Taiwan is a multiethnic country, and nowhere is this truer than in the northwestern counties of Hsinchu and Miaoli. This region is home to less than 7% of Taiwan’s 23.2 million people, but includes five ethnic groups, not counting the Southeast Asians, Westerners, and Indians who have moved here for marriage, or to work in…
Most international flights to Taiwan land at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, 28 kilometers due west of Taipei. But for those who want to see a more laidback and traditional side of Taiwan, or explore strongholds of indigenous culture, arriving via the southern city of Kaohsiung is another option to consider. As recently as the late…
Looking for a uniquely Taiwanese cycling challenge but can’t get two weeks off to huan dao (circle the island)? Have you become so good at navigating Taipei’s frequently changing bike-lane system that you’re lacing your coffee with Whisbih just to keep it interesting? Then you, cycling friend, ought to consider joining an organized cycling race….
Taiwan is known throughout the world for its cutting-edge tech industries and the vibrancy of its democracy. Among birdwatchers and butterfly aficionados, it is famed for harboring fabulous biodiversity. But few people realize that, for its size, it can claim to be the world’s most mountainous island. Taiwan is only slightly larger than the U.S….
Taiwan’s striking natural beauty is never far from its lively streets. Although 23.4 million people live on its 36,191 square kilometers (an area equal to Maryland plus Rhode Island), three quarters of Taiwan’s population live in just one eighth of the land area. This is why Taiwan has bustling cities, yet also stunningly wild mountain…
In recent years, the Taiwan Lantern Festival has included displays of modern and traditional performing arts, sensational pyrotechnics, and lanterns of unimaginable size and beauty. Each year, the event is held in a different part of Taiwan. The 2016 Taiwan Lantern festival will be celebrated in the plaza in front of the Taoyuan High-Speed Railway…
An American filmmaker went on a quest for the origins of General Tso’s Chicken, but for many in Taiwan there was never a mystery. Forget about chow mein, spring rolls, and sweet-and-sour pork. When Americans think about Chinese food these days, say experts in Chinese-American cuisine, the dish they think of first is General Tso’s…
Three Taipei restaurants to bear in mind when hankering for the food of northern China. Photos by Matthew Fulco Over the years it has become harder to find authentic northern Chinese restaurants in Taipei. Restaurant founders who arrived in Taiwan with Chiang Kai-Shek and the Kuomintang government more than 65 years ago have nearly all…
In selecting a place to eat, don’t forget to consider the price/performance ratio. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m a much better eater than economist. And while economics in Taiwan poses its challenges, choosing the right restaurant in Taipei requires calculations several orders of magnitude more complex. The restaurant scene in Taipei is,…
For a foreign national, learning Taiwanese cooking turned out to be not just a culinary adventure, but a life lesson. Photos by Jules Quartly It used to be that if foreigners could pronounce the intended destination with approximate similitude, the cab driver would in wonderment compliment them on their “excellent” Chinese. I get much the…
