in Taiwan Hsinchu Kaohsiung Tainan Hualien Nantou Taipei Ilan Taichung Taitung     More City

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Do

• Spring Scream - A three day outdoor rock concert in Kenting held on 5, 6 & 7 April 2007. Tickets NT$1,400 for all days, all venues. NT$650 for one day, one venue. Kenting's entire area gets swarmed by young people coming to party for 3 days, and Taiwanese TV heavily reports on the latest Bikini fashions seen on the spot.
• Buddha's Birthday - Colorful but simple ceremonies are held at Buddhist monasteries that generally consist of washing a statue of the Buddha and a vegetarian feast. It is appropriate to make offerings to the monks and nuns at this time, though it is not mandatory. 24 May 2008.
• Dragon Boat Festival - A festival to commemorate the death of the Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan (born 340 BC), who drowned himself in a river out of despair that his beloved country, Chu, was being plundered by a neighboring country as a result of betrayal by his own people. The festival falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month (19 June 2008), and is marked by races of colorful dragon boats at various locations throughout the island.
• Cherry Blossom Season - Every spring, in Yangmingshan (陽明山).
• Hot Springs - Taiwan's geographical location between an oceanic trench and volcanic system makes it an ideal hot springs vacation spot. There are several hot springs destinations throughout the country, including Wulai (烏來) and Yangmingshan (陽明山).

Taiwan

Taiwan (Traditional Chinese:台灣 or 臺灣, Simplified Chinese:台湾) is an island nation of about 36,000 square kilometers located off the coast of southeastern China, southwest of Okinawa and north of the Philippines. The island is governed by the Republic of China (中華民國 Zhōnghuá Mínguó) or ROC. Shaped roughly like a sweet potato, the nation is home to more than 23 million people and is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Besides its crowded cities and friendly people, Taiwan is also known for steep mountains and lush forests. In addition to the island of Taiwan, the Republic of China also governs the Pescadores (Penghu), Quemoy (Kinmen/Jinmen), and Matsu.

Taiwan is not usually high on the list of destinations for Western tourists. Perhaps this is because the island's international reputation has been shaped more by its IT prowess and longstanding political disputes with mainland China than its culture or tourism, and so many assume that there is very little, if anything, of interest for the casual visitor. However, despite this general perception, Taiwan actually boasts some very impressive scenic sites, and Taipei is a vibrant center of culture and entertainment. The island is also a center of Chinese pop culture with a huge and vibrant entertainment industry. Taiwanese cuisine is also highly regarded among other Asians.

Regions
Taiwan can be divided into five regions:

• Central Taiwan — This region includes the Central Mountains, central western coastal area, scenic Sun Moon Lake and Taichung city. Counties: Changhua County, Miaoli County, Nantou County, Taichung County.

• Eastern Taiwan — This area, cut off from the rest of the island by mountains, contains Taiwan's most striking natural scenery, including the famous Taroko Gorge (Tailuge Gorge) and the cities of Hualien and Taitung. Counties: Hualien County, Taitung County, Yilan County.

• Northern Taiwan — the capital, Taipei, and the high-tech hub, Hsinchu, are located in this region, as well as the Yangmingshan National Park. Counties: Hsinchu County, Taipei County, Taoyuan County.

• Southern Taiwan — This area is more tropical than the rest of the island, with many beaches and coconut palms. Taiwan's second largest city, Kaohsiung, and oldest city, Tainan, are located in the south of the island. Counties: Chiayi County, Kaohsiung County, Pingtung County, Tainan County, Yunlin County.

• The Outlying Islands — Green Island, Kinmen (Quemoy), Matsu, Orchid Island and Penghu.

Cities
Taiwan has many large cities and towns. Below is a list of nine of the most notable. Other cities are listed under their specific regional section.

• Taipei (臺北 or 台北) is the seat of government of the Republic of China and its center of commerce and culture. Taipei is home to the world's currently tallest skyscraper, Taipei 101.
• Hsinchu (新竹) is a center of hi-tech industry, and one of the world's leading manufacturers of hi-tech components. Hsinchu Science Park is the home to many hi-tech companies.
• Hualien (花蓮) is located near Taroko Gorge, and is considered one of the most pleasant of Taiwan's cities.
• Jiufen (九份) - this former gold mining town located on the northeast coast is now a popular tourist destination.
• Kaohsiung (高雄) is the second-largest city on the island. It has one of the busiest sea ports (the Port of Kaohsiung) in the world and it has the island's second-largest airport, Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH).
• Keelung (基隆) is the a center of transshipment in the north, and is located about a thirty minute drive from downtown Taipei.
• Puli (埔里) is located at the geographical center of the island, and it serves as a good base for exploring the central mountains and Sun Moon Lake.
• Taichung (臺中) is the third largest city in Taiwan, and has an abundance of interesting cultural amenities and activities.
• Tainan (臺南) is the oldest city in Taiwan and was the capital during imperial times. It is famous for its historic buildings and snack food.

Other destinations

People tend to think of Taiwan as a small, crowded island filled mostly with electronic factories, and if you stay in Taipei or along the west coast you might indeed maintain that illusion. However, the island is also home to high mountain ranges, great beaches and stunning national parks - many with hot springs.

• Alishan (阿里山) - misty forests of giant cypresses and amazing sunrises at the center of the island, reached by a scenic narrow-gauge train
• Kenting National Park (墾丁國家公園) - located at the extreme southern tip of the island, this park is famous for its beaches and lush vegetation.
• Shei-pa National Park (雪霸國家公園) - a park spanning mountains and rivers located in Hsinchu County - great hiking trails
• Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) - nestled at 2,500 feet in lofty mountains in Nantou County, this lake is famous for its clear sparkling blue water and picturesque mountain backdrop.
• Taipingshan (太平山) - a historic logging area and one of Taiwan's most scenic spots. Located in Yilan County.
• Taroko Gorge (太魯閣 Tàilǔgé)- an impressive gorge located off the east coast
• Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園) - spanning a mountain range overlooking Taipei
• Yushan (玉山) - at 3,996m the highest mountain in not just Taiwan, but all East Asia