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| Taiwan |
| Introduction |
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Taiwan
lies in the Pacific ocean half way between Korea and Japan to the north,
and Hong Kong and the Philippines to the South. Other Taiwanese
territories include the Penghu archipelago made up of 64 islands half way
to the Chinese mainland in the Taiwan Strait, Lanyu and Green islands off
the south east coast and the offshore island chains of Ouemoy and Matsu. Except
for the 325,000 aborigines, the people of Taiwan come from the Chinese
mainland and are mostly from the coastal province of Fukien. They speak
Mandarin and Taiwanese which is a Fujian dialect. The capital is Taipei, a city of many faces, where ancient and modern Chinese culture co-exist in perfect harmony. While
in Taipei no one misses the
opportunity to visit the National Palace Museum which is home to the
world's largest display of priceless Chinese art treasures spanning
China's 5,000 year long history. Most of the exhibits were part of the
Chinese imperial collection which began more than l,000 years ago. The
Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall contains an impressive 19 foot high bronze
statue of Dr Sun and visitors are treated to cultural performances in the
auditorium daily. But the most impressive monument in Taipei is the
majestic Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, a marble edifice with landscaped
gardens, graceful pavilions and placid ponds. An
hour's drive from the capital is Tamsui, an ancient fort and old seaside
town with many old fashioned shops. The ancient Matsu Temple there is
decorated with magnificent sculpture and carvings. On the northern coast is the town of Keelung, home to a 74 foot high statue of Kuan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. Yingko is a small but important town which produces hand painted replicas of elegant Ming vases and Sanhsia is a busy old town with narrow, winding streets and brick buildings that are nearly a century old. |
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Midway
down the western seaboard is the village of Lukang, one of Taiwan's most
important historical and cultural towns. Historically,
Taiwan has been a protectorate of the Chinese Empire since 1206. Following
WW2 Taipei became the provisional capital of the Republic of China after
the revolutionary forces of the Kuomintang led by General Chiang Kai-shek,
fled to the island to avoid communist rule. A
beautiful holiday destination, Taiwan offers nature lovers mountains,
waterfalls, volcanic craters, lakes, terraced rice paddies and steaming
hot springs. In the mountains there is a profusion of cherry and azalea
blossoms in the spring and the cool, fresh mountain air in summer, makes
this region an ideal holiday retreat. In
Yangmingshan National Park, trails lead to beautiful scenic spots, birds
and butterflies are everywhere and the wildlife includes monkeys, snakes
and wild boar. In
Lishan, a central mountain resort, the views are astonishingly beautiful
for orchards cling to steep mountainsides above rushing streams and there
are magnificent views of towering peaks and broad valleys. At
Yehliu on the north coast are natural rock formations created by erosion
and natural forces, while the rest of the coast is littered with
interesting lava and sandstone formations. Taroko
Gorge, ravine and mountains of solid marble, and Kenting tropical beach
are both popular attractions for international tourists. Also the Sun Moon
Lake and Hsitou Bamboo forest are favourites for their exceptional beauty
and serenity. For more general information on Taiwan, go to: |
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For more regional information on Taiwan, go to: Regions or |
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For more product information on Taiwan, go to: |
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