Hello everybody, and welcome to a new episode of News Bites!

I'm Nancy Sun.

And I'm Hope Ngo.

In today's news:

A last ride on a classic train, cherry blossoms bring spring to Washington D.C., and a special shop for instant noodles.

All that and more, coming up next.

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告別台灣經典火車復興號

Fans Say Farewell to Taiwan's Classic Train

Fans are saying goodbye to an important part of Taiwan history.

A Fu-hsing train (復興號) took its last trip ever on March 29th.

The Fu-hsing trains were the first trains ever built in Taiwan.

They first entered service in 1981.

As you know, summers in Taiwan get very hot.

And the Fu-hsing trains were the first trains in Taiwan to have air conditioning!

復興號1981年開台北－花蓮及台北－高雄段，而且是台灣第一個有冷氣的火車型號。

Now, after 41 years, they are being decommissioned (退役) from Taiwan's railroads.

Fans of the classic (經典) Taiwan train went to train stations in Hualien and New Taipei City to see it.

They took photos and some people bought tickets to ride the train one last time.

The train had special decorations on the outside for the event.

On March 29th, it left Hualien Station at 6:05am for its final trip to Shulin Station.

復興號最後一班列車3月29日清晨6點5分從花蓮站開出，9時56分抵達樹林站。

The TRA sold 300 special tickets for this ride.

The tickets cost 150 NT each.

The TRA is trying to make its trains more modern (現代), so the Fu-Hsing trains will be replaced by newer trains made in Japan and Korea.

Sadly, most of the Fu-Hsing trains will be scrapped (拆除).

But some cars will be used on different lines.

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華盛頓櫻花季就是春天的開始

Cherry Blossoms Mark Start of Spring in Washington D.C.

Cherry blossom trees are blooming in many parts of the world!

Around this time of the year, these beautiful trees turn all white and pink with flowers.

And Washington D.C. in the US hosts a Cherry Blossom Festival every year in late March.

美國首都華盛頓特區每年三月舉辦櫻花節。

Every year more than 1.5 million people come from all over the world to see the beautiful flowers.

When these flowers bloom, people know it's the start of spring in the US capital.

March 21st was the peak (高峰) of cherry blossom season this year.

This was 10 days earlier than most years.

For the festival this year, there was a parade, live music, kite flying (放風箏), and fireworks (煙火).

The cherry blossom trees were a gift from the mayor of Tokyo to the wife of the US president in 1912.

這些櫻花樹是1912年當時的東京市長送給美國第一夫人的禮物。

That year 3,800 cherry blossom trees from Japan were planted (種) in the city.

Watching the cherry blossoms bloom is also popular in Japan, Taiwan, and many other countries around the world.

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泡麵店很受泰國年輕人歡迎

Instant Noodle Store is Popular with Young Thais

Do you enjoy eating instant noodles?

If you do, then you might want to visit a new special store in Bangkok.

如果你喜歡吃泡麵的話，可以去看看這家在曼谷新開幕的泡麵專賣店。

The name of the store is 'Good Noodle' and it opened last October.

And it sells more than 70 kinds of instant noodles.

The noodles come from countries across Asia including Indonesia, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and even Taiwan.

Shoppers can cook and eat the noodles in the shop.

The shop is very popular (受歡迎) with young Thai people.

There are so many choices in the shop, and it's not too expensive.

But health experts warn that people shouldn't eat instant noodles too often.

They say instant noodles do not have nutrients that your body needs.

但健康專家建議不要太常吃泡麵，因為它缺乏我們身體需要的營養成分。

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So, in today's News Bites:

The Fu Hsing series of trains started service in Taiwan over 40 years ago.

In late March, the last one was decommissioned.

Fans of the train came out to say goodbye, take pictures, and ride it for the last time.

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Cherry blossom trees are blooming in Washington D.C.

Every year, Washington D.C. in the U.S. hosts a cherry blossom festival in late March.

March 21st was the peak of cherry blossom season this year.

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And,

A new store opened in Bangkok called 'Good Noodle'

It features 70 types of instant noodles from all over Asia.

The store is very popular with young Thai people.

There are so many choices in the shop, and it's not too expensive.

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And that's today's episode of News Bites!