Baguashan in Changhua is home to one of the tallest Buddha statues (22m-high) in Taiwan and in the world. Mt. Bagua also has a large temple complex just behind it, as well as some nice parks where you can stroll around. Walking on Mt. Bagua There’s a couple of interesting walking paths and farmer’s roads […]
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Ancient Chinese Weapons
Info About Ancient Chinese Weapons The ancient Chinese were very good at inventing and developing many new tools and weapons. They developed a large number of different weapons which were used to fight many wars throughout Chinese history. These ancient Chinese weapons are what gave Chinese people the power to unify such a large country. […]
Ancient Chinese Rockets
Information About Ancient Chinese Rockets China is credited with many inventions and discoveries that have changed the world as we know it. They discovered gunpowder and started finding many different uses for it. One such use was ancient Chinese rockets. This very technology eventually became the basis of rockets used for space exploration, but of course these […]
Ji-Tong (Dangki) A Shocking, Ancient Chinese Ritual Still Practiced in Taiwan
A photo essay about shamanism and spirit possession on Formosa WARNING: This page is about Ji-Tong (Dan-ki in Taiwanese): an ancient Chinese ritual that is performed in Taiwan. Most people find this traditional Chinese practice disturbing because it involves self-flagellation – in this case, people hitting themselves with ferocious-looking weapons, or piercing their bodies with […]
A Very Bizarre Festival and Ancient Chinese Religion in Sanxia, Taiwan
“What do you think about ancient Chinese religion?“ That’s what a young Taiwanese lady asked me as I was trying to shoot a picture of an old man who was painting red Chinese characters on a living fish that was hanging (and wagging) from the lip of a huge, dead sacrificial pig. I turned to answer the […]
Ancient Chinese Inventions
Information About Ancient Chinese Inventions The Ancient Chinese were a very clever civilization who was capable of utilizing the materials they had available to make tools that they found useful. As with any civilization, as time went by the skills and materials improved, this improved the quality and type of tools available. There are some […]
Ancient Chinese Gunpowder
Information About Ancient Chinese Gunpowder The Ancient Chinese civilization was very skilled at using what nature gave them to create various inventions. One of the most important and best known inventions that the Chinese ever created was gunpowder. Ancient Chinese gunpowder is still in use to this very day and is one of the most powerfully […]
Ancient Chinese Food History
Many people want to learn about ancient Chinese Food so they can find out what is different between this and the Chinese food from a takeaway. Ancient China was very different from the modern factory of the world that we know today. It was the ancient Chinese beliefs to live with the land and let it provide […]
Pictures of Ancient Chinese Culture in Taiwan
25 Symbols From the Past You’ll find traces of ancient Chinese culture and traditions all over Taiwan… From the first moments after you’ll land in Taipei, it’ll be evident that Taiwan, in spite of being one of the most modern society in Asia, is still very attached to its past and its shared history with China. […]
Accommodation in Taiwan
An introduction to places to stay in Taiwan Where can you sleep in big Taiwanese cities like Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung? Do you need to make a reservations for hotels? Are there cheap hostels in Taiwan? What are your options for spending a night in the mountains? How about camping in Taiwan? How much should you […]
Pictures of Taiwan
Discover Formosa Through Photos My Top 30 Photos of Taiwan! A 10-year compilation of my personal favorites! Travel pictures taken around the island. Cities, hiking, temples, culture, attractions, portraits… Photos of Ancient Chinese Culture Chinese dragons, lanterns, opera, religion, festivals, calligraphy, painting, superstitions, parades, Taichi… 25 Pictures of Chinese TraditionsYanshui Fireworks Festival, Sanxia, Taiwanese Weddings, […]
Chinese Festivals in Taiwan
Understand the basics about Chinese festivals in Taiwan! The Taiwanese calendar has its fair share of traditional Chinese festivals. If you visit Taiwan during a Chinese holiday such as the New Year, or Moon Festival, you may witness some traditional practices such as burning ghost money, lighting firecrackers, or wearing clothes of a certain color […]
Chinese Society and Culture
Facts About Chinese Society and Culture Chinese society and culture (history, traditions, customs, beliefs) are very complex. Not just for westerners. Chinese people themselves have a hard time answering questions about their own culture and society. And not only in China. Over the years, I have questioned people of Chinese descent in Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand about […]
Taiwanese Culture
More and more people are curious and interested about Taiwanese culture these days. Far behind are the days when people were asking questions like Where is Taiwan? Is it a country? Is it part of China? Nowadays, the truth is out and people know that Taiwan is an independent country with a culture that is […]
Travel in Taiwan – Transportation Guide
Understand how to get around Taiwan by train, bus, air, HSR, scooter, car! Traveling around Taiwan can either be a breeze or a real pain in the neck. Public transport between the big cities that dot the west and east coasts (Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taidong, Hualien) is cheap, comfortable, organized and punctual. It’s actually more […]
Taiwan Visa
Do you really need a visa to visit Taiwan? The following question is the one I’ve received the most on this website since I created it in 2008: “I am from xyz country, do I need a Taiwan visa?” The second most common question I am asked is: “Am I eligible for the visa-free landing […]
Facts About Taiwan
20 Questions People Always Ask Me About Taiwan Curious about Taiwan? You’re not the only one! Whenever I travel and tell people I live in Taiwan, I’m assaulted with questions. This Facts About Taiwan page will answer some of the most common questions I’m usually asked. Check out why a vacation to Taiwan is a wicked idea! Let’s […]