23 Reasons Why You Should Book Your Next Trip to Taiwan

Lyndsay Hemphill
Jun. 9, 2015, 12:14 PM 
 

Taiwan, officially called the Republic of China, is a delightful island.
Located off the southeastern coast of China, Taiwan is about the same size as Belgium and was named Formosa Island by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century due to its stunning natural beauty.
Chinese mainlanders started settling in Taiwan dating back to the 17th century, and the Japanese colonization of the island ended in 1945. Due to its historical mixture of influences, Taiwan has its own distinct culture.
Not many people know just how amazing the country is, which makes it one of the most underrated destinations in Asia.

One of Taiwan's many beautiful temples
Lyndsay Hemphill/Business Insider

1. Let's start with the food. 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.

Famous soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung

2. If you've never had Taiwanese breakfast, you're missing out. Fuhang Doujiang in Taipei has a line out the door every morning and the wait for soy milk, egg crepes, and fried dough sticks is worth it.

Typical breakfast in Taiwan includes either sweet or savory doujiang, or soy milk.
Taiwan Tourism Bureau

3. Every major city has at least one night market — and all of them are worth visiting to try local specialty snacks and shop for souvenirs. Taipei alone has several night markets, including Shilin and Raohe. The city of Keelung's night market is arguably the country's largest and most renowned.

Liuhe night market in Kaohsiung
Taiwan Tourism Bureau

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

Bubble Milk Tea
Taiwan Tourism Bureau

5. Taiwan also has some crazy fruit that you’re not going to see anywhere else, such as pink guava, wax apples, and “Buddha’s head.”

Buddha's head fruit at a Taipei night market
Lyndsay Hemphill/Business Insider

6. Taiwan's western coastline is made up of towns and cities, but the center of the island features beautiful mountains you can climb for breathtaking views. Hehuan Mountain and Ali Mountain are two top-rated scenic spots on TripAdvisor.

White sand beach in Kenting,
Taiwan Corné Viljoen/Flickr

7. Another reward for climbing up to a scenic spot is a sight like this: a waterfall that cuts through the lush tropical greenery.

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

9. One of the most popular spots for relaxing amidst nature is Sun Moon Lake. It's known as a beautifully romantic spot, so many couples go there to take wedding photos or honeymoon.

Sun Moon Lake
Jennifer 真泥佛/Flickr

10. Taiwan currently has 9 national parks, which make up 8.6% of its land. Taroko National Gorge alone is worth spending at least two days hiking its numerous scenic trails.

Swallow's Grotto trail inside Taroko Park, Taiwan
Lyndsay Hemphill/Business Insider

11. 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. Also, locals are extremely friendly, helpful, and hospitable.

12. The subways in Taipei get you pretty much everywhere, plus they are clean and timely. And cheap! You can get most places for less than a dollar.

Taipei MRT
G.Wu./Flickr

13. Even the bathrooms in the metro stops are nice! Each restroom has a handy status sign that tells you before you enter which stalls are free and which are occupied.

14. If you prefer to get around by bike, Taipei has a bike share program where the first 30 minutes will cost you a mere 5 Taiwan dollars (15 cents), and docks are located all around the city.

Taipei's bike share program is called YouBike
YouBike Co, Ltd

15. A favorite Taiwanese pastime is hanging out at the local hot springs. You can visit public, communal hot springs in your bathing suit, or do as the locals do and soak in private baths (separated by gender) in the nude. They're located throughout the country, with a couple of the most famous being Beitou outside of Taipei, and Jiaoxi in Yilan.

16. Bar culture is not as popular in Taiwan as other countries, but the country is the proud maker of Kavalan, the 2015 winner of World’s Best Single Malt Whiskey. You can visit the distillery in Yilan, or just pick up a bottle duty free at the airport.

17. Baseball is the national sport, and Taiwan is the world record holder for most Little League titles won (17!).

18. Taiwan was one of the first countries to embrace widespread free internet usage (even for tourists!). You can find free Wi-Fi at all train stations and most major tourist attractions.

19. There’s a lot of artistic freedom in Taiwan. You can spend all afternoon wandering around artistic parks that house galleries, outdoor installations, and coffee shops, such as Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei or Pier-2 Art Center in Kaohsiung.

20. If you are a cat person, you are guaranteed to like Taiwan. Not because of Hello Kitty, but actual cat cafes were first established in Taipei, before taking off in Japan and now the US. Cats are everywhere.

21. In Taiwan it’s easy to go from the super modern to the historic and enchanting. Just a short bus ride from Taipei, for example, is the charming mountainside town of Jiufen, on which Hayao Miyazaki reportedly based his famous animated movie "Spirited Away."

22. If tall buildings are your thing, Taipei 101 is the 4th tallest in the world. It also boasts the world’s fastest elevator, and a pretty cool tuned mass damper inside that stabilizes the whole tower so that it can withstand typhoon gales of up to 134 mph, and earthquakes.

23. Taiwan is a place where you can expect to be unexpectedly charmed. For example, you might stumble upon a skilled group of swing dancers in the midst of a warehouse that has been converted to a shopping center and exhibition hall (Songshan Cultural and Creative Park).

Data Resource: http://www.businessinsider.com/reasons-to-travel-to-taiwan-2015-6