Mango Madness and Other Tasty Reasons to Visit Taiwan in the Summer
June 7th, 2018
Summer isn’t the most comfortable of seasons in Taiwan. In urban areas, the mercury often hits 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) and these temperatures are usually accompanied by high humidity. But for travellers who enjoy the vibrant colours of the hot season—think lushly green foliage in the hills and maritime shades of blue at […]
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Why You Should Visit Kaohsiung, Taiwan
June 7th, 2018
Citizens of Kaohsiung were delighted last month to learn their fine metropolis has been named by Lonely Planet (LP) the fifth best city in the world to visit in 2018.
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Do I Need a Visa For Taiwan?
October 17th, 2017
The answer is almost certainly ‘no’ if you come from North America or Europe, and you’ve no plans to work or study.
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Highlights of Indigenous Taiwan, Part 3
August 31st, 2017
For Part 3, we’re going to the far south of the island. Alishan is the best known indigenous township in Taiwan’s southern half, but certainly not the only tribal district worth visiting.
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Highlights of Indigenous Taiwan, Part 2
August 24th, 2017
For Part 2, we’re travelling to the eastern counties of Hualien and Taitung.
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Highlights of Indigenous Taiwan, Part 1
August 18th, 2017
Let’s start our roundup of Taiwan’s most fascinating aboriginal destinations with the indigenous enclave nearest Taipei, Wulai.
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Taiwan’s First Punk Novel?
June 19th, 2017
Recognizing that the ‘economic miracle’ based on manufacturing has run its course, Taiwan’s government is trying to boost the island’s cultural and creative industries.
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Taiwan’s Rivers
May 22nd, 2017
Taiwan is very mountainous and gets plenty of rain, so it’s no surprise the island is cleaved with short, fast rivers. The longest waterway is the 186 km-long Zhuoshui (the name means ‘turbid water’). Only four other rivers are more than 100 km in length. For centuries these waterways hindered north-south journeys. Few permanent bridges […]
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Adore Pork? You’ll Love Taiwan
May 14th, 2017
Taiwan has been called a ‘hog island’ and for good reason. In places like Pingtung County, the density of pig farms far exceeds that of anywhere in North America or Europe. Because local consumers prefer fresh to frozen meat, the sight of swine being trucked to market isn’t unusual. As recently as the late 1960s […]
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Cash, Changing Money and Credit Cards in Taiwan
April 29th, 2017
Taiwan’s economy is still largely based on cash transactions, especially when compared to places like Australia and South Korea, so visitors should always carry a decent amount of paper currency. The good news is that almost every business can provide change if you pay for a small item with a NT$1,000 note, so there’s no […]
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Foot Massage Pushes all the Right Buttons
April 2nd, 2017
An ancient form of therapy enjoying a second wind, foot massage has been around for over 2,000 years old. What’s also called foot reflexology is described in classical medical texts, yet fits in well with modern concepts like ‘slow travel’ and ‘slow living’ (ideas better known in Taiwan as LOHAS, an acronym you may well […]
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Accessing the best of Alishan
March 21st, 2017
The high-altitude resort of Alishan has long been one of Taiwan’s most popular tourist destinations, thanks to an alluring blend of mountain scenery, pristine forests, indigenous culture and temperatures appreciably lower than the 30-plus degrees Celsius often experienced on the lowlands. For some, the narrow-gauge railway that climbs from 30 m (98 ft) above sea […]
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