Taiwan Travel

Taipei is Taiwan's largest city as well as its economic, political, and cultural center. It is a modern cosmopolitan metropolis with a lively and diversified face, filled with exuberance.It also enjoys a great variety of architecture styles and visitors who are fond of historic sites and old streets will not want to miss the work of traditional master builders evident on Dihua Street in the Dadaocheng area or the Longshan Temple in the Wanhua district, as well as other places.

New Taipei City is rich in cultural resources. It's a major cultural county that hosts a rich variety of cultural activities. Come! Join us as we trace our cultural roots. The confluence of the Danshui (Tamsui), Xindian and Keelung Rivers gave rise to New Taipei City, which expanded gradually inland from the smallish river mouth to achieve its present scope. The meeting ground of the rivers stretches away in a scene of grandeur as the seashore, its terrain carved out by the hand of time, facing off with the low mountains standing peacefully in the distance of New Taipei City.

Keelung locates at the northern Taiwan, with mountains surrounding on three sides, while Donghai (The Eastern Sea) in its north front. Serving as a natural harbor with the immense water, Keelung has its bay cut into downtown deeply. Within the city are much more slopes than planes, and moreover, the protective Keelung Islet and Hoping Islet screen on both sides of the water. These factors mentioned above have contributed to this natural and strategically difficult point, which combines roles of commercial, military, and fishing harbor, yet most importantly, keeps guard at the gates of the whole Taipei area.

The city of Yilan is located in the central and most favored part, of the Lanyang Plain. Streams and rivers provide a constant source of replenishment for the nutrients in the soil here, making Yilan a breadbasket county. The cultural, educational, and administrative center of the Lanyang Plain is Yilan City, which is also a major hub for traffic along the northeast coast.

The narrow-shaped Taoyuan City is a plateau lies in the northwestern part of Taiwan Main Island, with Taipei and Yilan counties adjacent to it. "Zhibali" was the first name ever placed onto this area, while afterward it was replaced by "Taoyuan" (Peach Garden) for the peach trees in full blossom used to be a major attraction there. However, peach blossom has been somehow a rare scene nowadays.

Hsinchu County is home to the largest Hakka community in Taiwan. Most of the early Hakka immigrants to this region landed at Hongmao Harbor and Nanliao Harbor, the majority coming from Haifeng and Lufeng in China.The Hakka residents in Hsinchu have unique dialects, customs and religious practices that reflect differences of environment. The Hakka people have traditionally lived in areas with poor farming conditions and inconvenient transportation links, forcing them to continually migrate into new lands

The Hsinchu administrative district includes Xiangshan and covers an area of about 104 square kilometers. It has gained considerable prosperity and an international reputation since the creation of the Hsinchu Science-based industrial Park Hsinchu City is in the northwestern part of Hsinchu County, its point rising 120 meters above sea. The Hsinchu plain slopes upward to the east, and merges into Eighteen Peaks Mountain and Niupu Mountains. Most of the eastern part of the county is covered with foothills and small mountains.

There are actually several temples that provide economic accommodations for foreign visitors. However, one must be aware that these are not Holiday Inns. Monks and Nuns expect everyone to abide by the rules of the monastery, though they generally understand the differences that foreigners sometimes bring to their situation. Expect to get up early and go to bed equally early. Food is well rationed, but don't be disappointed when dinner isn't rack of lamb. All monasteries are vegetarian, and that said, moderate in their culinary habits. Therefore, it is a given that one must finish everything on his or her plate. 

Taiwan's third largest city; Taichung enjoys a mild year-round climate with an average temperature of 22.4 degrees centigrade. It also has a highly developed industrial and commercial base, thriving cultural scene, friendly people, and beautiful scenery, all of which contribute to its status as an international-class city.

Changhua is embraced by mountains to the east, south and north, with the peak of Bagua Mountain (Baguashan) towering above them all and the Taiwan Strait to the west. The resulting warm climate and moderate rainfall provide an ideal environment for farming, earning Changhua the nickname of "Taiwan's granary." The county was originally known as "Banxian," after a local indigenous tribe. During the Yongzheng period of the Qing dynasty (1678~1735), this region was settled by Chinese immigrants from southern Fujian.

Nantou County lies at the geographical heart of Taiwan and is the only county that does not border the coast.Nantou County occupies an area of about 4,100 square kilometers. It is home to Taiwan's highest peak, Yushan (Mt. Jade), and 41 other 3,000-plus-meter mountains that form an unbroken and undulating expanse of green. Taiwan's longest river, the Zhuoshui River, winds through the county, and the island's most beautiful lake, Sun Moon Lake, completes the county's scenic tapestry.

Yunlin is located in the south-central part of western Taiwan at the northern end of the Jianan Plain. Nantou County lies to the east and the Taiwan Strait to the west, the Beigang River and Chiayi County define the southern border, with the Zhuoshui River and Changhua County to the north. Plains account for nine-tenths of the county area, while mountainous areas make up the remaining 10 percent. The county has a subtropical climate and a year-round average temperature of 22.6 degrees centigrade. Administratively, it is divided into 20 townships and cities, all in flatland areas except for the three mountainous areas of Douliu City, Gukeng Township, and Linnei Township.

Chiayi's attractions are mostly of cultural and historical interest. Foremost among these is Lantan, which used to be called "foreigner's stockade".Bordered by mountains on one side and the sea on the other, Chiayi County is the only county in Taiwan with three major national scenic areas: Alishan National Scenic Area, Southwest Coast National Scenic Area, and Siraya National Scenic Area, each presenting a unique view of nature's wonders, from mountains to plains to ocean views. Alishan, located in the east part of the county by Taiwan's tallest peak, Yushan, is the homeland of the Tsou indigenous people.

The Tropic of Cancer bisects the counties of Chiayi City and Hualien. There is a monument just outside Chiayi City that marks its latitude. Some of the earliest pioneers from Zhangzhou in Fujian Province landed in Chiayi City and settled in the area near present Xingang. The inhabitants of the area remained loyal to the imperial government during the Lin Shuang-wen rebellion in 1786 ─ a period of history recorded in artifacts preserved in Yimin Temple in Chiayi City.

Ancient Capital Tainan, the ancient capital of Taiwan, is situated on the southwestern coastal plains of the island and enjoys a warm climate year-round. Tainan is the birthplace of Taiwan and the oldest city on the island. In 1661, the Ming loyalist Cheng Cheng-kung drove the Dutch from Taiwan and established his administration in Tainan. At the time, mainland Chinese immigrants were coming to Taiwan in droves, helping the young city to grow.

Located in the southern part of Taiwan, the city of Kaohsiung is the island's largest industrial center. A thriving international metropolis at the southern tip of Taiwan, Kaohsiung was the host city for the 2009 World Games. Due to the regulating effects of the marine climate, Kaohsiung is generally sunny and enjoys pleasant weather year-round. Known as "Taiwan's Maritime Capital," the city has worked hard in recent years to develop its tourism industry, including through beautification of the urban landscape.

Pingtung County is the southernmost county in Taiwan. The shape of the county is slender. The county is backed by mountains and facing the water. Taiwan's southernmost county, Pingtung covers a long and narrow territory with a border defined by mountains to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Taiwan Strait to the west, and the Bashi Channel to the south. Due to its subtropical location, Pingtung enjoys spring-like weather all year round. Graceful coconut trees add to the county's ample South Pacific charms.

Hualien is the meeting point of the Central Cross-Island Highway, Suao-Hualien Highway, and highways leading south to Taitung.Hualien County is home to several world-class scenic attractions. In 1590, Portuguese sailors passed by the eastern coast of Taiwan and were so moved by the grandeur of what they saw that they named this land "Formosa," the beautiful island. Since that time, the majestic views of Hualien have come to represent Taiwan.

Taitung County is located on the delta of the Beinan River, at the southern tip of the rift valley.From coastal areas to mountain highs, Taitung greets visitors to a land of ecological richness and scenic beauty. The county is also known for its distinctive local products, from premium rice, day lilies, hibiscus, and sugar apples to sailfish, bonito(skipjack tuna), and other specialty seafood items.

Named after the goddess Mazu, the Matsu Islands are composed of dozens of islands, including Nangan, Beigan, Juguang, and Dongyin. The chain occupies the northernmost edge of the Taiwan-Penghu-Kinmen-Matsu area at the west-northwest side of the Taiwan Strait, just a stone's throw from mainland China. During the opposition to the mainland communist regime, Matsu served as Taiwan's front-line defense, turning the island landscape into battlefield scenes of psy-war slogans, defensive tunnels, and troops.

Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, is a small island with a very big reputation. Situated just off the coast of Mainland China, it was the site of fierce fighting between Communist and Nationalist forces when the latter withdrew from the mainland in 1949.The Kinmen Islands were known in earlier times as Wuzhou. In 1387, the Marquis of Jiangxia Chou Te-hsing erected walls to defend the Kinmen Island against pirates. Because of its geographic position, the Kinmen Wall became known as the "impregnable fort guarding the gate to the sea," from which the name "Kinmen," or "Golden Gate," derives. For nearly a half century, Kinmen was a battleground in Taiwan's defense against the mainland forces. Military administration of Kinmen was lifted in 1992, marking the start of the island's emergence as a tourism destination. In January 2001, direct cross-strait links were opened between Kinmen and Xiamen in mainland China, putting the island in a key position for cross-strait interactions.

Like pearls scattering in the East Sea, the Penghu archipelago is located in the southwest of the Taiwan Strait. Penghu is known as the pearl of the Taiwan Strait. Composed of 90 islands, the county is steeped in history and culture, with magnificent ocean views and many other natural wonders.