Taiwan Region travel guide

Across Taiwan, every city has its own style and every county its own atmosphere. Taichung's signature is 'culture'. After Taipei, it has the greatest concentration of public and private universities, and institutions such as National Chung Hsing University, Tunghai University, Feng Chia University and Chung Shan Medical University have become cultural landmarks of Taichung.

Whenever an entertainer promotes in Taiwan and performs at Taipei Arena, the second stop is almost always Kaohsiung. Taipei has Taipei 101, and Kaohsiung has the 85 Sky Tower. With its thriving commerce, Kaohsiung shares with Taipei the economy of the island's northern and southern ends. Seen this way, Taipei is like the big brother and Kaohsiung like the younger brother, looking up to the elder's halo, perhaps with a hint of envy. Or, you could say, Kaohsiung is more like “another Taipei.” But in the eyes of Hou Hsiao-hsien, Kaohsiung is a different sight altogether. In *The Boys from Fengkuei*, the boy from Penghu and his friends look out from an unfinished high-rise at a Kaohsiung that is young, quiet and graceful. Rows upon rows of tall buildings rise like fresh bamboo shoots, the fields beyond are open and vast, and the sound of cruise ships still drifts over Kaohsiung Harbor. It has even more vitality than Taipei.

Guishan Island (Turtle Island) takes its name from its striking resemblance to a sea turtle. It is one of Taiwan's remaining active volcanoes, and the island has a smell of sulphur.

The purpose of travel is to delight the mind and broaden your horizons. If you visit each place without carefully observing and appreciating its local customs and culture, the trip loses much of its meaning.