Read This Before Visiting Taiwan

Taiwan is a glistening emerald situated at the Pacific Ocean The high central mountain range emerged by two powerful tectonic plates. This range is the backbone of mountains in Taiwan. Its height of 3,952 makes traveling from east and west difficult That makes traveling from east to west a challenge. The range contains five major peaks with the highest one, Yushan also known as the Jade Mountain. In the winter Yushan is often capped with thick snow, which makes the entire peak shine like stainless jade, hence the name. Yushan raised at 3,952 meters (12,966 ft) above sea level, just a little shy from the Mauna Kea Mountain of Hawaii, USA, which is at 4,207 (13,800 ft) meters high.

The central range provided countless rushing rivers and sheer cliffs valleys, water streams, and hot springs. The heavily forested mountains are home to diverse range of wildlife. These ragged mountains also provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as trekking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and kayaking. The eastern mountains slop west to its fertile flattened plane where modern communities and farming developed.

Taiwan lies across the Tropic of Cancer (Other locations with the same latitude are Abu Dhabi Emirate and lake Nasser Egypt for example.) that divides the island with sub tropic in the north and tropic in the south. It presents an average temperature of 22C (71.6F) all year round. There is no severe cold in the winter, but the summer between June to August is hot and humidity. Generally, November to the next April is the most pleasant time tour, with regards to temperature and humidity. In some rare cases, there will be frost or snow on the high mountain. From June to October is the typhoon season with July to September offers the most activities.

Taiwan's demographic make-up is extremely interesting, both in terms of history and ethnicity. The total population is 23.2 million with some 98% of the Taiwanese are ethnically Han Chinese, derived from the Han dynasty (at approximately 200BC). Hans’ ancestors migrated to the island in several waves and speak different languages. Approximately 70% of the population is Hoklo; that they are descended of Chinese immigrants from Southern Fujian who arrived in the 17th century. Another 15% are Hakka, who are descendants of migrants from central China. In addition to the Hoklo and Hakka waves, a third group, in the more modern era, of mainland Chinese arrived in Taiwan after the Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) lost the Chinese Civil War to Mao Zedong and the Communists in1949. They make up 12% of Taiwan's total population.

Finally, 2% of Taiwanese citizens are aboriginal people, divided into thirteen major ethnic groups. Taiwanese aborigines are Austronesian and DNA evidence suggests that Taiwan was the starting point for the peopling of the Pacific islands by Polynesian explorers.

Today Taiwan’s young generation did not go through the contradiction of politics and colonization as their accentors did in the last 100 years. Their political view is not as divided as their previous generation was. The ethnicity differences are no longer barriers. Rather, Taiwan’s is now recognized for its innovation the for science and technology.

People often wonder if Taiwan is a country of part of China. Taiwan is an island which has for all practical purposes been independent since 1950, but China regards it as a rebel region that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, and insists that nations cannot have official relations with both China and Taiwan, therefore Taiwan has formal diplomatic ties with only a few countries. The United States is Taiwan's most important friend and protector. Despite its diplomatic isolation, Taiwan has become one of Asia's big traders. It is considered to have achieved an economic miracle, becoming one of the world's top producers of computer technology

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