The East China Sea, Pacific Ocean and South China Sea surround Taiwan, an island nation in the eastern part of Asia near China. In many parts of Taiwan, travelers will find the Chungyang Range, a mountain range that reaches 13,114 feet in height at its highest point. Taiwan offers a landscape suited for mountain climbing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, snorkeling, scuba diving and bicycling. Tourists who have more interest in cultural and historical attractions can visit Taiwan’s temples, handicraft markets, aboriginal villages or art museums.
The Longshan Temple, a Buddhist and Taoist temple located in Taipei County, was built in 1738 during the Ching Dynasty. Inside the temple, visitors find sculptures of dragons, Buddha and representations of Matsu, the sea goddess, as well as other deities. The National Palace Museum features one of the largest collections of royal treasures, artifacts and pieces of artwork from China. The museum’s collection includes scrolls, paintings, stones, pottery and religious artwork. Located in an area of Beitou that Japanese soldiers once occupied, the Taiwan Folk Arts Museum is housed in a building that once served as a club for Japanese officers. The museum features a Japanese-style courtyard with a stream, a Japanese tea room, handicraft items and costumes.
Things to Do
At the Wulai Aboriginal Village, people from aboriginal tribes dress in traditional Taiwanese clothing and perform dances and songs for visitors amidst a backdrop of mountains and waterfalls. In the village, tourists can explore an aboriginal folk arts museum, shop for handicraft items or soak in a hot springs. Yangmingshan National Park sits on Mount Datun and Mount Tsaikungkang and features a volcanic basin. Inside the park, people can go hiking or mountain biking. Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s largest lake, offers areas to walk along the beach, ride a bicycle, go for a boat ride or boat tour, hike or go for a swim. Tourists can find a variety of hotels on the Nantou lake or in the surrounding mountains that offer amenities such as children’s swimming pools, hot springs pools, spas or boutiques.
Times to Go
Southern Taiwan features warm temperatures of between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. Northern Taiwan sees colder temperatures of between 40 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter, which occurs between December and March. Taiwan has its warmest temperatures from April until November, but its typhoon season runs from June to October or November. If you have an interest in traditional festivals, visit Taiwan during February, June, August or September, when Taiwanese people celebrate lunar holidays such as Chinese New Year, the Ghost Festival or the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Most international flights into Taiwan go through the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Daoyuan. From the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, you can get to major cities, such as Taipei, by bus or train. You can also get from one city to another by train. If you want to explore a Taiwanese city in an economical manner, rent a scooter for the day.
Many people in Taiwan follow traditional Confucian belief systems in their everyday lives, which means that they try to respect family members and ancestors, be honest and trustworthy and treat others with respect and kindness. Other major religions and belief systems in Taiwan include Taoism and Buddhism. Most of the individuals who live in Taiwan are Han-Chinese and speak Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese or Hakka. Taiwan has a small population of aboriginal people who speak Formosan dialects.
- view of the love river image by Yali Shi from Fotolia.com