Taiwan

History

China was defeated by the Japanese in the 1895 war and surrendered the region of Taiwan to Japan. After the Second World War, the Japanese were defeated and surrendered it back to China.

Taiwan became a state in 1912.

Food/ culture

The culture is mixed with Taiwan heritage and Chinese heritage.

The crops grown in the country include rice, bananas, soybeans, wheat, peanuts, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, tea, pineapples, citrus fruits and asparagus.

The common food is beef noodles, minced pork rice, chicken cutlet and oyster pancake.

Wildlife

The most common wildlife animals include wild boars, leopard cats, black bears, mice bats, weasels and tigers.

Annual events/ celebrations/ festivals

One of the most notable events is the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival when people gather to write their wishes of the year on lanterns and flee them to the sky.

There is also the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival is a 15 days festival.

There is also the Jinshan Fire Fishing Festival is a fishing festival during the night in Jinshan.

Things to see

Taroko National Park, Yangmingshan National Park, Yushan National Park and Kenting National Park are home to a wide variety of wildlife species.

Kinmen Islands is a beautiful place to visit located off the southeast coast of the mainland.

Lukang Township has traditional architecture such as red bricks streets. The grand Lukang Longshan Temple has king Dynasty carvings.

National Palace Museum preserves ancient Chinese artefacts and art.

Eastern coastline at Shih-t’i-p’ing (Shitiping)

Interesting facts

It has the fastest internet in the world.

The major religions are Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity and Yiguan.

The official language is Mandarin Chinese.

Borders

Taiwan is bordered on the northwest by the People’s Republic of China, on the northeast by Japan and the south by the Philippines.