hong kong, painting for dinner, taiwan, wong sir

Taipei’s 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival

Cosponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and the Taipei City Government, the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival (台灣燈會) is grandly held in Taipei City from February 2 to 19 to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. It is Taiwan’s first large-scale international event after all Covid-19 entry restrictions were lifted last October.   For other photos, please ...

Billy Shyu

'Starting From the Heart' (從心出發).

Taiwanese Bamboo Art: The Breathtaking Masterpieces From Cheng-Tsung Feng

Cheng-Tsung Feng has taken the art world by storm with his interesting medium — bamboo. His bamboo art finds a beautiful balance between the ancient and the modern, the normal and the eccentric, and between raw talent and mastered dexterity. The Taiwanese bamboo artist is internationally recognized for his modern take on bamboo art. He’s ...

Nathan Machoka

The 'Meeting Dome.'

A Man Donated Blood and Unexpectedly Saved His Future Wife

The slogan “Donate Blood and Save a Life” may sound familiar. However, a man in Hsinchu City, Taiwan, “donated blood platelets and found his future wife.” Mr. Lian has been donating blood regularly for many years. He presented a bag of platelets, and this saved a woman who later became his wife. According to The ...

Emma Lu

A man donating blood.

A Medical Miracle Against All Odds

How long can a human being survive intact without a heartbeat? In Taiwan, an event occurred that left medical experts astounded. This event went well beyond common medical sense and can only be described as a genuine miracle. After 30 minutes with zero heartbeat, insufficient blood flow to the brain, and low levels of oxygen ...

Michael Segarty

A hospital emergency room entrance.

A Miraculous Event in the Midst of a Devastating Earthquake

September 21, 1999, is forever etched in the memories of the residents of Taiwan. At 1:47 am, as people slept in their beds, they were suddenly awakened by a loud rumbling sound “similar to noises produced on construction sites,” quickly followed by buildings shaking and objects crashing. It was a major earthquake. The ‘921’ earthquake The “921” ...

Tatiana Denning

A golden Buddha statue with udumbarra flowers.

What Is Bubble Tea and Where Did It Originally Come From?

Bubble tea is a cool, refreshing, sweet drink with tapioca pearls. It is also known as pearl milk tea (珍珠奶茶 zhenzhe nicha), boba drink, and boba milk tea (波霸奶茶 boba nicha). It was created in Taichung, Taiwan, in the 1980s. “Bubble” refers to the milk froth generated after shaking the cup. At the same time, “boba” symbolizes the tapioca pearls, which ...

Billy Shyu

Different flavors of bubble tea.

Businessman Loses Investment in China, but Gains the Truth

One day in April, businessman Liao Jinzhang, 60, closed his business in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan after more than 20 years and became one of the “runners,” returning to his native Taiwan. The idea of joining the ranks of the “runners” crossed his mind last year when power restrictions and blackouts across China ...

Mikel Davis

A pile of Taiwanese money.

The Unique Sail Rock in Taiwan’s Kenting National Park

Sail Rock is one of the popular landmarks of Kenting National Park in southern Taiwan. The rock is also nicknamed “Nixon’s Head,” as it resembles the back of former U.S. president Nixon’s head. There is a small white sand beach nearby, which is also a popular snorkeling site. There are plenty of cozy guesthouses and ...

Nspirement