Beitou (北投) is a district of Taipei City at the foot of Yangmingshan (陽明山 or Yangming Mountain), a collection of mountain peaks that make up Yangminshan National Park. These include Seven Star Mountain (七星山 or Qixingshan), a dormant volcano that last erupted around 700,000 years ago.
Xinbeitou (新北投), the hot spring village around Xinbeitou MRT station, occupies a lush valley that is home to 1200 species of plants, 110 species of bird, and 160 varieties of butterflies.
Beitou Thermal Valley (also called Beitou Geothermal Valley or Hell Valley) is a second, highly acidic “green sulfur” hot spring that is a major tourist attraction in Beitou and the source of the hot creek running through Beitou Hot Spring Park.
The spring water is high in radium, which in the past underwent a corrosive reaction with the andesite rocks on the river bed about 150 meters downstream, creating layers of cream and white diamond-shaped crystals named Hokutolite or “Beitou stone”, ...
The Chang FA Cup (Thai FA Cup) is Thailand’s premier knockout tournament, open to clubs from all levels. Sponsored by Chang, the 2025–26 edition (32nd season) runs from September 2025 to May 2026 and offers a path to continental qualification.
In the semifinals (played May 17, 2026, at PAT Stadium in Bangkok as a neutral venue), defending champions Buriram United faced newly promoted Ayutthaya United. Buriram entered as heavy favorites due to their squad depth, experience, and domestic dominance, while Ayutthaya aimed for a historic upset and a shot at the final.
Buriram United is one of Thailand’s most successful and popular clubs. Founded in 1970 as Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) FC, it was originally based in the Bangkok area and later Ayutthaya. It won its first Thai League title in 2008 as PEA.
Ayutthaya United is a newer club from Ayutthaya Province. It traces its roots to Sena Municipality FC, founded in 2007. It progressed through lower divisions and regional leagues, merging...
The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) stands as Taiwan’s premier professional baseball circuit. It was established on October 23, 1989, following a campaign led by Brother Hotel chairman Hung Teng-sheng, with the inaugural season launching in 1990 featuring four teams: the Brother Elephants, Mercuries Tigers, Uni-President Lions, and Wei Chuan Dragons. The league’s first game saw the Lions defeat the Elephants 4-3 before a packed crowd at the old Taipei Municipal Baseball Stadium.
Over the years, the CPBL expanded and faced challenges, including competition from the Taiwan Major League (TML) in the late 1990s, which it eventually absorbed in 2003. Today, with six teams, it thrives as a beloved national pastime blending intense competition, passionate fan culture, and community engagement, drawing strong attendance especially in modern venues.
Tianmu Baseball Stadium, the primary home venue for the Wei Chuan Dragons, hosted the May 3, 2026, matchup against the Fubon Guardians.
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Peterhof Palace, often called the Russian Versailles, is a grand imperial estate located about 30 km west of Saint Petersburg on the shores of the Gulf of Finland.
Commissioned by Peter the Great in the early 18th century, it was designed to rival the opulence of Louis XIV’s Versailles and celebrate Russia’s victories and emergence as a major European power.
Construction began around 1714, with the estate opening in 1723. The complex features the majestic Grand Palace, expanded in Baroque style by Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the 1750s for Empress Elizabeth, along with elegant smaller palaces like Monplaisir and Marly.
The highlight is its extraordinary park system, especially the Lower Park with over 150 fountains powered entirely by gravity and natural water pressure from distant springs—no pumps required.
The centerpiece is the spectacular Grand Cascade, with its 64 fountains, gilded sculptures, and the iconic Samson Fountain symbolizing Russia’s triumph over Sweden.
The formal Upper ...
