Explore Taiwan
THE SWEET POTATO ISLAND
Located in the Pacific Ocean, Taiwan is a democratic nation with a population of over 23 million people. Affectionately known as the sweet potato island owing to its similar shape (and local fondness for the root vegetable), the main island of Taiwan is split into four different parts that literally translate to the directions:
- 臺北 Taipei = north
- 臺中 Taichung = central
- 臺南 Tainan = south
- 臺東 Taitung = east
Thanks to this system, it’s fairly easy to know where you are on the island.
THE STRATEGIC STRONGHOLD
Did you know that there are actually 186 islands, including the sweet potato, that make up Taiwan? Though most of these so-called islands are actually uninhabitable rocks claimed for strategic purposes, several of them do act as key defenses for Taiwan. Like Kinmen (also stylized as Jinmen or 金門). You may have never heard of it, but it’s surprisingly just 1 mile away from Xiamen, China. It is so close in fact that you can see Xiamen from Kinmen’s beaches. This is perhaps why China has had a fondness for the past few decades of bombing the island and its surrounding waters, although more recently strategies have involved sending swarms of drones to pester the military base.
THE TECHNOLOGICAL GIANT
Although you may not know it, the democratic nation of Taiwan is well known in the business world for its technological prowess. ASUS, ACER, HTC, and TSMC were all founded in Taiwan, and many industrial parks across the island still house technological giants in sectors like semiconductors (TSMC), optical lenses (Largan Precision Optical), electric scooters (Gogoro), and more.
THE EXPAT HEAVEN
In addition to the plethora of power that Taiwan is generating through its dominance in engineering and technology fields, Taiwan is also home to a wealth of different cultures, languages, and, of course, foods. It also has the ambitious aim of becoming a bilingual nation by 2030, a goal which is already heavily underway with most signposts and public information being written in both Chinese Traditional and English.
Thinking of coming to Taiwan? Interested in learning more about the island (+ the other islands)?
-> -> A NOTE FROM THIS BLOG’S AUTHOR <- <-
On this part of the blog, I’ll be discussing everything Taiwan-related, from TV+Cinema, to Food, to Travel, and even the News (in an exciting way, I promise). However, should you be more inclined to do your own research or simply want to stay more up-to-date with the latest developments in Taiwan, I recommend checking out the 5 news sites located (and linked!) at the bottom of this page.
Let’s explore and enjoy Taiwan together!
EXPLORE TAIWAN’S RICH CULTURE AND HISTORY THROUGH CINEMA, FOOD, AND MUCH MORE!
You can learn a suprising amount about a nation’s culture through the TV and cinematic content they produce – though, of course, everything depicted should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Regardless, it is undoubtable that media reflects society, so in this section we’ll introduce Taiwan’s rich culture and history through its TV dramas and horror/action films (of which there are many!).
Want to watch a terrifying horror film but not sure what will do? Why not delve into Taiwanese culture with our post for the 7 Best Taiwanese Horror Films to Watch This Ghost Month. It’s sure to give you a fright!
Owing to Taiwan’s frequent colonization – the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Chinese, and the Japanese – and its attractiveness as an immigration destination (Focus Taiwan), the island is home to plenty of different cuisines.
In this section, we will review and/or recommend eateries found across the island(s). Check out our latest series ’10 Most Popular Restaurant Chains’ to discover what regular Taiwanese enjoy the most!
Contrary to popular belief, Taiwan is not all heat and humidity. Venture into the cooling mountains with our ‘Introducing Nantou’ series, and explore the different climates that the island has to offer. Adventure into Taoyuan’s industrial parks and marvel at the ingenuity of the factories with our factory tours.
Though Taiwan currently requires a visa for entry, students intending to study university degree programs or non-degree Chinese programs are welcome to enter the country. For those still unable to visit, there are a range of online courses available, so you too can study in Taiwan!
Check out our newest article for studying in Taiwan: ‘The 5 Best Places to Study Chinese in Taiwan’.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENT NATION OF TAIWAN
Video: 中華民國陸軍 Ministry of National Defense Taiwan (ROC)
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