Taiwan

This thoroughly updated fourth edition features the latest travel details reflecting impacts of the 2024 earthquake and Typhoon Gaemi, plus new attractions including the Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum and the reopened Southern Cross-Island Highway.

Written by a Taiwan expert who has been locally resident since 1991 and travelled to every corner of the main island and outlying archipelagos, this is the consummate travel companion for exploring a destination transformed from an agricultural dictatorship into perhaps Asia's freest and most tolerant society. Taiwan is a captivating cultural mash-up blending 18th-century China, ancient Austronesia, 20th-century Japan, and post-war Americana—a complex identity often described as "more Chinese than China," but far more nuanced.

With more than 58% forest cover, Taiwan is as rewarding for wildlife enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers as for culture seekers. Discover 51 mountain peaks topping 3,000m, pristine islands like Xiao Liuqiu and Penghu where green turtles nest, the geological wonder of Taroko Gorge, and world-class snorkelling at Green Island. For urban exploration, vibrant Taipei showcases the world-class National Palace Museum, while the former capital Tainan delights with culinary treasures and ornate temples, and charming Lukang brims with antiquity.

Whether you're seeking wildlife-rich landscapes ranging from beguiling islands to 4,000-metre mountains, a vibrant folk religion scene, surprising food culture, or thrilling outdoor activities like white-water rafting and alpine hiking, this guide reveals what international visitors are most likely to enjoy and provides expert help in appreciating Taiwan's remarkable depths.