The main island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa Formosa, meaning “beautiful island”, is located in East Asia off the coast of mainland China, southwest of the main islands of Japan but directly west of the end of Japan’s Ryukyu Islands, and north-northwest of the Philippines. It is bound to the east by the Pacific Ocean, to the south by the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait, to the west by the Taiwan Strait and to the north by the East China Sea. Here are some places to visit in Taiwan:

1. Mt. Yushan – Don’t miss seeing the Jade Mountain, Mt. Yushan, which is Northeastern Asia’s highest peak. Exercise your limbs by climbing this 3,952-meter-high mountain. You’ll be treated to crisp mountain air and a breathtaking view at the top.

2. Yang Min Shan National Park – This a favorite place due to its hot springs, wonderful flora and wildlife and spas. Its mineral springs are popular with people from Taipei. Just 45 minutes by bus or 70 minutes by train, visitors can go hiking or have a picnic here.

3. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall – This palatial structure is also known as the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall. Built to commemorate Chiang Kai Shek, the building represents the flag of Taiwan with its blue roofs, red flowerbeds, and white walls. Lush gardens flank the hall, and it is located close to the National Theatre and National Concert Hall.

4. Penghu – Penghu is an archipelago of 64 islands between Taiwan and the mainland. It has sandy beaches, fishing villages, and delicious seafood. Its only city of Makung is a beautiful place with an outdoor market, fishing harbor, and temples.

5.Tienhsiang – Located in Tienhsiang is the Taroko Gorge, probably Taiwan’s most beautiful tourist attraction. It is 19 km long with cliffs dropping away to a rushing river of water. The Eternal Spring Shrine straddles a waterfall and is a memorial to the 450 workers who died constructing the Taroko Highway.

6. Lung Shan Temple – Also known as the Dragon Mountain Temple, this temple is very impressive for its architecture and religious practices where worshippers give offerings to the various gods here, the main one being the Goddess of Mercy. Offerings such as fruit, flowers, and money are made here to the deities, and this is done by burning paper money or putting it in the offertory box. The temple is situated in the Wanhua district, just near the Huashi Night Market.

7. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall – Don’t miss this great hall where a 30-foot statue of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, who played a pivotal role in Taiwanese history, adorns the entrance. Tourists can watch the changing of the guard. They can also watch world-class shows in the theatre on the upper floors.

8. The National Palace Museum – Comparable to the best museums in the world like the Louvre, the National Palace Museum contains one of the most extensive collections of Chinese artifacts . It is twin to the Palace Museum in Beijing, which was split in twain by the civil war, which also resulted in the formation of Taiwan. It contains masterpieces which provide glimpses of Chinese craftsmanship.

For many good reasons to you come Taiwan. Come here you see a lot of the beautiful islands or you can mountain climb, Taiwan captivates everyone; a vacation here is an experience you will want to repeat time and time again.

There are almost no differences between houses people live in Taiwan now and then. There are old houses and new houses in every city in Taiwan. It is necessary to note that one-storeyed buildings prevail over multi-storeyed ones. If you are going to study in Taiwan, you will have to decide where to live: on a university campus or in some other place. In Taiwan houses do not differ greatly from average houses in Europe. The modern houses are seen near old ones. It is necessary to point out that the mixed architecture styles can be found everywhere in Taiwan.

Taiwanese architecture is composed of variety of styles. The old traditional architectural model of houses in Taiwan still exists here. However, traditional architectural features of Taiwanese style become unimportant when entertaining and commercial institutions, such as shops and theaters, are built. We should emphasize that modern Taiwanese architecture unites traditional Taiwanese and European architecture styles. There appear buildings in European style, such as buildings of foreign consulates, foreign concessions, banks, hotels and clubs in big cities. Consequently, the houses people live in Taiwan now and then are constantly changing with the development of international contacts.

First of all, any visit of a house in Taiwan starts from a meeting and a greeting. In Taiwan people, as a rule, shake hands with each other when they meet. Bows are a popular tradition in Korea and Japan, but not in Taiwan. Some very official cases are exceptions from this rule, where people bow when they meet. When you enter somebody’s house in Taiwan you should remember to take off your shoes. There are usually special slippers for guests in any house. This is a tradition in Taiwan to welcome one’s guests. Consequently, if you are going to visit Taiwan remember what foot-wear to take. Sandals are not the best choice for you to wear to a library or other institutions.