Taiwan

Taiwan is jam-packed full of exciting cities, beautiful scenery, ancient legends and modern innovation. At times, it’s hard to believe that all of this is crammed into just one island. Taiwan was once primarily known for manufacturing cheap plastic toys, however this totally misrepresents what is an exciting, off-the-beaten-track destination.

The entire nation is now dedicated to preserving historic sites such as Jiufen and Sun Moon Lake and has a new focus on eco-tourism, which is great to see.Taiwan has changed markedly over recent decades. So, even if you’ve been before, it is well worth another visit.

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Taiwan is not that well known to western tourists; so, visit soon, before word gets out!

• History and Culture

  Taiwan’s capital Taipei is a city lover’s dream: vibrant nightlife, a plethora of exciting historic sights, well-preserved temples, excellent museums.  Here centuries-old temples juxtapose against towering modern skyscrapers. In fact, for a while, the Taipei 101 tower was the tallest building in the world.

  The southern city of Kaohsiung offers a similar experience but at a slower pace. The country’s third-largest city Tainan is steeped in history and and reflects Taiwan’s buddhist heritage.

• Nature and wildlife

  Taiwan’s landscapes are as beautiful as they are varied. Cliffs tower over the sea, deep gorges cut through the land and thick green tropical forests conceal incredible natural wonders.

  Taiwan’s mountains are home to several hot springs. Take a dip while looking out over the dramatic landscapes; it’s really refreshing, especially after a day’s trekking.

  Hike Taroko Gorge, cruise around Sun Moon Lake, or simply lay back and relax on the white sand beaches at Kenting National Park.

  Lovers of history, rugged scenery, and variety, can get well off the beaten track and go island hopping. A standout choice is Kinmen which, owing to its location just a mile or so off the Chinese mainland, was heavily shelled by Chinese forces during the First & Second Taiwan Strait Crises.

• Food and drink

  Taipei and other big cities host night markets throughout the week. A visit to one offers an explosion of tastes, sights and smells, as well as a chance to pick up some local crafts as souvenirs.

  Taiwan is known the world over for its food. Making this the perfect place for a foodie exploration. One of the main greetings here is “Have you eaten?”, and if you answer “no”, that will be rectified very quickly. Between Chinese and Japanese specialities, you can try local dishes like beef noodles, oyster omelettes and ‘Gua bao’.

• Adventure and experiences

  Taiwan is arguably the most progressive place in Asia. Another reason we love it here! Taiwanese have huge respect for human rights, animal rights, free press, and gender equality. The capital Taipei hosts an annual LGBTQ pride parade, and in 2019 the island became the first Asian nation to legalise same-sex marriage.

  However, Taiwan’s refreshingly progressive outlook doesn’t mean it’s forgotten its history! There are still over 15,000 temples in the country. Our favourite is the Mazu Temple in Lukang. These act as centres for art, music and more. The temples are inclusive, engaging and peaceful, just like Taiwan itself.