Home to a vast assortment of Taiwan’s flora and fauna, numerous wetland conservation areas around the island are waiting to be discovered. STORY AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN CROOK Wetlands cover no more than 1.6% of Taiwan’s land area, and many are located in unappealing coastal districts. Yet they make a massive contribution to the island’s…
Daniel Rios is one of the few foreign nationals to have completed the baiyue – a list of mountains in Taiwan that many hikers dream of summitting. PHOTOS BY DANIEL RIOS A sea of clouds – or yunhai (雲海) – is the striking phenomenon of a uniform cloud layer viewed from above, resembling a contoured ocean…
From his transformation as a disillusioned graphic designer to a passionate tattooist, Sean Wei’s focus lies in leaving a legacy on the skin of those who entrust their bodies to him, crafting pieces that personify their stories, memories, and emotions. As you walk into Sean Wei’s tattoo studio – which is also his home –…
A weekend getaway to a serene location could be what you need to recharge and recenter. Here are six quiet corners waiting for you around Taiwan. Serenity and escapism are blissful, and finding a tranquil spot that allows you to relax and rejuvenate is rewarding. But those who seek relaxation don’t need an entire lifestyle…
Besides Taiwan’s traditional cultural center of Taipei in the north, Kaohsiung is now rapidly developing as a vibrant secondary market with the help of its wide range of performance venues. When famed British rock group Coldplay presents two concerts in Kaohsiung this November, it will further embellish the reputation of the southern port city as…
Twenty years ago, live stand-up comedy was a rarity in Taiwan. Now, thanks to the efforts of a committed core of performers, things have taken off – though not necessarily in a direction everyone had anticipated. When I met Brian Tseng more than five years ago at a comedy event in Taipei, he was a…
Nestled in the mountains of Yilan’s Datong County, Cilan Divine Tree Garden is one of Taiwan’s 18 potential World Heritage Sites. STORY AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN CROOK We were still some distance from Cilan Divine Tree Garden (棲蘭神木園區) when I realized that the area’s strict entry requirements protect more than the ecology of this remote…
While they haven’t always been popular vacation options, camping and the more luxurious alternative glamping are seeing a boost in Taiwan. As the sun rises on a brand-new day over the mountains of Hsinchu County’s Jianshi Township, two groups are waking up under widely differing circumstances at the Leisha Dabasi Campground. One group is on…
Lukang, which once served as an important trading port for Taiwan, now sees tourists flocking to enjoy traditional fare and historic sites. STORY AND PHOTOS BY DINAH GARDNER Its name may mean deer harbor (鹿港), but today Lukang (sometimes rendered Lugang) is more a city of birds. In the shifting hours when day becomes night…
TOPICS editors sat down with Lan Tsu-wei, president of the Taiwan Film & Audiovisual Institute (TFAI), to talk about the development of Taiwanese cinema, its relationship to the world and society, and TFAI’s role in preserving films of the past. What is the Taiwan Film & Audio-visual Institute and how has it developed over the…
