Taiwanrocks! Tâi-ôan-chio♿h!

Travel in Taiwan

I will remove any content at any time if asked; please do not sue me. 我隨時可以刪除任何的內容;請詢問

Email= taiwanrox8@gmail.com

Remember: Yahoo maps sucks! Trust in google maps

The below widgets are from www.taiwan.net.tw...

Sorry but I couldn't get this widget to work correctly. Please go here: http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0000263

The "More" button does not work, please go here: http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNO=0000211

Links

http://www.go2taiwan.net/

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1036.html official stuff about requirements and etc.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/taiwan

http://iff.immigration.gov.tw/enfront/index.php

http://taipeitravel.net/

Taiwan

From http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNO=0000202

Taiwan's total land area is only about 36,000 square kilometers (14,400 square miles); it is shaped like a leaf that is narrow at both ends. It lies off the southeastern coast of mainland Asia, across the Taiwan Strait from China-- a solitary island on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. To the north lies Japan; to the south is the Philippines. Many airlines fly to Taiwan, helping make it the perfect travel destination.

Taiwan lies on the western edge of the Pacific "rim of fire," and continuous tectonic movements have created majestic peaks, rolling hills and plains, basins, coastlines, and other wonders. Taiwan's tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate climates provide clear differentiation between the different seasons. There are about 18,400 species of wildlife on the island, with more than 20% belonging to rare or endangered species. Among these are the land-locked salmon, Taiwan mountain goat, Formosan rock monkey, Formosan black bear, blue magpie, Mikado pheasant, Hsuehshan grass lizard, and many more.

The government has established 7 national parks and 13 national scenic areas to preserve Taiwan's best natural ecological environment and cultural sites. Take a hike in the splendor and sheer heights of the cliffs at Taroko Gorge; take a ride on the Alishan Forest Railway and experience the breathtaking sunrise and sea of clouds; hike up to the summit of Northeast Asia's highest peak, Jade Mountain. You can also soak up the sun in Kending, Asia's version of Hawaii; stand at the edge of Sun Moon Lake; traipse through the East Rift Valley; or visit the offshore islands of Kinmen and Penghu. It's fun in capital letters as well as an awesome journey of natural discovery!

The cultural aspects are also not to be missed. The blending of Hakka, Taiwanese, indigenous people and Chinese cultures has produced a rich plethora of cultural and social color. Whether it is religion, architecture, language, living habits, or food, it's just one big exciting melting pot! Food is the best representative of this cultural mixing and matching. Aside from cuisines from different parts of the mainland such as Zhejiang, Hunan, Guangdong, Yunnan, Shanghai, Beijing, Sichuan, and others, there is also the local Taiwanese cuisine as well as the local delicacies of each area.

A couple of years ago it was hard to get around Taiwan without Mandarin or Taiwanese. Now, as more foreigners enter Taiwan for both travel and business (In fact, my neighbor in Taiwan is white), English is almost everywhere and now all youths are forced to learn English in school. However, that is not to say Taiwan is exactly like America. First, stuff is way cheaper. Especially fruit, and technology (Taiwan supplies silicon chips to about every single computer company in the world). Second, people in Taiwan are all like Texans , they all know each other and are nice to each other. Taiwan is often seen as the "countryside of Asia" where people are relaxed. That might not be the case in the modernized city of Taipei though but, even in big cities like Kaohsiung, friendliness is still abundant. Third, Taiwan actually has plants in the city, contrary to the concrete filled cities in America. Taiwan also has

School Uniforms
Typhoons
Snow (yes, Taiwan has snow on Yushan, I've been there before)
Japanese stuff
Tons of tourists, especially Chinese tourists
Weird game shows
Many shopping malls
A lot of rivers
A lot of southeast Asian immigrants
A lot of Chinese businessmen
A lot of white people http://www.ait.org.tw/en/
Rice
Mangoes (Mangos?)
Wet Markets
Tea http://www.teafromtaiwan.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_tea_culture http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/culture/art_tea/
Nuclear power plants everywhere http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_Taiwan http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf115_taiwan.html
Daily protests against China http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&um=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=protest+taiwan
beaches
rainforests
monsoons
Boba Milk Tea (it was invented in Taiwan) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_tea http://www.bubbletea.com/

There are two parts of Taiwan, new Taiwan (shown below)

And old Taiwan

Fortunately, old Taiwan is dying in Kaohsiung, Taipei, Taichung, and pretty much every where you'll be going, unless you're going to Tainan which is still pretty old (but very interesting and historical).

Food

How Not to Piss People Off

Don't stick up your middle finger or swear in English...the Taiwanese know... Don't say Taiwan is a part of China (cause it isn't), and don't refuse any food the Taiwanese give you. If a Taiwanese offers you a gift at first say "no, no, pie say (see Taiwanese dictionary)." If the Taiwanese guy keeps insisting then take it, but show your reluctance. If you are friends with your gift giver, then he might expect a gift back, though it is not needed.

Pages:

Northern Taiwan http://www.freewebs.com/taiwanrox88/northerntaiwan.htm

Taipei 101 http://taiwanrox8.webs.com/taipei101.htm

Taoyuan Airport

Tamsui

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial

Bali

Xinyi District: http://www.freewebs.com/taiwanrox88/xinyidistrict.htm

Hsintien Sindian

Middle Taiwan

Sun Moon Lake: http://www.freewebs.com/taiwanrox88/sunmoonlake.htm

Highway Rest Stops