Taiwan Country Guide Information

Taiwan is a modern industrialised megalopolis clinging to the fringes of an ancient culture; a string of teeming cities at the feet of a glorious mountain range. Here you'll find traditional noodles at the 7-Eleven, and a day of temple rituals followed by waterslide rides. If you step outside chaotic Taipei you'll discover why Taiwan is known as Ilha Formosa, the 'beautiful island'. Mountain peaks puncture a sea of clouds, slick black volcanic rock wraps the coastlines, and waterfalls shroud themselves in mist. Taiwan is a computer-generated Chinese watercolour.

Geography:
The island of Taiwan is adrift 160km (99mi) off the coast of mainland China. The island's total area is 35,563 sq km (13,869 sq mi) - it's 394km (244mi) long and 144km (89mi) wide. Taiwan's spine is a ridge of steep mountains, falling away to a rocky coastline on the east and a narrow, fertile plain (where 90% of the population lives) on the west. Mount Yushan is, at 3952m (12,963ft), the highest peak in Northeast Asia.

The small islands of Penghu, Lanyu, Green, Liuchiu, Kinmen, Matsu and Wuchiu are controlled by Taiwan. Taiwan's high mountain forests are predominantly cyprus, although camphor used to grow in abundance. Taiwan is home to many endemic species, including the Formosan black bear, the Formosan Sika deer and the Formosan landlocked salmon. Unfortunately, in its headlong scurry towards economic prosperity, Taiwan has managed to destroy most of the western coast's habitat and wipe out a species or two, although the inaccessibility of much of the island has made it a natural wildlife reserve. In the last 20 years Taiwan has declared 67 reserves, including six national parks, and instituted some fairly hefty environmental legislation.

Hotels in Taiwan Destinations
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Banciao Hotels
Beina Hotels
Beinan Hotels
Changhua City Hotels
Chiayi Hotels
Danshuei Hotels
Hengchun Hotels
Hsinchu Hotels
Hsintien Hotels
Hualien City Hotels
Ilan Hotels
Jhongli Hotels
Jiaosi Hotels
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Keelung Hotels
Lotung Hotels
Makung Hotels
Miaoli City Hotels
Nantou CIty Hotels
Pingtung City Hotels
Sioulin Hotels