Happening Taiwan

THERE is a mystical allure to Taiwan and this is accentuated by the many natural scenic spots there are to visit on the island.

Located in the centre of Taiwan, Autumn Moon over the Twin Lakes is considered as one of Taiwan’s not to-be-missed Eight Scenes and is a popular hotspot for domestic and foreign tourists.

The Sun Moon Lake, with an elevation of 748 metres above sea level, is the only natural big lake in Taiwan. Shaped like a new moon is the southern part of La Lu Island, and the northern part is shaped like a sun; hence the name Sun Moon Lake. This is a popular spot for eco-tourists or nature lovers.

Among the most famous sights around Sun Moon Lake are the Itashao, Lalu Island, the Syuentzang Temple, the Tsen Pagoda and the Wenwu Temple. The natural forests bordering these roads are good places for bird watching. Besides these birds, fish, insects and wild vegetables are flourishing in the region as well. These are all the natural resources of the Sun Moon Lake region.

Helping to preserve the particular culture of the Sun Moon Lake region is the Shao Clan, the earliest clan that lived in the Sun Moon Lake region. They produce their special handicraft for Harvest Festival and Sowing Festival.

Mountain climbing is a well-received past time in Taiwan. One such location for climbing and located in central Taiwan is Yushan National Park, this is a classic mountainous national park which covers a total of 105,490 hectares including large sections of the Central Mountain Range.

The park encompasses a variety of vegetation to a large variety of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies. With the establishment of the Yushan National Park, they are gradually making a comeback as in the past, many of these species became endangered due to over-hunting. The black bear, sambar deer, Taiwan macaque, and serows, a type of goat antelope, can sometimes be seen, and their call is often heard. In 2007 alone about 27 million visitors entered the National Scenic Areas of Taiwan.

Well, once you have had your fill of natural pursuits, it may be time for the culture and history of museums.

The National Palace Museum is the best museum to start off with, housing the priceless Chinese art treasures, one which spans China’s nearly 5,000- year history. Most of the museum’s 620,000 art objects were part of the Chinese imperial collection, which began over 1,000 years ago in the early Sung dynasty.

Then after all that history and culture, it is time for some relaxation…shopping. Located in Taipei’s vibrant Xinyi District, is Taipei’s most fashionable shopping center.

Taipei 101 is the tallest building in Taiwan, with a collection of shops on the lower floors including many top brands under the LVMH group, such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Celine, etc. The fourth floor houses the Page One bookstore from Singapore, with the highestroofed coffee house in Taipei and many fine restaurants.

You can also take a tour of Raohe and Tonghua night markets in Taipei. A suggested itinerary is visit Jianguo Holiday Flower Market, then National Taiwan University, followed by Daan Park and finally Tonghua Street Night Market. On the second day visit Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, Warner Cinema City, Songshan Xiahai City God Temple, Taipei Tzuyu Temple, World Trade Center and Raohe Street Tourist Market.

Taiwan features three new hotels, one of them is the Fullon Hotel Taipei located between Renai Road and Sinyi Road. The hotel features 120 rooms with trendy designs, safe environment and high-tech facilities.

Fullon Taipei, a world-class tourist hotel, creates a comfortable atmosphere for business travellers and guests with its refined rooms, comfortable dining space, well-equipped gym and professional services.

Another Fullon branded hotel is located in Taoyuan city, Fullon Hotel Taoyuan was recently opened in July 2007. About 20 minutes from the Taoyuan International Airport and 10 minutes to Taoyuan Railway Station and shopping district, the elegant new 181-room Fullon Hotel brings a new sense of tranquility to Taoyuan, the liveliest city.

The final one is Fenisia Hotel that overlooks Sum Moon Lake, showcasing the beauty of the lake.

Of the tourists who visit Taiwan, the Japanese rank the highest at 1.17 million in 2006 and Korea at 228,582 visitors. These are the figures for the short-haul market. From South-east Asia, Singaporeans rank the highest at 184,303 visitors followed by Malaysia at 159,839 visitors. From long haul markets the US visitors number the highest at 417,804 visitors.

In total Taiwan saw 3.7 million visitors in 2007 and this is a 5.5 percent increase over 2006 figures. With the now more cordial relations between China and Taiwan, more tourists from the mainland can be expected.