Beautiful Island of culture, history and innovation.

Republic of China (ROC) (officially called Taiwan) is a very interesting island situated in the southeastern baseline of China. Taiwan is known to possess an impressive natural beauty coupled with rich cultural background, fashionable cities, and cutting edge technology market. Whether it is the towering skyscrapers of Taipei or the green mountains with soothing beaches, Taiwan has ample experiences to suit every kind of tourist.

The travel guide will cover the history, geography, culture, economy of Taiwan as well as the attractions that a visitor cannot miss. Taiwan offers something to everybody: it has its vibrant city lives, historical temples or natural beauty.

For an in-depth travel guide, visit the Official tourism guide for Taiwan

In case you want to find more information regarding this country, such as its flag, language, area, currency, and population, you can produce and download free  this information by visit in our Random Country Generator tool. 

Note: The tool provides rapid research access on relevant country facts that can be used both in school and personal application

Geographical Location

Taiwan is a geographical region in the East Asian continent that is an island and sits off the coast of the mainland of China in the southeast. To the east, it is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, East China Sea to the north, Taiwan Strait to the West and Bashi Channel to the south. The Island is lengthier than 394 kilometers (245 miles) and about 144 kilometers (89 miles) north to south and east to west respectively. Taiwan lies some 160 kilometers (100 miles) away in the Chinese Fujian Province.

Taiwan, being in major shipping routes within the world, has found itself as an economic and trade hub of the Asia-Pacific. Its location also enables it to enjoy both tropical and temperate climates which means that the country is also a place to be visited all round the year by tourists.

Natural Features I Landforms

Taiwan is a state of different types of terrain and in the countryside, there are mountains, plain, forest and beach. The most prominent island is its central mountain range that stretches in the north -south direction and serves as the central spine or backbone of Taiwan. Such mountains including Jade Mountain (Yushan) , the tallest mountain in Taiwan, have beautiful scenes and numerous hiking sites.

Hot springs are also abundant: especially in the central and northern parts of the island, and examples include Beitou in Taipei, and Wulai. The coast of Taiwan is varied with sandy beaches, steep cliffs and rocky shores particularly towards its eastern coast which has scenic beauty.

Original cultures and Ancient History

Thousands of years of Taiwanese history lead up to the arrival of outside power as the island has always been housing a vast number of ethnic groups as the time when the outside powers landed there. The Taiwan aborigines are members of indigenous population who belong to the Austronesian language category and have varying cultures and languages in their tribes. The groups created their own rich culture with peculiarities of art, music, and spirituality.

The outsiders first visited Taiwan in the 16th century when Portuguese sailors landed on the island and they called it Ilha Formosa, meaning Beautiful Island. In the 17th century,Taiwan became an important connection between China, Japan and European powers.

Colonial Period and the Qing Dynasty

The Dutch East India Company placed the colony on the island towards the end of the 17th century which was later followed by the Spanish colonization in the North. Nevertheless, the Dutch later drove out the Spanish and in the mid-17th century, Taiwan belonged to the Qing Dynasty that governed Taiwan between 1683 and the late 19th century. At this period Han Chinese immigrants who were settled on the mainland of China started to immigrate to Taiwan and the island slowly became a part of the Qing government.

Japanese Rule (1895-1945)

Taiwan was surrendered to Japan in 1895 by Treaty of Shimonoseki after the First Sino-Japanese War. The history of 50 years of the Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan is marked by the contemporary seizing of the island (the expansion of the infrastructure, industry and education). It turned out that the Japanese authorities were initially met by the opposition of the local Taiwanese, but they, however, managed to incorporate Taiwan within the Japanese Empire.

Following the defeat of Japan after World War II, Taiwan was governed by the Republic of China (ROC) in the form of the Kuomintang (KMT) led by the Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek. After the Chinese civil war was over, the Chinese nationalist government withdrew to Taiwan in 1949 where it still governed the island and the communist party was formed in mainland China.

Contemporary History and Political Situation

Taiwan Since the retreat of 1949, Taiwan has become a booming democracy and industrial powerhouse, concentrating on technological advancement, production and trade. Taiwan has continued its independent status against the People Republic of China which considers Taiwan as one of its break away provinces, and is aimed at unifying the mainland together with Taiwan. Taiwan nevertheless has its government, military and constitution in a self-governing state, which is independent of mainland China, but the territorial status of Taiwan is a controversial matter in the international arena.

Religious and Ethnic Diversity

Taiwan enjoys a population of predominantly Han Chinese with an approximate 2 percent indigenous people which have maintained the use of their own languages, traditions and customs. The most prominent of indigenous peoples are the tribes of Amis, Atayal, Paiwan and Rukai.

Taiwan is regarded as a land of religious plurality where the larger percentage of inhabitants are Buddhist, Daoists and Confucianists. A minority of the Taiwanese also practice Christianity. Taiwan is known to be full of temples and shrines, which are the major objects of religion practices and get together.

Cultural Policies and Customs

Taiwan Culture is rich. It has a rich blend of the traditional Chinese and native. Some of the traditional festivals that are celebrated on the island include the Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival and Lantern Festival. Taipei Lantern Festival is one of the brightest, most attractive by the strength of the picture events as thousands of lanterns are launched at night into the air.

Taiwan also has its colorful night markets where you can get to taste local food, commodities, and entertainment. Food Taiwan food forms an important part of the culture of the island and some of the most famous food items in Taiwan are bubble tea, beef noodles, stinky tofu, and pineapple cake.

Literature, Art and Music

The arts of Taiwan are in flourishing condition and they are mixed with the traditional Chinese, the Japanese and the western arts. Taiwan has a long literary heritage and well-known authors like Liu Yichang and Eileen Chang have written Chinese works. The Taiwan International Film Festival and Taipei Fine Arts Museum are key cultural implementations that present the ability of showing local and international talent.

Technology and electronic

Taiwan is famous as one of the world leaders in technology and electronics. Some of the largest tech companies in the world are found in the country such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) which is a major chipper of semiconductor chips. The technology sector contributes to much of the Taiwanese economy and the smartphone, computer and hardware manufacturing industry forms a major exporter in the country.

Its research and development concentration has assisted the island to sustain a competitive position in the market in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G telecommunications, and biotechnology. Taiwan also takes a halt in green energy where there is heavy investment in solar power and wind energy.

Trade and Production

Taiwan also has a significant role in the manufacturing industry in the world, especially in manufacturing textiles, machinery, plastics and electronics. Its products are sold in every part of the world as it is one of the leading exporters of electronics and high-tech equipment in various parts of the globe.

International trade also plays an extreme role in the economy of the country as the primary trading partners are China, United States, Japan and the European Union.

Food and Agricultural Productions

Even though the economy of Taiwan is characterized by service and manufacturing, agriculture remains a crucial element. The island also yields a variety of crops like rice, fruit and vegetables, flowers and tea. The well-known Taiwanese tea, especially Oolong tea, is very expensive and famous around the world.

Landmarks Historical and Cultural

Taipei 101: Taipei 101 is a wonderful sightseeing destination, which used to be the tallest building in the world and is a distinctive landmark of this city.

National Palace Museum: Marked as the place of one of the largest in the world menagerie of Chinese emperor treasures, the museum is an essential visit to history enthusiasts.

Longshan Temple –The beautiful historic temple is in Taipei providing a chance to look over at the religious past of Taiwan.

Natural Attractions

Taroko Gorge- This major cliff is famous because of the hiking paths and marble cliffs that serve as the Taiwan famous natural monument.

Sun Moon Lake – It is a beautiful and calm lake in the centre of Taiwan that has beautiful views with boat tours and hiking.

Alishan A famous mountain vacation site, with spectacular sunrises, tea farms and ancient forests.

Healthcare System

Taiwan boasts an excellently developed medical system, as everyone in the country gets universal healthcare privileges by the National Health Insurance scheme. The healthcare system of the country is very well developed, and the countries are characterized by high levels of standards of care and medical research.

Education System

Taiwan is also educational and the educational system of Taiwan is prestigious and the whole system is based on both scholastic and proficient qualities. The country has many of the finest universities such as the National Taiwan University and the National Tsing Hua University. International students also flock to Taiwan because of the good education system and well developed infrastructure.

Ideal Seasons

The optimal period to visit Taiwan is spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) when the air is neither hot nor cold. This part of the world could be hot and humid during summer months and cold and conducive during the winter months.

Fests and Parties

In order to get an idea of the culture in the peak form, arrange your visit around the Chinese New Year or the Lantern Festival or the Dragon Boat Festival, and you get the full treatment of food, music, and dance.

Conclusion: 

Taiwan is a wonderful Island with the perfect combination of historical roots, contemporary innovation and natural beauty. Taiwan has so much to offer regardless of the kind of traveler you are: whether you like to explore bustling tourist sites, hike in the mountains or visit ancient temples, there is something to see. Taiwan will arguably stay as one of the destinations one can get to have a good cultural experience in the hub of East Asia as the country develops.

Most Popular Questions

When should I travel to Taiwan?

Spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November) is the best season to visit Taiwan since it has mild weather that is convenient to sightseeing.

Which are the main attractions in Taiwan?

The three popular tourist destinations are Taipei 101, Taroko Gorge and Sun Moon Lake.

Which are the languages used in Taiwan?

Mandarin Chinese is the official language though Taiwanese Hokkien and Hakka are also spoken especially in the rural parts.

Can Taiwan be a safe tourist destination?

Taiwan is one of the safest countries in Asia to be a tourist, so crime rate is low and the place is receptive.

Which cultural festivals are a must to have in Taiwan?

Do not want to miss the Lantern, Dragon Boat, and Chinese New Year festivals to apprehend some of the cultural interests of Taiwan.