By far one of my favorite meals in Taiwan was an unexpected stop at a breakfast stand on Kaishan Road in Tainan. Yung Chi is a popular spot with the locals. For very little money you can get a very hearty, authentic Taiwanese breakfast. Here’s what I had: Yo Tiao (a savory churro type bread), pork rice (with pork liver, not my favorite), duck eggs – I preferred the soft cooked over the hard cooked; milkfish balls– think gefilte fish. The fish balls came in a broth in which they were accompanied by fish stomachs and fish skin. And, of course, a never empty cup of tea to accompany the meal.

Mr. Liu, is the gregarious third generation owner of the establishment. His grandfather opened Yung Chi 80 years ago. Yung Chi is open from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. serving breakfast and lunch only. Mr. Liu contracts with a local milkfish farmer for the fish. Milkfish, I’m told, is the most popular fish in Taiwan.

It is a very bony fish as well, so Mr. Liu also contracts with a team of people who filet the fish before delivering it daily to the little restaurant. This very satisfying breakfast is a great way to soak up the local culture and get a look at a less touristy side of Taiwan.

Marsha Lenox is a writer and freelance editor. Her articles and essays on travel, roller derby and homeschooling have been featured in newspapers, magazines and on numerous websites and blogs. Marsha writes and performs creative non-fiction stories for Story Salon, the longest running storytelling venue in Los Angeles. She is also a roller derby referee.

I awoke in my room at the Fleur de Chine after the best night’s sleep I’ve enjoyed in a long, long time. Was it the hour-long soak in my room’s mineral bath, the mind-blowing dinner in the Rainbow Cloud teppanyaki restaurant, or the low-key, yet luxurious, room overlooking Sun Moon Lake? Probably all three.

I dressed again in the yukata (a kimono-like robe made of cotton supplied by the hotel that I’d worn to dinner the night before) and made my way downstairs to the breakfast buffet.  After breakfast I went back to my room and changed into ‘real’ clothes so that I could walk along the wooden walkway that borders Sun Moon Lake.

Sun Moon Lake (Jih Yue T’an), in Nantou County, is the largest body of water in Taiwan. It’s a very popular spot for hiking with fourteen hiking trails. The area is also home to the Thao tribe – one of the aboriginal tribes of Taiwan. Lalu Island, in the middle of the lake, has gone by several names – Jade Island when Taiwan was under Japanese rule, Kuang Hua when Chiang Kai-shek’s government moved to the island. After the ‘921 Earthquake’ in 1999, and due to increased sensitivity to the aboriginal tribes that inhabit Taiwan, the island was renamed Lalu—a Thao word meaning ‘after’ or ‘later.’

After crossing Zhongzheng Road and making my way down a flight of steps, I had to decide whether to go left or right. I turned right for no other reason than that it seemed to be the direction my feet wanted to go. Between the heat in the high 90’s and the humidity over 60 percent, I knew that there was no way I was going to make it around the entire lake on foot and be back to the hotel in time to catch the bus to Taichung. This is when I wished I’d made the effort to look into bike rentals.

Renting a bike would’ve gotten me all the way around the lake, but the sensory feast I experienced on foot more than made up for that: Men fishing and then feeding hungry, whining cats with the fruits of their labor, a spider as big as my hand sitting in its intricate web to the side of the walk, a myriad of different colored butterflies – electric blue, butter-yellow, inky black hovering just out of reach, floating gardens bobbing in the water. And the sounds – gently lapping water, melodic bird calls, the wind moving through the leaves of the lush trees that grew all along the lake. From time to time I heard quiet conversation and soft laughter among fishing companions, fathers encouraging their children as families rode their bikes along the boardwalk, the sound of the bicycles’ tires going thumpety-thump over the wooden slats, and the flap-flap of running shoes as the occasional runner overtook me and disappeared around the next bend.

Sun Moon Lake is teeming with life, yet it’s also a place of complete serenity. I frequently stopped along the way just to let the sights, the sounds, and the sultry air wash over me, while thoughts of everything else melted away. By the time I got back to the hotel I felt like I’d spent two hours meditating.

I found out later that had I turned left instead of right I would have come upon Wen Wu Temple -an impressive structure, even in a country that has Buddhist temples everywhere. I was only able to enjoy the beauty of the temple from the window of the bus. Next time I will turn left.

Even so, it was a win-win situation for me as it is for anyone who visits this beautiful, peaceful spot. You really can’t make a bad decision. Whether you’re on foot, a bike, a walkway, hiking trail, or turning left or right, you’ll feel like you made the best possible choice.

Marsha Lenox is a writer and freelance editor. Her articles and essays on travel, roller derby and homeschooling have been featured in newspapers, magazines and on numerous websites and blogs. Marsha writes and performs creative non-fiction stories for Story Salon, the longest running storytelling venue in Los Angeles. She is also a roller derby referee.

The first thing I noticed walking into the original Din Tai Fung was the kitchen to the right, with table after table of kitchen help preparing tray upon tray of xiaolongbao—literally a ‘small steamer dumpling’.

The heat and humidity in the kitchen matched the weather outside and I wasn’t sure this was such a great idea. But after walking up to the fourth floor dining room while inhaling the aromas around me, eating steamed dumplings started to make a lot of sense. A refreshing glass of icy cold Gold Medal Taiwan Beer also helped.

My first dumpling was Angled Loofah (squash) and shrimp. I was instructed not to dip these into a sauce because the delicate flavor would be lost. What impressed me most about these fluffy pillows of goodness was the perfect balance of flavors. This balance seems to be a hallmark of this iconic Taiwanese restaurant.

Next I enjoyed the most famous dumpling at Din Tai Fung – pork. These bao have 18 folds at the top and are filled with a small bit of ground pork and a hot broth that spills out when you open the dumpling. But my favorite was the truffle and pork. The truffle-pork bao is a recent addition to the regular menu and is as close to perfection as any food I’ve ever enjoyed.

The truffle and pork complemented each other (balance!) and made each bite a delight to be savored slowly. Din Tai Fung has branches all over the world, but if you want to try this decadent treat you’ll have to go to the original on Xinyi Road in Taipei.

For more information about Din Tai Fung, visit: http://www.dintaifung.com.tw/en/.

Marsha Lenox is a writer and freelance editor. Her articles and essays on travel, roller derby and homeschooling have been featured in newspapers, magazines and on numerous websites and blogs. Marsha writes and performs creative non-fiction stories for Story Salon, the longest running storytelling venue in Los Angeles. She is also a roller derby referee.

After eight days in Taiwan I realize I’ve only heard one car horn. And I’ve been in cities – Taipei, Tainan, Taichung – with cars and scooters galore. Not to mention pedestrians. A Taiwanese woman told me that the Taiwanese are a very orderly people. Maybe that’s the explanation for the unexpected quiet of the city streets.

It’s a contrast to the energy in the air that is difficult for this LA native to fathom. I’ve always equated quiet with dull but Taiwan is anything but dull. Is it possible to be both driven and relaxed? Go to Taiwan and you’ll see that, somehow or other, the surprising answer is ‘yes.’

The metro in Taipei is another example of this relaxed orderliness. On the escalator down to the boarding platform I see that my train is there with its doors open and people getting in. In LA this is cause for everyone on the escalator to start scrambling down the escalator and pushing their way onto the train. Not here in Taipei. Logic alone tells me that I can’t be the only person who is supposed to catch that train yet there is no mad dash. I calm myself with this thought.

These people know something I don’t. I reach the platform level and notice there are lines on the floor. People wait within these lines for the next train which comes along shortly. So civilized. I’m going to try to remember this sense of calm when I get home

Marsha Lenox is a writer and freelance editor. Her articles and essays on travel, roller derby and homeschooling have been featured in newspapers, magazines and on numerous websites and blogs. Marsha writes and performs creative non-fiction stories for Story Salon, the longest running storytelling venue in Los Angeles. She is also a roller derby referee.

“What is that awful smell?” I wondered to myself as I sat on a low wall, taking a brief rest from the hectic chaos of Shilin night market situated in the heart of Taipei.

The answer was right beside me, where a young woman was sitting. No, she wasn’t the source of the pungent odour. It was coming from the food she was eating.

This was my first encounter with the smelly tofu I had heard so much about prior to coming to Taiwan. The whiffy snack, made from marinating tofu in a fermented brine, is hugely popular in many parts of Asia. However, its odour was so strong that it made my nasal lining quiver in fear.

After several more days of strong smells, emanating mainly from the buzzing markets, I decided to venture to the outskirts of Taipei to escape the crowds and treat my nose to some fresh sea air. My destination was the city of Danshui, at the end of the Danshui line on Taipei’s wonderfully clean and efficient subway system.

Any thoughts of a break from the crowds quickly diminished when I saw that half of Taipei had also decided to come to Danshui. The city is a popular destination for day-trippers, drawn by the carefree atmosphere and beautiful sunsets. The boardwalk running alongside the Danshui River is the main attraction.

Upon leaving the station, I was swept along with the crowds in the direction of the boardwalk. Packed with street vendors, cafes and tourists, I’d heard that this was the best spot to see the sun sink into the water. It was also a great place to take a step back and watch the world go by.

Young couples strolled hand in hand along by the river, while mothers and fathers chased their energetic children as they scampered about the wooden walkway. I saw a few people pushing dogs in prams too, the pampered pets looking rather serene as the breeze from the water ruffled their hair. And then I got a waft of something familiar.

The smelly tofu was here in abundance. There was no escaping it.

I bit the bullet and decided to try it. Following my purchase from a street vendor, I examined it cautiously at arm’s length. Skewered on a stick, it looked innocuous enough. As I put it in my mouth, I wondered if my taste buds were about to be tantalised, tortured or simply torn apart. It turned out that the taste wasn’t half as strong as the smell, a discovery that delighted both me and my taste buds. I tried to find a way of eating it without at any point breathing in through my nose, a feat which is a lot harder than it might sound. I guess smelly tofu is an acquired taste, and to be honest, I’m yet to acquire it.

I turned my attention back to the setting sun, which was now low on the horizon. The sky was a deep orange and many people were sat along the edge of the boardwalk, enjoying the scene. Once the sun had bade us farewell, the light began to fade fast and I, along with many others, made my way back to the subway station. The sea air had stirred my appetite and thoughts of what to have for dinner filled my mind. I was so hungry that I was in the mood for anything – except smelly tofu, of course.

Written and photography by Trevor Mogg

Featured photo is a file from the Wikimedia Commons: Shi Lin Night Market in Taipei Taiwan. Photo by: Kyle Mullaney May 2005.

It was the ultimate game of cat and mouse – or human and monkey, in this case.

Rested and wide-eyed from a blissful sleep at the Grand Formosa in Taiwan’s Taroko National Park (www.taroko.gov.tw), I woke up earlier than usual. Nightlife was no issue on this five-star stay, which proved an indulgence in an eight-day sojourn that typically found me up later than usual.

I had slept with the doors opens, lulled to la-la land by a babbling stream that actually enhanced what would have been an eerie silence in an unusually dark setting – which was such a deviation to my normal sleeping regime.

Camera in hand, I headed out to prowl around the property that was swallowed in darkness when I arrived the evening prior. As I wandered toward the stream lying directly below my balcony, I came across one of the most intriguing – and eventually amusing – scenes I’ve encountered in quite some time. And I was ecstatic that I opted to let my inner photographer rule the morning rather than my typical breakfast buffet lust.

Initially, I thought I’d spotted a caravan of cats tight roping across the stream on cables once supporting a bridge. Closing in for a better view, I realized these creatures were sure-footed rather than sure-pawed. I had actually stumbled across a pack of Formosa Monkeys in a nose-to-tail balancing act that was more fun to watch than, well, than a barrel of monkeys.

The bulk of the pack had made its way across the high wire before I blurred into their vision range. Sensing my presence, those en route upped the pace while remaining careful with each step. Once they’d reached the bank on my side of the gorge, they scurried into absolute obscurity within a wooded area that I wisely avoided. Come to find out, these guys aren’t known for their friendliness – especially with their tots in tow.

Then there were the stragglers, a mom and offspring who obviously got a late start on the outing. They progressed and retreated depending on my moves that vacillated with my desire for better photos and my sense of respect for wildlife.

When they stopped, I stopped. When I headed toward them, they retreated. And when I retreated, they headed on toward the pack that was surely wondering what the heck had held them up to begin with. Mom was in ultimate protection mode, so I realized I was starting to tread on thin ice.

After devoting more than half-an-hour to this game, I realized they weren’t into my monkey business. So I threw in the towel and headed back to the hotel to grab a few bananas from the breakfast buffet before hitting the road.

To learn more:
Grand Formosa, www.grandformosa-taroko.com.tw
Taroko National Park, www.taroko.gov.tw

A freelance writer based between Honolulu and San Diego, Dawna specializes in destinations and adventures in the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, the South Pacific and Western United States. Her stories have appeared in publications that include The New York Times, Global Traveler USA, San Francisco Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, Smart Meetings, Family Fun, Hemispheres, Outside and Travel Agent Magazine. She is a frequent contributor to TravelAge West, a bi-weekly magazine targeting retail travel agents and wholesalers in the Western United States. An avid marathon runner and photographer, Dawna is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers. Visit www.dawnarobertson.com

Eileen doesn’t just do interviews for In The Know Traveler in English, once in a while she does them in Mandarin as well. In this video, Eileen meets with Vicki Chen of Taiwan Tourism. Check out this video and understand in any language the enthusiasm for visiting Taiwan. We also have a new video coming out on Taiwan in English, look for it.

As with all of our videos Quicktime 7.0 or better is required to see our great videos in all of there luster so scroll all the way down. However, we have now added a new feature so YouTube users can see the video on this page as well.

We are also on iTunes, Youtube, Current TV, and Google video. And be sure to scroll all the way down to see the video.

For more on Taiwan

Over a bowl of steaming soup in Taichung, Taiwan, I am tempted to ask my sister about its ingredients. The beef-broth soup was a delicious blend of tofu, chicken, noodles, mushrooms and a few ingredients I could not identify. However, one lesson I had learned during my trip to Taiwan was that nothing ruins a great bowl of soup like finding out the brown chunks I had been eating were actually cow stomach.

Located in west-central Taiwan, “Taichung” is aptly translated “Central Taiwan.” The city has just over a million residents, including my sister. The city’s central location makes it a hub for culture, education and grants it the good fortune of the best climate in Taiwan. Though the average high of 73 is accompanied by a hefty dose of humidity, the climate fosters floral delights like poinsettia trees, orchids and the plum blossom.

Nearing the bottom of my soup bowl, my curiosity got the best of me. I looked up from my lunch and asked my sister what the brown strips floating in my soup were.
“Pig’s blood,” she answered frankly. As the curiosity on my face melted into disgust, she quickly added, “Oh, don’t worry, it’s good for you.”

Eating is a thrice-daily adventure in Taiwan. Food from street carts and restaurants is inexpensive, and perhaps the quickest way to immerse in Taiwanese culture. Finding meals that appeal to the western palate isn’t hard (steaming dumplings, succulent scallops, heaps of fried rice and noodles), other things might take a little more time to get used to (like red bean desserts – beans made with sugar rather than spices), and some options are easy to pass on (stinky tofu, chicken feet, pig ears). In between meals, I began to learn more about Taichung, and what I enjoyed about it.

The streets of Taichung are constantly bustling with students, scooters and very few foreign tourists. Our American faces attracted pointing, curious stares and even a few brave souls hoping to practice their English. Taichung’s pace slows down on Art Street, located in the foothills of Da Du Mountain. The cobblestone street is pedestrian-friendly and lined with vibrant flower boxes. Art Street is truly a local jewel. Its stores vary from restaurants and coffee shops to a children’s toyshop and clothing boutiques. The colorful street is just a few blocks long, but the variety of stores is so rich that they somehow manage to encompass nearly every shopping need and price point. I stayed near Art Street and walked to one of its shops every day for fresh bread, wine or a cup of lemon-ginger tea. Art Street quickly became my favorite meandering site for souvenirs and to feel less like a tourist and more like a local.

Another favorite in Taichung are the temples. The colorful buildings are show pieces of craftsmanship. Temples are all built in traditional Chinese architecture, and inside every inch of wall space is adorned with carvings. Dragons drip from the eaves, horses march along the walls and the faint smell of incense wafts among temple visitors. The temples in Taichung are mostly Taoist, and are free to visitors. Temples are also numerous enough that they make a perfect impromptu stop when wandering through the city.

Taichung is also home to one of Taiwan’s most beautiful natural attractions, Sun Moon Lake. The tranquil scenery of Sun Moon Lake makes it a popular site for weddings, hiking and tourism of all kinds. The lake is named for its shape; the Eastern portion is round like the sun while the Western edge mirrors the shape of a crescent moon. The true beauty of the lake comes from surroundings, not the lake itself. Starting on the banks and eventually fading into the horizon, the lake is circled by tiers of magnificent mountains. In the morning the mountains are draped in delicate layers of mist, and by the evening the sunset is reflected in the crystal waters. It’s no wonder nearly 3 million tourists visit the lake every year.

Travelers looking for an authentic Asian experience will be delighted by Taichung. Tourists are so rare that they become celebrities to passersby and the city’s attractions have not been marred by commercialism. The variety of attractions and authentic culture make Taichung a rare destination for the adventurous traveler, and of course, be sure to try the soup.

Devin runs into Ling and Tiffany, the recent winners of the Miss Taiwan and Junior Miss Taiwan Pageants, at the LA Travel Expo. They take a moment to share their experience with us. Doesn’t have a lot to do with travel, but we could not resist. For more on Taiwan at ITKT. This podcast was produced by Wayfarer Digital for In The Know Traveler. To see our great videos and interviews you need Quick Time 7.0 or better.

A little knowledge goes a long way. If you are considering Taiwan for your next holiday, reading the following is a must. -editor-

Location
Taiwan is a convenient gateway to Asia positioned midway between Japan (3 hours) and Korea (2 ½ hours) to the north and Hong Kong (1 ½ hours) and the Philippines (2 hours) to the south. The island nation is in the western Pacific about 100 miles off the southeast coast of the Chinese mainland.

Geography
Taiwan covers an area of approximately 14,000 square miles. Forested mountains, with about 300 peaks higher than 9,800 ft., cover two-thirds of the island, with the remaining area consisting of highlands, coastal plains and basins. The Central Mountain Range stretches along the center spine of the island from north to south. To the west lies the Yushan (Jade Mountain) National Park, with its highest peak at 12,966 ft., making it the tallest in northeastern Asia. Along the coasts, mangroves and sand bars attract large numbers of migratory birds.

History
Taiwan has been inhabited for 10,000 years, although there is some debate as to where the earliest aboriginal tribes originated from – Central Asia, the Philippines or the South Pacific. Anthropological evidence suggests the indigenous peoples are from proto-Malayan ancestry and the language belongs to the Austronesian family. For centuries Taiwan was on the periphery of the great Chinese Empire. In the 15th century the first immigrants arrived from Fujian in eastern China and were followed later by migrations of Hakka from northern China. When Portuguese sailors landed in 1517 they named the island “Ilha Formosa,” or beautiful island. The Spanish followed and later the Dutch invaded in 1624 and kept a colony until they were expelled by the armies of Ming general Cheng Chengkung in 1661. The island then became a Manchu territory in 1683, then a province of Fujian called “Taiwan” and a Chinese province in 1887. Following the Sino-Japanese War of 1894, Taiwan was ceded to the Japanese, who ruled with an iron fist for 50 years until their defeat in the Second World War in 1945. Taiwan was returned to Chinese control at the end of the War and was re-occupied by the Kuomintang (KMT), the United Ruling Party of China. In 1949 the rise of communism created a split between the KMT under Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong and the leaders of the new People’s Republic of China. Chiang Kai-shek and the KMT moved to the island creating the modern nation of Taiwan.

Language
National language is Mandarin Chinese and many Taiwanese speak Fujianese and Hakka. Various aboriginal groups have preserved their languages. English is the most popular foreign language and is widely spoken among hospitality personnel in Taipei

Getting There
More than 34 international carriers serve Taiwan. Taiwan’s two national carriers: China Airlines (www.china-airlines.com) and EVA Air (www.evaairlines.com) offer nonstop flights from several US gateways. American, Continental, and Delta offer direct flights from many U.S. gateways. United, Northwest, Cathay Pacific, JAL, Singapore, Garuda, Thai and Philippine Airlines and other international carriers all fly to Taipei from various Asian gateways. There are two international airports: Taipei Chiang Kai Shek (TPE) in Taoyuan (about 40 km from Taipei), where most international flights arrive, and Hsiao-Kang Airport in Kaohsiung where some Hong Kong flights usually land.

Climate
With its subtropical climate, Taiwan enjoys mild and temperate weather year round. Temperatures range from a high of 75°F (25°C) in June to September to about 59°F (15°C) from November to March. The mountains get some snow in winter.

Accommodations
Many of the world’s luxury 5-star hotel brands have properties in Taiwan including Caesar Park, Grand Hyatt, Four Seasons/Regent, Shangri-La, Sheraton, Sherwood and Westin. Luxury resorts can be found in Sun Moon Lake, in Kenting, Taroko Gorge and the North Coast. There are a number of excellent 4-star hotels that appeal to business travelers with rates starting at less than $100. Small inns are located in various hot springs areas. Alternative accommodations are offered in monasteries.

Attractions
The country has more than 10,000 Buddhist, Confucius and Taoist temples, hot springs in about 100 locations, 6 national parks, 16 forest recreation areas and 12 national scenic areas; 18,800 species of wild animals including 500 bird species.
Taipei – The National Palace Museum, one of the world’s top five museums, Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Shunyi Aboriginal Museum and Taipei Fine Arts Museum. The world’s tallest building, Taipei 101 has an observation deck, restaurants and a mall (opened 1/2005). Yangmingshan Park, the closest national park to Taipei has hiking trails through forests, volcanic formations and hot springs.
Sun Moon Lake – The country’s largest fresh water lake sits in a stunning landscape at 2500 ft. surrounded by towering, forested mountains.
Taroko Gorge – The country’s top tourist destination has marble-walled canyons, steep cliffs, lush vegetation, hiking trails, and a variety of animal and plant life.
Kenting – A tropical resort on the southern tip with palm trees and long beaches.
Lugang – This picturesque town, with curved streets and quaint shops, houses some of the most magnificent temples in the country.

Major Cities and Islands
Taipei – The capital, one of Asia’s most vibrant cities is the business hub and the cultural heart of the nation.
Tainan – The oldest city in Taiwan is home to a quarter of Taiwan’s nationally listed cultural sites including 200 temples, as well as shrines and forts.
Kaohsiung – Taiwan’s second largest city, its largest port and one of the top five in the world, contains a number of the island’s finest temples.
Taichung – A cosmopolitan city and the country’s third largest, is home to the National Museum of Natural Science.
Penghu Archipelago – An archipelago of 64 islands (combined coastline of 300 km) between mainland China and Taiwan includes Penghu, Paisha and Hsi Islands.
Green Island – Snorkelers and divers are drawn to its pristine coral reefs and marine life. Others come for its saltwater hot springs, camping areas and beaches.
Orchid Island – Resembling a South Pacific island paradise, it has high volcanic mountains, lush tropical rainforests and beaches.

Culture and the Arts
A fusion of Chinese, Fujianese, Hakka, Cantonese and various aboriginal cultures, Taiwan has an array of annual celebrations like the Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mazu Culture Festival and Ghost Festival. Twelve aboriginal tribes remain: the Saisiyat, Atayal, Amis, Bunun, Puyuma, Rukai, Paiwan, Tao, Sao, Taroko, Kemalan and the Zou. They celebrate the Ami Harvest Festival, Bunun Ear-shooting Festival, Puyuma Monkey Festival and Saisiat Sacrifice to the Short Spirits. Taipei has a vibrant arts scene with regular performances of traditional and contemporary dance, Taiwanese opera and glove puppet theatre. Renowned artists and traditional craftsmen produce ceramics, stone and wood sculptures, contemporary paintings and bamboo and glass art works.

Cuisine
Besides Taiwanese cuisine, the island nation offers exceptional regional Chinese cooking: Beijing, Cantonese, Fujianese Hakka, Hunan, Jiangjhe, Shanghainese and Sichuan cuisines. At Taiwan’s renowned night markets, street vendors offer up delicious Taiwanese street food at incredibly low prices.

Outdoor Activities
A wide selection of outdoor activities include: swimming, diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, surfing, sailing, fishing, boating, canoeing, rock and mountain climbing, hiking, mountain biking, white-water rafting, golf, hang gliding, paragliding, bungee jumping, birdwatching and whale watching. The island has 6 national parks: Taroko, Yushan, Shei-Pa, Yangmingshan, Kenting and Kinmen. There are also a number of hot springs in Beitou in Taipei County, Zhiben, Wulu and Green Island in Taitung County and in Antung, Ruisui, Hongye and Wenshan in Hualien County.

Shopping
Options range from designer fashions to antiques, jade jewelry, hand-painted Chinese scrolls, pottery, ceramics, tea and tea sets and children’s toys. Traditional handicrafts, include: ceramics from Yingge, Shueili and Kinmen; woodcarvings from Sanyi, stone sculptures from Hualien and Meinong’s hand-crafted oil-paper umbrellas. Taipei has a number of shopping centers including one of the world’s largest, the Core Pacific Living Mall. Some of the most famous night markets are: Huasi, Raohe and Shihlin Night Markets in Taipei; Keelung’s Miaokou Night Market, the Siaobei Night Market in Tainan, Liouhe Night Market in Kaohsiung and Luodong Night Market in Yilan.

Ground Transportation
The Mass Rapid Transit System (MRT), buses or taxis are the best way to get around Taipei. The MRT has five major lines that cover most of inner and Greater Taipei. Taxis are easy to hail, with cab fares reasonably priced. Outside the capital, buses, trains or cars are the best options. Buses are a reliable way to travel around Taiwan or to connect to other major cities and scenic spots using the modern highway network. The railway system between major cities is easy and convenient and tickets can be booked through the website www.railway.gov.tw. When it debuts in early 2006, the Taiwan High Speed Railway, $16 billion project will carry 300,000 people a day to travel from Taipei in the north approximately 326 km to Kaohsiung in the south at a speed of up to 300km/h.

Time Difference
Taiwan is 12 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard time, 13 hours ahead of Central Standard, 14 hours ahead of Mountain Time and 15 hours ahead of Pacific Time.
Population Taiwan has a population of almost 23 million. Taipei is home to 2.9 million, Kaohsiung – 1.4 million, Taichung – 860,000 and Tainan – 708,000. Per capita GNP $13,157 (2003).

Government
Taiwan is a democratic republic headed by a president. Its constitution was adopted in December 1946. The central government consists of the Office of the President, the National Assembly and five branches, or yuan: Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Examination and Control.

Currency
The official currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$). Notes come in values of NT$ 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 and coins are in NT$ 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50. Current exchange rate is NT $31.83 = US $1 (7/12/05).

Customs and Passports
U.S. and Canadian citizens holding passports valid for at least six months and onward or return tickets are allowed visa-free entry to Taiwan at any of its major international airports and harbors for a period of 30 days. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is authorized to perform services for American citizens. Americans are encouraged to register with AIT through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. For further information go to www.taipei.org.

Web sites
www.go2taiwan.net
www.taiwan.net.tw