line is an easy day trip from Taipei and it's easy to extend the trip with an overnight stay in wildly popular Jiufen village. Taiwan Railway (TRA) trains to Ruifang Station run from Taipei Main Station (from 50NTD/US$1.70 at which point you can transfer easily to the Pingxi Line A day ticket for unlimited travel on the Pingxi Line costs only 80NTD (US$2.75) making it one of the all-time best cheap trips from Taipei especially when returning to Ruifang at the end of the day Consider coming on a weekday or start early to avoid the worst crowds One of the top romantic getaways near Taipei Wulai District gets its name from the Atayal word for the hot springs for which this Indigenous town is renowned Wulai retains a certain authenticity – the mountain valley is cut off from the rest of Taiwan and exists in harmony with the verdant mountains surrounding it Most people who come here stay overnight at a Wulai hot springs resort some of which are bookable by the hour for day-trippers It's also possible to bathe in hot springs for free next to the Wulai River allowing you to save your money for a visit to the Wulai Atayal Museum a tram ride or the gondola trip to the Yunshien Amusement Park Travelers wishing to get off the beaten park have myriad options including heading beyond the red Nanshi suspension bridge on looping hiking trails towards Wulai Falls or climbing straight up Big Knife Mountain Rambling along the rocky Laka Trail or hiking through the emerald-hued Mini Gorge is particularly rewarding swimming and camping are more options for outdoor fun How to reach Wulai: The simplest route to Wulai from Taipei is to board the 1601 bus from Xindian MRT Station (40NTD/US$1.40 Taxi drivers wait around the metro station looking to ferry tourists to Wulai for a fair rate consider teaming up with other travelers and sharing the ride Day trippers to Manyueyuan can tackle a 10km (6.2-mile) loop trail that crosses over Beichatian Mountain paved trail along the Dabao River for possible sightings of Formosan rock macaques and crested eagles perched upon the branches above the path For an extended weekend trip from Taipei, consider adding on more forest bathing at Dongyanshan Forest staying overnight at a heritage guesthouse in Sanxia or Yingge How to get to Manyueyuan: The most convenient way to reach the forest is to drive; alternatively, consider a guided tour or taxi pool with a group of fellow travelers using services such as Tripool and Parkbus taking the 702 or 812 bus to Sanxia Stop 1 followed by the less frequent 807 to the Manyueyuan parking lot People who ask if Keelung is worth visiting clearly haven’t heard about this port city’s reputation for succulent and affordable seafood too – the bold colors of Zhengbin Fishing Harbor and a prominent 25m (82ft) statue of Guanyin standing amid the temples of Zhongzheng Park sea views and curious rock formations make the walking trails a joy to explore which boasts some 200 food stalls covering several blocks in the vicinity of Dianji Temple raw or paired harmoniously with thick crab soup and glutinous rice pork knuckle and dianbiancuo soup – a Keelung specialty made with scrapings of rice flour batter How to get to Keelung: Simply hop on a northbound train from Taipei Main Station and travel to reach Keelung Station (40NTD/US$1.30 Tea lovers can take a day trip to savor the delicate taste of pouchong tea on the plantations and old streets of Pinglin a district central to Taiwan’s century-old tea trade Pinglin is just over one hour from Taipei by train; the picturesque Thousand Island Lake also lies in the area and it's a must-see if you have enough time Start your day with breakfast on Pinglin Old Street where every snack comes infused with local leaves Tea eggs are a convenience store staple across Taiwan they switch black tea for pouchong in the steeping process The Liang Xin bun store distinguishes its steam buns from the pack with natural coloring and tea infusions; they cost 10NTD (US$0.35) each Rent a bicycle and follow the river along the Beishixi Bikeway through landscapes of terraced tea fields. The Pinglin Tea Museum lies within easy reach for insights into the history of the tea trade and the manufacturing process visit a working farm such as Tea Town Osmanthus or the Green Light Farm to see tea harvesting in spring or enjoy tea tasting all year round You might smell your last stop on approach Famed for 100 years of the Taiwanese delicacy stinky tofu Shiding Old Street might not be every foreigner’s first choice for a snack stop but the old-school atmosphere is worth the time with stone walkways and stilt houses suspended haphazardly over the riverbed Stores here also sell more accessible tofu snacks How to reach Pinglin: Pinglin lies just 30km (18.6 miles) outside of Taipei but the winding mountain roads make the journey feel longer The Green 12 bus runs to Pinglin via the Feitsui reservoir but the 923 bus is the only direct bus route to Pinglin It runs from Xindian MRT station to Pinglin Old Street via Shiding (30NTD/US$1 If you’re looking for a pot to brew your freshly acquired pouchong tea October is the best month to visit Taiwan’s pottery and ceramics capital as local businesses get fired up for the Yingge Ceramics Festival and performances take over the streets Anyone interested in ceramics or ancient Chinese arts will enjoy pottering around town at any time of year. Visitors can learn about the colonial history that shaped the ceramics trade at the Yingge Ceramics Museum (80NTD/US$2.75) The Yingge Ceramics Mall also has multiple traders selling crockery traditional tea sets and decorative pieces under one roof To try your hand at sculpting, glazing and firing your own pottery, book a two-hour class at one of the ceramics studios in the area (such as Shu’s Pottery) for around 300NTD (US$10) per person several kilns on Chongqing Street offer a glimpse of the traditional firing methods used to produce Yingge ceramics Having found a decent tea set, enjoy upscale tea and small plates at the Tea Day restaurant adding on a visit to the nearby town of Sanxia to admire more red-brick architecture and traditional knick-knacks The central Qingshui Zushi Temple is a living museum of Chinese history and folk art hosting a controversial animal sacrifice on the sixth day of the lunar calendar How to get to Yingge: Yingge lies about 30 minutes southwest of Taipei, but you can also get here via a leisurely hour-long cycle along the riverside bikeway; there's a YouBike station adjacent to the old street in Yingge. Alternatively, you can take a Taiwan Railway train directly to Yingge Station from Taipei Main Station. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience The executive chef of Paris 1930 de Hideki Takayama talks about his journey to Taiwan's renowned tea-growing region of Pinglin and how it has impacted his interpretation of food he joined the team at one-starred Maison de Gill Ashiya (now renamed as Maison de Taka Ashiya) the Japanese culinary team won the championship in the illustrious Asia-Pacific Bocuse d'Or and emerged top five in the international Bocuse d’Or culinary competition Takayama's dishes are a flawless display of impeccable French cooking techniques combined with the elegance of Japanese subtlety A signature dish of Crab Pudding With Ginger And Tarragon Essence involves placing a layer of tomato consommé foam on top of a delicate pudding made with lobster and crayfish Another dish of Three-spot Swimming Crab Salad is seasoned with vinegar made from Japanese ginger delivering a well-balanced dish with an explosion of flavours the Mille-feuille With White Chocolate And Matcha Cream comprises of layers of flaky pastry cream flavoured with matcha from the Yame district of Fukuoka and premium white chocolate the pastry is served warm with the almost herbaceous aroma of Matcha 
 Taiwanese touches are prominent in his creations taking inspiration from his Bocuse d'Or award-winning dish guava and Asian pears are added into his sushi dishes while his pan-fried rosy sea bass is seasoned with an indigenous mountain peppercorn called maqaw and buckwheat “Taiwanese tea runs the whole gamut of flavours which are intimately influenced by many factors: whether the tea is fermented or not its duration of fermentation as well as the presence of insects during the growing process All this is very much like wine,” says the chef also a wine connoisseur with a collection of over 5000 wines in his cellar 
 Matching tea with food or infusing tea into the dishes are not uncommon practices But Yamanaka has his creative sights set higher: not only does he want to incorporate tea in every dish he is determined not to repeat any variety of tea or cooking method within the set menu Oriental Beauty tea is added while slow cooking lobster and crayfish; Tie Guanyin and Red Oolong are grounded together with mountain peppercorn and sprinkled onto beef; smoked Pu'Er Tea leaves and powdered leaves lend fragrance to the Cèpe Mushroom Consommé Flan Even the bread course is not exempt: three varieties of tea are brewed to replace water when kneading the dough Yamanaka incorporated tea leaf motifs in his restaurant's logo and even on the plates the local team brought him to the best tea-producing regions to visit the farmers and handpick the finest leaves personally Situated 400 to 500 metres above sea level the warm and humid climate of Pinglin district in New Taipei City are best suited for tea growing Surrounded by clouds all year round and gifted with well-irrigated soil Pinglin is home to the renowned Baozhong Oolong Tea of Wen Shan region he shares about his recent trip to Pinglin giving us insight into the local culture and the culinary inspirations that arise from a chef's perspective Why did you feel so strongly about visiting Pinglin in person I was brought around by my team to dine at various restaurants to understand the local dining scene I thought to myself: what can I do to create something unique here I came upon the idea of infusing tea into my dishes and hoped to dive deeper into the topic so as to create more outstanding dishes I’d been visiting the farmers and producers regularly back in Japan to have a better understanding of how the ingredients are produced During my one-and-a-half-year stay in Burgundy I visited over a hundred farms on my bicycle Once you have a clear picture of the production process and the producers you'll be able to integrate the ingredients into your dishes in a way that allows you to express yourself clearer to your diners What were some highlights of the trip for you We visited Pinglin late in May and stayed for half a day We had some discussions with the tea farmers (Third from the left in grey is Yamanaka) brewed some good tea and learnt how to handpick tea leaves as well I had only heard about high-altitude tea growing regions such as Alisan or Lisan prior to this trip I’ve come to know that low-altitude regions are also capable of producing a great variety of teas I'd always thought that tea leaves are spherical (Oolong tea leaves are usually rolled into spheres during the production process) but I've learnt from this trip that tea leaves can also come in the form of strips (Baozhong tea usually comes in the form of strips What were your greatest discoveries about Taiwanese tea I was unaware of the rich and extensive knowledge and culture surrounding Taiwanese tea All I had tried were an Oolong tea which I’ve received from my patrons as a gift and the Taiwanese tea served in Ryugin in Tokyo I have tasted a wide variety of tea in Taiwan and now better understand the uniqueness of each variety It is difficult for me to pick one as my favourite as each of them is special in their own way Tie Guanyin has a more profound and robust flavour as compared to Oolong the Alisan varieties are slightly milder in flavour while the Lishan varieties have a more delicate taste it carries the mellow aroma of tropical fruits such as peaches 
 French cuisine places great emphasis on balance which is exactly what I've discovered in Taiwanese tea roasted Tie Guan Yin exudes the flavour of kelp which makes it a suitable pairing for seafood The delicate taste of Oriental Beauty matches my crab pudding better than Ruby Black Tea as it will not overpower the flavour of the crustacean and instead 
 What is the one thing that you have to do when visiting a new place as it's a place where you can really experience the seasonal changes as they are expressed in the produce available I'd like to visit more tea-producing regions in the future I usually drink water more often when I'm off work Hsieh Ming Ling is Digital Editor at the Michelin Guide Digital 13 years of being a business magazine journalist she has formed a habit to always try to understand stories behind what is seen that believes a tasty meal can purely warm and soothe not only stomach but also heart Escondido brings authentic Mexican cuisine to Korea kimchi with tinned mackerel......unexpected food pairings are the weapon that one-MICHELIN-starred restaurant T+T wields to craft memorable dishes with perfect harmony of flavour Chef Johnny Tsai conceived his brainchild as a sanctuary celebrating creativity in cookery and has stayed true to his principles While drawing inspiration from across Asia he has dedicated to find balance in distinct culinary elements The result is a cuisine that breaks away from traditional confines and reaches the hearts of discerning gourmands Being a female chef in the culinary world is no easy feat We asked female chefs leading MICHELIN Star restaurants in Thailand to spill their best-kept secrets What happens when a restaurant has attained three MICHELIN Stars Described as the pinnacle of culinary achievement many chefs will say that achieving the coveted accolade is just the beginning where the food scene is both ruthless and exhilarating the Lion City's top chefs reveal what comes after three MICHELIN Stars — and why staying on top is even harder than getting there fresh flavors and perfect weather — spring is the best time to explore Taiwan From flower-filled picnics to street food feasts Hong Kong’s nightlife scene is globally renowned Be sure to visit these MICHELIN-recommended hotel bars during your next visit From creamy egg tarts to indulgent French toast these Hong Kong institutions combine local ingredients with Western influences Get away from the big city with these day-long excursions to some of the UK's top destinations and stop around town with design top of mind growing focus on health and sustainability and chefs constantly pushing the boundaries of plant-based cuisine Taiwan has become a true paradise for vegetarian dining From innovative ingredients to creative techniques the diverse and exciting options make plant-based eating not just a lifestyle but a delightful part of the travel experience here Get the full MICHELIN Guide experience in Qatar’s capital The city’s most celebrated sights are perfectly complemented by nearby world-class dining destinations chef Johanne Siy has made a name for herself at Lolla with bold she shares the places that fuel her cravings Discover where our experts like to spend their time in the UK capital Step out of the revelry of Lan Kwai Fong to discover the many facets of Hong Kong’s nightlife simultaneously modern and steeped in tradition… Hong Kong has endeared international travellers over the years with its many charms This might be the best year to book a trip to this fabulous metropolis as new attractions have taken its allure to another level Spring is the most hopeful season in South Korea What better way to savor the moderate breezes and lush greenery than stepping outside Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels the Japanese culinary team won the championship in the illustrious Asia-Pacific Bocuse d'Or and emerged top five in the international Bocuse d\u2019Or culinary competition A signature dish of Crab Pudding With Ginger And Tarragon Essence involves placing a layer of tomato consomm\u00e9 foam on top of a delicate pudding made with lobster and crayfish \u2028 Taiwanese touches are prominent in his creations Through these stunning photographs of birds John&Fish hope to share the beautiful nature of Taiwan with the world Photo taken in the Pinglin District of New Taipei City On their website John's diverse education adds richness and depth to their photographs His extensive training in music and the arts has given him the discipline and focus necessary to capture birds in the wild John and Fish often have to drive a long way to destinations; therefore Fish's good hearing helps John find targets more easily; while discussing the works When asked how he takes these shots, John tells National Geographic: "I just pretend I am the bird," he says Taiwan’s freeways are today expected to see the heaviest southbound traffic during the seven-day Lunar New Year holiday as people go on holiday outings or visit their spouse’s family is the fourth day of the Lunar New Year holiday when many married daughters return to their parents’ homes in line with the hui niang jia (回娘家) tradition The traffic volume is forecast to reach 70 million vehicle-kilometers bureau official Cheng Chieh-wen (鄭傑文) said yesterday adding that the figure is 1.5 times more than the average Freeways on the west coast and the Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway (Freeway No 5) are expected to see a surge in traffic as early as 6am today The Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway would be heavily congested past 4pm while freeways on the west coast are expected to be congested well into the afternoon Heavy congestion was yesterday reported in several areas along the nation’s freeways the traffic volume had reached 38.2 million vehicle-kilometers and was expected to hit 122 million vehicle-kilometers by the end of the day The average traffic flow on freeways from midnight on Friday to 5am yesterday was 2.4 times more than the regular figure which opened the emergency lanes along 33 sections of freeways prone to traffic congestion Although drivers had been advised to wait until after noon yesterday to travel south on freeways in western Taiwan and until after 5pm to use the southbound lanes of the Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway to avoid potential traffic jams traffic was still heavy as of 2:30pm on the southbound lanes of Freeway No with vehicles traveling 20kph to 40kph in the tunnel leading to Pinglin District (坪林) and 40kph to 60kph in the Hsuehshan Tunnel (雪山隧道) Traffic was also backed up on the southbound lanes of the Formosa Freeway (Freeway No 3) from Yingge District (鶯歌) and Guansi Township (關西) and on the Sun Yat-sen Freeway (Freeway No Three traffic accidents that occurred between 10am and 11am aggravated traffic congestion It encouraged people driving around Taiwan to use the 1968 freeway app to monitor traffic conditions on freeways The 168.thb.gov.tw site also provides real-time information about traffic on provincial highways the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said that most of Taiwan would experience sunny or cloudy weather over the Lunar New Year weekend after the past few days of rain The improved weather would prevail in most parts of the nation due to a continued decline in atmospheric moisture the Hengchun Peninsula and mountainous areas in the west might still experience sporadic precipitation The weather would likely remain unchanged until Thursday when atmospheric moisture conditions could change because of the lingering effects of a continental cold air mass and radiative cooling Low temperatures would continue across the country until Tuesday Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan officials have blamed an unusually cold weather front for the deaths of at least 57 mostly elderly people in the greater Taipei area The semi-official Focus Taiwan news website reported that 85 people had died from the cold The cold wave abruptly pushed temperatures to a 16-year low of 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit) in the subtropical capital where most homes lack central heating causing heart trouble and shortness of breath for many of the victims it’s not the actual temperature but the sudden drop that’s too sudden for people’s circulatory systems,” said a city spokesman who identified himself only by his surname The cold snap was blamed in the deaths of 40 people in the capital while the neighboring New Taipei City attributed an additional 17 deaths to the cold weather Strokes and hypothermia were among the causes of death in New Taipei City Temperatures in Taipei average 16 degrees C (60 degrees F) in January according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau most households in Taiwan lack central heating another suspected factor in the recent deaths New Taipei City said it was providing shelter for 91 homeless people endangered by the cold The cold front also left 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) of snow on Taipei’s highest peak Saturday and stranded vehicles as people headed into the mountains to see the snow The same polar front closed schools Monday in Hong Kong where 130 people had been trapped at day earlier on a peak in the city that also seldom gets such cold weather Hong Kong temperatures reached 3.1 degrees Sunday Temperatures in Taipei are forecast to reach 17 degrees Tuesday Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser Tucked away in the lush hills of Taipei County is the Taiwan Ping Lin Tea Museum (坪林茶業博物館) which was conceived during the burgeoning in popularity of teahouses that started in the 1970s According to the museum's director Liang Hsiang-tian (梁祥田) the idea to build a museum arose when Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) tasted the fragrant Wenshan wrapped tea (文山包種茶) for which Pinglin (坪林) is famous and liked it so much he asked then mayor Cheng Ching-lian (鄭金蓮) what he wanted for his town Cheng asked for a fashionable teahouse to be built which could serve to represent the area's main industry it evolved into the Taiwan Ping Lin Tea Museum The project continued through the tenure of four mayors but finally opened in 1997 the first having been completed in Hangzhou (杭州) The Pinglin museum covers an area of 0.83 hectares which mixes modern and classical Chinese architecture has enhanced the landscape of a rural district which has few buildings of distinction Speaking of what has become a major landmark in Pinglin that is surrounded by green leaves." The museum Pinglin is one of the few towns in northern Taiwan that are still dedicated to tea cultivation Pinglin is representative of a traditional tea town in Taiwan "It's very hard to find such towns in northern Taiwan these days Most tea towns along the Tamsui River have faded away." which also incorporates a tea house and a display center for tea-related products The first-floor exhibition space features exhibits of equipment used for making tea decades ago along with historical data showing the rise and fall of Taiwan's tea industry this section shows how Taiwan has shifted from being a major tea export country in the early 1970s to a country that now imports 23,000 tonnes of tea each year Taiwan's own production is now relatively insignificant in world terms who serves as the museum's guide for many of the foreign guests arriving at the tea town has extensive knowledge of the tea industry's development in Taiwan and loves to share his stories with visitors Taiwan began to export its own tea directly abroad at the end of the 19th century with much of the export business being conducted by major European trading firms such as Swire and Jardine Matheson which had made their fortunes in the opium trade "[The export business was] first based on baihao oolong tea (白毫烏龍茶) and paochung tea "The tea export business trained the first batch of professionals in Taiwan's export business." While it may be easy to regard tea as no more than a beverage the tea museum is living proof that there is a strong educational element that can be conveyed in a fun way to visitors "Sometimes we have visitors who are brought here by tour groups and don't show much interest at first But then they realize there is so much they can learn about tea that they don't want to leave," Liang said Entry costs NT$100 for adults and is free for children and people over 70 There are four restaurants in Pinglin dedicated to tea-related cuisine Many of their dishes use tea as a seasoning and many also offer one of the area's best-known dishes The restaurants can be contacted at the following numbers: Pinglin's large camping area has 30 camp grounds under different management including cabin accommodation for up to 800 people along the Beishih River (北勢溪) Fishing and shrimping are the most popular activities for campers The streams in this area offer many kinds of fish and the river shrimp from this area are considered among the tastiest There are also many cycling and hiking trails in this area many of them starting from the vicinity of the tea museum The parks along the river are also ideal for picnicking and strolling More information about camping in Pinglin can be obtained at the following locations: * Yinghsiang Chih Lu (映象之旅): tel 2665-6146 the botanical park next to the tea museum covers nearly three hectares and is divided into 14 areas The park showcases more than 150 kinds of indigenous plants quiet trail running through the park makes an ideal place for a stroll Traffic was heavy on several sections of Taiwan's freeway network this morning as many people returned home for the long Tomb Sweeping Festival weekend Traffic volume today was expected to reach 124 million vehicle kilometers the highest during the four-day holiday and 1.3 times the normal daily volume heavy traffic congestion was recorded across the country's national freeways with average speeds dropping to less than 40kph in many areas On the northbound lanes of National Freeway No between Sindian District (新店) in New Taipei City and the Muzha Rest Area in Taipei traffic speeds were at a sluggish 17kph as of 8:25am Traffic speeds of under 40kph were recorded on the northbound section of National Freeway No 1 southbound from Taoyuan's Yangmei (楊梅) to Jhubei (竹北) 3 southbound from Dasi (大溪) to Gaoyuan (高原) It projected that traffic speeds on the southbound sections of the national freeways would be 70 million vehicle kilometers — 1.5 times the typical daily volume the bureau said it had closed the ramps at the Pingzhen System Interchange and the Puyan System Interchange from 5am to 12pm today The southbound entry ramps at Shiding (石碇) and Pinglin (坪林) on National Freeway No 5 have also been closed from midnight yesterday to 12pm today converting the Shiding entrance in New Taipei City into a bus-only lane during that period High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) controls were enforced from 6am to 12pm today on National Freeway No between Taipei's Neihu District (内湖) and Miaoli County's Toufen City (頭份) from Muzha District to Xiangshan (象山) in Xinyi District (信義) in Taipei The bureau also recommended that drivers use alternative routes for travel from Toucheng Township (頭城) in Yilan County to Pinglin District in New Taipei City 61 for travel between Jhubei City and Tainan Other suggested routes included Provincial Highway No 63 for travel between Taichung and Nantou County 74 for travel from Wufeng to the Taichung System Interchange or the Zhonggang System Interchange Wei-Ping Lin accepts the award medal from Academia Sinica President James Liao Wei-Ping Lin of NTU Anthropology for winning the 12th "Scholarly Monograph Award in the Humanities and Social Sciences." Prof Lin accepted the award from Academia Sinica for her work titled Island Fantasia: Imaging Subjects on the Military Frontline between China and Taiwan Island Fantasia: Imaging Subjects on the Military Frontline between China and Taiwan is the first ethnography on Matsu presenting research findings from over a decade of field studies It adopts a "bottom-up" perspective in exploring how people in Matsu form their imagined community The study entertains how the agency of individuals within a sparse group leads to a sense of community subsequently forming collective social forces "The award signifies the recognition of ethnography writing by the Taiwanese academia which holds great significance for my discipline and myself," says Prof As being surrounded by mist is an essential life experience for Matsu islanders we in contemporary life also find ourselves submerged in this situation of uncertainty "For those who have no choice but to struggle with uncertainties may the islanders' curiosity-driven exertion and trailblazing attempts shed the light for us going forward." Lin's Materializing Magic Power: Chinese Popular Religion in Villages and Cities in 2016 which won her the 5th iteration of the same award She is also the second repeat winner of this honor and the only anthropologist achieving this feat Lin has broken unprecedented ground with her international perspective in studying folk religions and the cultural landscape of Matsu; her work is a wealth of resources for anyone interested in Taiwanese studies and cultures She dedicated this honor to every NTU member NTU wins the 2024 “National Sustainable Development Awards” for exerting influence in higher education Chih-Kung Lee of NTU’s Institute of Applied Mechanics elected NAI Fellow NTU Launches Startup Initiatives at Zhubei Campus 2024 NTU-KU-UHH Trilateral Symposium: Uniting for Sustainable Future and Next Generation Signing Ceremony for the donation of “Next-Generation Smart 3D Geospatial Information Center” at NTU Zhubei Campus No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106319, Taiwan (R.O.C.) Phone：+886-2-3366-3366 Copyright © 2023 National Taiwan University Metrics details Programmable base editing rescues Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome a A single base mutation at 1824 locus in LMNA gene results in mis-splicing and subsequently translates into a truncated lamin A protein which causes Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) b ABEmax-VRQR corrected human LMNA mutation in two primary fibroblast cells derived from HGPS patients Using the lentiviral delivery delivered ABEmax-VRQR and sgRNA targeting LMNA c.1824 C > T mutation resulting in gene editing of the LMNA loci and subsequently rescuing lamin A abundance and nuclear morphology c ABEmax-VRQR treatment in HGPS mice model used the clinical adeno-associated virus vector for co-packaged ABEmax-VRQR to make the correction of mutation in many tissues resulting in improved vascular pathology and extended the HGPS mice lifespan in which progerin protein always keeps tagging with a farnesyl group The accumulation of farnesylated progerin is toxic for nuclear shape and rigidity which hampers nucleus function resulting in HGPS disease Attempts to discover treatments for progeria initially focused on trying to reduce the accumulation of farnesylated progerin Although small-molecule inhibitors for farnesyltransferase have been screened and tested to provide treatment options for patients the treatment with them only partially alleviates the disease symptoms in clinics have used CRISPR-Cas9-mediated lamin A/progerin reduction by disrupting activity of HGPS-mutated gene But their health reverted only several alterations in HGPS cells and mice these treatment strategies also lead to frameshift mutations in the LMNA gene which could disable a human’s copy of the gene to adequately correct the disease due to this harmful effect it is necessary to develop a new strategy to directly repair the mutation that causes HGPS the ABE approach developed in this study could repair the mutated gene in HGPS cells ABE treatment attenuates some typical symptoms of HGPS disease in vivo which may extend the life expectancy in the diseased mice it is necessary to further assess the safety of AAV gene therapy in humans both lipid nanoparticles (LNP) and electroporation (EP) delivery methods encapsulate modified mRNA or DNA molecules of ABEmax-VRQR and its sgRNAs could be as alternative strategies instead of the AAV delivery method due to the recent success in the fastest development of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 using LNP in our lifetime the delivery efficiency and specificity of gene editing for the pathogenic human LMNA c.1824 C > T allele need to be tested in clinical application which is challenging and often involves years of try and error practice what is the optimal distribution of ABEmax-VRQR and which organs can be targeted by distinct delivery methods (AAV Although in vivo delivery for therapies remains many challenges we anticipate that further testing could determine the suitable delivery for gene therapy to control diseases and improve human health Another safety concern is that whether ABEmax-VRQR Cas9-induced immune responses have been reported in general human populations a response may lead to non-active treatment if cells containing the components of ABEmax-VRQR a long-term clinical study showed that the minimal levels of Cas9 (<0.75 fg per cell) did not activate strong Cas9-specific humoral immunity providing a hope for the treatment dose of ABEmax-VRQR for no immunogenic administration in clinical applications using immune-orthogonal orthologues of Cas9 or engineering Cas9 protein with mapping and editing epitopes for a better immunological profile might circumvent immune response in humans AAV-mediated CRISPR therapeutics also face the same safety concern such as existing humoral and cellular immunity against AAV capsid it remains to be investigated whether delivering ABEmax-VRQR into the human body will compromise safety or therapeutic efficacy focusing on the clinically validated long-term safety of ABE-AAV and its-edited cells in humans will contribute to the way for next-generation gene therapies The ethical concerns for CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology including the future of the modified organisms have long been discussed by normal citizens If ABE is to be used to cure human disease whether and how legalize experimentation on human somatic and germline cells What guidelines from national and international organizations should be crafted to govern its application in humans And what extent is ABE allowed to be used in translational and clinical medicine establishing an organization to decide how best to address these ethical complexities of ABE application and other gene-editing approaches for the betterment of human health and progress is urgent the current preliminary results from Koblan et al demonstrate that ABE treatment has potential to correct the HGPS mutation in mice fixing phenotypic traits and extending animal lifespan in a mouse model These findings suggest a potential future functional base editing treatment for human HGPS and possibly other genetic disorders In vivo base editing rescues Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome in mice Circularly permuted and PAM-modified Cas9 variants broaden the targeting scope of base editors Progressive vascular smooth muscle cell defects in a mouse model of Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome A long-term study of AAV gene therapy in dogs with hemophilia A identifies clonal expansions of transduced liver cells Download references This work is supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China Grants 32000033 82020108021 and 81530063; this work is also supported by National Institutes of Health Grants R01 AI109317-01A1 and R01 AI138203; this work is also supported by The American Association of Immunologists through a Careers in Immunology Fellowship The authors declare no competing interests Reprints and permissions Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-021-00576-6 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (2022) 2019 the Portsmouth Police Department arrested: The department’s Special Investigations Unit was made aware of possible criminal activity at a local hotel The subsequent investigation culminated with Ms Lin was held without bail due to her lack of cooperation with providing her address If anyone has any information on this type of activity please contact the Portsmouth Police Department at 603-427-1500 or Seacoast Crime Stoppers Anonymous tips can be made through Seacoast Crime Stoppers by calling (603) 431-1199, online at www.seacoastcrimestoppers.com and through the new “P3” phone app available as a free download for Apple and Android phones.  Rewards of up to $1,000.00 may be paid for help solving cases if the information leads to an arrest or indictment of a suspect(s) 6875TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The first wave of cherry blossoms can now be seen in New Taipei’s Pinglin area as well as in Xizhi’s Kanggaokeng River The Japanese cherry (prunus serrulata) is the first to bloom. This cherry tree is known for its short trunk, height under 11 meters, and dense crown of branches that come alive with both white and pink flowers, per UDN According to the New Taipei City Government Landscaping Department those who wish to get a glimpse of blossoms can travel to the Ministry of Justice Agency Against Corruption office in Pinglin District (Dalin Village 49) and walk along a path leading to the top of a mountain one can see lots of pink dots off in the distance ushering in the first burst of color to welcome the upcoming Lunar New Year The New Taipei City Government’s Landscape Department says cherry blossoms traditionally symbolize the arrival of spring the first cherry blossoms are typically Japanese cherry followed by three-color cherry blossoms (三色櫻) cherry blossoms are on view from February to March each year in many areas throughout New Taipei City the most popular districts for viewing cherry blossoms in New Taipei include Xizhi Taipei launches WMG2025 FunPass ahead of World Masters Games Fireworks display caps off Tamsui Summer Festival New Taipei’s Tamsui to host fireworks on August 11 New Taipei’s Hohaiyan Rock Festival takes place this weekend Vietnamese worker dies at construction site in New Taipei Taiwan dollar hits NT$29 per US dollar triggering currency exchange rush Taipei MRT reminds passengers of drinking water ban Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes off east Taiwan Vietjet flight makes unscheduled landing in Taiwan Four Vietnamese residents found dead in northern Taiwan Central Bank steps in as Taiwan dollar posts strong single-day gain Taiwan ranked 2nd most innovative country in world Taiwan ranks 1st in Asia on World Press Freedom Index US tech earnings spark Taiwan stock market rally Rising Taiwan dollar over Trump tariffs has pros and cons A rare sight of snow wowed people nationwide yesterday Under the influence of a strong cold air mass many places in Taiwan — even those located at an altitude of only 400m to 500m — received a covering of snow or soft hail overnight who likely have never seen snow in real life since they were born people were seen swarming to elevated areas including Keelung’s 726m-high Jiangziliaoshan (姜子寮山) Taipei’s Yangmingshan (陽明山) and New Taipei City’s Linkou (林口) and Pinglin (坪林) districts to appreciate the natural beauty of the snow the accumulated snow had reached 20cm in Taoyuan’s Lalashan (拉拉山) Forest Recreation Area The Motian (摩天嶺-) mountain area along the Southern Cross-Island Highway also reported showers of snow started at 4am yesterday as well as on Yunlin County’s Jiananyun Peak (嘉南雲峰) where snow began falling at about 11am yesterday at an altitude of about 1,500m the outlying island group of Penghu experienced soft hail yesterday morning Pingtung County’s Dawushan (大武山) also reported soft hail from halfway up the mountain to the summit at midnight on Saturday The Central Weather Bureau said 27 weather stations in different parts of Taiwan registered their lowest temperatures yesterday the lowest level detected in the capital in 44 years and the second-lowest since 3.2 degrees was recorded in 1972 It was minus-3.1ºC in the Yangmingshan area and 4.2ºC in Taoyuan’s Sinwu District (新屋) — all new lows for these places In New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋) it was 3.8ºC yesterday morning — the second-lowest level in history The temperature in Taipei is forecast to dip to 3ºC early today while central and southern regions are expected to experience temperatures of 4ºC and 6ºC respectively Chances of precipitation are expected to be low across the nation today apart from in mountainous regions higher than 600m The bureau urged people to be aware of icy road conditions The bureau has issued special warnings for low temperatures and heavy rain across Taiwan urging the public to take precautions and keep warm before the cold wave leaves Taiwan tomorrow when temperatures across the nation are expected to rebound noticeably Ahead of the official opening of the Taipei-Ilan Freeway's Hsuehshan Tunnel (雪山隧道) scheduled for Friday the Ministry of Transportation and Commun-ications yesterday gave reporters an opportunity to try out some of the tunnel's emergency facilities Officials of the Taiwan Area National Engineering Bureau allowed one journalist to press a fire emergency button by the side of the road inside the tunnel a recorded message told the reporter to contact the traffic control center in Pinglin (坪林) Township said that pressing the emergency button would set off an alarm at the traffic control center while automatic systems would try to determine the exact location of the fire In addition to emergency buttons and fire hydrants the tunnel also has toll-free phones that motorists can use to contact the control center along with the distance into the tunnel where the phone is located so that motorists will be able to accurately report their location The tunnel's power supply has been designed to ensure that emergency services are available even in the event of a power failure Chiou said that the speed limit in the tunnel would be strictly enforced Motorists will face fines ranging from NT$3,000 (US$93.75) to NT$6,000 if they exceed the 70kph speed limit the bureau has installed eight speed detectors in the tunnel The remaining two will be able to be moved around The media visit at the weekend came amid growing controversy surrounding the tunnel The ministry on Tuesday held a final safety drill at the tunnel in which experts were supposed to create simulation exercises to test and evaluate how quickly the staff could react to them the inspectors complained that the exercise fell short of their expectation of an "unscripted" drill said yesterday that work on the integration of the core mechanical and traffic control systems had been completed although some minor adjustments needed to be made before Friday's official inauguration The Hsuehshan Tunnel is part of the 55km-long Taipei-Ilan Freeway The tunnel will shorten the travel time between Taipei and Ilan from two hours to around 30 minutes A brief ceremony will be held on Friday in honor of the workers who died while working on the project This page requires JavaScript to function correctly please enable JavaScript in your browser settings first Traffic volume predicted to be 1.3 times higher than average weekday levels 2332TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Freeway Bureau will enforce measures on Friday to manage the anticipated traffic surge during the second day of the Tomb Sweeping Festival holiday Clear weather is expected across Taiwan, with a significant increase in traffic due to tomb-sweeping and holiday travel. Traffic volume is expected to reach 1.3 times the average of regular weekdays, with southbound traffic expected to be 1.4 times the usual weekday volume, per CNA The bureau anticipates heavy traffic on Route 9 of National Freeway 9 with congestion on some sections of National Freeway 3 and National Freeway 1 heading south in the morning high-occupancy vehicle restrictions will be implemented on the northbound section of National Freeway 5 Several sections of the national freeways have been identified as prone to congestion on Friday These include the southbound sections of National Freeway 1 from Zhongli Interchange to Yangmei and the Changhua System to the Puyan System at National Freeway 1’s Pingzhen System and Puyan System and the southbound entrances to Shiding and Pinglin on National Freeway 5 high-occupancy vehicle restrictions will be applied to the northbound entrances of Suao Further measures include single toll rates and the suspension of toll collection from midnight to 5:00 a.m Shoulder lanes and ramp control will be employed Other sections to watch include the northbound section from Yuanshan to the Dahua System the southbound sections of National Freeway 3 from Zhonghe to Guanxi and Kuiguan to Mingjian the southbound sections of National Freeway 5 from Nangang System to Toucheng the northbound section from Yilan to Pinglin and the eastbound section of National Freeway 10 from Dingjin System to Yanchao Heavy traffic expected on Taiwan's national freeways over Tomb Sweeping Festival Taiwan reports 1,000 people bitten by poisonous snakes annually Kaohsiung's firefly season and peach festival begin soon 30 cemetery fires reported in Taiwan’s Miaoli during tomb sweeping Taiwan’s main airport expects 3.8 million travelers during holidays Government rejects calls for heavy motorcycles to use Taiwan’s highways “Sio-Po-Kua: Music from Taiwan's Lush Tea Gardens” concert The organizers of the course "Music Design and Innovative Application" offered at the Stanley Wang D-School@NTU teamed up with the Dixon Foundation for Arts and Culture to put on the concert "Sio-Po-Kua: Music from Taiwan's Lush Tea Gardens," on May 28 the duo recital featured Taiwanese flutist Chia-Fen Tsai (蔡佳芬) and virtuoso Cuban classical guitarist Rene Izquierdo sio-po-kua are traditional mountain songs that were chanted among the tea farmers of Pinglin a mountainous area in southeastern New Taipei City famous for its pouchong tea while they picked tea leaves during the harvest season Although the melodies of sio-po-kua are composed of simple three-note scales The songs presented in Tsai and Izquierdo's performance were the work of composer Chun-Da Huang (黃俊達) who reinterpreted the traditional songs compiled by ethnomusicologist Chin-Cheng Lin (林金城) in his book Huang's fresh reinterpretations merge a bygone soundscape of Taiwan with Western musical instruments enabling a fading echo from the past to reach the ears of contemporary listeners Instill AI’s technology can generate meaningful content from unstructured data including images a startup providing tools to gather insights from unstructured data This round has also been supported by Lunar Ventures; returning investor Hive Ventures; Charles Songhurst former corporate strategy executive and M&A execute at Microsoft; Demetrios Kellari head of systems and technology integration at Cavnue; and Mehdi Ghissassi director of product for Google’s AI/ML Research org Instill AI was also supported by Cornerstone Ventures The funding will help the 2020 startup build on its mission to help organisations extract untapped value from unstructured data by making AI more accessible to companies of all sizes said: “Unstructured data can be more analyzable At Instill AI we are committed to making this happen We believe that machine learning and AI should be as easy to access as other off-the-shelf cloud services in the software industry today “This seed investment helps us speed up the development and strengthen the readiness of the VDP bringing us one step closer to making the solution to this problem a reality.” IBM solution to data privacy problems commented: “Having first-hand experience of the pain that comes with deploying AI services Ping-Lin and his co-founder Xiaofei found a way to help companies of all sizes overcome that pain and seamlessly bring AI into the modern data stack to unlock the value of unstructured data “We were really impressed by the approach the team at Instill AI are taking and can’t wait to see what they achieve in the next part of their journey.” founder and managing partner at Hive Ventures added: “It has been a pleasure to work with Ping-Lin and Xiaofei to unleash the insights within the 80 per cent enterprise data that is unstructured We look forward to working closely with new investors RTP Global and Lunar VC to grow Instill AI’s value to the community.” While deep learning has shown its strength in understanding unstructured data in recent years the implementation and deployment of an effective AI solution in an organisation’s data stack is still extremely costly and complex Building in-house AI solutions requires huge investment and relies on multifunctional teams only large enterprises with deep pockets can successfully build exclusive functionalities and components to process their unstructured data and then distill business insights or deliver AI applications Unicorn data business appoints chief people officer The other problem is that while emerging MLOps tools and AI services make tapping the value of unstructured data possible they provide different proprietary frameworks Instill AI has introduced its open-source project – Versatile Data Pipeline (VDP) for unstructured data ETL (Extract that seamlessly brings AI into the modern data stack The investment will enable Instill AI to launch to remove the stress of infrastructure maintenance for community members This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value"