Taiwan 2026: Island Magic Awaits You
December 22nd, 2025
As you’d expect of a dynamic island that’s transformed itself from an impoverished backwater to the world’s leading supplier of key technologies, Taiwan doesn’t stand still. In 2026, visitors can of course expect stunning mountain scenery, entrancing temple culture, and delicious street food. But if you’ve been away for a year or two, you’ll notice […]
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Happy Holidays! from Life of Taiwan
December 18th, 2025
The pattern of holidays and celebrations in Taiwan is very different to that in the United States. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa mean nothing to ordinary Taiwanese people and, with the exception of the one in twenty who attends a Christian church, Christmas usually passes unobserved. The slightly strange history of Christmas in Taiwan This year, […]
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Sea Breezes and Shrines: Taiwan’s Southwest Coast National Scenic Area
November 25th, 2025
Taiwan’s southwestern coast is littered with sites of cultural, culinary, and historical interest — so many that, with the help of an experienced driver-guide, it’s easy to spend an entire day working your way through Tainan’s ocean-facing districts, and then another doing the same in Chiayi and Yunlin. The Southwest Coast National Scenic Area encompasses […]
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Taiwan’s Best Sunsets
October 31st, 2025
There are a million and one things to do and see in Taiwan. Whether you’re a hardcore foodie, and you can’t get enough of the island’s amazing eateries and street vendors, or someone who adores cultural treasures like those displayed in the National Palace Museum, you’ll never lack for ways to fill your mornings, afternoons, […]
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The Must-Sees of Sun Moon Lake
October 15th, 2025
Sun Moon Lake is a place to kick back and relax. Whether you unwind on your balcony at The Lalu — one of Taiwan’s very best hotels — or find yourself slipping into a pleasantly empty state of mind while travelling by ferry from Shuishe to Ita Thao, you’ll agree that there’s something truly tranquil […]
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Not What They Seem: Strangely-Named Foods in Taiwan
September 28th, 2025
British cuisine includes spotted dick and toad-in-the-hole, while Americans sometimes eat hush puppies or Dutch babies. But they’re not the only countries where people enjoy delicacies made from everyday ingredients yet carrying bizarre names. Read on to discover some of Taiwan’s strangely named foods! ‘Shabby rags’ (破布子) When Taiwanese people are speaking the language usually […]
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Michael Jacobson: A Journey into the Heart of Indigenous Taiwan
August 19th, 2025
When Seattle resident Michael Jacobson visits Taiwan, he’s not on a foodie quest. Nor does he obsess about drinking the finest oolong tea or taking photos of the island’s vibrant temple culture. But that’s not to say he doesn’t enjoy those aspects of East Asia’s most intriguing destination. It’s rather that his deep interest in […]
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Where Green Meets Blue: Taiwan’s East Coast National Scenic Area
July 25th, 2025
Travellers heading to Taiwan’s lush eastern region have three options, broadly speaking. They can drive slowly from Hualien City to Taitung City along the sparsely populated coast. They can travel by car or train through the East Longitudinal Valley (which older sources refer to as the East Rift Valley). Or, even better, they can set […]
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Rainy Day Revelry: Places to Visit on a Wet Day in Taipei
July 8th, 2025
The recent arrival of Typhoon Danas, which made landfall in southwestern Taiwan on the night of July 6–7, serves to remind everyone thinking of visiting Asia’s most enthralling island in the summertime there’s a risk that rainfall will interfere with their itinerary. Many people explore places like Tamsui and Jiufen in wet weather and have […]
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Taiwan, Island of Street Food
June 15th, 2025
Wherever you begin your tour of Taiwan, you can’t help but notice the vast number of street vendors in urban areas. Even in little towns with just a few thousand residents, you can expect to find stalls selling tasty snacks, drinks, and other inexpensive items. This is one reason travellers who opt to cycle or […]
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Whispers of the Past, Beauty of the Present: Taiwan’s Siraya National Scenic Area
May 21st, 2025
The historic former capital of Tainan and the gorgeous highlands around Alishan are two of the most-requested and most popular destinations among Life of Taiwan’s erudite clients. Getting from the former to the latter, most travellers take the freeway and then Highway 18 up into the hills. But there’s a rewarding alternative for those with […]
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Touring Taiwan’s Captivating North Coast
April 29th, 2025
Taiwan’s North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area presents the very best of the northern tip of Asia’s most exciting destination. Offering a captivating blend of dramatic geology, breathtaking ocean views, and rich cultural experiences, ‘Northguan’ as it’s sometimes called promotes two patches of terrain. One is just across the river from the historic town […]
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