The Vermeer Exhibition
The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (or National Taiwan Democracy Hall if you prefer) is fast becoming my favourite place to visit during the weekend, especially with the kids, and the Vermeer exhibition which is on…
Author Archives: Taiwan Ho! Staff
Shopping for Cameras
A shopping experience often depends on the store and the staff who serve you. This is especially true when buying a camera as the amount of money involved can be substantial (see below for a…
Taishan Doll Museum
From 1967 until 1987, Barbie was made in Taishan by Mattel, at a factory employing 1200 people. It was this āMade in Taiwanā period that led to the rapid growth in Taiwan, but very little…
The Lanyang Museum in Yilan
Tourism in Yilan has exploded with the opening of Xueshan tunnel. It’s now quick and easy to get to, and there are an ever increasing number of places to visit. One of the newer such…
Dali Exhibition
The big businesses in Taiwan seem be increasingly interested in promoting the arts, which can only be to our benefit as the current Salvador Dali exhibition proves. The exhibition is on now at the Chiang…
Nangan Island, Matsu
Nangan is the most southerly of the two main islands and the biggest island in the chain. It has the feel of an enormous military base, but then that’s part of the attraction of visiting…
Matsu: Pirates, Birds and Guns
Photo by Prince Roy, licensed under the Creative Commons Matsu is an archipelago of 19 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait, very close to China. In fact, on a clear day you can see…
Typhoon Preparedness
The transition from spring into summer spells an end to long bouts of drizzle, and invites fierce downpours, usually in the evenings. But these sporadic storms cannot compare to the South Pacificās fiercest natural phenomenon,…
Urban Hiker Redux: Elephant Mountain
Note: The Urban Hiker contributed this article to Taiwan Ho! in 2003. While some things may have changed (please see endnotes), Elephant Mountain remains a wonderful urban hiking destination a decade later. Arguably, July is…
Moon Festival
Moon Festival, also known as Mid Autumn Festival, is an important cultural festival in Taiwan, dating back over 4000 years. It is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar,…