The 2023 Inaugural Michelin Guide of Experiences Awards: A Quick Guide to the 9 Gold Medal Venues

The owner of Zheng Bone Sculpture Center started out as a fitness trainer. As he grew stronger, he noticed his body becoming increasingly stiff. After an incident of myofascial inflammation, he sought out a traditional bone-setting practitioner in southern Taiwan and met an old master. It was then he realized his injuries stemmed from a lack of understanding of his own body. This led the owner to apprentice with the master, and, driven by a desire to pass on the master's techniques and help more people, he established Zheng Bone Sculpture Center. The center aims to help clients achieve both an attractive physique and relief from back pain through a three-part cycle: fitness, bone alignment, and proper muscle engagement.

The owner was thrilled to be selected for the first Twosevenths Michelin Guide of Experiences Awards. Noticing the public's increasing engagement in voting, he personally contacted past clients, asking them to cast their votes. Because he had consistently provided excellent service, clients he had helped were eager to support him, ultimately leading to the Gold Award in the Massage category! Looking ahead, he plans to stay true to his original mission, continue excelling in bone alignment, and expand from one treatment bed to three or more. He also intends to add aerial yoga and singing bowl experiences, offering clients not only intensive physical muscle and bone relaxation but also a sense of spiritual liberation.

The origin story of Stupid Guys Studio is fascinating. In 2013, a group of college students decided to take on an escape room with a rumored 5% success rate. They went in with a competitive spirit, breezing through most of the challenges, but got stuck on the final puzzle for 30 minutes and ultimately failed. This defeat ignited their competitive drive, inspiring them to create their own fun games, leading to the birth of Stupid Guys Studio, now a beloved escape room venue.

The owner was very humble about winning the first-ever Gold Award in the Games category, suggesting it might be due to their longer operating history and accumulated customer base. Beyond the joy of recognition, the biggest benefit was the increased team cohesion among employees. Everyone enthusiastically declared, "We need to show everyone how good we are!" and actively shared and campaigned for votes. Even former employees joined in the effort. This strengthening of team bonds is a uniquely valuable outcome of the Michelin Guide of Experiences Awards.

When the owner founded More Fit, the goal was not only to promote exercise but also to focus on cultivating a diverse roster of coaches who could rent space. The idea was that coaches with different specialties, skill levels, and even appearances would interact and spark new energy throughout the gym. They even provide a dedicated space for bodybuilders and powerlifters to practice posing, which is a rare sight in other gyms.

Beyond the variety of coaches, More Fit's open-plan space and convenient location are designed to make it easy for everyone to start exercising. More Fit also places a strong emphasis on gym etiquette, ensuring all guests enjoy a comfortable and friendly workout environment, ultimately aiming to elevate the national fitness culture.

The owner expressed immense joy at being selected for the Michelin Grand Award Gold Prize, stating that the award validates all their past efforts. While humbly attributing the win to their numerous branches and large membership, this honor further proves that their operating philosophy has resonated with the public. More Fit's fifth venue is currently in preparation, creating much anticipation.

When 56 Base was founded, the owner envisioned it as more than just a place to paddleboard; it was meant to be a welcoming hub where anyone could drop in for a chat. This philosophy extends to how they treat guests, like friends, with genuine instruction and care, which is why so many return and become good friends with the team.

In one past experience, a guest concealed a history of rhabdomyolysis and suddenly fell ill while out on the water. Fortunately, the coaches' quick thinking and strength brought him safely back to shore. This incident reinforced 56 Base's strong emphasis on safety awareness, and they now double-check guests for any medical history, which is incredibly reassuring.

Regarding this award, 56 Base didn't specifically rally friends or guests to vote. Their selection and win were truly unexpected, but it proves that by genuinely leading each group and treating guests like friends, their consistent hard work and dedication are recognized. It's a great honor!

The "Om" in Om Space refers to the sound of yoga, because the founder feels that each time he dives into the ocean, it's like entering a fantastical, tranquil parallel dimension, bringing him infinite peace. He hopes to share this joy with all students interested in diving.

Although he wasn't a strong swimmer initially, his first deep-water dive completely healed the stresses of his office job with its serene underwater world. A few years later, he decisively quit his full-time job and moved to the island of Xiaoliuqiu, surrounded by the sea, to spread this joy to more people.

The founder expressed surprise and happiness at winning first place in this year's diving category of the Michelin Guide of Experiences, especially since some competitors were well-known diving venues. Despite not actively campaigning for votes, his students and fellow instructors were more proactive than he was, even providing updates on the competition. This showed him how satisfied his students were with their learning experience, deeply moving him that his teaching was so well-received. In the future, he hopes to further refine his skills, learn from competitions abroad, and bring back even richer experiences for his students.

From kindergarten teacher to yoga instructor, jn studio was founded on the principle of good teaching, with the ultimate goal of helping students truly love their bodies and, in turn, fall in love with yoga.

Because the founder has a history of sports injuries, she is very particular about student safety and correct posture, and she is very serious about training teachers, carefully ensuring the quality of each instructor's teaching. This has attracted a loyal following of students, with some even traveling from other cities to attend classes. Witnessing students' growth, and even their desire to join yoga teacher training, is the founder's greatest sense of accomplishment.

The founder expressed both surprise and delight at receiving the first-ever Michelin Guide of Experiences Gold Award in the yoga category. She noted that some competitors were much larger yoga venues with advantages in both student and teacher numbers. However, jn studio's students showed incredible dedication, actively helping to vote day after day, even enlisting family members. These actions were deeply moving and reinforced the belief that all their hard work had not been in vain. The studio will continue to refine its teaching to promote greater physical and mental well-being for everyone.

The owner's original intention in founding double 8 was simple: to bring joy to everyone. They hoped that through the climbing process and interactions with others, visitors would experience the fun of rock climbing and even make like-minded friends.

With this vision, in addition to the climbing walls, the red rope here is known as the "thread of destiny." If you can climb this thread of destiny to the top, you can post your dating profile there. Anyone interested in you can then use this information to connect and interact. So far, four couples have successfully met here and eventually married, which is incredibly touching!

Winning the first Michelin Guide of Experiences gold award for climbing was truly a joyous moment. We've always hoped to bring more happiness to people through climbing and improve their health. Moving forward, we'll use this momentum to foster more positive cycles in the world, continuing our passionate service and professional skills to help more people discover the beauty of exercise and the joy of human interaction through climbing.

The original intention behind Kuang Hsin Yen Beauty Aesthetics was to help clients solve various skin problems. What sets them apart from other facial venues is their dedicated care for each client's skin during treatments, along with guidance on diet and lifestyle, helping clients achieve healthy bodies and skin from the inside out.

Kuang Hsin Yen Beauty Aesthetics prioritizes genuine care over client volume, resulting in exceptionally high client loyalty. Even clients from outside the city regularly visit, and for their regulars, they even offer a thoughtful station pickup service, clearly demonstrating their commitment to treating every client like a friend.

For Kuang Hsin Yen, the most gratifying aspect of winning the Michelin Guide of Experiences Gold Award, beyond the recognition itself, was the incredible support from their loyal clients. Many spontaneously shared the news on social media or helped rally votes, even becoming more anxious than the owner when votes lagged. These heartwarming moments were the most precious part of the entire event. Kuang Hsin Yen will continue to work hard to safeguard everyone's skin in the future.

Beyond offering metalworking experiences, the core mission of 混合基因 since its inception has been to provide guests with a wonderful time. This means prioritizing customer feedback at every step and working closely with their instructors to ensure a consistently memorable experience for everyone who visits.

The studio's origin story is both poignant and precious. The owner, originally a graphic designer, tragically lost a beloved pet ferret due to illness, a consequence of being too consumed by a demanding work schedule. Wanting to create a commemorative piece of jewelry, the owner posted the finished product online and received an overwhelming response. This sparked the idea to establish the studio, with the hope of comforting more people through handmade jewelry.

While 混合基因 emphasizes its commitment to delivering the best possible experience to customers regardless of awards, winning the Michelin Grand Gold Award was a delightful surprise. The owner deliberately avoided pressuring anyone to vote, believing that only genuine support holds true meaning. They are deeply grateful for everyone's backing, especially the many customers who have grown with 混合基因 and supported it from the beginning. Moving forward, the studio will continue to pursue its passion and serve its community.