Country book · Asia

Taiwan

Night markets, mountains and quiet civic pride

Taiwan packs subtropical mountains, a fiercely creative night-market food culture and one of Asia's most open democracies into an island the size of a small country. It's a place travellers fall for slowly, then hard.

Myths

What's true, what isn't

Actually true

Night markets are a nightly institution
Shilin, Raohe and Ningxia night markets fill every evening with locals eating, not just tourists — it's how people socialise after work.
Convenience stores are exceptionally good
7-Eleven and FamilyMart double as bill-paying counters, parcel lockers and hot food stops on nearly every block.
Scooters are the default transport
Millions of scooters weave through cities; parking lots are built specifically for them outside every shop and station.
It's one of Asia's most LGBTQ+-friendly places
Taiwan was the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, in 2019.

Commonly believed, wrong

"Taiwan and Thailand get confused for good reason"
The two countries share only a similar-sounding name in English — different languages, geography and culture entirely.
"It's just an extension of mainland Chinese culture"
Decades of separate political and social development, plus Japanese colonial influence and indigenous Austronesian heritage, give Taiwan a distinct identity.
"There's nothing outside Taipei"
Taroko Gorge's marble canyons, Sun Moon Lake and Kenting's beaches are all major draws far from the capital.
"Bubble tea is a modern gimmick"
It was invented in Taichung in the 1980s and remains a serious, competitive culinary category with dedicated shops.

Highlights

The best of Taiwan

Taroko Gorge

Marble cliffs and turquoise river carved into a dramatic canyon hiking trail on the east coast.

Jiufen's lantern-lit streets

A former gold-mining hillside town whose narrow lanes and teahouses inspired parts of Spirited Away's aesthetic.

Night market food crawls

Stinky tofu, oyster omelettes and grilled skewers eaten standing between crowded stalls.

Sun Moon Lake

A calm mountain lake ringed by temples and cycling paths in the island's centre.

Culture

Cultural riches

Temple festivals and incense

Mazu pilgrimages and temple parades with firecrackers and lion dances remain hugely popular.

Indigenous Austronesian heritage

Sixteen recognised indigenous tribes maintain distinct languages, music and festivals, especially in the east.

Bubble tea shop culture

Pearl milk tea shops on every corner, each with fiercely loyal regulars and custom sugar/ice levels.

Democracy and civic activism

Taiwan's Sunflower Movement and vibrant protest culture reflect a young, engaged democracy.

Food

What to eat

Beef noodle soup

A rich, slow-braised broth with hand-pulled noodles considered a national dish.

Stinky tofu

Fermented tofu, deep-fried and pungent, served with pickled cabbage — a night-market dare turned favourite.

Oyster omelette

A starchy, chewy omelette studded with plump oysters and drizzled with sweet-savoury sauce.

Bubble tea

Milk tea shaken with chewy tapioca pearls, invented in Taichung in the 1980s.

Xiaolongbao (Din Tai Fung style)

Taipei perfected the delicate soup dumpling into a global export via Din Tai Fung.

History

Important people in history

Chiang Ching-kuo

1978–1988

Lifted martial law and began the transition toward democracy in Taiwan's final years under one-party rule.

Lee Teng-hui

1988–2000

Taiwan's first directly elected president, overseeing full democratisation.

Tsai Ing-wen

2016–2024

Taiwan's first female president, known for pandemic response and asserting Taiwan's international identity.

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