英倫翻譯社/ Trsmaster

春節前後這段時間，正是櫻花綻放的時節，但其實賞櫻不必大老遠跑到高山，在台中市區就有一排櫻花美景，全是當地居民自發性種植，自己花時間照顧。在太平區的公園，同樣有櫻花大道，里長還推薦，櫻花謝了這裡還有特別的櫻花果美景可賞。

路旁這一整排櫻花樹，把平凡無奇的街道，點綴了幾分詩情畫意，還有人慕名而來。

[[台中南屯區惠中里長 曾善]]
台北 南部的啦 台北的朋友大家打電話來問我，還有拍婚紗的特別來這拍。

這些櫻花樹，全是里民自掏腰包，當初以一株一萬多塊種植，並且自己施肥養護。

[[台中南屯區惠中里長 曾善]]
它一開花起來，整個氣息就不一樣。

台中太平的公園也有櫻花大道。

來這看不用人擠人，不錯很好，環境好櫻花也漂亮。

即使櫻花謝了，這裡還有櫻花果可以觀賞。

[[台中太平區光華里長 黃鐵騫]]
櫻花都會結櫻花果，但是我們這裡的櫻花果最突出，因為我們這裡空氣好，環境品質做得不錯。

不用大費周章跑一趟山區，市區平地賞櫻，美景也隨處可見。

As we continue to admire the cherry blossoms of Taiwan, tonight we take you to Taichung. There are several places in the city where visitors can enjoy this seasonal wonder. 

A row of cherry blossoms turns this ordinary road into a picturesque scene. Visitors come for the view.

Tseng Shan
Huizhong Village Chief
(We get people from) Taipei and the south. Friends from Taipei have called to ask me about the area, and couples specially come here to shoot wedding photos.

These cherry trees were planted with funds gathered from local residents. Each tree cost over NT$10,000, and the locals cared for them.

Tseng Shan
Huizhong Village Chief
When the trees blossom, the scent in the air changes.

Another place in Taichung to admire cherry blossoms is this park in Taiping District.

“You don’t have to battle crowds here. It’s great. The environment is good and the cherry blossoms are beautiful.”

When the blossoms fall, there are still cherries to admire.

Huang Tie-chian
Guanghua Village Chief
The good air and excellent environment make the cherries that our trees produce special.

Places like these show that it’s possible to enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms without making a trip into the mountains.

明天就是元宵節了，今年南門市場元宵店業績，比去年多一倍，店家說可能因為受到寒流影響，很多人都想吃熱元宵。不過計畫出門看花燈或情人節出遊的民眾，可能會失望，因為周四入夜後，會有另一波強烈大陸冷氣團，南下影響，各地天氣，將會一路濕冷到這個禮拜六。

幾個人拿著大篩子，用力搖湯圓，一早台北南門市場好熱鬧，兩家知名糕餅店，全體總動員，忙到不可開交。

天氣超濕冷，一早依舊有人排隊來買元宵，而且寒流越發威，業績衝越高。

[[合興糕糰店老闆娘]]
(比平時)增加三四倍客人，又因為寒流， (比去年元宵)人又多出一倍以上。


這波寒流，讓台北在週三清晨前，整整36小時都在10度以下，周二單日平均溫度8.7，更創下9年來新低，這樣濕冷天氣，將持續到周六。

[[氣象局資深預報員 林定宜]]
持續發佈低溫特報，就是從今天晚上開始，一直到15號清晨，在中部以北到宜蘭地區，還有外島金門馬祖，會出現10度左右或10度以下低溫。

目前嘉義以北到宜蘭地區，都發布豪雨特報。由於周五不但是元宵節，還是西洋情人節，想出門慶祝的人，恐怕要有心理準備了。

台灣M型化社會越來越明顯，有車商砸千萬裝潢兩百坪展示間，光租金每個月就要兩百萬。

VIP客人賞車採預約制，存款至少要500萬起跳才能進到會場。裡面香檳、紅酒和起司隨你吃，甚至有專人管家服務，預估一年可以創造40億元的商機。

An imported car brand has made clear the market it’s targeting in Taiwan. It has spent NT$10 million to decorate a 660-square-meter showroom that is costing NT$2 million a month to rent. 

Viewing sessions are by appointment and open only to people with at least NT$5 million in savings. Visitors are greeted with champagne and butler service. The company expects the showroom to generate NT$4 billion in sales.

由南部五縣市，和四家民營公司合作投資的一卡通票證公司，將一卡通的功能全面升級，今天舉辦了揭牌儀式，最受矚目的就是南部五縣市中，唯一藍營的嘉義市長黃敏惠也出席了，她表示為了提暢一卡通的使用，她不分藍綠，這樣才會讓一卡通多元發展

南部五縣市重要首長一字排開，不分藍綠出席，為一卡通票證公司的成立來揭牌，就是要全力支持一卡通。雖然嘉義市長是裡面唯一的藍營首長，不過為了一卡通發展，大家一齊合作是必要的。

[[嘉義市長 黃敏惠]]
“有人在問我說，你是萬綠叢中一點藍，你為什麼要投資呢，我說這當然要投資，這是對的事，走對的路，我們一定要合作、整合”

過去的一卡通，單純的只是高雄捷運所發的卡片，但為了走向多元，一卡通決定仿悠遊卡。一卡通今天啟用後，預計在今年十月可望用來搭乘高鐵外，其餘的交通工具，都和悠遊卡都有同樣功能，甚至便利商店也陸續開始通用。

[[一卡通票證董事長 王國材]]
“一卡通在高雄大概有八成的佔有率，那其他的地方以悠遊卡為主，我們希望說全國的趨勢可以平衡點 不要大概只有一種悠遊卡在全國”

一卡通的全面升級，就是不讓悠遊卡一卡獨秀。

It’s become second nature in Taiwan to use an EasyCard to pay for all forms of public transportation around the country. But a new venture backed by southern Taiwan’s counties and cities aims to end the EasyCard’s dominance. The iPass Corporation was opened for business Thursday boasting a stored value card with a much wider range of functions. 

Political affiliation didn’t matter Thursday when the heads of Taiwan’s five southern counties and cities gathered for the opening of the iPass Corporation. The Chiayi City mayor was the only KMT, or “blue,” politician there and felt like she belonged. 

Huang Min-huei 
Chiayi City Mayor (KMT)
People asked me why I invested in the venture being the one blue in a sea of green. I answered that of course we wanted to invest because it was the right thing to do and a move in the right direction. We definitely should cooperate.

The iPass Card had previously been limited to Kaohsiung’s public transportation system. But it can now be used for all the same bus, train and boat systems as the EasyCard except for the high-speed rail, for which service begins in October. Card holders will even be able to use it at convenience stores in the future. 

Wang Kuo-tsai
iPass Corporation Chairman
The iPass has about an 80 percent market share in Kaohsiung, while the EasyCard is stronger everywhere else. We hope to balance things out across the country so that there isn’t just one type of EasyCard in Taiwan.

Long overshadowed by the Easy Card, the iPass Card now seems poised to build its own brand. 

高鐵宣布從下月13日起，在離峰時段搭車，對號座票價打九二折。以北高為例，單趟就能省下135元。但因為自由座票價沒有同步優惠，比對號座還貴85元。站票竟然比坐票貴，讓民眾大呼，不合理，高鐵允諾可以換票到對號座。

不少民眾搭高鐵，都買自由座，站著就能少花錢。但現在高鐵宣布，下個月13日起，離峰時段，對號車票全面打九二折，但這也造成，同一班自由座，竟然比對號車票，還要貴。

以單程北高車票來說，離峰時段原價打完九二折，是1495元，比沒有離峰優惠的自由座1580元，足足少了85元，早就買好自由座的旅客應該非常嘔。

[[台灣高鐵公關 王平宇]]
“在那個時段，符合九二離峰的話，可以直接到我們車站窗口，都是不收手續費的”

大眾運輸今天除了高鐵宣布降價外，交通部也公布228連假的國道管制措施，免收費時段從深夜11點到清晨六點，費率採單一費率，無前廿公里免費優惠，通行費為平日75折。

Taiwan’s high-speed rail company announced Thursday that it will offer an 8 percent discount on all off-peak reserved seat fares beginning March 13. Now that may sound good, but it’s created a problem. The discount has made reserved seat fares cheaper than the price of non-reserved seats during off-peak hours, upsetting people who had already bought what they thought were cheaper tickets. 

Many high-speed rail riders buy non-reserved seat tickets to save money. But the 8 percent discount for reserved seats during off-peak hours may change the equation because some reserved seat fares will end up cheaper than non-reserved seat prices.

A one-way off-peak ticket between Taipei and Kaohsiung will now cost NT$1,495, cheaper than the NT$1,580 charged for non-reserved seats. Those who have already bought non-reserved seat tickets won’t be happy.

Wang Ping-yu
Taiwan High Speed Rail 
During those hours in which the 8 percent discount is applicable, (non-reserved seat) ticket holders can go to a station and (change to a reserved seat). There will be no processing fee.

The Transportation Ministry on Thursday also offered a discount to travelers. During the long weekend holiday starting Feb. 28, tolls on Taiwan’s highways will be free from 11pm to 6am. During other hours, motorists will be given a 25 percent discount off the normal tolls but the first 20 kilometers traveled will not be free.