Blog posts from the team at International Community Radio Taipei, Taiwan's only English radio station.
Monthly archive August, 2014
ICRT Battle of the Bands Meet the Judges: Swing Wang of Rock'n'Rap

ICRT Battle of the Bands Meet the Judges: Swing Wang of Rock’n’Rap

Half way through a Spring Scream performance, in the spur of the moment, Swing Wang – the then young and impressionable lead singer of the band RockBang who wanted so much to be like the overseas bands he idolized so much – threw himself off the stage into the dozen audience members below. Little did...Continue reading
Moves to Save "Queen's Head" to Begin Today in Yehliu Geopark

Moves to Save “Queen’s Head” to Begin Today in Yehliu Geopark

A plan to repair the iconic Queen’s Head rock formation at New Taipei’s Yehliu Geopark will begin today, in a bid to protect the popular tourist attraction from erosion that threatens to snap its narrow neck. Tourism officials say different erosion-combating techniques will be tested on four smaller rocks near the Queen’s Head, which is...Continue reading
ICRT Battle of the Bands Meet the Judges: Hu Shen of Quarterback

ICRT Battle of the Bands Meet the Judges: Hu Shen of Quarterback

Hu Shen’s (虎神) rock odyssey began as an exercise in teenage pragmatism: seventeen year old Hu Shen needed an in with the girls, and girls, he had heard, were into musicians. “I think a lot of us start out hoping our music will turn us into chick magnets. It rarely works,” the guitarist and bandleader...Continue reading
Taiwan Talk: Diss RBL talks rap battles in Taiwan

Taiwan Talk: Diss RBL talks rap battles in Taiwan

Listen Episode Description On this episode of Taiwan Talk we speak to Canadian expat Dallas Waldie about the Mandarin rap battle league he founded here in Taiwan, Diss RBL. He tells us a bit about the form of rap battling the group is helping to popularize, and what rap battling looks like in Taiwan.   During...Continue reading
Creator of Giant Rubber Duck Florentijn Hofman Commissioned to Make Giant White Rabbit

Creator of Giant Rubber Duck Florentijn Hofman Commissioned to Make Giant White Rabbit

Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman is set to return to Taiwan next month – only this time he’ll be bringing a giant white rabbit. Hofman, whose giant floating Rubber Duck made a splash across Taiwan last year, has been commissioned by Taoyuan County to produce the giant rabbit. According to county officials, the rabbit will be...Continue reading
Wow! Taiwan: Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival

Wow! Taiwan: Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival

Come take a dip and check out the Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival on August 31st. Swimmers from around Taiwan and abroad gather at Zhaowu wharf to participate in the 3,000 meter course in one of the world’s most famous swimming competitions. Listen Photo via Crystal QuimbyContinue reading
Taipei's Xingtian Temple Goes Green, Bans Incense Burning

Taipei’s Xingtian Temple Goes Green, Bans Incense Burning

In an effort to save resource and help protect the environment, Taipei’s Xingtian Temple has announced that it will remove its large incense burner and stop offering tables starting tomorrow. The decision was made in line with rapid changes in the environment and the increasingly serious global warming – trends that temple managers said remind...Continue reading
Beef Noodle Festival Being Promoted in China

Beef Noodle Festival Being Promoted in China

Representatives of the 2014 Taipei International Beef Noodle Festival made their last China stop in Shanghai Wednesday to promote the 10th anniversary of the annual festival. The representatives had previously visited Tianjin, Macau and Hong Kong as part of this year’s promotion in China of the annual event organized by the Taipei City government. Three...Continue reading
ICRT Cools Down DJs with ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

ICRT Cools Down DJs with ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has caught the attention of celebrities worldwide, including Bill Gates, Robert Downey Jr. and Taiwan’s Terry Guo, raising funds and awareness for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. For 48 hours, ICRT asked listeners to donate to the Taiwan Motor Neuron Disease Association and then vote...Continue reading
Luc Besson Praises Partnership with Taiwan During Filming of Lucy

Luc Besson Praises Partnership with Taiwan During Filming of Lucy

At a press conference on Tuesday, Luc Besson credited the Taiwan people with injecting new life into the island. Luc Besson and his producer wife Virginie Silla visited Taipei in October to shoot the director’s latest film “Lucy.” After returning to the island to attend the film’s premiere at Taipei’s Vieshow IMAX Cinema, the cinematic...Continue reading
Taiwan Celebrities and Public Figures Take On ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Taiwan Celebrities and Public Figures Take On ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Celebrities and public figures in Taiwan followed the Internet sensation of dousing themselves with a bucket of ice water, in order to raise awareness about a paralyzing disease. Local tycoon Terry Gou took the Ice Bucket Challenge in New Taipei alongside people fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), and volunteers...Continue reading
Actor Kai Ko Busted with Jacee Chan in Beijing for Marijuana

Actor Kai Ko Busted with Jacee Chan in Beijing for Marijuana

Local actor Kai Ko (Ko Chen-tung) has been arrested in Beijing during a drugs raid on an apartment owned by Jacee Chan, the son of movie star Jacky Chan. According to China’s state-owned media, police seized more than 100-grams of marijuana during the raid. Xinhua News Agency says both Ko and Chan admitted to using...Continue reading