Taiwan is known as the motherland for many things: highly sought-after semiconductors, the best traditional Chinese learner textbooks money can buy, innovative electric scooters, and pineapple cake. But it’s a little known fact, at least internationally, that Taiwan is also known as the ‘Kingdom of Fruit’. This means that it’s common to see both supermarkets …
Unlike the name suggests, Honolulu Cafe is not Hawaiian: it’s Cantonese. Doling out delicious egg tarts since 1940, this Hong Kong-born Taiwan-bred cha chaan teng chain (like a teahouse) has become a popular fixture of malls in Taiwan. Though it’s a fairly standard Cantonese cafe with similar product offerings to other shopping mall competitors like …
With the Taiwan Presidential Election 2024 well and truly upon us, it’s time to test your knowledge of politics in Taiwan. From historical resources in English on the DPP website to films like Formosa Betrayed, there are plenty of ways foreigners can learn about politics under the KMT’s rule of martial law in Taiwan. However, …
川耗仔食府 (Chuān hào zǐ shí fǔ), literally meaning “Sichuan House Food”, is among my new favorite spicy Chinese restaurants in Taoyuan. Which is saying something since there are many Chinese restaurants in this northern Taiwanese city, like Global Mall’s Kaifan with its swoon worthy spicy peanut chicken. What makes this Taoyuan Chinese restaurant stand out …
Heng-shan Calligraphy Park is one of the prettiest parks in Taiwan. Home to the Heng-shan Calligraphy Art Center, the park is a calming oasis away from the nearby hustle and bustle of Gloria Outlets Mall and Xpark Aquarium. From an ecological steam with heaped with ferns, lilies, and fish, to tranquil riverside paths and stone …
Nestled up in the mountains of Tainan lies one of the country’s most historic feats of hydraulic engineering. Though not the largest reservoir in Taiwan, Wushanto Reservoir is an iconic Tainan tourist spot. When completed in 1930, Wushantou Reservoir was the largest artificial lake in Taiwan, the entirety of Asia, and the third largest reservoir in …
If you ever find yourself in Taoyuan, make sure to visit Gloria Outlets Mall. One of the largest malls in Taoyuan and the first open air outlet mall in Taiwan, Gloria Outlets is a filled with all your favorite shops at discounted prices! There’s also plenty to eat there too, so make it an evening/day …
With the race for the 2024 Taiwan Presidential Election well underway, it’s time to see how well you know the candidates. On January 13th 2024, Taiwan’s 23 million citizens will vote to elect their next president. A democratically-elected position that has only existed for 28 years since the introduction of Taiwan presidential elections in 1996, …
Shihmen Reservoir (石門水庫, lit. Stone Gate Dam) is the third largest reservoir in Taiwan. An artificial lake and dam, Shihmen Reservoir is a crucial player in keeping Northern Taiwan online and hydrated, even being the source of power and (drinking) water for much of Taoyuan, New Taipei City, and Hsinchu. Where is Shihmen Reservoir? Shihmen …