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North The north serves as Taiwan’s economic and trade center. It is home to the capital city of Taipei and a hotbed for the development of science and technology, the arts, and culture. The world’s tallest building, Taipei 101, is also situated in this city. Towering 1,667 feet above street level, it is the most renowned landmark in northern Taiwan and the symbol of the island’s economic prowess. Central Taiwan’s central area features appealing natural beauty. Places like Sitou, Shanlin Brook, Jiji, Alishan, and Sun Moon Lake offer an unspoiled environment for visitors and locals alike. In carefree and peaceful surroundings, tourists can breathe fresh forest air and commune with nature. South The south has always been the island’s center of ancient culture. The countryside invites nostalgia and transports visitors back to a simpler and warmer rural life. Though developed early, the south has avoided over-development and retains much of its original charm. Visitors can see historic relics and become familiar with the early history of the island. East The east has some of Taiwan’s most beautiful and accessible attractions, notably Taroko Gorge, the East Coast National Scenic Area, and the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area.
Yangmingshan National Park Yangmingshan National Park was founded in 1985 and now encompasses an area of 11,455 hectares north of Taipei. Altitudes in the park range from 200 to 1,120 meters. Well-maintained walkways and trails lead to the park’s main scenic spots, which offer picnic and recreation areas. Yangmingshan in March and April is an ocean of flowers, with cherry blossoms and azaleas competing for attention. In October and November, giant Chinese silver grass covers the land and forms waves under the powerful wind from the north. The park is volcanic, with active fumaroles dotting the landscape in Dayoukeng, Siaoyoukeng, Dahuangchui, and other areas. The hot springs in Yangmingshan are well known and attract many visitors.
Kinmen, an isolated island on the southeast coast of the People’s Republic of China’s Fujian Province, is a rich cultural site thanks to its special geographical location and historical background. The island’s remoteness has helped to preserve its traditional buildings and special ecology. To preserve these valuable resources, Kinmen was designated the sixth national park in 1995. Kenting National Park Kenting National Park, founded in 1984, was the first national park in Taiwan. Kenting boasts some of the best beaches of Taiwan island, with clean white sand and many types of water sports. Pleasant wooded paths wind through a large botanical gardens containing a variety of exotic plant life. Visitors can also wander through unusual dryland coral formations or rest at pavilions and enjoy the view by the sea. Kenting is also a bird-watchers?paradise, with many migratory birds wintering along the tropical coast.
Taroko National Park faces the Pacific Ocean in the east and covers an area of more than 92,000 hectares in the northern section of the Central Mountain Range. Taroko Gorge, an awesome marble-walled cleft that runs for 19 kilometers through the mountains near the east coast, is a breathtaking wonder of the natural world and the gem of Taroko National Park. Well-maintained trails make the spectacular scenery of the park especially accessible. Shei-Pa National Park Shei-Pa National Park covers an area of 76,850 hectares in the central range of Taiwan. This is a region of magnificent mountains: within the park are 51 peaks over 3,000 meters high. It is an area of mostly wild and undeveloped country with a range of wildlife that includes many rare endemic species. The park was founded to protect and study this splendid wilderness, while maintaining the natural environment and all the forms of life it shelters. Conservation is, therefore, the first priority at the park, and large areas are protected as ecological preserves and special scenic areas with limited access for ordinary visitors.
Yushan National Park is located amid the high peaks of central Taiwan. The park is dominated by the slopes of Mount Jade (Yushan), which is East Asia’s highest peak at 3,952 meters. The extreme variations of altitudes and climates within the park, from subtropical to temperate or alpine, make it bastion of biological diversity.
Sun Moon Lake Scenic Area Sun Moon Lake is one of Taiwan’s most famous scenic lakes. The original name of Sun Moon Lake meant “where water and sand meet,?and the area used to be a shallow marsh covered with vibrant green water plants. Following the construction of a dam during the Japanese occupation, the lake was filled to its present dimensions and a power station built, which supplies 56 percent of all Taiwan’s hydropower. The resemblance of the north to the sun and the south to a crescent moon gives the lake its current name.
Yeliu lies on the north coast and is renowned for its fantastic rock formations carved by years of exposure to wind, rain, and waves. Liyutan Scenic Area Liyutan Scenic Area is situated in the East Rift Valley between Hualien and Taitung. Liyutan is the biggest lake in Hualien, and to its east is Liyu Mountain. Cycling around the lake is a popular activity. Alishan Scenic Area Mount Ali (Alishan) is one of the five tallest mountains in Taiwan. It has beautiful natural landscapes that attract tourists from both home and abroad. Alishan is most famous for its sunrise, clouds, sunsets, forests and alpine railway. The railway was built by Japanese to transport precious juniper wood. It starts from the Jianan Plain at an elevation of 30 meters and then climbs to 2,216 meter-high Alishan in just 71 kilometers. The train passes through tropical, sub-tropical and temperate zones as it winds its way into the beautiful mountains.
Sansia Zushih Temple The Sansia Zushih Temple was established in 1769 and soon became the religious, social and economic center of the Sansia area. It was re-constructed in 1833 after being damaged in an earthquake, and rebuilt again in 1895 after being razed by the Japanese army. After the Japanese occupation, Mr. Li Mei-shu, a well-known painter, employed sculptors to redecorate the temple into a fantastic example of local folk arts. Dihua Street Taipei residents flock to the bustling Dihua Street to shop for the Lunar New Year. This street is one of the most complete and best-preserved historic districts in the city. Buildings with exotic features in the southern Fujianese and Baroque styles can be found here. Dihua Street has been a commercial center since the end of the Ching dynasty. Today it serves as center for traditional culture in the modern city of Taipei.
Fort San Domingo was built in northern Taiwan by the Spanish in 1629 and captured by the Dutch in 1642 during their administration of the island. In 1858, the Treaty of Tianjin opened Danshuei to foreign traders, and in 1868, the British government leased Fort San Domingo as its embassy. After the British left in 1972, the fort was restored and opened to the public. Changhua Lugang Longshan Temple Ching-era immigrants from Quanzhou in southern Fujian Province brought many aspects of their hometown culture to Taiwan, including the name “Longshan Temple.?Taiwan is now home to five famous Longshan Temples, with one being situated in each of the following cities: Danshuei, Taipei, Tainan, Fengshan, and Lugang. The Longshan Temple in Changhua County’s Lugang Township was built by Master Jhao Shan in 1786, making it one of the first religious temples on Taiwan. It is now the biggest and most artistically and historically significant temple. The main hall hosts the Buddhist deity Guanyin, while the rear hall houses Amitabha. Longshan Temple is one of the best-preserved ancient buildings in Taiwan. Tainan Confucius Temple Tainan Confucius Temple was built in 1665. It is the oldest Confucius Temple in Taiwan and the origin of Confucianism in Taiwan. It also served as Taiwan’s sole school of higher education during the Ching dynasty. As the best-preserved historic site in Tainan, it is a good place to see the traditional building style of the Ching dynasty. The Autumn Worship on the 28th day of the ninth lunar month follows ancient custom and is the most important ceremony conducted at the Confucius Temple. Fort Provintia In 1652, the early Han immigrants to Taiwan rebelled against the Dutch administrators of the island. Fort Provintia was later built to defend against such rebellions. Following Koxinga’s control of the island, the fortress was seized and renamed Chengtian Mansion.
 Museums and memorial halls
The National Palace Museum has the world’s largest collection of oriental art treasures. Its collection of jade, porcelain, paintings, and bronzes spans several millennia and must be rotated regularly due to its scale, making each trip unique for visitors. The Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology, named after the site of an earlier settlement in Taipei County at which iron was smelted, introduces the island’s prehistoric cultures, as does the National Museum of Prehistory opened in 2002 in Taitung. The Yingge Ceramics Museum opened in 2000 in Yingge township, a center of Taiwan’s pottery and porcelain industry. The museum made good use of the community’s resources and represents an example of a museum helping to revitalize traditional handicraft industry. The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in central Taipei is among Taiwan’s top tourist attractions. With its massive marble hall and beautiful gardens and ponds, it offers respite from the bustling city. The Ming-style arch at its main entrance is flanked by the National Theater and National Concert Hall.
At the Window on China amusement park, one hour’s drive south of Taipei, visitors can take a tour of China’s Great Wall, Beijing’s Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and miniature displays of 130 of Taiwan’s and China’s other well-known sights and, in a new section, famous buildings from all over the world. At the nearby Leofoo Village Theme Park, roller coaster rides and tower drops can satisfy excitement-seekers. At the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village in central Taiwan, members of major indigenous groups welcome visitors with traditional songs and dances, accompanied on ancient musical instruments that are made using traditional techniques and tools. The Hualien Ocean Park is the largest theme park on the eastern coast, and combines elements of a theme park, scenic park, and resort.
Each night market in Taiwan has its own specialty. Shihlin Night Market in Taipei is known for its fried squid, while the Tainan Night Market in southern Taiwan is famous for coffin sandwiches (which get their name from the sandwich cover that resembles the lid of a coffin). Also in Taipei, the Shangdong cuisine of Shihda Night Market usually has customers lining up, and at the Raohe Night Market visitors can smell the fragrance of stewed steak even before venturing into the market. Night markets are always evolving. Once bustling and chaotic, markets are becoming more orderly and comfortable spaces with a touch of refinement. Jingming Street and the Cultural Village in Taichung are two such examples of quickly evolving markets. The streets are spacious, and patrons are able to sit at open-air cafes and relax in the evening’s cool breeze. Food According to an old saying, “eating is the most important thing,?and indeed the culinary arts are highly praised in Chinese culture. In ancient times, people applied much thought to cooking delicious food to win the favor of kings and emperors. These ancient recipes and skills have been passed down and developed to new heights. Ding Tai Fung is well known for siaolongbao, small steamed stuffed dumplings, and was once ranked by the New York Times as one of the ten best restaurants in the world. The thinly wrapped and well-stuffed dumplings are both tasty and filling, and have become a “must-eat?for many tourists. Another local delicacy, Tainan danzai noodles with bean sprouts, ground meat and shrimp, is served with delicious shrimp soup. Ilan duck is smoked with sugar cane and served with fried shallots and garlic. Taichung sun cakes are round, flaky pastries with a red dot in the middle. Their soft crust and sweet maltose filling make them excellent treats with a glass of milk. Sinjhu meatballs are famous for being produced to exacting standards with choice meat and finely mixed spices.
Wanluan pig knuckle is the local specialty of Pingtung County in the far south. It is cooked crispy and eaten with sweet sauce. Best viewed with IE 4.0 or higher at 800 x 600 resolution. Copyright © 2006 Government Information Office, Republic of China (Taiwan) 2 Tianjin St. Taipei, 100, Taiwan, R.O.C. |
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