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…
Once the focal point of hostilities between China and Taiwan, the Kinmen archipelago has evolved into a fascinating tourist destination. Wandering Cihu Lake’s secluded beach on the largest of the offshore islands of Kinmen, I am about as close to the Chinese mainland as one can be in Taiwan’s territory. I came to the beach…
This remote indigenous village lives on tourism but is determined to preserve its traditional way of life. The road to Smangus (司馬庫斯) is difficult, especially for a travel writer prone to motion sickness. If the idea of a motion-sick travel writer strikes you as odd, so be it. Smangus is a study in balanced contradictions….
Taiwan is a densely populated island. Think of a place only slightly bigger than Maryland, but much more mountainous, and with almost four times as many people. Gridlock would result if everyone drove a car, so Taiwan’s government prioritizes public transportation – and not just for commuters. In recent years, a great effort has been…
Everybody agrees that taking a vacation is good for your health. Relaxation, combined with fresh air and a bit more exercise than usual, does wonders for your mental and physical well-being. So why not add a comprehensive physical exam to your itinerary, so you return to work not only refreshed, but also reassured that those…
The 12-day competition in August will be largest sporting event ever hosted in Taiwan. Rarely does Taiwan have a moment to bask in the international spotlight, but a major such opportunity is coming this summer. From August 19 to 30, Taipei and neighboring cities will host the 29th Summer Universiade. Given that Taiwan inhabits a…
In their haste to get from the skyscrapers of Taipei to the bucolic backwaters of Hualien and Taitung, many visitors rush through Yilan by train or bus. Yet this county in Taiwan’s northeast offers an intriguing mix of natural and cultural attractions. Since the completion of Freeway 5 and the world’s fifth-longest road tunnel in…
The government is now actively seeking to attract a suitable developer. After long being off the beaten path in terms of the global tourism market, Taiwan appears to be finally making a name for itself. Last year was a record year for international visitors to Taiwan, with more than 10.6 million arrivals from around the…
In recent years, Taiwan has emerged as a leading destination for bicycling tourists, and no part of the country is more popular for this activity than the eastern counties of Hualien and Taitung. Separated from Taiwan’s major cities and more than nine-tenths of the country’s people by the imposing Central Mountain Range, Hualien and Taitung…
With casino gaming off the table, the economy of the idyllic offshore islands of Penghu is more dependent than ever on shaky seasonal tourism. Citizens of Penghu County voted decisively in October against introducing casino-gaming resorts. By a lopsided margin of 81% to 19%, Penghu rejected casinos for the second time in seven years, likely…
