Welcome to Taiwan!

Formosa, the former name of Taiwan, carries the meaning of “a beautiful island”. It is how Portuguese sailors praised Taiwan when they first navigated along the coast of Taiwan in the 16th century. Taiwan is situated along the southeast coast of the Asian continent at the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. With the population as much as 23 million people, ranging from Hoklo, Hakka, Mainlander, to Aborigine, Taiwan is only a small island with a total area of 36,000 square kilometers that is shaped as a sweet potato. Despite its small size, the uniqueness of the geographical location enriches Taiwan’s geological features such as hot springs, extinct volcanoes, valleys and mountain ranges.

Location Climate Festival All in all... Sitting in an area of seismic belt, the convergence between the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate, Taiwan is in one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world. An example of the most catastrophic earthquake that ever struck Taiwan would be the Chichi earthquake which occurred on September 21, 1999 with a magnitude of 7.3. It is marked as the largest as well as the most disastrous earthquake in Taiwan’s recent history. The climate in Taiwan is generally marine tropical that is both warm and humid.  In the summer season, the weathers are usually high in temperatures with intermittent rains and thundershowers. In the winter season, the climate differs between the northern and southern parts of Taiwan. Due to the northeastern monsoon, the weather in northern Taiwan is typically rainy and cold while it is dry and warm in southern Taiwan. Typhoons usually occur during the summer and autumn seasons which cause massive rains and environmental demages to Taiwan. However, at the same time, they are the beneficial carriers of water resources for the forests and crops since more than half of the rainfall in Taiwan is a direct result of typhoons. To explore the traditional culture of Taiwan, one should never escape the chance of sampling the authentic Taiwanese snacks associated with the various festivities. During the Chinese New Year Festival, rice cake (Nian Gao) is usually served to symbolize yearly promotion of jobs and enhancement of people’s lives. The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is another very important holiday celebrated in Taiwan. During this night, families and friends gather in scenic areas where they celebrate family reunions together while appreciating the beauty of the moon and enjoying delicious moon cakes (Yeu Bing). The Dragon Boat Festival together with the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival forms one of the three major Chinese holidays. It is celebrated with dragon boat races and the eating of sticky rice (Zong Zi).  Since the festival takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month which precedes most of the major school examinations in Taiwan, the eating of sticky rice represents good luck and success in the examinations. These popular varieties of Taiwanese snacks can be available in restaurants, street vendors and night markets. All in all, though merely a small island, Taiwan is a place of fascinating sceneries, majestic geological landscapes, distinctive cultures and customs as well as delicious local delicacies. It is one of the Asia’s must-see destinations where you will enjoy the magnificent beauty of the nature and discover the uniqueness of the Asian cultures.  Taiwan is truly a place worthwhile visiting where you will definitely have awesome experiences and a fun and pleasant journey.