Tourism. ROC (Taiwan) Yearbook 2011 Ch18 tourism

A well-known tourist attraction in
Kinmen, this eclectic Chinese-Western
style residence was built in 1931 with
funds from Huang Hui-huang, a native
of Kinmen who had earlier become a
businessman in Indonesia. (Lin Jin-shu,
courtesy of the Tourism Bureau)

18五校OK (spelling)(indexed).indd 258 2011/10/18 1:59:33 AM

18 Tourism
At a Glance
• Inbound visitor count hits historic high
• Projects and measures to further boost tourism
• 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition
• In-depth traveling around Taiwan

T
aiwan offers a wide range of engaging choices for holiday-
makers and world travelers. These include bustling metropo-
lises, breathtaking alpine and coastal scenery, mouth-watering
cuisine, diverse traditional Chinese as well as aboriginal
arts and traditions, and some of the world’s friendliest people. For na-
ture lovers, the main island’s mountains and foothills, with their lush
forests, hot springs and crisscrossing network of hiking trails, offer
many opportunities for exploration and relaxation.

This chapter explores the magnificence of Taiwan’s national parks and
scenic areas, as well as the colors, sounds and flavors of its many festi-
vals and holidays. It also looks at various tourism promotional cam-
paigns, events and festivals hosted by the Tourism Bureau and local
government agencies, attracting inbound travelers whose number in-
creased significantly in 2010.

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18 Tourism
Recent Developments and hotels and tour operators throughout
the country. Some 31 countries, 59 cit-
Travelers from overseas made a ies and 86 organizations from around the
record-high 5.6 million visits to Taiwan world took part in the floral extravaganza.
in 2010, up 1.2 million or 26.7 percent Visa Inc. and the Tourism Bureau
over 2009, far surpassing the Tourism teamed up to launch the “Go Discover
Bureau’s 4.5-million target. Among them, Taiwan with Visa” plan, which provided
58.3 percent were tourists. The jump in special offers to overseas Visa credit card
volume of visits is accounted for mainly holders traveling in Taiwan between April
by increases in the number of visitors 2010 and March 2011. These included ad-
from East and Southeast Asia (see “Main mission to attractions such as the world-
Sources of Visitors” section). class National Palace Museum (NPM) 國
立故宮博物院; enjoyment of cuisine at pop-
Tourism Promotion Campaigns ular restaurants like Tu Hsiao Yueh 度小月
Building on the success of the Tour and Din TaiFung 鼎泰豐 (ranked as one of
Taiwan Years (2008-2009) program, the Asia’s best restaurants in the 2010/2011
Tourism Bureau 交通部觀光局 carried out edition of the Miele Guide); and discounts
several promotion campaigns in 2010, at major retail establishments, such as
including the “Go Discover Taiwan with the Taipei 101 Mall, the Eslite Bookstore
Visa” Go享受！台灣吃喝玩樂盡在Visa卡 and chain 誠品書店, Pacific SOGO Depart-
“Tour Taiwan and Experience the Centen- ment Store 太平洋崇光百貨 and Shin Kong
nial” 旅行台灣．感動100 plans. The bureau Mitsukoshi Department Store 新光三越.
also promoted the 2010 Taipei Interna- As a continuation of the Tour Taiwan
tional Flora Exposition 臺北國際花卉博覽 Years program, the “Tour Taiwan and
會, which drew 8.96 million visitors, or an Experience the Centennial” highlights
average 52,700 visitors per day. celebration of the ROC centennial. In-
With an investment of about US$300 depth travel packages comprising 10
million, the Taipei floral expo generated themes, nominated by specialist teams
about NT$16.8 billion (US$531 million) and selected by online public vote, are
worth of business in Taiwan for horticul- offered so that travelers can get to know
turists in central and southern Taiwan, Taiwan better. These include religious

Taiwan Welcomes Individual Tourist Visits from Mainland China
Visits to Taiwan by certain types of individual tourists from mainland China have been
permitted since June 22, 2011. Taiwan began allowing visits by tourist groups from main-
land China in July 2008.
Residents of Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen are the first of mainland tourists to be al-
lowed entry for individual visits, with the initial daily quota for such solo tourist visits set
at 500. Applicants must be at least 20 years old, provide proof of income, and may be ac-
companied by spouses, parents or dependents. Students aged 18 or above are also eligible
to apply.
Tourists from mainland China who wish to travel in Taiwan on their own must provide
itineraries and emergency contact information for relatives on the mainland, along with
proof of having purchased travel insurance with coverage of NT$2 million (US$67,769).
They may apply for stays of up to 15 days. Those who overstay will be banned from enter-
ing Taiwan for three years.

260


Digitally-rendered
images of flowers
endemic to Taiwan
were featured in
floor projections
during the 2010
Taipei International
Flora Exposition.

and folk customs, indigenous Austrone- administrative regions of Hong Kong and
sian people’s cultures, local cultural tradi- Macau—Japan at 19.6 percent, Malaysia
tions, and contemporary arts. Among the at 5.1 percent, Singapore at 4.3 percent
plentiful recreational opportunities are and Korea at 3.9 percent.
hot springs, hiking and cycling eco tours Tourism in Taiwan has been greatly
and tours of celebrity-related sites. boosted by the easing of restrictions
The centennial program also includes by both Taipei 臺北 and Beijing on the
a year-long, Internet-based “Happystay movement of mainland Chinese and, in
100” 幸福旅宿．百種感動．住我家最感動PK活 July 2008, by the launch of direct flights
動 campaign launched in September 2010, between Taiwan and new destinations
where local residents are asked to help se- in mainland China (adding to the direct
lect Taiwan’s top hotels and guesthouses air links that have long existed between
as a means of boosting domestic travel. Taiwan and the mainland’s special ad-
The Tourism Bureau also introduced ministrative regions of Hong Kong and
the 2010-2011 Taiwan Incentive Tour Macau). Encouraging this trend was the
Offers and Promotions 獎勵來臺旅遊優惠措 launch of flights between Taipei Interna-
施 to provide tour groups with souvenirs, tional Airport 臺北國際航空站 (Songshan
administrative assistance and cultural Airport) and Shanghai Hongqiao Inter-
performances. Details are available at national Airport 上海虹橋國際機場 in June
http://eng.taiwan.net.tw. 2010, supplementing flights to and from
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport 臺
Main Sources of Visitors 灣桃園國際機場.
In 2010, the bulk of visitors—about According to Tourism Bureau data,
4 million out of the total 5.6 million— mainland Chinese from regions other
came from East and Southeast Asia. The than Hong Kong and Macau made more
four most important sources for visitors than 1.6 million visits to Taiwan in
to Taiwan were mainland China, at about 2010, each for an average of eight days,
43 percent—one-third from the special spending between US$230 and US$300

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18 Tourism
per person per day. The spots they most
often visited were the NPM, Taroko
Efforts to market Taiwan in Southeast
Asia and other Asian nations as a tour-
Gorge 太魯閣峽谷, Sun Moon Lake 日月潭, ist destination have also paid off. For
the Taipei 101 skyscraper—the world’s instance, nearly 286,000 visitors from
second-highest—and night markets. Malaysia came to Taiwan in 2010, a
Japan has long been one of the most growth of 71 percent from the previous
popular tourist destinations among year, while the number of Singaporeans
Taiwanese. The resumption of flights visiting Taiwan rose to over 241,000, a
between Taipei’s Songshan Airport and rise of 24 percent.
Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on October 31,
2010, after three decades of suspended Enhancing Tourism Appeal
service between the two airports has en- Tourism is one of several indus-
hanced the convenience of travel between tries targeted by the ROC government
Taiwan and Japan. The number of two- for development assistance. Accord-
way visits between the two countries’ ingly, the Tourism Bureau launched
travelers in 2010 reached 2.5 million. “Project Vanguard for Excellence in
According to data issued by the National Tourism” 觀光拔尖領航方案 (2009-2012)
Immigration Agency 內政部入出國及移民 to capitalize on Taiwan’s advanta-
署, 1.1 million Japanese visitors came to geous location as a transportation hub
Taiwan in 2010. of East Asia and develop international
Visitors from South Korea numbered and domestic tourism.
about 217,000 in 2010, an increase of It is expected that the project will
29.4 percent. That year, they and visitors help maintain visits by foreign nation-
from Japan spent over US$1.6 billion als at about 5.5 million in 2012 and
in Taiwan. generate more than US$10 billion in

Medical Travel
Taiwan is at the forefront of practice of both Western and Chinese medicine, with health
care professionals who offer the highest standard of service at costs well below those in
most Western and some Asian nations. Physical examinations, dental treatment, cardiovas-
cular surgery, craniofacial surgery and joint replacement surgery are among the medical
procedures for which Taiwan’s medical expertise is commonly sought. Taiwan also leads in
cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medicine, offering highest-standard care that costs one-fifth
to one-sixth of that in the Unites States and the United Kingdom.
In recent years, Taiwan has annually received tens of thousands of visits by foreign
tourists seeking health care services. Services provided to visitors from Asian countries are
currently valued at more than US$4.5 billion per year.
More than US$2.5 billion in government funding was invested by 2010 in promotion of
the health care industry, which is expected to provide services worth US$11 billion in 2012.
The Taiwan Task Force for Medical Travel 行政院衛生署國際醫療管理工作小組 was estab-
lished under the Department of Health 行政院衛生署 to serve as a platform for providing
overseas nationals with information about medical services available at accredited hospitals
and, to that end, enhancing cooperation between government agencies, hospitals and health
care-related civil organizations.
For details about medical travel in Taiwan, including information about costs and serv-
ice options, see http://www.medicaltravel.org.tw and http://medicaltravelintaiwan.com.

262


foreign exchange earnings—over 2 per- revised according to international stan-
cent of Taiwan’s projected GDP—and dards, with stars replacing the traditional
about US$8 billion worth of domestic plum blossoms. The new system was
tourism spending. It is also anticipated developed with reference to the American
that the project will create 400,000 jobs Automobile Association’s system of eval-
and attract private investments of US$6 uating the facilities and service quality
billion by international hotel chains and of hotels. Consumers will be able to find
other enterprises. lodgings that match their needs through
Action plans of the project call for this new rating system. Eight hotels were
highlighting contrasting themes for dif- awarded five stars in November 2010
ferent regions of Taiwan. These include, among the first 24 participating hotels.
for example, promoting northern Taiwan Many other prominent hotels have yet to
as a hub of Chinese culture and arts with be rated.
trendy metropolitan areas, and eastern According to the bureau’s statistics,
Taiwan as a paradise for leisure and rec- as of the end of 2010 Taiwan had 68 in-
reational activities. Others involve orga- ternational tourist class hotels, 36 tourist
nization of activities in connection with class hotels, 2,614 budget hotels and 3,062
events such as the Taipei Flora Expo and guesthouses and B&B operators.
the 2011 International Design Alliance
Congress. Also included are projects for
renovating hotels, tourist sites and facili- Transportation Options
ties, improving services and training The world’s major airlines fly from
personnel as well as carrying out inno- points all over the world to Taiwan
vative marketing.
Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei.
Within the city limits, Taipei’s Songshan
New Hotel Rating System Airport connects Taiwan with locations
The Tourism Bureau has launched a in mainland China and Japan, and links
new hotel rating system, which has been northern Taiwan with airports throughout

A stunning view
from the Lalu Hotel
涵碧樓 overlooking
Sun Moon Lake.
Once a guesthouse
of the late ROC
President Chiang
Kai-shek, the
building was
refurbished and
opened as a hotel
in 2003.

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18 Tourism
the island. Southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung island’s seamless transportation network.
International Airport 高雄國際航空站 like- National parks and scenic areas are excel-
wise services flights to and from main- lent choices for first-time or repeat visitors.
land China and Japan as well as several
other Asian countries. National Parks
In Taipei and Kaohsiung 高雄, buses While national parks have been es-
and metro systems make getting around
tablished primarily to preserve natural
easy, while comprehensive intercity bus
resources rather than to foster tourism,
and train networks—along with Taiwan’s
they also serve recreational purposes. Of
high-speed rail service—ensure that ac-
the eight national parks, the seven that are
cessing the rest of Taiwan is convenient.
open to the public are introduced below.
Car rental services are widely available,
Work is now underway in the eighth,
and taxis are plentiful in cities.
Dongsha Atoll National Park 東沙環礁國家
公園, to preserve its coral reef ecosystem
Government Services for prior to its opening.
Travelers Kenting
Information centers operated by the Covering 33,290 hectares, Kenting
Tourism Bureau at airports and in major National Park 墾丁國家公園 wraps around
cities help foreign visitors design tours Taiwan’s tropical southernmost tip, fea-
best suited to their interests, locate lodg- turing a dramatic coastline formed by
ing or find their way. The bureau pub- millions of years of geological activity.
lishes an array of informational materials, The park features fossilized coral cliffs,
including the monthly magazine Travel living coral reefs and diverse marine life.
in Taiwan. Meanwhile, every city and Migratory birds also gather here in au-
county provides information in English to tumn and winter.
enhance the ease and enjoyment of sight-
seeing in its particular area. Kinmen
Tourists and the expat community can Kinmen National Park 金門國家公園 oc-
resolve various questions regarding visas, cupies roughly one quarter of the Kinmen
travel and residency through the Informa- Islands, which are located just a couple of
tion for Foreigners service, which offers kilometers from the coast of the Chinese
24-hour assistance in English, Japanese mainland. Traditional-style buildings, his-
and Chinese via a toll-free telephone torical towers and other items of cultural
number (0800-024-111). Also, the Tour- significance dot the islands, the oldest
ism Bureau operates a 24-hour toll-free structure being a temple dating back to
Tourist Information Hotline (0800-011- the 13th century.
765) in English, Japanese, Korean and The first of the ROC’s national parks
Chinese for information on travel itinerar- to be established primarily for the pur-
ies or emergency assistance. pose of preserving historical and cultural
assets, Kinmen National Park contains
Nature
many battlefield relics from the period
from 1950 to 1960, when the islands were
Taiwan is blessed with some of the intermittently shelled by mainland China.
world’s finest natural scenery, much of However, the park also has abundant
which is readily accessible thanks to the natural flora and fauna. Among others,

264


Dongsha Atoll
National Park
comprises a
unique white
sand landscape
entirely from
shattered corals
and seashells. Its
outlying seabed
is laden with
shipwrecks, tropical
corals, tropical
fish, echinoderm,
crustaceans, algae
and other marine
organisms.

more than 300 species of birds have been artillery emplacements. The estuaries of
recorded in Kinmen. three rivers flow through the park’s four
major wetlands. The park contains con-
Shei-pa servation areas for mangroves and black-
Covering 76,850 hectares, mountain- faced spoonbills.
ous Shei-pa National Park 雪霸國家公園
is the main watershed for northern and Taroko
central Taiwan. The park has 51 peaks The centerpiece attraction of Taroko
over 3,000 meters in height, including National Park 太魯閣國家公園 is Taroko
Taiwan’s second-highest Xue Mountain Gorge—a spectacular 19-kilometer
雪山, at 3,886 meters. Among the park’s marble-walled canyon that was lifted
natural treasures is the Formosan land- up from the earth by tectonic forces and
locked salmon (Oncorthynchus masou carved out by the Liwu River 立霧溪.
formosanus), which inhabits a refuge Differences in altitude mean that the sur-
created for it in the upper reaches of the rounding region supports a rich diversity
Dajia River 大甲溪. It is believed to have of animal and plant life. Forty-six species
become trapped in the frigid mountain of mammals, 152 kinds of birds, 302 spe-
waters of central Taiwan during the last cies of butterflies and 2,093 species of
Ice Age. native vascular plants can be found in the
92,000-hectare park. Along the dramatic
Taijiang 2-kilometer-long Tunnel of Nine Turns
Established in 2009, Taijiang National 九曲洞, the two sides of the gorge almost
Park 臺江國家公園 in southwestern Taiwan meet overhead.
is a 39,310-hectare marvel unique among
Taiwan’s national parks, encompass- Yangmingshan
ing wetlands and lagoons, salterns, fish Yangmingshan National Park 陽明山國
farms and oyster farms, as well as vintage 家公園 is located on the northern edge of

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18 Tourism
Taipei City. This location makes it easily
accessible. The park is notable for its hot
air raids to the south. The Dapeng Bay
National Scenic Area 大鵬灣國家風景區
springs, heated by long-dormant volca- in Pingtung County 屏東縣, frequented
noes. Covering nearly 11,455 hectares, the by more than 90 species of birds, is an
park is graced with lush, grassy meadows, ideal location for bird watching. Egrets,
mountain peaks and waterfalls. snipes and rails live among the man-
grove swamps.
Yushan
Located at the heart of the Central East Coast
Mountains 中央山脈 and spanning nearly Along the eastern coast, where dol-
105,490 hectares, Yushan National Park phins play and whales frolic, is the East
玉山國家公園 contains 30 of the 100 high- Coast National Scenic Area 東部海岸國
est mountain peaks in Taiwan, includ- 家風景區, which stretches from Hualien
ing Yushan (Jade Mountain), Northeast County 花蓮縣 to Taitung County 臺東縣
Asia’s highest peak at 3,952 meters. along 168 kilometers of coastline. Visitors
The wide spectrum of climatic zones can enjoy snorkeling in the warm waters
means that a large variety of animal and of the Pacific or, inland, kayaking and
plant life can be found in the park. Sub- rafting along the rapids of the Xiuguluan
tropical, temperate and alpine species all River 秀姑巒溪. The East Coast is the pri-
thrive on Yushan. mary home of the indigenous Amis 阿美
people, whose villages dot the coastline.
National Scenic Areas Visitors can consider visiting the Jialulan
Unlike national parks, Taiwan’s 13 Handicraft Market 伽路蘭市集, which is
national scenic areas have been estab- open from May to August.
lished chiefly to boost domestic and
international tourism. They offer both East Rift Valley
scenes of natural splendor and elements Flanked by mountain ranges, the East
of cultural interest. Rift Valley National Scenic Area 花東縱谷
國家風景區 covers 138,386 hectares span-
Alishan ning Hualien and Taitung counties. Rivers
The Alishan National Scenic Area 阿 weaving through mountain ranges form
里山國家風景區 is a beautifully preserved breathtaking natural scenes of waterfalls,
mountainous area in central Taiwan with canyons, lakes, alluvial plains and hot
41,520 hectares of forest. Many visi- springs. Spanning subtropical and tropical
tors stay overnight to view the majestic climatic zones up to 2,000 meters above
sunrise, which is said to be the most sea level, the national scenic area has a
awe-inspiring in Taiwan. Alishan is also broad variety of flora and fauna, with some
famous for its high-mountain oolong tea. 100 varieties of birds, 24 varieties of mam-
The three villages of Ruili 瑞里, Ruifeng mals and 29 species of freshwater fish.
瑞峰 and Taihe 太和 are linked by trails
and offer a quiet escape from the more Maolin
touristy areas of the region. Rafting down rapids, observing the
mass migration of many species of but-
Dapeng Bay terflies and learning about the way of life
Dapeng Bay, well suited to water of indigenous peoples are just three of the
sports, was once the location of a World memorable experiences that can be had
War II airbase from which Japan launched in the Maolin National Scenic Area 茂林

266


Taijiang
National Park

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18 國家風景區
Tourism
that spans Kaohsiung City and
Pingtung County. In it there are seven of
sandy beaches and sweeping vistas. In-
land, the landscape is typically rugged,
the 20 main butterfly gathering spots in with precipitous mountain slopes. Danshui
Taiwan. Reflecting the dominant color- 淡水, famed for its sunsets and seafood,
ation of many butterfly species here, the Jinshan 金山 for its “old street” whose
place where the most butterflies congre- buildings date to the Qing 清 dynasty, and
gate has been dubbed the “Purple Butter- Yehliu Geopark 野柳地質公園 for its famous
fly Valley.” wind- and sea-eroded rock formations, are
well worth visiting. The 616-meter-high
Matsu Guanyin Mountain overlooks the mouth of
Most of the area of the sparsely the Danshui River. Its crisscrossed hiking
populated Matsu Islands form the Matsu paths provide splendid views of the sur-
National Scenic Area 馬祖國家風景區. The rounding areas, including Taipei, Danshui,
flora on these craggy islands is diverse, Bali 八里 and Datun Mountain 大屯山.
with glorious spider lilies, chrysanthe-
mums, dianthuses and hawksbeards Northeast and Yilan Coast
blooming in the fall. Old dwellings in Covering some 17,500 hectares of
Qinbi 芹壁 are another draw. Once a bus- land and sea, the Northeast and Yilan
tling fishing village, residents of this town Coast National Scenic Area 東北角暨宜
on the island of Beigan 北竿 began to de- 蘭海岸國家風景區 contains a number of
part when fish stocks fell, leaving behind quaint fishing villages, and the area is
their beautifully preserved houses, which particularly renowned for its fantastic
have a marvelous view of the sea. wave-sculpted rock formations and bird
watching. Some 150 species of birds
North Coast and Guanyinshan reside in or migrate through this area.
At the northern tip of Taiwan lies the Spring and fall, when migratory birds are
North Coast and Guanyinshan National Sce- present in the greatest numbers, are the
nic Area 北海岸及觀音山國家風景區, offering best times to visit the area. Sailing and

Heping Island
和平島 at the mouth
of the Port of
Keelung connects
to the city by a
bridge. Picturesque
formations resulting
from wind and
seawater erosion
over millennia in
the park on its
northwest side are
best viewed at low
tide. (Tang Wei-kuang,
courtesy of the
Tourism Bureau)

268


Youth Travel in Taiwan
Since 2006, the National Youth Commission (NYC) 行政院青年輔導委員會 has provided
a wide range of services to overseas travelers in Taiwan under the Youth Travel in Taiwan
青年壯遊台灣 program. Backpackers can now enjoy a handy guide—a “digital tour buddy”
mobile phone with an English-Chinese dictionary and preprogrammed numbers for tourist
hotlines and information centers, youth hostels, English-language taxi service and other
practical information. Foreign visitors can borrow the device for up to 15 or 30 days with-
out a deposit during their stay in Taiwan. Application can be made online beforehand or
onsite. Those who apply in advance online can pick up the device at the airport’s tourist
service center upon arrival, while those who apply after entering Taiwan can do so onsite at
the NYC’s Taipei Youth Volunteer Center 臺北市青年志工中心.
Other services or activities provided include: a free Youth Travel Card with over 1,000
special offers and discounts on admission to museums, shopping, transportation and ac-
commodation; free personal tour-guide services under a partnership program with local
colleges; economical accommodation information through the Youth Guesthouse Network;
and recommendations of 41 travel spots selected in cooperation with local nongovernmen-
tal organizations to give travelers unique travel experiences.
For details, visit the website at http://youthtravel.tw.

canoeing are also popular at river mouths, are perhaps best preserved. True to its
while surfers take on the waves at Daxi 大 name, meaning land of abundance, this
溪 and Toucheng 頭城. The waters around scenic area—with its waterfalls, reser-
Turtle Island 龜山島, 10 kilometers off the voirs and recreational farms—produces a
coast of Yilan County, is well-known for large variety of fruits and other produce
whale- and dolphin-watching. year-round. It also contains the Wushan
Taiwan Macaque Natural Reserve 烏山
Penghu 臺灣獼猴保護區 as well as Caoshan Moon
Situated on the Penghu Islands off World 草山月世界, an eerie landscape of
Taiwan’s southwest coast, the Penghu eroded mudstone.
National Scenic Area 澎湖國家風景區 has
many ancient ruins. One of the most inter- Southwest Coast
esting of these remains is the Four-eyed For hundreds of years, people along
Well 四眼井, which is believed to have Taiwan’s southwest coast made their liv-
been dug during the 16th century. More ing by evaporating seawater to extract
recent structures dating to the 19th cen- salt. Today, the marshy Southwest Coast
tury are artillery batteries and fortifica- National Scenic Area 雲嘉南濱海國家風景
tions built following the Sino-French War 區, which stretches across parts of Tainan
(1884-1885) to strengthen the islands’ City as well as Yunlin 雲林 and Chiayi 嘉
defenses. For decades, lighthouses lo- 義 counties, is a refuge for wild birds and
cated around the archipelago have helped a place of great historical interest that
navigation through the Taiwan Strait. honors the once-vibrant salt industry.

Siraya Sun Moon Lake
The Siraya National Scenic Area 西拉 Serene and majestic, the Sun Moon
雅國家風景區 in Tainan City 臺南市 is where Lake National Scenic Area 日月潭國家風景
the indigenous Siraya people’s traditions 區 is one of Taiwan’s most popular tourist

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18 Tourism
attractions. The largest natural body of
fresh water in Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake
the world. Its collection is so extensive
that items in the permanent exhibit are
is tucked away amid the mountains of rotated quarterly over a 12-year period.
Nantou County 南投縣 at an altitude of Special exhibits are displayed for two to
some 750 meters above sea level. Hik- four months.
ing trails starting at the lake lead off in People interested in contemporary
every direction through adjacent forests art can check out the Juming Museum 朱
and mountains. 銘美術館 in New Taipei City 新北市. This
museum is dedicated to the work of re-
Tri-Mountain nowned sculptor Ju Ming, who uses a va-
The Tri-Mountain National Scenic riety of materials to create larger-than-life
Area 參山國家風景區, totaling roughly depictions of people, including farmers
77,500 hectares, includes three widely and practitioners of the martial art taiji-
separated regions: in northwest Taiwan, quan 太極拳 (see Chapter 17, “Culture”).
the Lion’s Head Mountain Scenic Area 獅 In Taichung, the National Taiwan Mu-
頭山風景區 straddles the border between seum of Fine Arts 國立臺灣美術館 houses
Hsinchu 新竹 and Miaoli 苗栗 counties; in an extensive collection of works by artists
north-central Taichung City 臺中市 is the of the Ming 明 and Qing dynasties in ad-
Lishan (Pear Mountain) Scenic Area 梨山 dition to highlighting contemporary Tai-
風景區; and in the west-central region, the wanese art.
Baguashan Scenic Area 八卦山風景區 cov- Museums with unusual themes can be
ers parts of Changhua County 彰化縣 and found all over Taiwan. In Taipei City, vis-
Taichung City. itors can explore the Miniatures Museum
Lion’s Head Mountain is famous for of Taiwan 袖珍博物館. Hundreds of exhib-
its Buddhist and Taoist temples. Many its here showcase an array of subjects,
temples here offer inexpensive lodging from a mine to an apartment featuring
and vegetarian meals, and are a good the world’s smallest working television
place for a serene retreat. This scenic set. The Museum of Drinking Water 自來
area is in the region where Taiwan’s larg- 水博物館 is also located in the capital at
est concentration of Hakka-speaking the site of an old pumping station. At the
people lives (see Chapter 2, “People and Gold Mining Museum 黃金博物館 located
Language”), and it is interesting just to in New Taipei City, visitors can gain an
stroll the streets of small towns here. The understanding of how the mine func-
Lishan Scenic Area comprises highlands, tioned in its heyday, as well as the history
steep cliffs, deep canyons, rivers and for- of gold and its uses. In Kaohsiung City in
ests and is home to the indigenous Atayal the south, the Taiwan Sugar Museum 臺
泰雅 people. Visitors can enjoy its numer- 灣糖業博物館 pays homage to the region’s
ous hiking trails and bikeways, or go once-thriving sugar industry.
hawk watching and visit historic sites. The expansive National Chiang Kai-
shek Memorial Hall 國立中正紀念堂 plaza
is one of the stateliest sites in Taipei. Here,
Cultural Attractions beautifully landscaped gardens comple-
ment traditional-style buildings, including
Museums and Cultural Centers the National Concert Hall 國家音樂廳 and
The ROC has many fine museums. the National Theater 國家戲劇院, which
The NPM in Taipei has the largest collec- host world-class performances. National
tion of Chinese art treasures anywhere in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall 國立國父紀念

270


館 in eastern Taipei is the site of lectures, the front doors of homes. People travel
concerts and other cultural events. domestically, go abroad or visit relatives
during the holiday, which lasts a week
Cuisine or so. Offices and businesses are largely
Taiwan is a cultural melting pot and closed during Lunar New Year. Conve-
visitors are sure to find something to their nience stores and restaurants catering to
fancy among the endless array of culinary holiday demand remain open, however.
delights. Moreover, its yearlong growing Food shops are decked out in bright holi-
season and diverse climatic zones ensure day colors and play Lunar New Year mu-
the availability of a wide variety of locally sic, while traditional markets are crowded
produced fresh ingredients, contributing to with shoppers during the week or so lead-
the great taste of Taiwanese cuisine. ing up to the holiday. Temples teem with
Given Taiwan’s historical connections worshipers on Lunar New Year’s eve,
with the Chinese mainland, numerous tra- and fireworks herald the arrival of the Lu-
ditional Chinese cuisines and sophisticat- nar New Year at midnight.
ed derivations of them are the dominant While most of Taiwan no longer cel-
theme in Taiwanese cooking. And with ebrates the entire traditional 15-day-long
one of the world’s largest fishing fleets, it Lunar New Year period, visitors to Taiwan
is a seafood lover’s paradise. are certain to enjoy the traditional culmi-
Taiwan also has an abundance of veg- nation of the holiday period, the Lantern
etarian restaurants and buffet-style eater- Festival, in which colorful lanterns are
ies to meet religious or healthy lifestyle lit and yuanxiao 元宵 (sweet dumplings
demands. Its big cities offer many Asian made from glutinous rice flour) are eaten.
cuisines, including Thai, Vietnamese, Among the festivities held at this time are
Malaysian, Japanese, Korean and Indian, the spectacular sky-lantern releasing cer-
as well as a good selection of North emony in New Taipei City’s Pingxi 平溪;
American and European cuisines. Sam- the Hakka people’s Blasting the Dragon
pling the myriad delicious snacks at stalls Festival 龍 in Miaoli; the Blasting of
and small specialty eateries in Taiwan’s Han Dan 炸寒單 (a deity of wealth) in Tai-
many night markets and elsewhere offers tung City 臺東市 and the Beehive Rockets
a change of pace from restaurant dining. Festival 蜂炮 in Tainan’s Yanshui 鹽水.
These have become major attractions for
Taiwanese and foreign visitors alike, who
Festivals and Events enjoy the thrills of immersing themselves
in the rain of fireworks bombardment that
January-March was originally meant to drive away pesti-
Domestic travel peaks during these lence. Some of these festivals have been
months, as they contain the major Lunar featured in the Discovery Channel series
New Year and Lantern Festival 元宵節 hol- “Fantastic Festivals of the World.”
idays. This is a season of renewal, family The largest-scale religious pageant in
reunions and good cheer. Taiwan is the Dajia Ma Zu Pilgrimage 大
The Lunar New Year is the preeminent 甲媽祖遶境, which honors the Sea Goddess
holiday in Taiwan. It falls in either Janu- Ma Zu, regarded by many as Taiwan’s
ary or February of the Gregorian solar most important guardian deity (see Chap-
calendar and generally begins with the ter 20, “Religion”). Held in March or
hanging of chunlian 春聯 (strips of red April, the eight- or nine-day procession,
paper bearing words of blessing) outside in which hundreds of thousands take

271


18 Tourism
part, starts at Jenn Lann Temple 鎮瀾宮
in Taichung City’s Dajia District 大甲區
to traditional belief, the gates of Hell are
opened during this lunar month, allowing
and circuits Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi spirits to roam freely and seek comfort
counties before returning to the temple. in the realm of the living. Ghost Month
celebrations in northern Taiwan’s main
April-June port city of Keelung 基隆 are particularly
The Hakka Tung Blossom Festival 客 noted for its colorful parade and release
家桐花祭, usually stretching from April of water lanterns into the sea.
into May, celebrates the culture of the Off Taiwan’s southeast coast lies
Hakka people, whose ancestors planted enchanting Orchid Island 蘭嶼. Each
tung oil trees in the mountain foothills September, the island’s indigenous in-
around their communities in northern habitants, the Yami 雅美, observe their
and central Taiwan. In bygone times, ceremonial Flying Fish Festival 蘭嶼飛魚
oil pressed from these trees’ seeds was 季 to give thanks to the flying fish (Exoco-
a commercially important export. These etidae), which make their way northward
days, with their blizzard of falling flower in the warm Kuroshio Current at that
petals, the forests draw urbanites and time every year, on which the Yami have
foreign visitors to walk along mountain depended for their livelihood since time
paths, experience the charm of nearby immemorial. Given Orchid Island’s tropi-
Hakka villages and savor Hakka cookery cal climate, visitors can swim and snorkel
(see Chapter 17, “Culture”). here throughout the year.
Coming in about the end of May is Throughout the nation, the one-day
the Dragon Boat Festival 端午節. The prin- Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋節, which marks
cipal culinary fare of this day is zongzi the arrival of cooler weather, is celebrated
粽子, steamed glutinous rice dumplings on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month
with various fillings wrapped in bamboo (usually in September). This national
leaves. The centerpiece celebrations of holiday is marked by family gatherings,
this holiday are dragon-boat regattas and in recent years, weather permitting,
conducted on rivers. The best-known outdoor barbecues to admire the first au-
competitions take place in Taipei City and tumnal full moon.
Changhua County’s Lugang Township 鹿
港鎮. October-December
Held annually in Taitung City, the
July-September Festival of Austronesian and Formosa
The Yingge International Ceramics Indigenous Cultures 南島文化節 showcases
Festival 鶯歌國際陶瓷嘉年華, which runs the cultures of indigenous peoples of Au-
for about six weeks every summer, show- tronesian ethnicity in Taiwan and other
cases the pottery for which Yingge is ac- regions across the Pacific. The November
claimed along with works from abroad. 19-28, 2010 festival featured musical per-
Religious observances during the sev- formances, art exhibits, traditional foods
enth lunar month (usually beginning in and crafts, including carving demonstra-
August)—commonly referred to as Ghost tions and classes on making handicrafts.
Month 鬼月—come to a climax on the 15th The Taipei City government holds
day, when sacrificial feasts are laid out at the Taipei International Beef Noodle
temples and in front of homes and shops Festival 臺北國際牛肉麵節 in October or
to appease wandering souls. According November each year to tout this popular

272


In the famous
fire-crossing ritual
at Fuhai Temple
福海宮 in Taoyuan
County, carriers
of a sedan chair
bearing the icon
of a revered deity
dash barefoot over
hot coals. This folk
religion practice
attracts both
local and overseas
tourists. (Hsu Shih-
mou)

dish. The most popular event is the which tens of thousands of people gather
Beef Noodle Cooking Competition. The in the adjacent City Hall Plaza and neigh-
best-performing restaurants taking part boring areas to ring in the new year.
in the event earn ratings similar to those
given to hotels by food connoisseurs and
experts in the industry. Other Attractions
Also held in November is the Taiwan Trade Shows
International Coffee Festival 臺灣國際
Taiwan hosts numerous trade shows
咖啡節, previously known as the Yunlin
throughout the year. Visitors who are in-
Gukeng Coffee Festival 雲林古坑咖啡節.
terested in the latest trends of particular
Lasting for about two weeks, with various
products, such as computers and electron-
coffee-related activities and entertainment
ics, bicycles or books, should check out
programs, the festival aims to promote
the Taipei World Trade Center’s 臺北世界貿
the coffee produced by Yulin County’s
易中心 calendar at http://www.twtc.com.tw.
Gukeng Township. The distinctive aroma
of the beverage brewed from the area’s
beans has made the name Gukeng syn- Night Markets
onymous with premium coffee. A visit to a night market offers a fun
While Christians make up only a and inexpensive night out. Most major
small percentage of the nation’s religious cities have at least one such location.
believers, secular Christmas-season tradi- Shilin Night Market 士林夜市 in Taipei
tions are now widely practiced in Taiwan. City stands out for its sheer size, while
Christmas decorations are commonly Liuhe Tourist Night Market 六合觀光夜
seen hanging in offices, buses and stores 市 and Fengjia Night Market 逢甲夜市 are
during December. Fireworks displays at the largest in Kaohsiung and Taichung,
midnight on New Year’s Eve light up the respectively.
sky. The most dazzling of these is the Popular dishes at night markets include
show on the Taipei 101 skyscraper, for oyster omelets; oyster and thin-noodle

273


18 Tourism

Qingquan Hot
Springs 清泉溫泉
along the upper
reaches of the
Pingxi River in
Hsinchu County
features 48ºC
colorless and
odorless spring
water with a pH of
7.7. Known as Inoue
Springs during the
Japanese colonial
era, it was a favorite
mountain retreat
year-round for
Japan’s royal family.

stew; Taiwanese spring rolls filled with “Geography”). On the eastern edge of
meat, vegetables, bean sprouts and peanut Taipei, a relatively short climb up any
powder; and a blancmange-like soybean of the Four Beasts Mountains 四獸山
confection. Especially welcome in sum- (Elephant Mountain 象山, Panther Moun-
mer are the many refreshing beverages tain 豹山, Tiger Mountain 虎山 and Lion
available. Among the best-loved beverages Mountain 獅山) is a good way to get into
are papaya milk, watermelon juice and shape for more extensive hiking. Just
iced milk tea with chewy tapioca balls. north of the city, Yangmingshan National
Park, with its dozen trails meandering
Hot Springs among extinct volcanoes and fumaroles,
is especially popular for day trips.
Taiwan is bathed by more than 100
hot spring sites, among the world’s fin- Moving southward to the Alishan
est. A dip on a cold winter day in the area in central Taiwan, numerous trails
springs of the Yangmingshan or Beitou 北 covering dozens of kilometers lend
投 districts of Taipei is believed to pro-
themselves to easy day hikes amid some
mote health. Less conventional possibili- of the island’s finest scenery. Along the
ties can be found just off Taiwan’s east way are villages inhabited by indigenous
coast on Green Island 綠島, in the form of peoples. Passing through the forests here,
the Zhaori Saltwater Hot Springs 朝日溫 hikers will come upon ancient “sacred”
泉—one of only three saltwater hot springs
trees, including the Lulin Sacred Tree
鹿林神木, 2,800 years old and 43 meters
on the planet, or the muddy hot springs at
Guanziling 關仔嶺 in southern Tainan. high, with a circumference of 20 meters.
More challenging routes, such as those
on the slopes of Xue Mountain and link-
Hiking ing Hehuan Mountain 合歡山 with Taroko
Taiwan is a hiker’s paradise, with Gorge, can also be found in central
trails of varying difficulties close at hand Taiwan. The pathways on Jade Moun-
wherever you go (see also Chapter 1, tain lead through stunning surroundings.

274


Nearly 40,000 hikers every year ascend http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/cycling lists
this tallest peak in Northeast Asia, for five major routes that best highlight the
which a permit is required. island’s diverse natural beauty: Taipei-
Guandu Left Bank of Bali 臺北–關渡八里
左岸 (27 kilometers) in northern Taiwan;
Cycling Dongfeng-Green Passage 東豐自行車綠
Taiwan’s abundant natural scenery 廊 (12 kilometers) and Sun Moon Lake
and increasingly eco-friendly environ- Round-the-Lake Road 日月潭環潭自行車
ment make it an ideal place for avid 道 (33 kilometers) in central Taiwan; and
cyclists. Many of the island’s tourist Guanshan 關山自行車道 (12 kilometers)
spots now have dedicated bike lanes as and “Poet’s Aria-Taroko”太魯閣自行車道
well as bicycle rental shops. The website (19.7 kilometers) in eastern Taiwan.

• Tourism Bureau: http://taiwan.net.tw
Related • National Parks of Taiwan: http://np.cpami.gov.tw
Websites • Taiwan Museum: http://museum.cca.gov.tw
• Council for Cultural Affairs: http://www.cca.gov.tw
• National Youth Commission: http://youthtravel.tw
• Tour Taiwan: http://100.taiwan.net.tw/frontsite/index.jsp

275


Tourism. ROC (Taiwan) Yearbook 2011 Ch18 tourism

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