Lin Wei, Director of the Taiwan Strait Tourism and Travel Association in Beijing, penned ten reasons travelers from China love Taiwan. It was published to encourage people from China to vacation in Taiwan and has become the most read online article in China’s travel and tourism category.
10 things Chinese love about Taiwan
1. Endless mountain chains
While Taiwan’s mountains are no higher than 4,000 meters, it leads the world in climbing experiences, as there are many different types of mountains. Its mountain ranges provide a wide range of hiking and climbing challenges.
2. Numerous gourmet foods and snacks
Gourmet foods and snacks in Taiwan taste great and are also inexpensive. The top choices are braised pork rice, beef noodles, oyster omelet, milkfish, gua bao, iron eggs, ba wan dumplings, and pineapple cake. Most tourists regret that their stomachs are too small!
3. Hot springs
Taiwan receives two unique gifts from Mother Nature: typhoons and earthquakes. Because of the many earthquakes that it experiences, it has many hot springs. The quality of the country’s hot springs is at least as good, if not better, than those in Japan.
4. The Lantern Festival
Held on the first full-moon night of the lunar year, the Lantern Festival is commonly regarded as one of the most important and romantic festivals in Taiwan. The festival is celebrated with lantern making, lantern riddle games, and displays of glittering decorative lanterns. The traditional festival food is tangyuan, also called yuansiao, glutinous rice dumplings with sweet or savory stuffing.
5. Sleepless New Year parties
There are several splendid festivities that one may join while visiting Taiwan during the Chinese New Year period, including Dragon and Lion Dances, vivid scenes at temples, fireworks, the Bombarding Master Handan Festival in Taitung, the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival in Tainan, and many others.
6. Challenging bicycle treks
Taiwan’s East Coast Highway 11 has spectacular scenery. The 54-mile-long (87-kilometer) mountain road winds from Hualien Qixing Tan to Hehuan Mountain in Wuling. It varies in elevation from sea level to 10,744 feet (3,275 meters) and has been rated by the French bike magazine Le Cycle as a classic challenge, comparable with a trek through the Alps in Europe.
7. Memorable bed and breakfast options
When traveling in Taiwan, the most convenient lodging and easiest way to get close to residents is to stay in a bed and breakfast. Bed and breakfast lodging in the country has become a unique experience since each has set its characteristics reflecting the background and culture of its owner and the local community.
8. A train excursion
Taiwan’s modern railways offer an endless variety of experiences, and the scenery lining their routes provides an infinite range of fascinating trips. Suppose you want to look at the island’s beautiful features closely. In that case, you could do no better than choose a railroad tour and immerse yourself in the delights of enchanting coastlines, awesome mountains, peaceful farmlands, and fascinating countryside.
9. Great books that are hard to put down
Taiwan’s most famous city, Taipei, is known for its cultural landmarks, delicious cuisine, and bustling night markets. Travelers may not know, however, that this metropolis is also home to some great bookshops. From popular bookstore chains to well-loved shops off the beaten path, Taipei has various options to satisfy any reading need.
10. The warmth of its people
The friendliness of the Taiwanese people is the most unforgettable experience for many travelers to this island nation. Undoubtedly, this lasting quality brings tourists from China back to the country repeatedly.
