To Have a Safe & Great Holiday, Do Not Drink and Drive During the Chinese New Year

Marble bust bought for $6 and used as doorstop could sell for more than $3 million

A sculpture purchased for only £5 and used as a doorstop could soon be worth over £2.5 million after receiving approval for sale from a Scottish court. The “Bouchardon Bust,” created in the early 18th century by French sculptor Edmé Bouchardon, depicts politician John Gordon, a local figure in Invergordon’s history. The bust was acquired by Invergordon Town Council in 1930, intended for public display to honor Gordon as “the founder of Invergordon.” However, the sculpture was misplaced over the years and eventually found in 1998 being used to keep a shed door open in an industrial park. Recognizing its artistic and historical value, the Highland Council later loaned it to notable institutions, including the Louvre in Paris in 2016 and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles the following year.The Highland Council recently reported that an unidentified private overseas buyer contacted Sotheby’s with a substantial offer exceeding £2.5 million. The buyer proposed to fund a museum-quality replica of the bust for local display, allowing Invergordon residents to appreciate the piece’s historical significance. A public consultation earlier this year led the council to recommend the sale, and after approval from Tain Sheriff Court, the legal procedure known as the Waverley Criteria is likely to be enacted, assessing if the bust qualifies as a “national treasure” restricted from export. Although the auction details remain unconfirmed, the bust’s history and rediscovery echo other notable finds, such as a meteorite used as a doorstop at Central Michigan University, which sold in 2018 for $75,000.

Choose from 100 curated itineraries! The Hakka Mini-Tour takes you on an immersive cultural journey.

President Lai Ching-te attended the opening ceremony of the "2024 ITF Taipei International Travel Fair" at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center and visited the Hakka Pavilion. Deputy Chairperson of the Hakka Committee, Fan Zuoming, invited President Lai and several dignitaries to participate in the unveiling ceremony of the Hakka Pavilion, with a DIY screen-printing activity symbolizing the start of a journey through Hakka villages. President Lai emphasized that tourism is a form of national soft power and diplomacy, urging public support for the fair to boost the tourism industry.This year’s Hakka Pavilion, themed "Hakka Mini-Tour - Live Well, Relax, Slow Down," invited 27 exhibitors from Taiwan Route 3, Liudui, and Taiwan Route 9 to participate and launched an online sales platform in collaboration with 16 travel agencies to promote over 100 curated Hakka itineraries. Fan Zuoming encouraged the public to join and experience Hakka culture deeply.The theme introduced by the Hakka Pavilion is "Hakka Village Mini-Tour - Enjoy Life, Relax, Live Slow" (Photo / from the Hakka Committee website)Diverse Tours, Exciting Highlights The featured tours include the Liudui Hakka Tour, Carbon-Reducing Hualien-Taitung Secret Tour, Tea and Gold Tour, and Star Island Tour. Together with travel agencies like Lion Travel and Cola Tour, an online joint sales platform was created. This year’s main pavilion focuses on Nanzhuang, Sanyi, Dawu Mountain, Zhudian, and Fenglin Slow Town, showcasing the depth and diversity of Hakka culture through recommended attractions on Taiwan Route 3, Liudui, and Taiwan Route 9. Interactive photo walls and set designs create an immersive experience within the pavilion.Hakka Version "Black & White MasterChef" At the opening event, the "Hakka Version Black & White MasterChef" featured National Banquet Chef Lin Jizheng and emerging Chef Luo Weizhou, presenting signature dishes like "Chicken with Old Radish and Five-Color Noodles" and "Salted Pork with Fermented Tofu Black Fiber Rice Risotto." During the four-day exhibition, the Hakka Pavilion will host daily activities such as Hakka travel storytelling, craft workshops, and music salons, inviting celebrities like Popu Lady Yushan and Liang Hequn to share food and travel insights.Deputy Chairperson Fan of the Hakka Committee poses with National Banquet Chef Lin Jizheng and promising young chef Luo Weizhou (Photo / from the Hakka Committee website)Curated Itineraries The public can also purchase tours via the "100 Hakka Village Itinerary Joint Platform," linked to travel agency sales pages, inviting people across Taiwan to explore Hakka villages and enjoy the "Live Well, Relax, Slow Down" travel experience.

英文字幕-2024新台灣之光-阮秋河