Taiwan was established in 1912, or otherwise known as The Republic of China (Taiwan), making it the first democratic republic in Asia. Taipei is Taiwan’s national capital. Located in the country’s northern part, it consists of twelve districts with a total population of about 2.7 million. It is the island’s cultural, financial, and political center so any first-time visit to Taiwan should start here. While travelling for your trip, bring along the latest wireless earbuds – the Beats Powerbeats Pro, you can visit TW ValueQ for reviews and information on these earbuds TW ValueQ has reviews and articles and the latest gadgets all in one place!
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The total land area of Taiwan is approximately 36,000 square kilometers (14,400 square miles). It is shaped like a thin leaf at both ends. It lies off the south-east coast of mainland Asia, across China’s Taiwan Strait-an island on the Pacific Ocean’s western edge. Japan lies to the north; the Philippines is to the south. Many airlines fly to Taiwan which makes it the perfect destination for travel.
Taiwan sits on the western side of the “rim of fire” in the Pacific, and constant tectonic changes have produced majestic peaks, rolling hills and plains, basins, coastlines, and other natural scenes. Tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates in Taiwan provide strong distinctions between the various seasons.
Located off the Asian Continent’s southeast coast on the western side of the Pacific Ocean, between Japan and the Philippines and right in the middle of the East Asian arc, Taiwan forms a critical contact line in the Asia-Pacific region. It occupies an area of around 36,000 km2 (14,400 square miles) and is longer than it is wide. Two-thirds of the total territory is covered by wooded mountains and the remaining territory is made up of hilly hills, platforms, and highlands, coastal plains, and basins. The Central Mountain Range stretches from north to south through the entire region, thereby creating a natural demarcation line for rivers on the island’s eastern and western sides. The Yushan Range is on the west side, with its highest peak reaching 3,952 meters, it is the highest mountain range in Northeast Asia.
Taiwan has been richly endowed with mountains; more than 200 of its peaks are more than 3,000 meters high, making Taiwan special in geography. Mountain climbing is a common leisure activity in Taiwan since mountains can be found anywhere. One may choose to walk the mountains on the outskirts of the city or take up the task of ascending one of the numerous high mountains, following the course of streams and valleys, tracing back to the source of rivers, or crossing whole mountains. In any case, lush scenery will unfold your eyes and it won’t take too long for you to be persuaded of the beauty of the mountains of Taiwan.
Nine national parks and 13 national scenic areas have been created to preserve Taiwan’s graceful nature and ecology. Together they highlight the most stunning natural scenery and tourist attractions in Taiwan. Visitors are welcomed to enter Taroko’s majestic high mountains and canyons, take mini-mountain trains to enjoy Alishan’s sunrise and cloud seas, or ascend the highest peak in North-East Asia-Mt.-to see high-rise mountains and shifting seasonal views. You would even want to take a luxurious oceanic holiday in the southern tip of Taiwan in Kenting-known as Asia’s Hawaii.
In deep mountains, the Sun Moon Lake shines brilliantly-the lake and its surrounding mountains appear to combine into one beautiful whole. What a beautiful panoramic view! Both The East Rift Valley and the Hualien and Taitung coastal areas are very clean and pure that they would seem like heavens on Earth. Kinmen and Penghu, two offshore islets of Taiwan, sell their special history and geology differently.
As for society, Taiwan is culturally diverse as many different ethnic groups live on this island. Here all kinds of religion, architecture, languages, lifestyles, and food flourish in harmony, especially food. You can all enjoy Taiwanese, Hakka, Hunan, Sichuan, Japanese, and Korean food in the form of snacks, specialties, or restaurant dishes. Taiwan is recognized as a “kingdom of delicious food” by gourmands around the world for the diversity of culinary choices it offers.
FESTIVALS
CHINESE NEW YEAR
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is observed from the Chinese lunar calendar’s first- to the fifth day of the first month. The Chinese people simply refer to this festival as “passing the year,” which means wiping out the old and welcoming the new; it is considered the most important Chinese holiday of the year. There are many associated customs and traditions which go with the festival. Usually, on the 23rd or 24th day of the last month of the Chinese lunar calendar, people pray to God the Hearth and send him off on his annual trip to Heaven; this marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year holidays.
LANTERN FESTIVAL
The “little New Year” is what the Lantern Festival is sometimes called. The occasion includes guessing riddles, eating dumplings and releasing lanterns into the sky in Pingxi Township. A further major event during the Lantern Festival is the Yanshui Beehive Rocket Festival in Tainan County. The Lantern Festival, which is celebrated with a grand national festival and other major festivals in Taipei and Kaohsiung, has always been the main attraction for colorful lanterns of all sizes and shapes.
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
The Dragon Boat Festival is one of three main annual traditional holidays in Taiwan, along with the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. It is closely related, due to its roots and traditions, to the memory of Qu Yuan, a poet who lived during the Warring States period. That’s why people have often referred to the Dragon Boat Festival from ancient times as the “Poet’s Festival.” The most famous traditions at the time of the Dragon Boat Festival are dragon boat races and glutinous rice dumplings called zongzi. Legend has it that the local people were rowing their boats to and fro in search of him when the poet Qu Yuan jumped to his death in the Miluo River. This practice later evolved gradually into the dragon boat races. Dragon boat races are a common activity in Taiwan and abroad today, and many of Taiwan’s local areas organize their races. An international dragon boat race is also held each year with participating teams from Taiwan and abroad.
ZHONGYUAN FESTIVAL
Chinese lunar calendar’s seventh month is Ghost Month. This usually begins at dawn on the first day of the month, when the netherworld gates open, and ends on the 29th day of the month, when the gates shut. People perform ceremonies during the month’s celebrations, which hit a height on the 15th day, to seek salvation from tragedy and misfortune.
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL
The holiday with the most romantic feeling is the Mid-Autumn Holiday, also called the Moon Holiday. Since this holiday takes place during the fall, when the harvest season is over, people have chosen this day in earlier days to make offerings and thank the gods for the bountiful harvest. The party has become a time for family reunions. The most common story about this festival is that Chang-e flies to the moon after drinking the elixir of life secretly from her husband. Besides this, tales of the Jade Rabbit and of “Wu Gangchopping down the cassia tree” still exist.
There you have it. Some of the information about Taiwan and its festivals, hopefully, will give you more knowledge and enjoin you to visit Taiwan! See you!
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