Taiwan
Taiwan is a long, narrow island spanning approximately 36,000 square kilometers (14,400 square miles) off the southeast coast of mainland Asia. Situated along the western Pacific's East Asian island arc, it neighbors Japan and the Ryukyu Islands to the north and the Philippines to the south. This strategic location makes Taiwan a crucial hub for travel throughout Asia, with its extensive air network making it an exceptionally convenient destination for travelers.
Over the past five decades, Taiwan has achieved a world-renowned economic miracle. Taiwanese products are marketed globally, ranking the country as the 16th largest trading nation worldwide. It's also a major source of foreign investment for mainland China and Southeast Asian countries.
Despite its modest size, Taiwan boasts an impressive wealth of natural resources and cultural landscapes. Geologically, ongoing tectonic activity has sculpted Taiwan's complex and varied topography, featuring mountains, hills, plains, basins, islands, valleys, and diverse coastal scenery. The Tropic of Cancer bisects the island, creating a unique blend of tropical, subtropical, and temperate ecosystems. Taiwan's biodiversity is remarkable, with over 20% of its 18,400 wildlife species being endemic, including the Formosan landlocked salmon, Formosan macaque, Formosan black bear, and Swinhoe's pheasant. This ecological richness has established Taiwan as a global conservation hotspot.
The government has established 7 national parks and 13 national scenic areas to preserve Taiwan's best natural ecological environment and cultural sites. Take a hike in the splendor and sheer heights of the cliffs at Taroko Gorge; take a ride on the Alishan train--one of only three mountain railways in the world--and experience the breathtaking sunrise and sea of clouds; hike up to the summit of Northeast Asia's highest peak, Jade Mountain. You can also soak up the sun in Kending, Asia's version of Hawaii; stand at the edge of Sun Moon Lake; traipse through the East Rift Valley; or visit the offshore islands of Kinmen and Penghu. It's fun in capital letters as well as an awesome journey of natural discovery!
The cultural aspects are also not to be missed. The blending of Hakka, Taiwanese, Indigenous people, and mainland Chinese cultures has produced a rich plethora of cultural and social color. Whether it is religion, architecture, language, living habits, or food, it's just one big exciting melting pot! Food is the best representative of this cultural mixing and matching. Aside from cuisines from different parts of the mainland such as Zhejiang, Hunan, Guangdong, Yunnan, Shanghai, Beijing, Sichuan, and others, there is also the local Taiwanese cuisine as well as the local delicacies of each area.
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| Alishan | Yushan | Kenting | Taroko Gorge |