TAIWAN – Vexplore Tours

Land Journeys

Taiwan – Natural & Cultural Wonder

From$3,898

9 days / 8 nights

Taiwan & Vietnam – A Journey of Connection

From$2,098

8 days / 7 nights

Discover The Cultural & Natural wonders of Taiwan

Taipei – Lukang – Taichung – Alishan – Tainan – Taroko National Park – Yilan (9days / 8nights)

Explore Taiwan Island

Taipei – Taichung – Toroko National Park – Yilan (7days / 6nights)

Overview

Taiwan officially known as ROC (Republic of China) was formerly known as Formosa (the beautiful island) named by the Portuguese in the 16th century. In the 17th century, it was renamed Tayowon by the Dutch. On the western edge of the Pacific Ocean between Japan and the Philippines, it is a geographically unique island of about 14,400 square miles with two-thirds of the area covered by forested mountains. It also has a rich marine ecology with magnificent coral reefs and azure seas.

The population of Taiwan is densely populated with approximately 23.2 million people. The capital is Taipei. The economy is dependent on exports, especially electronics, machinery and refined petroleum and the semiconductor industry is unmatched in the world. In simple terms, Taiwan is a semi presidential republic. The system is democratic with five governmental branches.

Religion

The three major religious traditions or philosophies are Mahayana Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism which are practiced by 93% of the population. Many of the temples reflect a fusion of all three, in part due to former Japanese occupation when Taoists secretly worshiped in Buddhist temples. Only 4.5percent are Christian.

Culture

During the long history of Taiwan, indigenous tribes, the Dutch, Spanish Japanese, and Han Chinese have populated the island. There are 16 officially recognized Taiwanese indigenous tribes, some speaking very distinct dialects. It is a country with multi-faceted cultures and remnants of prehistoric civilizations, folk art, and traditions all of which have created a vivid mix of cultures. Interestingly, authentic Chinese culture and traditions have been much more preserved than in mainland China.

Public Holidays

Foundation Day of the ROC, January 01 – Celebrates the foundation of the ROC in 1912.

Lunar New Year, Varies year to year but usually between January 21-February 19

Peace Memorial Day, February 28 usually, depending if the holiday falls on a weekend – honors those involved in the anti government crackdown by the KMT in 1947

Tomb Sweeping Day, April 5 -Day of cleaning and offering sacrifices to honor ancestors.

Dress Code

The Taiwanese place a great emphasis on dressing neatly, conservatively, and fashionably. The dress code for women is similar to North America, however, women should cover their shoulders and thighs and avoid crop tops. It is important to cover the knees when visiting temples.

People

Thailand is often called the “land of smiles”, and rightly so because you will see more smiling people here than anywhere else in the world. The country has a population of about 59 million, with some 6.7 million of these people living in the Bangkok area. Approximately 75% of the population are ethnic Thais, 14% are Chinese, and the remaining 11% are mostly Indian, Malay, Karen, Khmer, or Mon. The literacy rate is high at about 94% and the average life expectancy is 66 for men and 72 for women. The Thai Greeting, The Wai, is the traditional Thai greeting which is used instead of a handshake. It can also be used as a means of saying ‘sorry’, ‘thank you’, or to pay respect. A Thai person will often Wai as they approach a temple, Buddha image, or other items of religious significance.

Cuisine

It is said that in Taiwan, you can walk three steps and find a small food shop and walk five and you will find a restaurant. Culinary culture in Taiwan is incredibly diverse from regional delicacies to fast food. Because Taiwan is where the world’s cultures converge, food from all corners of the globe can be found here. Chinese cuisine originates from ancient traditions and emphasis is placed on color, aroma, flavor, and appearance. Cooking from all areas of China are fused in Taiwan and techniques from the ancient to the modern create new culinary specialties.

Climate

Taiwan has a warm and humid climate all year around, except for the mountainous areas where snow is found during the winter, usually between December to February. The average yearly temperature is an average spring like 72F. During summertime from June to August, typhoons might occur. During the fall (September-November), the weather is relatively cooler, and the maple trees are beautiful to behold.

Currency

The New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) includes five denominations in paper money from NT $2000-100 and five in coins from NT $50 to NT$1. Major credit cards are accepted, and foreign currencies can be exchanged at government designated banks, hotels, and airports.