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Taiwan- Introduction
Though Taiwan officially belongs
to the Republic of China, it has successfully managed
to develop and maintain and independent identity. The
isle of Taiwan covers a total area of 35,563 sq km and
has a population 22.5 million strong. Its capital city
is Taipei with the major languages being Taiwanese and
Mandarin Chinese. Though there is a sprinkling of aboriginals
and Chinese, the majority of the population is Taiwanese.
Major Tourist Destinations
Taipei
Taipei, the capital is an expensive and mad whirlpool
of activity that is not for those looking for peace,
quiet and a little bit of nature. It is the pounding
heart-hammering commercial center of Taiwan and is perpetually
under smog. But nothing can beat the sense of movement
and verve of the city. Taipei offers some excellent
cuisines and is a must stopover for gourmets.
Tienhsiang
Taroko Gorge is a 19km long gorge with sheer cliffs
dropping away to rushing white water. It is Taiwan's
most beautiful scenic spot. The Eternal Spring Shrine
lies just above the entrance to the gorge. The town
is a restful place with not much to do. The Paiyang
Waterfall and Wenshan Hot Springs are beautiful natural
sites. Tienhsiang is a popular visiting site of couples
on their honeymoon.
Alishan
The mountain resort of Alishan is known for its traditional
dawn climb of Chushan. The steam train and exhilarating
climb to Yushan, Taiwan's highest mountain that requires
a class A mountain permit are other activities that
interest tourists.
Tainan
Tainan is Taiwan's temple town. It is one of the best
places in Taiwan to witness Buddhist parades and festivals.
Two of the most interesting temples are the Taoist temple
of East Mountain where people come to communicate with
dead relatives or exorcise ghosts, and Mito, where there
is a magnificent statue of the 1000-armed goddess Kuanyin.
The Woozland waterslide park is just the place for fun
and relaxation.
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