100 Reasons to visit Taiwan

Source: taiwanfreeandeasy.com.sg

Taiwan’s numerous geothermal springs. One of the more famous is Lushan hot springs where visitors can boil eggs in the water for a tasty treat!

Source: tripadvisor.com

Hehuanshan is a 3,416 metres high mountain in Central Taiwan. The peak lies on the boundaries of Nantou and Hualien counties and is within the Taroko Gorge National Park. Hehuanshan is a popular destination for the local people of central Taiwan

Source: www.jamaicaobserver.com

You have direct flights from Europe. Taiwan grants visa-free and visa-on-arrival travel for citizens of 45 countries and an online travel authority is valid for citizens of 7 territories.

Source: netdna-cdn.com

These plunging jungle-covered cliffs knifing down into the blue waters of the Pacific are like something from a by-gone age.

Source: www.taiwan.gov.tw

Festivals are another great way to learn about the history and religious beliefs of Taiwan, and they’re just plain fun. Watch hundreds of paper lanterns released into the sky at Lantern Festival, barbecue with locals during Moon Festival, cheer on dragon boats as they race to the finish line during Dragon Boat Festival.

Source: www.foodiebaker.com

Stop at Cingjing farm for picturesque views of cows and sheep grazing against a backdrop of magnificent mountains. It’s also one of the only places in Taiwan that snows in winter.

Source: taiwantoday.tw

Along with suspension bridges, Taiwan boasts some of the most beautiful scenery we have seen in all of Australasia. Taiwan’s trails are accessible, easy day hikes abound for families.

Login to wonderful and speedy WiFi everywhere

Source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Taiwan’s farm stays are notorious and a hit for the kids.

Source: intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com

Taiwan is the biking capital of the world. Giant is a Taiwan biking company that in the 80’s and 90’s became one of the largest bicycle manufacturers in the world when they took over production for Schwinn. There are over 3,000 kilometers of dedicated bike paths!

Source: www.gocurrycracker.com

Taiwan has the highest concentration of convenience stores of any country around the globe - It's there in every corner of Taipei. Convenience stores in Taiwan do far more things than simply selling food or snacks like their foreign counterparts. One can withdraw money, book train tickets, buy a variety of hot food or even send their laundry.

Source: tour-hualien.hl.gov.tw

Home to Cingshui Cliffs and Taroko Gorge. The views and atmosphere are captivating. For those into hiking and nature, Taroko Gorge is a great place to get your fix.

Source: www.travel.taipei

Taipei City has a very clean, efficient and safe Mass Rapid Transit system, known most commonly as the MRT or Metro Taipei. Stations and trains are clearly identified in English.

Source: wanderingbutterflyeffect.files.wordpress.com

Approximately 600,000 butterflies migrate to Maolin National Scenic Area in southern Taiwan for the winter. One of only two butterfly species in the world to migrate for the winter, the Taiwanese Purple Crow features iridescent blue and purple wings. Don’t miss this phenomenon that occurs only once a year, between December and February.

Source: www.goway.com

Sun Moon Lake is the largest body of water in Taiwan as well as a tourist attraction. Situated in Yuchi, Nantou, the area around the Sun Moon Lake is home to the Thao tribe, one of aboriginal tribes in Taiwan. Sun Moon Lake surrounds a tiny island called Lalu. The east side of the lake resembles a sun while the west side resembles a moon, hence the name. The sunrise and sunset view attracts everyone.

Source: www.wantchinatimes.com

They are impeccably clean, offer a wide variety of products, and possibly some of the best food.

Source: bicycletouringpro.com

The Taiwanese are, to sum it up, friendly. At first you might feel a degree of scepticism, certain this friendliness is a façade put on by hotel staff and tourist guides eager for a tip. Only you don’t tip in Taiwan. Even the old ladies will probably be willing to help you as best they can, should you get lost somewhere. At the end of the day, the biggest take away from your time in Taiwan will more than likely be the people. Chances are you won’t ever have to ask for help; if you even look like you’re in need someone will be there to assist.

Source: www.organicfacts.net

Taiwan produces the best oolong tea in the world - Thanks to its mature tea culture and ideal growing conditions.

Source: www.ambergristoday.com

Taiwan as a stable country where women feel perfectly safe and not nerve-racking about what could occur, particularly going out at late night. Many tourists reviewed that they never felt worried or scared in Taiwan. According to Lifestyle9.com based on crime statistics from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Taiwan ranked world's 2nd safest country! Taiwan is one of the best places to live in terms of low exposure to violent crimes and robbery.

Source: g1.img-dpreview.com

The cities might be a concrete jungle, but as soon as you escape to the countryside, stunning landscapes are all-around. When Portuguese sailors first set eyes on Taiwan more than 500 years ago, they named it "Ilha Formosa" which means beautiful island.

Source: cdn1.vtourist.com

Taipei is the ultimate showcase. It's got quiet parks encircled by hectic streets and traditional markets right next to the trendiest boutiques. It's old enough so you can feel its past.

Source: meeting.ipmb.sinica.edu.tw

Taipei 101, also known as the Taipei Financial Center is a 509-m, 101-story landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District of Taipei. It has the fastest elevator in the world.

Source: www.1001-home-efficiency-tips.com

Traveling around the island is easy, because the infrastructure is good and the distances relatively short. A high speed railway connection brings you from Taipei in the north down to Kaohsiung in the south within 2 hours.

Source: www.taiwanese-secrets.com

With influences from the Polynesians, Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese, and Chinese, Taiwan is the exotic hidden gem of East Asia. Taiwanese cuisine is the infusion of Chinese cooking with local aboriginals' ingredients and culinary traditions. Night markets are an iconic element of Taiwanese culture, and while at first they can be a bit overwhelming, they certainly transform into many travelers favorite part of Taiwan. Whether it’s street food, mall food, or restaurant food, Taiwan has it all. Taiwanese people love to eat. The dishes people miss the most when they leave include beef noodle soup, soup dumplings from Din Tai Fung, and the uniquely Taiwanese oyster omelets.

Source: www.aimeeku.com

You might think it'd be in Beijing or Shanghai, but the National Palace Museum in Taipei houses the largest collection of Chinese artifacts and artwork in the world.

Source: www.wantchinatimes.com

Taiwan’s aboriginal people comprise about 2% of the total population. Some of the tribes have developed cultural tourism for years.

Source: library.taiwanschoolnet.org

Taiwan is rich in culture and traditions. During Imperial times, Tainan was the capital of Taiwan. Today, several fascinating buildings and attractions are still open to the public commemorating the times.

Source: www.happytellus.com

Taiwan's southern tip boasts beautiful white sand beaches, such as those that make up the coast along Kenting National Park.

The official language is Mandarin, but it's relatively easy for foreigners to get around Taipei, the country's capital, where signs are clearly marked with English translations.

Source: www.wantchinatimes.com

If you prefer to get around by bike, Taipei has a bike share program where the first 30 minutes - 16 cents (5 NTD), and docks are located all around the city.

Source: www.wantchinatimes.com

Baseball is the national sport, and Taiwan is the world record holder for most Little League titles won.

Source: www.vodkitchen.com

Bubble tea was invented here, and tea shops are even more ubiquitous than Starbucks or 7-Eleven.

Source: eng.coa.gov.tw

Taiwan is located in a subtropical zone and is well suited for the cultivation of many tropical fruits. Unique natural geographical attributes not only give Taiwan's fruits a distinctive flavor, but also enable northern fruits such as persimmons, apples, Asian pears, and nectarines to coexist with such tropical fruits.

Regardless your religious leanings, the temples in Taiwan are worth a visit. Ages of Buddhism mixed with traditional practice.

Source: www.formosatravel.net

If you like fish, visit the Addiction Aquatic Development. Its modeled after Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji market, there is no end to the maritime harvest that arrives fresh here everyday.

Source: www.meettaiwan.com

Taiwan is well suited for many water activities like snorkeling in Kenting National Park and Little Liuqiu Island, to the pacific islands of Luado and Lanyu where snorkelers are able to get a glimpse of many tropical fish and sea turtles.

Source: www.worldfortravel.com

More backpackers head to Taiwan for the misty mountain ranges and waterfalls. There are trails not far from Taipei and are easily accessible by cab.

The Asia Pacific mixology scene was put on the map in 2011 when Japan’s Manabu Ohtake won World Class Bartender of the Year.

Source: lifeoftaiwan.com

Honoring one's ancestors is an important part of traditional Chinese religious practice. In Taiwan people are very serious when it comes to taking care of the deceased. This is based on the common belief that only a proper funeral and regular offerings of food and other "necessities" ensure that the dead become ancestral spirits rather than ghosts who haunt the living.