Home to the world’s largest and arguably finest collection of Chinese art, this vast collection covers treasures in painting, calligraphy, statuary, bronzes, lacquerware, ceramics, jade and religious objects. Some of the most popular items, such as the famous jade cabbage, are always on display – although check first that it’s not on loan to the southern branch in Chiayi. Given the size …

Call me a geek, dork, nerd or whatever else. I love museums. There’s something extremely pleasing about a well-curated selection of items with a visual and educational twist. Taipei’s National Palace Museum (Shilin MRT station) is exactly that. Browse through several rooms filled with ancient Chinese relics and artifacts to learn about China and Taiwan at the same time. BEWARE, …

[台北 / tái běi]  Taipei is a tough little city whose beauty lies in its blend of Chinese culture with a curious fusion of Japanese, Southeast Asian and American influences. Historical Journey In many ways this 300-year-old city is like a living museum. The Taoist temples buzz with the prayers of the hopeful; the wooden boards of Japanese-era mansions creak under …

Asian Values On Their Terms Defying those who said it wasn’t in their DNA, the Taiwanese have created Asia’s most vibrant democracy and liberal society, with a raucous free press, gender equality, and respect for human rights and, increasingly, animal rights as well. The ancestors are still worshipped, and mum and dad still get their dues, but woe betide the …

[台灣 / tái wān] With legacies as varied as its adventure landscape and spirited traditions thriving alongside the cream of Asian sophistication, Taiwan is a continent on one green island. The Beautiful Isle Famed for centuries as Ilha Formosa (Beautiful Isle; 美麗島; Měilìdǎo), this is a land with more sides than the 11-headed Guanyin. Towering sea cliffs, marble-walled gorges and tropical …

Sugar became an important export in the late 19th century after the forced opening of ports following the second Opium War. Up until the 1930s it dominated the economy, and under Japanese colonial rule, sugar fields and processing factories were established all over the island. The Hualien Sugar Factory was built in 1921 and at its peak was processing 2600 …

Gaomei Wetland located on the south of the mouth of Dajia River is a land mixed with both sand and soil textures and comes in 1,500 acres. That explains why it has complicated yet rich wetland ecology and possesses the largest group of Bolboschoenus planieulmis in Taiwan. Due to diverse geographical features, the species of its ecology is quite abundant. …

[台中 / tái zhōng] Under Japanese, and later KMT, economic planning, Kaohsiung became the centre of heavy industry, Taipei the centre of colonial administration, and Taichung? The centre of light industry. If your image of ‘Made in Taiwan’ still conjures up visions of cheap toys, shoes and electrical goods, then you’ve got old Taichung in mind. Today the name Taichung [ …

It stands at 32 km on Highway 11. It is one of the few highest points on the coastal highway. Standing on the lookout, to the south you see Jiqi Bay, Turtle Roaring Cape, Sinshe Cliff, and other unique features of the coastal landscape.There are several coin-operated telescope for a clearer view of the surroundings. At sunset, you can spot …

Established in 1955 with a collection from Henan province, this is one of Taipei’s best museums of Chinese art. Exhibits are small and cover the range of dynasties, but most works are masterpieces. Even the entrance corridor boasts exquisite Buddhist sculpture, including a mesmerising nine-layer stone tower with the thousand Buddhas motif. It hails from the 5th century AD. The …