Taiwan acquired a taste for Japanese-style hot spring spas back when the Japanese occupied the island and missed the onsen of their home country, and started developing the existing hot springs for their personal use. Nowadays, many Taiwanese enjoy a long dip in the many spas in their country while sipping ice-cold beer and engaging in conversation with friends.

Here are 5 must-visit hot springs in Taiwan to include in your travel there.

Lisong Hot Springs: Considered by many to be the most beautiful in the island, Lisong is somewhat remote, nestled by the mineral-stained cliffs of the Sinwulu River. The hot mineral water cascading down the colorful side of the gorge while clouds of steam rise up all highlight the green, white, orange, yellow and brown minerals, creating a wonderful effect as you dip into the waters. The river besides the hot springs is at least 4 meters deep and surrounded by sheer cliffs, making it perfect for cooling off after a long soak in the hot springs. Only determined aficionados venture into Lisong, and they are well-rewarded with such an immersive experience.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Taiwan |

The dry season has passed in Asia, and the monsoon months have drenched the eastern nations in torrential rains. But instead of letting rain ruin your parade, why not make rain the center of the parade? This is the idea behind the Yilan Rain Festival, one of Taiwan’s biggest annual events. A showcase of the east coast county’s beauty and culture, the festival is held at 3 locations: Dongshan River Park, Wulaokeng Scenic Area and Toucheng-Suao Area, focusing on the mountain, river and ocean vistas all present in Yilan. The festival attracted over 890,000 visitors last year, and this year’s event is planned to be even bigger, with more goings-on to keep the celebration at full blast for two whole months.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Events, Taiwan |

If Western countries have Halloween, then the Chinese have the Ghost Festival, a religious observance of ghosts, spirits, and long-dead ancestors that last for an entire month. The Ghost Festival starts on the 15th month of the seventh lunar month, when it is believed the gates of the underworld are opened and its ethereal occupants are set loose upon the living world. In Taiwan, there are two major ghost festivals - the Buddhist one called Ullambana and the Taoist one called Jhongyuan. Both events are cause to perform religious ceremonies throughout the island, from the burning of paper “spirit” money and offerings of food and drink to monks chanting the necessary prayers to ease the suffering of the dead.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Events, Taiwan |

People who are not too familiar with Taiwan would surely be surprised to find out that shopping is also one of the top activities that the Taiwanese prefer to do during their free time.  It is surprising in the sense that shopaholics hardly put Taiwan at the top of their list of destinations to visit whenever they go on a shopping spree in Asia.  The favorite shopping destinations would still have to be Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and exotic India.

Yes, the Taiwanese surely love to sing their favorite tunes in KTV bars and they also enjoy relaxing by catching the latest blockbuster movies.  But it cannot be denied that the Taiwanese, most especially the women in Taiwan, also use up a lot of time spending their dollars on fashionable clothes, chic shoes, trendy bags, and really stylish accessories.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Taiwan, Things to do |

I was on my way out of the Royal Taipei Hotel and was just fresh from the forty-minute ride from the airport.  In one hand, I was holding my dependable tote bag containing my camera, a bottle of water, calculator and my wallet filled with crisp Taiwan dollars that I just exchanged at a nearby bank.  In my other hand, I held a piece of paper with the Chinese name of my destination.  You see, I had to sweetly request the hotel’s concierge to write the Chinese name for me to make sure that the taxi cab driver would know where to take me. I went out the hotel’s door, hailed a cab and confidently handed over the piece of paper to the driver.  The driver nodded and I sighed in relief.  I thought giddily to myself: “Ximending, here I come!”

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Taiwan |

After rice, soy beans have become a staple in many Asian societies. First cultivated in China some 5,000 years ago, this legume became a favorite among Buddhists, whose religion forbade milk or meat. They discovered that processed soy beans can become a substitute for these forbidden food, and so help spread the consumption of soy beans throughout the rest of Asia. Today, soy bean products have become an all-around substitute for milk and meat products, being low in calories, no cholesterol or saturated fats, and rich in protein and iron. It can be stewed, fried, steamed, or barbequed; it can be served as a main dish, additives, snack, dessert, side dish, and/or beverage. Its health benefits are a delight among nutritionists and vegetarians: soy beans help fight prostate and breast cancer as well as reduce cholesterol. Soy bean products are well-associated with the vegetarian and new age movements in Western countries, many of whom propagate soy culture by borrowing recipes from the East.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in China, Food, Philippines, Taiwan |

There are so many yummy delicacies to try when you are in Taiwan that your stomach will surely beckon you to go out of your hotel room and search for all those goodies.  Definitely, your growling stomach will force you to go out of your room even if you are staying at the posh Howard Plaza Hotel in Taipei – a hotel is located in the eastern part of Taipei and is a short walk from the Jen Ai Road circle where you can have a great view of grand Taipei 101.

Taiwanese cuisine is pretty rich and has evolved from a number of influences from China and Japan. The type of food that you will find in Taiwan has a lot to do with its geographic location and abundance of natural resources like delicious fruits, poultry, seafoods, etc. Dishes are normally seasoned with soy, sesame oil, chili peppers, mixed with pork or chicken that is topped on hot steamed rice.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Food, Taiwan |

The posh Taipei 101, the world’s tallest building at 508 meters, opened its doors to the eager public in soft opening that was held in November 2003 and completely opened in 2004. President Chu Shui-ban cut the ribbon for the opening of the Taipei 101 Shopping Mall inside the skyscraper. Chen said during the opening that “Taipei 101 is not only the world’s tallest building, it also symbolizes that Taiwan is in step with the world.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Taiwan, Things to do |

Hello! Kitty, the mouth-less feline icon recognized the world over, has started greeting new fans in Taiwan right after their birth. The 30-bed Hau Sheng Hospital in Yuanlin, central Taiwan, has claimed to be the only maternity hospital in the world with authorization from the beloved cartoon cat’s Japanese parent company Sanrio Co, Ltd. Hau Sheng was built for T$100 million (US$3 milion) by Director Tsai Tsung-chi, who hopes the cuddly feline will help assuage the fears and difficulty of childbirth among its patients. Tsai expresses his hope that young mothers suffering from illness and birthing will smile and relax when they see the images of the adorable cat. He specifically chose Hello Kitty as the theme due to her popularity within his own family; namely, his mother, his wife and his daughter.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Airlines, Attractions, Japan, Taiwan |

Some Asian delicacies are so one-of-a-kind, they are served only on special occasions. Some of these are made available as a culinary highlight of the festivities, while others are so culturally significant they are the very center of many celebrations.

Here are 7 eastern food fares that are served especially during Asian festivals.

Mooncake

The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month every year in Chinese communities. It coincides with many harvest festivals which occur in Western societies. It is during this time that mooncakes, a sweet moon-shaped pastry dish made with sesame seeds, lotus seed paste, and salted duck eggs, are served and exchanged as gifts.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Asia, Food, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan |