Rice is by far Taiwan’s most important food crop. So important in fact, that roughly half of the country’s arable land is given over to cultivating it. And for good reason, too, because for many Taiwanese, not a meal goes by...
So you’ve stuffed yourself on some of Taipei’s best braised pork rice or beef noodle soup, but now what to do for dessert? Perhaps you crave something familiar, but also feel like you shouldn’t miss out on trying some more of...
Opening a small restaurant serving one’s native cuisine has been done by many a foreigner trying to carve out a long-term niche for themselves in Taiwan. Far more uncommon, however, is for a foreigner to take on the challenge of serving...
Quitting the rat race to live on a tropical island is many a city worker’s dream. Few, however, ever find the courage to truly make the leap and leave the creature comforts of life in the big city. California native Ray...
Completing a circuit of the island on a bicycle (known as a huandao; lit., “around/circle island”) has long been considered one of Taiwan’s must-dos. In the last decade or so, however, and thanks in large part to well-spent government investment in...
Taiwan’s cities are by their nature often overwhelming – sprawling, crowded, streets dense with neon signs, street vendors, noise and bustle. The work of British artist Tom Rook — a long-time resident of Taiwan – offers a different perspective on the...
Though one of Taiwan’s lesser-visited national forest recreation areas – particularly compared with tourist favorites like Alishan and Taipingshan – Aowanda is certainly no less lovely nor less abundant in its ecological offerings than its more popular counterparts. Central Area Entry...
Developed by the resort company Hoshino Resorts Inc. from Japan, the HOSHINOYA Guguan is the company’s first luxury hot-spring resort hotel outside of Japan. The hotel offers 50 spacious and tastefully decorated rooms, most of which are laid out in a...
Far from the bustle of downtown, Taichung City’s eastern districts of Fengyuan, Shigang, Dongshi, Xinshe, and Heping provide a semi-rural mountainous retreat ripe for exploration. Following the course of the Dajia River, which flows down from the soaring heights of the...
The county of Yilan, located in Taiwan’s northeast corner, is a place of very varied character indeed. Facing the Pacific Ocean, it has surf beaches and fishing harbors. Further inland you’ll find flat plain land with rice paddies and history-rich settlements....
Asked to name the most scenic road in all of Taiwan, most locals and long-term expats will say “the Suhua Highway.” Loved by tourists for its sheer beauty, and dreaded in almost equal measure for its unpredictable conditions (rockfalls) and –...
Experiencing Stylish Slow Food Dining in Historical Buildings If you are looking to sit down to a slow meal in a restaurant with pleasant ambience in Taipei, there is an increasing number of places in its lanes and alleys that can...
Fine Tea & Fine Tea Cuisine — Two Healthful Obsessions of the People of Taiwan Text: Owain Mckimm, Photos: Maggie Song What is better than a cup of fine tea? A cup of fine tea paired with fine tea-flavored dishes served in...
The great variety of Taiwanese food options in Taipei can seem overwhelming. Where to start, what to eat first? What are the must-eats? Once you have done the Taipei tourist favorites – beef noodles, steamed dumplings, mango ice, etc. – dig...
For a very long time, Taiwan Beer was the only domestic beer brand on this island. Things have changed significantly over the last decade. Entrepreneurial Taiwanese micro-brewers are now making intriguing excursions into uncharted gustatory territory, matching craft beer with flavors...
The city of Taipei is known as a paradise for food lovers, offering everything from cheap and simple snack foods at night markets to lavish banquet-style meals worthy of a foreign dignitary at upscale hotels. While you might first want to...
