Information

• eng.taiwan.net.tw (Tourism Bureau, Taiwan)
• youtu.be/4yvnOD9hSSQ (ILHA FORMOSA)

Taiwan is a solitary island on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, lying off the southeastern coast of mainland Asia, across the Taiwan Strait from China. Taiwan known, especially in the past, as Formosa, meaning "Beautiful Island" from Portuguese, is also reputable for its towering mountains and beautiful coastal scenes.

Taiwan now has established 8 national parks and 13 national scenic areas to preserve its best natural ecological environment and cultural sites. The blending of Hakka, Taiwanese, indigenous people and Chinese cultures has produced a rich plethora of cultural and social color. Most importantly, National Palace Museum, located in outskirt of Taipei City, is home to essence of the five-thousand-year Chinese history, ranked one of the five top museums in the world. It has the finest collections of Chinese Arts, providing an eye-opening experience of Chinese culture.

We have more than 200 mountains that soar above 3,000 meters in height, and our unique geology and topography have created countless arresting landscapes and alluring coastal scenes. Taiwan has world-class natural landscapes such as the awesome Taroko Gorge and once the world's tallest certified building as Taipei 101. All of these magnificent sceneries are waiting for you to discover!

From the world's tallest building to the biggest collection of Chinese art, Taipei invites you into a world of fascinating contrasts-a mix of the modern and traditional, with a generous dash of energy and friendly smiles to make this one of your most memorable trips to Asia. The cultural kaleidoscope of Taiwan's capital city pulses wherever you go. Incense-veiled temples dating back to dynastic times blend seamlessly with a neoned street life of a decidedly more modern era. Taipei has dozens of world-class restaurants where gourmets can sample the best regional Chinese cuisine; and for the gourmand, there are plenty of night markets serving up scrumptious evening snacks in an environment of chaotic excitement and fun.

The polarities of Taipei are vividly present as well in the joining of the urban and natural. Just a few minutes from the heart of the city you can soak away the cares of the world in mineral-rich hot springs nestled in the lush mountain foothills ringing the Taipei Basin. And throughout the city there are plenty of trails, parks and other oases of tranquility to lift and invigorate your spirits.

Whether you're just stopping over en route to another Asian destination, or planning a longer stay, Taipei is a many-faceted treasure that will call you back again and again.

Discover the heart of Asia in beautiful Taipei!

Taipei 101
Take the world's fastest passenger lift to the viewing platforms of Taipei 101, soaring 508 metres above the ground. Enjoy the 360? panorama, see the giant pendulum counteracting earthquakes, browse the coral exhibition and designer boutiques.
Source：台灣采風翦影 陳主建

Longshan Temple
The Longshan Temple houses hundred of statues of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian deities. The temple mixes traditional Chinese siheyuan ("four-building courtyard") with palace architecture in its design. The temple is divided into front hall, main hall, rear hall, right wing and left wing. Painting of vivid creatures grace the temple walls, and stone statues of mystical creatures guard the temple grounds. Let us visit this magnificent temple on the beginning of the year of rabbit and pray for good lucks all year around.
Source：台灣采風翦影 葉英晉

Shilin Night Market
Beyond a doubt, Shi Lin Night Market is one of the most famous night markets in Taipei, making it a long-time favorite among residents and tourists, locals and foreigners. Since it's such a huge market, almost any product imaginable, not to mention any kind of food, can be found there. The products are of good quality and quite inexpensive, so that you're sure to get your money's worth.
Source：台灣采風翦影 吳志學

Chiang-Kai-shek Memorial Hall
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a famous monument erected in memory of Chiang, former President of the Republic of China. The monument, surrounded by a park, stands at the east end of the Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness. The structure is framed on the north and south by the National Theater and National Concert Hall. The entire plaza is located within sight of the Presidential Office building.
Source：台灣采風翦影 吳志學

Yehliu
A distinctive feature of the cape is the hoodoo stones that dot its surface. These shapes can be viewed at the Yeliu Geopark operated by the North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic area Administration. A number of rock formations have been given imaginative names based on their shapes. The most well-known is the "The Queens Head", an iconic image in Taiwan and an unofficial emblem for the town of Wanli. Other formations include "The Fairy Shoe", "The Bee Hive", "The Ginger Rocks" and "The Sea Candles".
Source：台灣采風翦影 洪重福

DanShui
Danshui, a town neighbors mountain and sea, has always been a favorite place for tourists to visit or people to settle down. In Danshui, the endless sea, the board horizon, and the romantic atmosphere enchanted by sunset will relax you, relieving you from the boring earthbound affairs.
Source：台灣采風翦影 黃國昇

Jiufen
Jiufen used to the center of gold mining. It is located within the hills in northeast of Taiwan. The village is next to the mountain and facing the sea. In 1890, someone struck gold near Jiufen. The poor village with only nine families soon attracted prospectors of 4,000 families. The village once was gold city of Asia and called little Shanghai or little Hong Kong.
Source：台灣采風翦影 蕭綱侯

Ximending
Ximending is a neighborhood and shopping district in the Wanhua District of Taipei. It was the first pedestrian zone in Taiwan. Ximending attracts an average of over 3 million shoppers per month. Individual vendors gather in the streets as well as the large business buildings, such as Wannien Department Store and Shizilin Square during the day, and Wanguo Department Store and Eslite 116 later at night.
Source：西門紅樓

National Palace Museum
The collection of cultural artifacts held inside the National Palace Museum consists an enormous treasure trove of objects from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. Development of the Museum is closely connected to the social changes of modern China. Thirteen years after the founding of the Republic of China, the last Qing Emperor Puyi was exiled from the Forbidden City. The cultural artifacts left within the palaces were collectively itemized, and a National Palace Museum was born. The museum today has what is quite possibly the best collection of Chinese art in the world. Famous pieces from its collections include the jade cabbage, pork belly jade, and passenger boat carved from an olive pit.
Source：台灣采風翦影 蕭綱侯

Martyrs' Shrine
The Martyrs' Shrine, resting on the slopes of the Qing Mountain and overseeing the Keelung River, is located right next to the Grand Hotel. It was built in 1969 and covers a large area. Its grand and magnificent architectural style is similar to that of the Taihe Dian Imperial Palace in Beijing, Mainland China, and symbolizes the martyrs' brave spirit. We will bring you to enjoy the famous guard changing performance.
Source：台灣采風翦影 銳志傳播

Juming Museum
Ju Ming's art cultivated from Taiwan but because of his unique spirit and character, his works are internationally admired. In order to find a place to store his various-sized works, some years ago Ju Ming started buying up land around Chinshan mountain area in northern Taiwan. During the last part of the 1970s, Ju Ming gradually developed his Taichi Series (originally named Gong Fu), which would become one of his most famous works. This new departure was inspired by Taichi boxing, which Ju Ming practiced for his health. His Taichi realizations marked Ju Ming's new use of material and a breakthrough in his works. Taichi reflected the artist's daily life and helped him to develop a personal style and an innovative vocabulary.
Source：朱銘美術館

Dharma Drum Mountain
Dharma Drum Mountain developed from Nung Chan Monastery and the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Culture, which were both founded by Venerable Master Dongchu. Nung Chan Monastery, whose early residents dedicated themselves to the practice of Chan and grew their own food (hence its name, as "Nung" here means "to farm"), was established in 1975. At that time, Venerable Master Dongchu was devoted to promoting Buddhist culture in Taiwan, cultivating Buddhist human talent, and holding an annual winter charity event.
Source：法鼓山

Yilan Center of Traditional Art
Yilan Center of Traditional Art is designed to innovate and renewal traditional arts of Taiwan while reserving it. It is now a popular attraction in Yilan travel. Through various facilities, zones, and DIY events, visitors can have more understandings of Taiwan traditional arts. The National Center for Traditional Arts is designed to create a cultural and old day's ambience.
Source：台灣采風翦影 蕭綱侯

• eng.taiwan.net.tw (Tastes of Taiwan > Tourism Bureau, Taiwan)

In Taiwan, where most locals are huge fans of tasty and special cuisines, it is said that there is a snack shop every three steps and a restaurant every five. These establishments serve all kinds of Chinese food, from the roasted ducks, smoked chickens, lamb hotpot, fish in wine sauce, beef with green peppers, and scallop and turnip balls of the north to the camphor-tea duck, salty fried chicken with spices, honey ham, stir-fried shrimp, dry-fried eggplant, and spicy bean curd of the south. Foreign foods from all over the world have also made their appearance in Taiwan, and the country is now filled with eateries serving American hamburgers, Italian pizzas, Japanese sashimi, German pig's knuckles, Swiss fondues, and just about everything else.