Taiwan appears to be heading in an interesting slow life direction, emphasizing quality of life, the environment and self-realization. There was a rumble of thunder and the rain started gushing down. There would be no reprieve for an hour or so … that was for sure. But what better place to be stuck than Huashan1914…
Outwardly, the Hakka people are indistinguishable from other Han Chinese. Yet, Hakka culture differs significantly from that of the dominant Hoklo population. The origins of the Hakka are somewhat in dispute among scholars but are believed to be traceable to 33 purely Hakka villages in northern China. The group migrated southward over the centuries, settling…
Taiwan’s “first herb garden” has been reborn. Kunlun has never looked better to visitors in search of a break from the city’s stresses. Photos by Kunlun Health Village and Jules Quartly Far, far away from cubicle land is a magical place that brims with nature and has wide-angle views of both Hsinchu and Taoyuan counties….
Take a ride on the Pingxi Railway Line, with stops at stations along the way, to learn what the scenic Keelung River Valley has to offer. Photos by Chris Stowers The boom days of King Coal and the gold rushes in northeastern Taiwan have drifted off into legend, but modern travelers on the Pingxi Railway…
A guided tour off-the-beaten-path in old Tamsui. The historic town of Tamsui (sometimes spelled Danshui), which stretches along the northeastern shore of the Tamsui River, is taking on a new on life from efforts to preserve its past while creating new opportunities for tourism and cultural development. With a little planning, a visitor can escape…
Recreational boating sets sail in Taiwan, but will a lack of infrastructure and skyrocketing fees send it into rough waters? Canadian Marc-Andre Lefebvre and American Chris Carney are polar opposites when it comes to skippering a sailboat. While both are highly experienced sailors and boat owners, as well as longtime friends and Taiwan residents, Lefebvre’s…
Many Taiwanese show a passion for food that exceeds even the legendary culinary enthusiasm of the French. When greeting each other, Taiwanese people often ask “Have you eaten yet?” rather than “How are you?” Step into any popular restaurant in Taiwan and you will see foodies not only enjoying their meals, but also taking photos…
Since the 1980s, Taiwan’s prosperity has allowed its citizens to travel abroad in large numbers. Group tours were extremely popular at first, but in recent years more and more Taiwanese have opted to travel independently. Whether they realize it or not, an increasing number are choosing to spend their vacations in a manner that matches…
Spend a week in Taiwan, and you are likely to have the chance to see a festival of some kind. Some are traditional yet raucous expressions of the folk beliefs that, combining Buddhism and Taoism, give the island a uniquely colorful religious landscape. Others are of much more recent origin, and have been organized to…
If you are the kind of person who prefers to focus on a smaller area but get to know it in real detail, Taiwan can be an exceptionally rewarding destination. If you have only a few days in Taiwan and want to see as many of its gorgeous temples, engrossing museums, and breathtaking mountains as…
