Some time ago my mother-in-law started urging me to buy a house. She did so by relating the Chinese folk tale Five Sons (五子登科), from which derive the five modern “necessities of life”: silver (money), wife, children, house, and car. Without doubt, housing has been the most expensive and fraught of the five necessities. First…
A massive social housing program is viewed as the means for the Taipei municipal to build an integrated smart city. The development of smart housing– utilizing Taiwan’s strengths in the ICT (information and communications technology) sector – is central to the Taipei City government’s blueprint for the future. The plan also matches the national government’s…
The most popular beverage in the world is made to perfection in Taiwan, from bubble teas at roadside vendors to the most expensive high-mountain choice grade oolong. The playbill for a Broadway production in the early 1900s pictures a waiter serving a gentleman and two impeccably attired ladies in some undefined but leafy and upscale…
View the plants and creatures of the deep on an undersea adventure at one of Taiwan’s many splendid diving spots. An island nation surrounded by the bounty of the Pacific Ocean, Taiwan doesn’t merit a mention in the world’s top 100 diving lists. This omission comes despite Taiwan’s considerable natural advantages, diverse array of fish…
Despite Taiwan’s Austronesian past and unique food culture, it is surprising that visitors to Taipei cannot sample the country’s earliest cuisine in style. Taiwan’s Indigenous people have a long and proud tradition of essentially slow-cooked food that emphasizes seasonal and organic ingredients – quite in line with the foodie movement currently in vogue. But you…
Baking classes have become a fresh source of entertainment for many millennials, while healthy eating and do-it-yourself dining are driving demand for cooking courses. Cooking isn’t just about eating, it’s also entertainment, which is why boutique-style baking courses and cooking classes are becoming a feature of life in Taipei. Housewives with time and money on…
[ When You Drink, Don’t Drive. ] Alcohol is a valued lubricant when it comes to commerce, and these establishments represent some of the best the city has to offer in the drinks department. It’s time to impress a client, establish a relationship, or seal the deal. Dinner is of course an option, but so…
Taiwan possesses numerous natural advantages when it comes to providing hot-spring resorts, spas, and medical tourism. The big positive to living in a land of volcanoes and earthquakes is the plentiful hot springs they produce. In recent years the springs have become a big draw for tourists to Taiwan. After all, what could be better…
Five of Taipei’s biggest and best temples illustrate the importance of religion to the populace, both in the past and in the present. Their curved roofs and overhanging eaves, gaudy dragons and almost psychedelic imagery, incense and incantations, mark out temples as one of the most distinctive features of Taiwan. For the Instagram generation, temples…
Gloria Outlets’ opening two years ago was a sign of impending change in the retail environment, from urban department stores to suburban shopping centers. A number of recently opened outlet malls are tempting shoppers to spend, even though overall consumer confidence has dipped due to rising prices and anemic salary increases. Retail market experts say…
