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Republic of China (Taiwan)

Area :36,000 square kilometers

Population: 23 million

Capital : Taipei City

People : Chinese

Language : Mandarin/Taiwanese/Hakka

Religion : Buddhism/Taoism/Christian

President : Chen Shui-bian

    Taiwan's total land area is only about 3,6000 square kilometers; it is shaped like a tobacco leaf that is narrow at

both ends. It lies off the southeastern coast of mainland Asia, across the Taiwan Straits from Mainland China-- a

solitary island on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. To the north lies Japan and Okinawa, to the south is the

Philippines. Many airlines fly to Taiwan, helping make it the perfect travel destination.

    Taiwan lies on the western edge of the Pacific "rim of fire," and continuous tectonic movements have created

majestic peaks, rolling hills and plains, basins, coastlines, and other wonders. Taiwan sees climates of many types:

tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate, providing clear differentiation between the different seasons. There are about

18,400 species of wildlife on the island, with more than 20% belonging to rare or endangered species; among these

are the land-locked salmon, Taiwan mountain goat, Formosan rock monkey, Formosan black bear, blue magpie,

Mikado pheasant, Hsuehshan grass lizard, and many more.

    The government has established 6 national parks and 11 national scenic areas to preserve Taiwan's best

natural ecological environment and cultural sites. Take 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 sunset 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 also not to be missed. The blending of Hakka, Taiwanese, 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.

Nature

    Formosa (beautiful island) is what the Portuguese called Taiwan when they came here in the 16th century

and saw the island's verdant beauty.Located along the southeast coast of the Asian Continent at the western

edge of the Pacific Ocean, between Japan and the Philippines and right in the center of the East-Asian island

arc, Taiwan forms a vital line of communication in the Asia-Pacific region. It covers an area of approximately

36,000 square kilometers (14,400 square miles) and is longer than it is wide. Two-thirds of the total area is

covered by forested mountains and the remaining area consists of hilly country, platforms and highlands,

coastal plains and basins. The Central Mountain Range stretches along the entire island from north to south,

thus forming a natural line of demarcation for rivers on the eastern and western sides of the island. On the

west side lies the Yushan Mountain Range with its main peak reaching 3,952 meters, the highest mountain peak

in Northeast Asia.

The Mountains

    Taiwan has been generously equipped with forests. Some 293 mountain peaks are more than 3,000 meters

high, geographically making Taiwan incomparable to any other country in the world. As mountains can be found

anywhere, mountain climbing is a popular leisure activity in Taiwan. One can choose to walk the mountains on

the outskirts of the city or accept the challenge of climbing one of the numerous high mountains, follow the

course of streams and valleys, trace back the source of rivers, or cross entire mountains. In any case, lush

scenery will unfold before your eyes and it will not take too long before you'll be convinced of the beauty of

Taiwan's mountains. In addition to this, six national parks offer a variety of distinct topographic landscapes:

the Taroko National Park, a narrow ravine created by a river which has cut through the mountains, Yushan

(Jade Mountain) National Parkhighest containing the highest landmark of Taiwan and also the highest peak in

Northeast Asia, Shei-Pa National Park, featuring with its dangerously steep slopes; Yangmingshan National Park,

offering volcanic craters and lakes; Kenting National Park, encompassing Taiwan's only tropical area which

breathes a truly Southeast Asian atmosphere; and Kinmen National Park, with its storied granite hills.

The Sea

    Taiwan has a very rich marine ecology. In the Pacific Ocean on Taiwan's east, groups of bottlenose

dolphins, spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, and pantropical spotted dolphins can be seen jumping out of the

water. Azure seas and magnificent coral reefs can be found in Kenting on the south end of Taiwan, and on

Green Island and the islands of the Penghu Archipelago. It is there for you to discover and marvel at.

Eco-parks

    Taiwan has a warm and humid climate and a variety of terrain, including sandbars, plains, basins, hills,

plateaus, and mountains. As a result, the island is home to abundant animal and plant life, including various

endemic species, and can therefore be regarded as one gigantic eco-park. Because of the formation of mud

flats and mangroves along the coast, large numbers of migratory birds from around the world are attracted to

Taiwan, where they use these coastal areas as a temporary shelter and rest area before they resume their

journey. In spring and summer there are the birds that leave the tropics behind to spend this season in Taiwan,

such as the eye-catching fairy pitta, known in Chinese as the eight-color bird, while during autumn birds from

colder northern areas come to Taiwan to spend the winter, such as the black-faced spoonbill of which only 530

are left worldwide. Each year the gray-faced buzzard will be right on time to participate in the Double Tenth

celebrations (Taiwan's national day), and there are also countless other migratory birds that use Taiwan either

as a stopover or as their final destination, one way or the other adding exuberant vitality to Taiwan's wildlife.

Culture

    If this is your first visit to Taiwan, you will most certainly be amazed at the diversity of things this beautiful

island has to offer, as a rich historical background has provided Taiwan with a multifaceted culture. People from

many different places and backgrounds, such as Taiwan's indigenous people, the southern Fujianese from early

China, Hakka immigrants, the Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese, and the recent immigrants from mainland China.

have all played a role in Taiwan's development. While gradually developing a new culture indigenous to Taiwan,

they also held on to their respective customs and traditions; as a result, you will be able to sample indigenous,

Taiwanese, and Chinese cultures and even find traces left by the Dutch and the Japanese when traveling in

Taiwan.

Chinese Culture

    Taiwan forms the center of Chinese art and culture, which is not only obvious from the exhaustive collection

of cultural relics from past dynasties exhibited in the famous National Palace Museum, but can also be perfectly

illustrated by the traditional architecture and folk art found in Taiwan.

Temples and Architecture

Taiwan's traditional architecture is an aggregation of folk art. Decorations are refined and while they form

an important part of the architecture, ranging from colored paintings to calligraphic illustrations, wooden and

stone carvings, clay sculptures and ceramics, they tell the story of Taiwan's rich culture. Next to traditional

Chinese architecture brought to Taiwan by the southern Fujianese from early China and the Hakka immigrants

(such as can be seen in Bangiao at the Lin Family Garden), architectural features used in Chinese temples can

also be found across Taiwan. Some of the most famous temples in Taiwan that are not only of historical but

also of artistic value. are the Longshan (Dragon Mountain) Temple and the Mazu Temple (Queen of Heaven

Temple) in Lugang, and the Chaotian Temple in Beigang.

Folk Art and Culture

    Some of Taiwan's most important annual holidays and festivals include the Chinese New Year, the Lantern

Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, Lovers' Day, and the Hungry Ghosts Festival. But local Taiwanese folk

events, such as the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage, the Goddess Mazu Making Rounds of Inspection in Beigang, the City

God Welcoming in Taipei, the Burning of the Plague God Boat in Donggang, and aboriginal rituals, are also

regarded as important celebrations. Next to keeping traditional Chinese opera alive, Taiwan has also developed

its own Taiwanese opera and the famous glove puppet theater. Taiwanese opera combines local opera and

music into one performing art, while the puppet theater has undergone great modernization in recent years and

many special effects are added to performances today, making it extremely popular among Taiwan's younger

generation. Taiwan's movies and performing groups are also gradually gaining ground on the international stage,

once again demonstrating the traditional and creative value of Chinese and Taiwanese culture. 

Aboriginal Culture

    The mysterious customs and traditions of the aborigines, Taiwan's indigenous people, such as the Harvest

Festival (Smatto), the Worship of Hunting (Mabuasu), spiritual rituals, totemism, and snake worship, give an

extra dimension to Taiwan's culture. The aboriginal tribes of Taiwan form the most northern branch of the

Austronesian language group, and ethnically belong to the Malay race. Most aborigines have retreated into the

mountains; but although many are faced with assimilation, still some 10 different tribes that have their own

languages, traditions, and tribal structure can be distinguished: the Saisiyat, the Atayal, the Amis, the Bunun,

the Puyuma, the Rukai, the Paiwan, the Tao, the Sao and the Zou. Orchid Island's Yami(Tao) tribe has been

relatively isolated due to the island's geographical location, and was the last to come in contact with the Han

Chinese; this tribe, therefore, has been able to preserve its aboriginal culture the best.

Colonial

    Remnants of colonial periods can still be found in many parts of Taiwan. Fort San Domingo in Danshui, for

example, used to be home to the Portuguese and the Dutch successively, while bustling places such as Taipei's

Dihua Street, Taoyuan's Daxi area, and Tainan's Xinhua area have still been able to preserve the outstanding

baroque architecture left by the Japanese. Some historically significant structures built during the Japanese

occupation include the Presidential Office Building, the Executive Yuan, and the old National Taiwan University

Hospital Building in Taipei. Recently, decorative night lighting has been installed to display the graceful features

of these old structures while at the same time illuminating the night skies of Taipei and creating an artistic and

romantic atmosphere.

People

The friendly people of Taiwan  

    Taiwan has a population of 22 million. The larger part of the island's inhabitants are the descendants of

immigrants from the various provinces of mainland China, but in particular from the southeastern coastal

provinces of Fujian and Guangdong.  Because the different ethnic groups have fairly well integrated, differences

that originally existed between people from different provinces have gradually disappeared. 

    Some 360,000 indigenous people, the original inhabitants of Taiwan, still live here; they can be distinguished

into 12 different tribes, namely the Saisiyat, the Atayal, the Amis, the Bunun, the Puyuma, the Rukai, the

Paiwan, the Tao, the Sao,the Taroko,the Kemalan and the Zou.

Language

    The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese (Guoyu), but because many Taiwanese are of southern

Fujianese descent, Min-nan (the Southern Min dialect, or Holo) is also widely spoken. The smaller groups of

Hakka people and aborigines have also preserved their own languages. Many elderly people can also speak

some Japanese, as they were subjected to Japanese education before Taiwan was returned to Chinese rule in

1945 after the Japanese occupation which lasted for half a century. The most popular foreign language in

Taiwan is English, which is part of the regular school curriculum. However, to be on the safe side, when taking

a taxi in Taiwan it is advisable to prepare a note with your place of destination written in Chinese to show the

taxi driver. Taiwan is also the most ideal place to learn Chinese. There are numerous language schools that

offer Chinese classes, ranging from hourly-based classes to recognized university programs. Many foreigners

from Europe and the United States, as well as other areas, come to Taiwan to spend their holidays, or one or

two years, studying Chinese.

Cuisine

Taiwan - A Paradise for Gourmands

    The culinary culture of the Chinese people goes back a very long time; and while Chinese food can be

enjoyed in every large city in the world today, true gourmets know that only in Taiwan is it possible to enjoy

fine authentic cuisine from all the different regions of China. In Taiwan, where it seems the people live to eat,

it is said that there is a snack shop every three steps and a restaurant every five. These establishments serve

all kinds of Chinese food, from the roast duck, smoked chicken, lamb hotpot, fish in wine sauce, beef with

green peppers, and scallop and turnip balls of the north to the camphor-tea duck, salty fried chicken with

spices, honey ham, stir-fried shrimp, dry-fried eggplant, and spicy bean curd of the south. As the island's

economy has developed rapidly in recent years, its culinary culture has expanded beyond the traditional

Chinese foods to Chinese-style fast-food chains, thus bringing greater complexity than ever before to the art

of Chinese dining. Foreign foods from all over the world have also made their appearance in Taiwan, and the

island is now filled with eateries serving American hamburgers, Italian pizza, Japanese sashimi, German pig's

knuckles, Swiss fondue, and just about everything else. All of this makes Taiwan a veritable paradise for

gourmands. Taiwan's own native cuisine has also become known around the world, and if you try it just once

you will remember it forever.

Chinese Food

Cantonese food:Cantonese cooking is known for its meticulous methods of preparation, whether fried,

roasted, stir-fried, steamed, or boiled, and the vessels used to contain this food are known for their exquisite

nature.

Sichuan food:The most prominent characteristic of Sichuan cooking is that it uses the most common materials

to produce dishes with a most uncommon flavor. It is best known, of course, for its spicy hotness.

Beijing food:This culinary tradition combines the features of Qing Dynasty court dishes, Moslem cuisine, and 

Mongolian tastes, and Beijing food can be eaten in a surprising variety of ways. Beijing chefs place heavy

emphasis on cooking time and slicing techniques, and they strive for bland tastes and soft and tender textures.

Jiangzhe food:Shanghainese food is the representative cuisine of this tradition, which originated in the lower

reaches of the Yangzi River and the southeastern coastal areas of the country. Because the many rivers and

lakes in this area produce rich harvests of shrimp, crabs, eels, and the like, Jiangzhe cuisine concentrates on

seafood.

Hunan food:The preparation of meats by smoking is one of the most prominent features of richly flavored

Hunan cuisine. Hunan has one thing in common with Sichuan in its cuisine: many of their dishes use large

amounts of chili peppers, making them very hot and spicy.

Taiwan food:The emphasis in Taiwanese cooking is on light, natural flavors and freshness, and there is no

pursuit of complex flavors. Another feature of Taiwanese cuisine is that tonic foods are prepared by using

different types of medicinal ingredients for the various seasons of the year.

Hakka food:Dried and pickled foods have an important position in the cuisine of the Hakka people. Flavors are

relatively heavy, and this food features fried, spiced, well-done, salty, and fatty dishes.

Climate

The volatile climate of Taiwan

    If you are from a high-latitude country, you can leave your winter coat behind when coming to Taiwan and

indulge in the pleasant warmth of the sun. If you'd rather experience the carefree sensation of healthy beads

of sweat running down your forehead, then you should visit the beach at Kenting in southern Taiwan where it

is summer all year round. Don't worry too much about getting burnt by the dazzling sun; the island of Taiwan is

located in the subtropical climate zone, and the sun is not as stinging hot as it seems bright.

Temperature

    Furthermore, the island is surrounded by oceans; and the ocean breezes, which are the reason for Taiwan's

humid weather, will surely make you completely forget the dry cold back home. If you are from a low-latitude

country, you will certainly revel in the nice warmth of Taiwan's sun. Because of the coolness that hangs in the

air, it is a welcoming change from the simmering heat of your native country. You can do some hiking in the

mountains, surrounding yourself with the beautiful trees of the forest while inhaling some of that pure and fresh

air that blows on the island of Taiwan.

    Taiwan enjoys warm weather all year round. The strongest fluctuations in weather conditions are during

spring and winter, while during summer and autumn the weather is relatively stable. Taiwan is extremely

suitable for traveling, as the annual average temperature is a comfortable 22 degrees Celsius with lowest

temperatures ranging from 12 to 17 degrees Celsius (54-63 Fahrenheit). Therefore, with the exception of a few

mountain areas where some traces of snow can be found during winter, no snow can be seen throughout

Taiwan. When summer is about to dismiss spring (March to May), continuously drizzling rain will sometimes fall

on Taiwan. When visiting Taiwan during this period, remember to carry an umbrella at all times; because

although it might seem romantic to have a stroll in the rain, it is no fun to travel when you're soaking wet.

During the summer (June to August) typhoons sometimes reach the island.

    During this period we suggest you keep an eye on weather reports, because during typhoon weather the

roaring waves at the coast are not to be regarded as one of Taiwan's tourist scenes. During autumn

(September to October) you can wholeheartedly enjoy the cool and soothing weather, while Taiwan's relatively

warm and short winter (November to February) is the time for you to admire the beautifully colored maple

trees. The cold fronts that reach Taiwan sporadically are greatly favored by the island's hot spring lovers.

In short, Taiwan, where it always seems to be spring, is your perfect travel destination!

Religion

    Taiwan is highly diversified in terms of religious faith, with the practice of Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity,

Mormonism, the Unification Church, Islam, and Hinduism, as well as native sects such as Yiguandao and others.

The island not only respects traditional faiths but also opens its arms to other types of religious thought from

the outside. For the most part, the traditional religions practiced in Taiwan are Buddhism, Daoism, and folk

religions; except for a small number of purely Buddhist temples, however, most of the island's traditional places

of worship combine all three traditions. Daoism is China's native religion, and many of its gods are deified

persons who actually lived in the past and made important contributions to society. Guan Gong, the God of

War, is a classic example of this; in history he was Guan Yu, a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period.

Daoism came to Taiwan in the 17th century, but it was suppressed during the period of Japanese occupation

(1895-1945) because of its embodiment of the spirit of Chinese culture. During those years the adherents of

Daoism had to worship their gods surreptitiously in Buddhist temples, and after the island was restored to

Chinese rule the convergence of these two religions continued. Today all sorts of different kinds of deities are

worshipped in the same temple, forming one of the unique features of religion in Taiwan.

    Confucius is another important part of religious thinking in Taiwan. Confucius was China's most famous and

beloved teacher, advocating the practice of rituals and the worship of ancestors. The Emperor Yuan of the

Western Han Dynasty (207 B.C. - A.D. 24) built the first shrine dedicated to Confucius, and after that many

more temples were constructed as a mark of respect to the Sage. External religions first arrived on the island in

the early part of the 17th century, when Catholicism and Protestantism were introduced by Spanish and Dutch

missionaries. Presbyterianism is perhaps the Protestant branch of Christianity that has played the most

prominent role in Taiwan's history.

Information Comes From

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