Asia Travel

Taiwan is located in East Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean and off the southeastern coast of mainland China. It is known by many names — Formosa, Republic of China, or Chinese Taipei Swimsuits. Taiwan possesses its own individuality although it is Chinese in some ways and is often associated with mainland China. It has been influenced too by Japanese, Confucian, Han Chinese, American and European cultures.

Taiwan is also dubbed as one of the ‘Four Asian Tigers’ together with Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea. However, its rapid economic growth has taken its toll on its ecological resources. Thus, the Taiwanese government has tried to preserve what is left of its natural wealth by establishing six areas as national parks, each boasting of naturally beautiful landscapes, mountain ranges, bodies of water, rainforests and wildlife, marine ecosystems, and many more.

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is home to the famous 508-meter tall Taipei 101, which was the tallest building in the world from 2004 until the emergence in 2010 of the 828-meter tall Burj Khalifa, of Dubai in The United Arab Emirates. Aptly called Taipei 101 because of its 101 floors, it has an Indoor Observatory (89th floor), an Outdoor Observatory (91st floor) and shopping malls from the basement to the 6th floor.

Aside from Taipei 101 and the six national parks, there are many other places to visit or see in Taiwan — among others, the National Palace Museum (holding 600,000 pieces of antiquities, paintings and calligraphic works); temples (in Tainan, Taiwan’s temple town); Shilin Night Market; Taipei Zoo; traditional folk festivals; and natural attractions outside of the metropolitan areas.

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Taiwan has two international airports in Taoyuan, and the other in Kaohsiung. Several airlines serve both airports connecting them to North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Taiwan can also be reached by sea from Macau and Okinawa, Japan on board ferries to Keelung and Kaohsiung.

The country is evenly hot and humid during summer (June to August). So, it is ideal to go there at other times of the year. However, it is best to avoid the holidays like the Chinese New Year (in late February) and the various festivities in October when streets, hotels and transport can become crowded to overcrowded.

China is the third largest country in the world, 9,326,410 sq km in area. It is also the world’s most populated country, home to almost one-fifth of the world population. Having been under communist government since 1949, China has undergone economic and social reforms the past few years, which include among others opening its cultural and historical treasures to foreigners.

The ideal time to go to China is in spring (March and April) or autumn (September and October) when temperatures are not extremely cold or hot. The days are usually pleasant but the nights can be quite cold. An umbrella or raincoat should come in handy because rain is frequent at this time.

China has a variety of transport facilities. For travels within cities, the ideal transports are cars for hire, taxis, autorickshaw and even bicycles. Planes fly to all provincial capitals and other large cities. Trains go to all parts of the country except Tibet. If no trains are available, buses are a cheaper but slower option. Ferries and boats offer rides along major rivers like the Yangtse.

Hong Kong is the ideal entry point to China by plane, although larger cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen also cater to international flights.  China can also be reached via train — Russian Trans-Siberian Express passes through China, as do trains from Kazakhstan. By road, China is accessible by bus or hired transport from most its neighbors except India due to political conflict.

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The most popular tourist destination in China is the Great Wall of China, also included in the Seven Wonders of the World. The Forbidden City in Beijing is where the Imperial Palace has lain for five centuries now.

The Terracotta Warriors of Xi’an refer to life-size terracotta warriors, about 8000 in all, that “guard” the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (the first ruler of a unified Chinese empire, and the man who started constructing the Great Wall of China). One of China’s oldest cities, the city of Suzhou, is surrounded by a moat which was built on a network of canals (taking water from the Grand Canal, considered as China’s greatest engineering exploit after the Great Wall).

There are many other must-see attractions in China that depict the grandeur of China’s past, its architecture, its colorful culture and traditions, and the industriousness of its people.

Situated in southeastern China, and spreading over 1,092 sq km, Hong Kong is comprised of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and outlying 234 islands. Formerly under British Colony, it was turned over to China in 1997 with the expiration of the 99-year lease, and has since been a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. Macau is sister SAR.

Despite the diversities, Hong Kong is prosperous, and is seen by the world as the meeting place of the east and the west, of varied cultures, of the old and the new.

It is best to visit Hong Kong during the mild autumn months in October and November. Climate is generally sub-tropical, with hot humid summers and cool dry winters, whereas typhoons usually hit Hong Kong between April and October.

By air, Hong Kong can be reached via the Hong Kong International Airport, third busiest airport in the world. Travelers can go to Hong Kong by train, ship and hovercraft from China, and by hydrofoil and jet foil from Macau. While in Hong Kong, tourists are advised to get an Octopus Card – a value-stored card that can be used with all of Hong Kong’s public transport, including ferries, as well as in restaurants and stores.

Hong Kong is a tourist’s dream destination, a vacationer’s paradise. It boasts of numerous tourist attractions – shopping options (Pacific Place, Time Square, The Landmark, Harbour City, Festival Walk); exciting nightlife (Lan Kwai Fong, Wan Chai); architectural magnificence (Victoria Peak); cultural heritage (Hong Kong Heritage Museum); religious structures (Taoist and Buddhist temples, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, The Big Buddha); Disneyland and Ocean Park; the remains of the British Empire in the Central district.

There are cheaper alternative things to see and do in Hong Kong – free morning Tai Chi class at the parks; shopping in bargain markets; museums that allow free entrance on certain days; cruise along the Victoria Harbour on board the traditional bat-winged boats; visit to old temples; seeing the busy districts on a double-decker tram, and many more.

Tourists should avoid littering and spitting which considered are illegal in Hong Kong. Moreover, the concepts of honor, name and face are important to Hong Kong locals. Causing one to lose face publicly like insulting or questioning him in front of others is generally taboo.