Taiwan台湾·台
Night markets, jade mountains, and a thriving Hokkien-Mandarin island culture.
Taiwan is an island province with a distinctive blend of southern Hokkien, , and post-1949 mainland Chinese influences.
It is famous for its , on the central mountain range, and its thriving modern cities.
The island's history is a complex tapestry of maritime trade, colonial rule, and its role as a major center for Chinese culture and technology in the 20th century.
Top Attractions
Culture & Traditions
Night Market Culture
From Shilin in Taipei to Liuhe in Kaohsiung, night markets are Taiwan's social backbone. Eat dinner across a dozen small plates, played out under neon and the clack of tossed-up gambling.
Bubble Tea Birthplace
Boba was invented in Taichung in the 1980s. Walk three blocks anywhere on the island and you'll pass a tea-shop selling 30+ variations, many seasonal.
Indigenous Heritage
Sixteen recognised indigenous Austronesian peoples have lived on Taiwan for thousands of years before Han migration. The Atayal face tattoo, Amis harvest festival and Paiwan dance are living traditions.
Mountain Tea Traditions
Taiwan's high-mountain oolongs — Alishan, Lishan, Dayuling — are picked above 1,000 m. A serious gongfu cha session can last hours and many tea-house owners trained as ceremonial masters.
Japanese-Era Heritage
Fifty years of Japanese rule (1895–1945) left lasting traces — Beito hot springs, sake breweries turned cafés, Showa-era railway stations and even a Taiwanese fondness for sashimi.
Cities
10 prefecture-level · sorted by tourist popularity- 1
Taipei
台北CapitalThe capital and a global high-tech hub — Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, Shilin Night Market, and the nearby hot springs of Beitou.
- 2
Kaohsiung
高雄The southern port metropolis — Pier-2 Art Center, Lotus Pond (Dragon and Tiger Pagodas), and the spectacular Liuhe Night Market.
- 3
Taichung
台中The "City of Culture" in central Taiwan — National Museum of Natural Science, Rainbow Village, and the birthplace of bubble tea.
- 4
Tainan
台南The ancient capital and the "City of Snacks" — Chihkan Tower, Anping Old Fort, and a deep tradition of Hokkien culture and cuisine.
- 5
New Taipei
新北The most populous city, surrounding Taipei — Jiufen Old Street, Tamsui waterfront, and the scenic northern coast.
- 6
Taoyuan
桃园Gateway to the island — home to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and the Daxi Old Street.
- 7
Hsinchu
新竹The "Silicon Valley of Taiwan" — home to the Hsinchu Science Park and a major center for the global semiconductor industry.
- 8
Keelung
基隆The northern port city — famous for its Miaokou Night Market seafood and its rugged coastal scenery.
Famous Locals
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