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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Visiting Taiwan in Spring, Part 2
March 6th, 2017
Tainan and Lugang are often described as Taiwan’s foremost ‘bastions of tradition’, and both are well worth visiting. However, if work or family commitments keep you close to Taipei during the spring, it’s still possible to immerse yourself in the customs and rites that dominated this society before its recent industrialisation. The best place to […]
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Visiting Taiwan in Spring, Part 1
March 2nd, 2017
Springtime visitors to Taiwan are guaranteed both warm, sunny weather and a number of lively festivals. In Taipei, daytime temperatures are typically 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit) in March. By the following month, it’s already 23 to 29 degrees Celsius (73 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit) in Kaohsiung. It’s no wonder city parks and the […]
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Getting a Sales-Tax Refund in Taiwan
February 9th, 2017
Foreign citizens visiting Taiwan can take advantage of the government’s sales-tax (VAT) refund system if they spend more than NTD3,000 in a single day at any participating shop no more than 30 days before leaving the country. Taiwan’s VAT rate is a mere 5% but on big-ticket items the savings could be significant. It makes […]
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Bonding Over Coffee: An American Inspired by Life of Taiwan
November 10th, 2016
When a chance to travel almost anywhere in world landed on her lap, Maretta Delacruz didn’t hesitate to choose Taiwan. ‘Why Taiwan? Taiwan is a melting pot of Asia/Pacific Islands, with strong influences from mainland China, Japan and aboriginal cultures. From Taipei to the south, this little island is known for an amazing variety of […]
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Shopping for tradition in Taiwan
November 2nd, 2016
International brands are every bit as popular in Taiwan as they are in the West, yet wander around any of Taiwan’s cities and you’re sure to come across photogenic shops selling products which hark back to an era before mass marketing and containerisation. In many old neighbourhoods there are businesses which specialise in rice. In […]
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Joshua Samuel Brown: Lonely Planet Author
October 19th, 2016
American travel writer Joshua Samuel Brown has covered places as far away as Belize and Singapore for Lonely Planet, but Taiwan has long held a special place in his heart. He’ll be heading back to Taiwan in January 2017 to begin work on his fourteenth book, a hybrid travelogue/guidebook titled Formosa Moon for Things Asian […]
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Nick Kembel: Taiwan Tea-loving Writer
October 6th, 2016
Nick Kembel, author of Taiwan In The Eyes of A Foreigner, is a Canadian writer/photographer who blogs about Taiwan at nickkembel.com. He lives in New Taipei City, and was interviewed in June 2016. Life of Taiwan: You first arrived in Taiwan in 2008. Did you have any particular expectations about the island? Nick Kembel: A […]
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Visiting Taiwan in the Autumn
September 1st, 2016
“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile…” wrote William Cullen Bryant. The 19th-century American poet never visited Taiwan, but his words are just as true for East Asia’s most alluring island as they are for the New England he knew and loved. The main reason is, of course, the weather. In October and November it’s dependably […]
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