21 Facts About Taiwan You Must Know Before You Make A Visit

Here are some Taiwan facts that will entice you to embark on a journey through this island as you discover more about some of the Buddhist temples, cities, and villages in Taiwan.

Taiwan is the perfect blend of Hip Hop culture with traditional festivals of Taiwan, and is located in East Asia. If the hot springs of Taiwan, the sun moon lake, and Taroko Gorge do not make a mark on the traveler in you, there is Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung to enthrall you with their amazing beauty and natural wonders.

There are some amazing spots in Taiwan where you can drink, dine or have a feast. Interesting Taiwan facts state that the Taroko National Park is a major tourist attraction in Taiwan, and it is one of the nine National Parks located in Taiwan.

National parks are areas protected for their beautiful nature, history, and wildlife.

National Parks are protected by the current jurisdiction under the Ministry of the Interior. Initially, National Parks were established under Japanese rule and were destined to be the National Parks of the Japanese Empire.

The Taiwan Lantern festival surely cannot be missed, as it is a breathtaking view with thousands of lanterns ascending the sky of the Pingxi district, lighting up the sky like a starry night. Simultaneously the Yanshuei district celebrates with firecrackers at the Wumiao temple.

Yanshui firecrackers are notoriously known as the Yanshui beehive fireworks festival. So if you are visiting Taiwan for the first time, be prepared for a thrill as the Taiwanese light up the sky, either with fire lanterns or firecrackers.

Taiwan is a wonderful place to visit and is surrounded by other amazing countries. Taiwan is a country in East Asia with Japan in the northeast, the Phillippines in the south, and the People's Republic of China or PRC in the Northwest.

Foreign travelers often underrate Taiwan, but if you are interested in spending your holiday in hot spring resorts and national parks with tall mountains, head to this picturesque destination for a holiday with some of the most beautiful offshore Islands. This, combined with influences from Mainland China, western countries, and the Japanese, make it an eclectic cultural hub.

Various hotels in Taiwan can guide you on the various amazing places to visit while traveling in Asia.

Some of the numerous things that you need to do while in Taiwan include shopping, sightseeing, and learning about the rich culture of Taiwan.

History Of Taiwan

Taiwan is a beautiful island famous for the Jade Mountain, which is known as Yu-Shan, which is the highest peak in Taiwan at 12,966 ft (3,952 m).

The island of Taiwan is across the Taiwan Strait and flanked by the East China Sea in the north, Luzon Strait in the south, the Philippine Sea in the east, and the South China Sea in the southwest.

Taiwan is also called Formosa, or T'ai-wan, Chung-hua Min-Kuo, or Republic of China (ROC).

The head of the government of Taiwan is referred to as the Premier. Presently, Su Tseng-Chang is the Premier of Taiwan.

The seat of the government is in Taipei and the head of the state is President Tsai Ing-Wen.

In 1517, when a Portuguese ship first laid its eyes on Taiwan, it was called Ilha Formosa. Later, when the Dutch colonized in 1642, the southern part came to be known as the Dutch Formosa.

In 1949, there was a Chinese Revolution in a Chinese Civil War between the Communist Party of China (CCP) and the Kuomintang (KMT) Party. After the Chinese Revolution, the Republic of China and the Republic of Korea maintained a relationship.

All diplomatic relations between Taiwan and South Korea were terminated on August 23, 1992. But soon, according to the New Relations Framework Agreement, Taipei in Taiwan became Seoul City's first sister city.

In 2000, Taiwan began a democratic rule after the end of the ruling group of Kuomintang.

Government And Politics: Constitution, National Identity And Legal Status, Administrative Divisions

All official government decisions in Taiwan are based on the current political system. The political system is often compared to economic, social, legal, and cultural systems.

The facts about the constitution of Taiwan reveal that the constitution was revised several times before 2005. Initially, it was made effective in December 1947 after being promulgated in January. Prior to this, the constitution of Taiwan was adapted in 1946, 1931, and 1912.

Household registration and aged over 14 years makes an individual in Taiwan eligible to attain the title of national of Taiwan or ROC (Republic of China). The individual's voting and residential rights are dependent on the ROC Nationals domicile. However, the status of Taiwan as a country is contentious.

The Republic of China used to work under Mainland China; however, the Republic Of China is considered by Mainland China as its territory. During various sports events, the Taiwanese participate under the flagship of Chinese Taipei.

There are various levels and types of administrative divisions in Taiwan. The first level includes the Taiwan province and Fujian province.

Taiwan's administrative division also includes special municipalities at the first and second levels, including New Taipei City, Taipei City, Taichung City, Tainan City, and Kaohsiung City.

At the second level, provincial cities like Keelung City, Hsinchu City, and Chiayi City are included. The second level contains 14 countries.

At the third level, there are various levels of the administrative division, including 17 cities controlled by the country, 157 districts, 153 rural townships, and 41 urban townships.

There are villages and neighborhoods from the fifth level in Taiwan, with administrative divisions at the fourth level.

Population, Religion, And Language

Religion and language are closely related to communicating the population's religion and language plays a strategic role.

The population of Taiwan is 23,603,049, and the population growth rate is 0.27%. The Taiwanese comprise 84% of the population of Taiwan, with the mainland Chinese at 14% and Aborigine at 2%.

Only 35.1% of Taiwanese follow Buddhism, while 33% follow Taoism. The rest are unaffiliated or follow Christianity or other religions. Various ethnic groups like Han Chinese and the Malayo Polynesian form the major ethnic groups in Taiwan.

The national languages of Taiwan are Mandarin Chinese, Formosan languages, Mats, Hakka, Taiwan sign language, and Hokkien. Some people who attended school during the Japanese rule speak the Japanese language.

Food And Culture

Everybody in the world adores food and every country has its own food and culture. People living in different parts of the world perceive food differently, making their food and culture unique.

Taiwanese culture is a potpourri of enterprises and individuals. This eclectic mix includes government workers, artisans, small enterprise entrepreneurs, and farmers. The culture of Taiwan is a classic blend of Chinese culture, including Chinese calligraphy, Chinese opera, and art and painting.

Stinky tofu has a similarity to wet socks in odor but has beaten all odds to take the position of the national dish of Taiwan. If you are traveling to Taiwan and want to sample their Taiwanese culture and the national dish, you can easily find stinky tofu sold by street-side vendors.

Stinky tofu is pungent to smell but easy on the tongue.

Would you like to have Boba? If you are visiting Taiwan, your visit is incomplete without bubble tea. The tea is also commonly called Boba.

Some tea lovers may also refer to it as pearl tea due to its appearance of milk with tapioca balls. First introduced in the '80s, bubble tea gained popularity in various Asian countries. Today, Boba has many variations, including fruit with coconut jelly.

FAQs

Is Taiwan part of China?

Taiwan is part of what it refers to as Democratic China under ROC or the Republic of China. Taipei is the capital of Taiwan. But under PRC, Taiwan is not part of China in Beijing.

Are there US military bases in Taiwan?

Yes, there are US military bases in Taiwan. The Ching Chuan Kang Air Base is controlled by the ROC Air Force Army, the United States Air Force.

Is Taiwan under the US nuclear umbrella?

The United States nuclear umbrella protected Taiwan during the Cold War.

Why is Taiwan not considered a country?

Taiwan is not considered a country as it has been ruled by Mainland China for two centuries now. Earlier, Taiwan was a self-governing country, but in the 17th century transformed into a colony of the Netherlands but regained its independence for a short period before China took it over.

Why is Taiwan so wealthy?

Taiwan has a high savings rate, privatization, and labor productivity. These favorable factors combined with wise government planning trade relations with the United States and pretty good investments from abroad, make the country wealthy.

What are Taiwan's traditions?

Lantern Festival, Mid Autumn Festival, Ghost Festival, Chinese Valentine's Day, and Tomb-Sweeping Day are significant parts of Taiwan's traditions.

What is stinky Taiwanese tofu?

Fermented tofu is called stinky tofu, and it has a very pungent odor that can be compared to that of wet socks.

What religion are the people of Taiwan?

Taoism, Buddhism, and various folk religions are followed in Taiwan.

What language do they speak in Taiwan?

The language spoken in Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese.

Who lived in Taiwan before the Chinese?

Before China's Qing dynasty, Taiwan was a Dutch Colony for a brief period from 1642 to 1661.