Taiwan Travel Guide

People

Taiwan's population mostly descends from the Han ethnicity. There are two subgroups namely, the Min-nan and the Hokkien, with Min-nan as the larger of the two groups. Around 12% of the population is called â€œmainlandersâ€ since these are the descendants of the Chinese immigrants who fled mainland China in 1949. Today, only about 2% of Taiwan's population is made up of the aborigines who were the original inhabitants of the island. These aborigines are further subdivided into thirteen groups: Atayal, Ami, Bukun, Kavalan, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyat, Sakizaya, Tao, Thao, Truku, and Tsou.

Taiwan has three main dialects; Standard Mandarin and Taiwanese Min-nan is spoken by around 70% of the population, while Hakka is spoken by around 15%. Of the three, Standard Mandarin takes the form of the â€œmainâ€ language, as it is used for teaching as well as in the media. Recently however, Taiwanese Min-nan has strongly gained popularity, so that it is used as commonly as Mandarin.

As for the country's religion, about 93% of the people of Taiwan practice Buddhism, Taoism, or Confucianism. About 4% practice Christianity, while the rest practice Islam.

Geography

The island of Taiwan is found off the Asian mainland in the Pacific area. Aside from the main island, it has two off shore islands named Kinmen and Matsu.

Said to be slightly larger than the size of Massachusetts and Connecticut put together, Taiwan has a terrain that consists of rugged mountains that almost cuts the island in half from north to south, and rolling plains to the west. Understandably, this is where majority of Taiwan's population lives.

History

Aborigines of Malayan descent have inhabited the main island of Taiwan before Chinese immigrants arrived. In 1590, Portuguese sailors came across the island and called it Formosa as it means â€œbeautiful islandâ€ in Portuguese. Since then, it has been occupied by many large and powerful countries.

In 1624, the Dutch made camp in the southern part of the island while the Spanish settled in the north. The two struggled over who controlled the island until the Dutch drove the Spaniards out in 1641. This was cut short when a Chinese general took over and established an independent kingdom in 1661.

In 1683, the Manchus took over the island of Taiwan until the Japanese seized it during the very first Sino-Japanese war in 1895. In World War II, Taiwan became the main target of American bombings because it was under Japan's control. By the end of the war, the island was given back to China.

Famous Attractions

Not surprisingly, one of the most famous attractions of Taiwan is its National Palace Museum. This houses a great deal of Chinese jade, art, porcelain, and bronze. As a matter of fact, it is estimated that about one tenth of the treasures of China is in this museum. Because of its enormity, only 1% is on display.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Taiwan has grown ever since the Koumintang was lifted from its shores. The Taipei Financial Center is one of the major attractions since it allows people to view the open markets from the observatory. This is usually open to tourists and locals from 10 am to 10 pm.

Night markets also liven up Taiwan's night life. Here, interested customers may find street foods to designer clothes sold along the market street. 24 hour convenience stores are also found everywhere in Taiwan where people can find absolutely anything from books, food, and clothes, among many others. Pubs and bars are also abundant especially in Taipei. As a matter of fact, lounge bars and Karaoke bars are the in-thing in Taipei.

Culture

Because of its history, Taiwanese culture has taken on a hybrid form of its conquerors and the origins of its residents. For the main part, it mixes a great deal of Chinese culture with that of the Japanese.

In the 1990's, the Taiwanese Localization Movement evolved where the people of Taiwan looked inwards to discover its original cultural identity. Over the years, the island has been under the control of many countries and as expected, its original culture has taken on new twists and variations.

Cuisine

As expected, the food in Taiwan is of strong Chinese descent. The main ingredients of any Taiwanese cuisine usually consist of pork, rice, seafood, and soy, among many others ingredients. If there's an ingredient or meat that is less seen in Taiwan, it is beef. In fact, many Taiwanese refrain from eating it, especially the elderly practicing Buddhism. Curiously enough, one of the most popular foods in Taiwan is the beef noodle soup.

In cooking, you can expect the Taiwanese to use spices. As a matter of fact, many Taiwanese cuisines rely heavily on spices. They use these in various ways in order to lend more flavors to their food. As a result, Taiwanese food may look simple but once eaten, youâ€™ll find it to be the opposite.

If you want to make the most out of your Taiwanese experience, then the night markets are where you should go. Found mainly in the large cities of Taiwan, street foods, such as stinky tofu, Bawan, Taiwanese sausage, and small cakes are sold giving anyone a chance to taste a plethora of Taiwanese cuisine in one go.

Taiwan Airports infomation

Flights to Taiwan

Hotels in Taiwan

Hotels in Taipei

Articles in Taiwan

Taipei, Taiwan - Ambience Hotel

Taipei, Taiwan 8 Sep, 2020

A successful project of Wei Ming Lee and designer Ted Su, the Ambience Hotel Taipei is the first offbeat and sophisticated boutique hotel in Taiwan. It features 60 spacious suites decorated with polished steel, glass, calf-skin leather upholstery, and white granite. In terms of facilities, the hotel will not disappoint because every room has high speed wireless connection, video-on-demand movie system, 30-inch LCD TV, CDs, luxurious bath products and amenities. Each suite's bathroom always receives compliments because of its huge tub and bathing supplies. The hotel offers an intimate environment, perfect for couples and newly-weds. The hotel serves sumptuous and leisure breakfast-in-bed as well, so, you can start your day fully-energized. Taipei is the de facto capital of the Republic of China. At present, the city is experiencing rapid economic development which makes it one of the global cities that produce high technological products. As the political and financial center of Taiwan, Taipei is not your ordinary city, holding record of the world's largest foreign exchange reserves in 1999 despite the economic crisis happening in Asia at that time. Some of Taipei's scenic spots that are near the Ambience Hotel are the Taipei 101 (the 101-floor landmark skyscraper), National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, Nation Palace Museum, Confucian Temple, Lung Shan Temple, and Yungkong Street where you can find most of Taiwanese restaurants and snacks. Travelling is made comfortable when you are in Taipei. And with a hotel like Ambience Hotel Taipei, your travel experience would literary mean: travelling and staying in paradise. Search for discounted hotel rooms around Asia on <a href='http://www.asia.com/hotel'>Asia.com hotels</a> search engine and save up to 70% on your hotel. <a href='http://www.asia.com/'>Asia.com</a> is neither affiliated with nor sponsored by Ambience Hotel. This article is provided for informational purposes only.

The Riviera Hotel - Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei, Taiwan 8 Sep, 2020

The Riviera Hotel in Taipei is a four-star accommodation which provides comfort and extravagance worthy of its stature as a two time winner of the "Best Tourist Hotel" in 1998 and in 2003. The hotel makes luxury hotel living affordable with reasonable rates, and its location that is near many tourist destinations in the city makes the bill well worth its price. Its 112-room accommodation has facilities geared towards comfort in the middle of the fast paced city where the hotel is located. The Riviera Hotel in Taipei is located in the business district of Taipei city, and offers a quiet retreat from the fast pace that a business traveller has to be in when in the city. Taipei's capitalist and export driven economy has been increasing at a whopping eight percent in the past thirty years. This island nation's current GDP per capita is equal to the average of European Union countries, making this metropolis one of the most driven economically in the world. The location of the hotel makes it one of the best rest stops if one is geared for both business or shopping. Just a few minutes away is the host of night markets like the Shida Night Market, the Shilin Night Market and the Tonghua Night Market where tourists can satisfy their shopping urges. Also nearby is the central business district of Taipei, the haven for business in Taiwan. There are also a number of in hotel establishments such as restaurants, specialty services shops and luxury brand shops that provide a full service four-star hotel accommodation that only the Riviera Hotel Taipei can provide. Search for discounted hotel rooms around Asia on <a href='http://www.asia.com/hotel'>Asia.com hotels</a> search engine and save up to 70% on your hotel. <a href='http://www.asia.com/'>Asia.com</a> is neither affiliated with nor sponsored by Riviera Hotel. This article is provided for informational purposes only.

The Sherwood Hotel - Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei, Taiwan 8 Sep, 2020

The Sherwood Taipei is one of the top quality hotels in the capital city of Taipei on the Taiwan Island. The rooms in the Sherwood Taipei include satellite television, air conditioning, an in-room safe, data port connectivity, IDD Phone and voice mail facilities. Other in-hotel amenities include restaurants, concierge services, a cocktail lounge, and a business center together with banquet and conference facilities. There is a 24-hour room and laundry service with complimentary suit pressing and shoe shine. The city of Taipei is a metropolis bursting at the seams of economic activity. It is the capital of one of the few creditor countries whose gross domestic product rivals the average European Union levels. From a small trading post, Taipei has become the crown jewel in what has been dubbed the "Taiwan Miracle". The Sherwood Taipei is located at Min Sheng East Road in Sector 3 near the famed World Trade Center, the Neihu Technology Park and Taipei 101. A few kilometres from the hotel is the railway station and it is less than an hour's drive to the airport. But the Sherwood Taipei is nestled in the heart of the city's tourist area, making it the prime accommodation in the area. Taipei is a booming metropolis not only in terms of commerce but also in terms of fashion and culture. The luxurious accommodations of the five-star Sherwood Taipei will provide its guests both a comfortable and restful stay. So when you are in Taipei for business or for pleasure, make the Sherwood Taipei your hotel of choice the next time. Search for discounted hotel rooms around Asia on <a href='http://www.asia.com/hotel'>Asia.com hotels</a> search engine and save up to 70% on your hotel. <a href='http://www.asia.com/'>Asia.com</a> is neither affiliated with nor sponsored by Sherwood Hotel. This article is provided for informational purposes only.