Taiwan

Taiwan: The Heart of Asia’s Hidden Gem

A beautiful island of vibrant cities, excellent hiking, world-class street food, and one of the most open and welcoming societies in Asia.

Taiwan is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, separated from mainland China by the Taiwan Strait. It has a mountainous interior covered by dense subtropical forests, beautiful east coast cliffs, and a western coastal plain where most of the population lives. Despite its disputed political status – Taiwan governs itself as a democracy but is claimed by China – it operates as a fully independent country with its own government, currency, military, and culture.

Taiwan has become one of the most recommended destinations in Asia, consistently praised for the friendliness of its people, the quality of its food, the ease of getting around, and the combination of urban and natural experiences packed into a single island.

Why Visit Taiwan

The food culture is the most immediate draw. Night markets are the defining feature of Taiwanese food life. The Shilin Night Market in Taipei, the Ruifeng Night Market in Kaohsiung, and dozens of others across the island serve extraordinary street food.

Bubble tea (boba), the globally popular cold tea drink with tapioca pearls, was invented in Taiwan. Stinky tofu, despite its challenging name, tastes far better than it smells and is an essential night market experience. Scallion pancakes, oyster omelets, beef noodle soup (considered one of Taiwan’s greatest culinary achievements), shaved ice with red bean and mango, and braised pork rice (lu rou fan) are all excellent and affordable.

The people make the experience. Taiwan consistently ranks among the friendliest destinations in Asia. Getting lost is an opportunity to be helped enthusiastically. Asking for recommendations leads to genuine engagement. Taiwanese hospitality is not a performance for tourists – it is simply how people interact.

Top Places to Visit Taiwan

1. Taipei

The capital is one of the most livable cities in Asia. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system is clean, efficient, and easy to use. The National Palace Museum holds one of the finest collections of Chinese art in the world, including jade, bronze, porcelain, and calligraphy accumulated by the Chinese imperial court over centuries.

Taipei 101, which was the world’s tallest building from 2004 to 2010, has an observation deck and shopping mall. The Elephant Mountain hike (30 minutes from the nearest MRT station) gives the classic view of Taipei 101 surrounded by the city skyline.

2. Jiufen

The old gold-mining town of Jiufen in the hills northeast of Taipei is a maze of red lanterns, tea houses, stairs, and narrow alleys. It inspired aspects of Miyazaki’s animated film Spirited Away, and the atmospheric quality of the place in fog or rain lives up to that association.

3. Taroko Gorge National Park

The east coast’s most spectacular attraction, Taroko Gorge was carved by the Liwu River through marble mountains over millions of years.

The Central Cross-Island Highway passes through tunnels and over bridges in gorges so narrow the sky is a thin strip above. Hiking trails of various difficulties range from paved paths suitable for all visitors to challenging backcountry routes through the mountains.

4. Sun Moon Lake

The most famous lake in Taiwan, surrounded by mountains in the central highlands, has pleasant cycling paths, temples, and the boat connections to the indigenous Thao culture on the lakeshore.

Taiwanese Food and Culture

Taiwan’s culinary scene reflects its diverse heritage: indigenous Formosan food traditions, Hakka influences from mainland immigrants, Japanese colonial-era influences (still visible in many sweets, convenience store culture, and hot spring bathing customs), and the diverse cuisines of mainland provinces brought by immigrants in 1949.

Travel Tip for Taiwan

Citizens of most Western countries can visit Taiwan without a visa for 90 days. The New Taiwan dollar is the currency. Mandarin Chinese is the official language, with Taiwanese (Hokkien) also widely spoken.

English is widely understood in Taipei and tourist areas. The best time to visit is October to April, when weather is milder. Summer (June to August) is hot, humid, and typhoon season. The east coast is particularly stunning year-round.