Conclusion - Taiwan's Tourism, Culture and Society

Is tourism good or bad for Taiwan?

From my point of view, I feel that tourism is good for Taiwan. There are no serious negatives impacts while it helps to generate a significant amount of revenue, which in turn helps to improve the living standards of the people.

Besides, it is true to a certain extent that without tourism, many of the cultures would have been lost since they are of ‘no value’ to those who do not cherish cultures and traditions. With tourism, cultures are being preserved and cherished by the locals with local pride and proudly displayed to the tourists. Even though some cultures are slightly commodified, it is still alright as the situation is not too serious, with the main elements of the cultures still in place.

Moreover, we always see Taiwanese being very passionate and enthusiastic in welcoming tourists, mostly with wide smiles on their faces. They are ‘suitable’ for tourism because of their hospitable nature since they welcome tourists and treat them like one family.

As long as there are regulations and policies to limit the negative impacts of tourism, ensuring that the interests of Taiwan’s culture and society would be protected, there will be no harm developing tourism. On the contradictory, developing tourism would bring great benefits to the country, in which I personally feel that showcasing its culture to let everyone understand and appreciate is of the most importance. Only by understanding and appreciating one another’s cultures and traditions, will the world become a better place with countless amazing cultures, all in one place; the earth, of one race; the human race.

Has tourism been a culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions?

For cultures and traditions, since they are passed down from decades ago, mostly still have their roots, even though there are some slight changes due to the modern society being globalised and also tourism.

Examples

Food

Some of the food is modified to suit tourists’ tastes buds, such as Taiwan sausages with cheese flavour etc instead of just the original flavour. This may lead to the original and authentic food being out of trend if the new flavour is more popular.

Festivals

One of 2008 Tourism Initiative is to select 12 folk festival activities with local characters established, guidance for internationalization, development for tourism, and commoditization, and upgrade their content for promotion in the international market. An example of a festival that is slighted commodified to fit the international stage is the Taiwan Lantern Festival, which the Tourism Bureau has been holding for 20 years to attract visitors and raise the international profile of the cultural charms of Taiwan. Traditionally, the festival has been celebrated by carrying hand lanterns. The Taiwan Lantern Festival adds a high-tech to this traditional custom, bringing the event to the international stage.

Indigenous groups

For the indigenous groups, some of their cultures have been commodified so as to meet the needs of tourism; what the tourists want to see, as discussed earlier on in the cultural changes brought about by tourism. However, is commodifying cultures and traditions really a bad thing? What if some of them want to accept the process?

An example of a successful Indigenous-owned and –managed ecotourism venture will be in Southern Taiwan in the Tanayiku National Ecology Park, homeland of the Tsou people and sought by urbanized Taiwanese. Their lands were threatened by the environmental impacts (overhunting their creek) of unsustainable tourism from which they were totally excluded. The levels of biodiversity in the creek (the prime attraction of the Park) became incredibly low and the migration of youth towards the city have sparkled the revival of the Tsou culture. In fact, the strong Tsou cultural values linked to the ownership of their traditional land have allowed them to lobby the Taiwanese government and enabled the Tanayiku Environmental law that made fishing in the creek an illegal act. Six years later, enough time for the Tsou to re-introduce fishes, restore the creek and set up ecotourism projects, the creek was re-opened and the Tsou constructed facilities for tourists (restaurants, toilets) and developed a monitoring program for the fishes, provided guides for tourists and employed conservation officers to manage tourists and their impacts on the environment.

Today, the park welcomes 450 000 tourists per year, generating around US$ 900 000 income that allows funding for educating young Tsou. Moreover, more businesses are flourishing around Saviki village (the nearest town) and the other surrounding villages.

The Tsou have re-gained their role as ecological stewards without the Taiwanese government financial support which adds even more self-confidence and self-determination among the Tsou community. They have accepted the commodification of their culture (customs and recipes in “ethnic food restaurants” have been modified to satisfy tourists) that they actually see more as an ecocultural renaissance than ecological colonialism.

For those who want to accept commodicfication, should we respect them and not see it as a negative impact?

Overall, it is felt that it is it is very unlikely that cultures and traditions in Taiwan will alter despite being commodified. Traditions and cultures are what is passed down from the past, but does it signifies the way of living? As the world changes, the way of life, without any doubt, changes too. Cultures such as pop culture, is it a culture? If it is, then is it considered commodified? Whatever it is, the most important thing for people is to live happily, to live the way they want. We have to respect each other’s cultures and traditions, whether they want to preserve or not, it is not up to us (tourists, researchers etc) to decide, but they themselves.

Information Sources:

http://etd.lib.ttu.edu/theses/available/etd-04112005-220028/unrestricted/ChengShu-yunFCSEMay05.pdfhttp://www.indigenousexperience.net/tourism-impacts.php

http://www.indigenousexperience.net/tourism-impacts.php

http://etd.lib.ttu.edu/theses/available/etd-04112005-220028/unrestricted/ChengShu-yunFCSEMay05.pdf

Changes brought about by tourism growth

Changes brought about by tourism growth

Economy

Revenue from tourism are significant as this type of revenue and its economic spin-offs are often considered desirable by both politicians and voters, as they can create benefits such as tax revenue generation, financing of infrastructure, job creation, and capital outlays in the region, without increasing the tax burden on local citizens themselves.

Tourism typically has other benefits as well, including being a “non-polluting” industry, one that can be relatively labor intensive, and one that provides a variety of private sector and public sector infrastructure which can be utilized by domestic citizens as well as by tourists. On a global scale, tourism has been one of the more rapidly growing industries for many countries in the past few decades. As affluence and real economic growth continue in Southeast Asia as is expected, there is good reason to believe that growth in tourism will continue into the future and exceed the rate of growth for the overall economies in that region, with Taiwan as no exception.

Social

Communication

Taiwan badly needs tourism talent, particularly tour guides versed in Mandarin and various foreign languages, as more Chinese citizens and international tourists visit the country. With China expected to replace Japan as Taiwan's largest source of foreign tourists, many people are preparing for Mandarin tour guide accreditation tests. In 2009, Taiwan had only 14,000 accredited Mandarin tour guides. To address the problem, the Tourism Bureau recruited 9,000 candidates in May 2010 through accreditation tests.

With the arrival of tourists, Taiwanese were able to improve their communication and language skills as they upgrade themselves by learning foreign languages to meet the needs of the tourists. As indirect influences of tourism, the local people’s image of foreign culture and language skills have improved.

Improvement in infrastructure, education and natural conservation

To enhance the growth of tourism industry, the government carried out infrastructural investments, e.g. transportation facilities, airports, highways, railways, resort, national parks and tourist facilities etc. For the private corporations such as airlines, buses, hotels, tourist restaurants, playgrounds, souvenir shops, shopping malls, etc., they also improved on the infrastructure so as to meet the needs of the tourists. The tourism sector produces returns to public sector investments in natural conservation, education and infrastructure development

Among the tourism bureau's other responsibilities are the development and management of national scenic areas and the construction of parking lots, pavilions, beach facilities, hiking trails, toilets, marinas, food and beverage outlets, visitor centers, and display halls. Once the infrastructure has been completed, the private sector is then encouraged to invest in hotels, restaurants, and recreational facilities in the national scenic areas.

Environmental awareness

When developing tourism and trying to promote ecotourism, environmental awareness would be created. Environmental policies are being implemented so as to protect the environment such as the National Scenic Areas, which would contribute to places tourists visit.

Culture

Preservation of culture

Throughout the process, there might be culture lost to tourism, however, one cannot deny that tourism also helped in preserving the cultures, which might otherwise been lost if the government do not interfere to preserve them, for both the locals and the tourists. An example would be the Lantern Festival, in which the Tourism Bureau has been holding for 20 years to attract visitors and raise the international profile of the cultural charms of Taiwan. Traditionally, the festival has been celebrated by carrying hand lanterns. The Taiwan Lantern Festival adds a high-tech to this traditional custom and brings the event to the international stage. This is an opportunity to attract tourists, while teaching traditions of the festival to the young, and hence preserving it.

Modification to festivals

The Tourism Bureau has been holding the Taiwan Lantern Festival for 20 years to attract visitors and raise the international profile of the cultural charms of Taiwan. Traditionally, the festival has been celebrated by carrying hand lanterns. The Taiwan Lantern Festival adds a high-tech to this traditional custom and brings the event to the international stage. From to the theme lantern displays to folk arts and performances, the festival has become a perennial favorite of locals and foreign visitors alike.

Staged Authenticity

In order to appeal to tourists, indigenous groups have been “performing”; wearing traditional costumes, doing aboriginal dance and songs, performing rituals and ceremonies. The cultures are authentic, however before tourism seeps into their lives, they do it only during festivals and occasions, meaning that all these are staged, just for the sake of letting tourists see and experience their cultures.

Information Sources:

http://www.taiwanholidays.com.au/taiwan-tourism-talent-in-great-demand

http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002021

"Disney" in Taiwan

Disneyization is beginning to influence and reshape the true historical and geographical images of destinations all around the world, which makes it hard for people to determine what part of their cultural vacation experience is real and what is not, with Taiwan being no exception.

Taiwan have many amusement parks which have strong theming tied to its various cultures, such as Atayal Resort , Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village , Leofoo Village Theme Park , Meinung Folk Village etc, which are symbols and showcases for Taiwan’s pride and culture. Taiwan's cultural theme parks have been adopting different approaches to stay competitive in the amusement park market.

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, will be used as the case study. In the park's aboriginal area, each of Taiwan's indigenous peoples has its own "territory," where the houses and other structures are either transplanted from tribal areas or modeled after authentic buildings. Inside the constructions, daily utensils, tools and weapons are placed where they are supposed to be, and there are also waxwork figurines of aborigines performing ceremonies or daily routines. Some of the structures have become the sole survivors of their kinds in Taiwan as modern building materials and techniques have replaced traditional ones in tribal areas.

Structures in the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village are either transplanted from tribal areas or modeled after authentic buildings. (Photo by Huang Chung-hsin)

In addition to the constructions and displays, the village's planners also organize live shows featuring aboriginal dance, songs and rituals at the Naruwan Theater and the Formosan Aborigines Square. Each of the tribes also has its own "live museum" in its territory in the park. For example, in front of a long open cabinet filled with skulls, which the Paiwan people believe to have the power of scaring away their enemies and blessing their descendants, visitors are welcome to participate in a Paiwan blessing ceremony and bring home a whole year's good luck. Visitors can also try their hand at making aboriginal crafts like glass beads or beverages such as millet wine, before they head to the Culture Square for the aboriginal farewell dance.

While preserving aboriginal culture, they also tried to provide a spacious venue for people to enjoy their leisure time. In addition to the aboriginal scenes, the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village also has a European Palace Garden where tourists can enjoy Roman fountains and a Gothic bell tower, or ride the garden train among the trees and flowers there.

The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village had its grand opening in 1986 and immediately became one of the must-see destinations in central Taiwan. The success was due to the growing economy and people starting to have a little money and time to spare.

The well-planned aboriginal village and European garden kept business satisfactory for several years, but things began to change in the 1990s. New amusement parks like Janfusun Fancyworld in Yunlin County introduced visitors to large facilities offering more thrilling rides such as roller coasters and free-falls, and older parks like Window on China in Taoyuan County soon followed suit. It started to become a diversified market where different people have different expectations for theme parks, where park owners have to invest new stuff to catch up or watch business go down staying with what they have. Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village made its choice in 1992, when it started to invest in indoor and outdoor amusement facilities.

The strategy managed to bring Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village as many as 1.2 million visitors a year. However, not long after, all Taiwan's theme parks--were seriously damaged by the massive earthquake that shook the island on September 21, 1999. The park re-opened about a month after the earthquake but, as expected, attracted very few guests. There were 10 visitors at most on a weekday and 50 on weekends and holidays during that period.

Through various marketing strategies such as working with travel agencies on a "sending love to help the disaster areas" campaign and coordinating with the Sakura Festival since 2002, the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village has gradually regained visitors.

Statistics from the Tourism Bureau show that since 2001, the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village has attracted between 500,000 and nearly 1 million visitors annually. The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, though never the first, has always been among the top five of Taiwan's theme parks in terms of visitor numbers.

Spotting concepts of Disneyization

Before opening, the park has a European Palace Garden where tourists can enjoy Roman fountains and a Gothic bell tower, or ride the garden train among the trees and flowers there, providing a venue for people to enjoy their leisure time. After opening when new amusement parks like Janfusun Fancyworld in Yunlin County introduced visitors to large facilities offering more thrilling rides such as roller coasters and free-falls, and older parks like Window on China in Taoyuan County following suit, the park has to invest new stuff to catch up; invested in indoor and outdoor amusement facilities. After the earthquake, the park used various marketing strategies such as working with travel agencies on a "sending love to help the disaster areas" campaign and coordinating with the Sakura Festival since 2002, gradually regaining visitors.

With added enhancements at different periods and not presenting purely authentic culture so as to increase their level of appealing-ness, the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village shows hints of Disneyization’s theming.

So, presenting true authentic culture while attracting few visitors versus presenting “non-authentic” culture with enhancements which ruins the authentic-ness but attracts many visitors, which is better?

In my personal view, I feel that a theme park’s prime objective is entertainment; the “sugar” that makes the learning and culture pill work. The parks have to expanding their 'themes' to meet different market demands.Even though it is not as authentic, it still attracts visitors. By being too serious about cultural tourism; presenting true authentic culture with no added enhancements such as entertainment, the parks can cease to be fun. This will in turn lead to no visitors to the parks, which is worse than not showing authentic culture, as visitors will not even have a chance to experience the culture by not stepping inside. The most important thing would be to get visitors attracted first, by providing what they want to see, to a reasonable extent. By “luring” them inside first, then only will there be a chance to showcase the culture. If in the first place, they do not visit the parks because they are not attractive or appealing enough to them, then the cultures will be left undiscovered, even though they are real and authentic as can be.

Ironically, the parks are built, with the purpose of attracting visitors, how authentic are they when they are man-made? Also, the indigenous people and communities dress in their traditional clothing, do aboriginal dance, songs and perform ritual for the sake of the tourists, in which they would only wear the costumes for ceremonies and festivals, perform those activities and rituals only when it is truly required, when the tourists are not visiting. The false image that these indigenous cultures present to the tourist is misleading and does not give the tourist a true cultural experience, but just what the tourist wants to see.

Hybrid consumption can be seen in the part that there are not only structures and displays, but also live shows featuring aboriginal dance, songs and rituals, with each tribe having their own "live museum" in its territory in the park, indoor & outdoor amusement facilities and souvenir shops. With blending of services and products in an effort to provide more and retain customers longer, rather than just looking at the displays, visitors get to participate in ceremonies, make aboriginal crafts, participate in dances, take rides and buy souvenirs.

This leads on to merchandising, which is the marketing what would typically be rather indistinguishable items with the logo or creative property of a particular cultural construct. This can be seen through the park having souvenir shops. It is now no longer just a cultural park; through 'synergy' it is the launching point of merchandises, as the souvenirs, items, food, etc. sold at Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village are only available at the park itself, there is no product substitution outside of the park that can be rationalized.

The shows, souvenir shops and other facilities in the tribal area of Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village are maintained by its 100-some aboriginal employees, who constitute about a third of the theme park's total workers. Indigenous people who apply to work at the village are required to take courses and undergo training to perform on stage. Besides performing, they also have to learn more about their tribal culture and do research before eventually becoming guides. Senior aboriginal employees work at the village houses, demonstrating their skill at carving, weaving and pottery.

Signs of Disneyization’s performative labour are shown where the aboriginal employees are required to take courses and undergo training to perform on stage, learn more about their tribal culture and do research before eventually becoming guides. Also, senior aboriginal employees work at the village houses, demonstrating their skill at carving, weaving and pottery. The frontline service work are viewed as performance; they are expected to deliberate display a certain mood or atmosphere; a certain factor that visitors would want to see. They are not simply staff anymore, but castmembers and part of the cultural show. Companies recognise that this theatre, like theming, can separate them from the competitors and establish a reputation for service and experience, by being assured of the standards they desire so as to attract more visitors.

The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village offers about a dozen aboriginal shows every day to entertain its guests. (Photo by Huang Chung-hsin)

Finally, control & surveillance is the element which binds the others together. It refers not only to the business themselves, but also to their customers. However, not much signs of control & surveillance could be found in the guests’ aspects. Unlike Disney, there is no dress code imposed on its visitors, it does not prohibits certain items from its park, does not filter the type of guests as their admission fees are not too high. However, the business itself has controls, such as adopting the ISO 9002 system of quality standards so as to underscore the Village’s commitment to quality and safety. Their aboriginal employees are also required to take courses and undergo training to perform on stage, learn more about their tribal culture and do research before eventually becoming guides . The controls are managed so as to create the desired response.

Pros and Cons of Disneyization

☑ Preserves traditional culture

☑ Renews cultural image & values

☑ Provides expected experience

☑ Spreads knowledge

☒ Encourages stereotypes

☒ Disrespects cultural values

☒ Misguides search for meaning

☒ Sanitizes destination image

Conclusion

From my perspective, disneyization in Taiwan is not too bad; still, we should not move along the way of Disneyization. To avoid Disneyization, everyone should be aware of the cultural history and traditional practices of indigenous peoples and communities. This can be accomplished by tour companies and all other related corporations involving indigenous cultures in the development process of a destination and respecting the rights and values of the indigenous peoples. Also, as tourists, we should know what type of tourism experience we are looking for and make sure that the tour company is offering what we want.

Information Sources:

http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0000248&t=l3&lid=75

http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=64220&CtNode=1361

http://www.unbc.ca/assets/ortm/new_courses/disneyization.pdf

What is 'Disneyfication' and What is 'Disneyization'?

Before zooming into 'Disney' in Taiwan, below is an introduction to the recent global phenomenon 'Disneyfication' and 'Disneyfication', adapted from the blog article "Disneyfication and Disneyization".

Commentators often use the words ‘Disneyfication’ and ‘Disneyization’ interchangeably or inadvertently mix them up, but each describes a separate phenomenon related to Disney.

Disneyfication is more closely tied to the Disney animated films, and its verb form 'to Disneyfy' explains its meaning. Disneyfication is the transformation of something into a childlike, family, perhaps simpler, form. Often used negatively, Disneyfication may be accused of sanitizing history or literature, Americanizing it, or making it overly saccharine.

Disneyization meanwhile, refers to a cultural phenomenon in which more and more of the real world is beginning to resemble a Disney theme park. It is a follow-on from McDonaldization, the idea that more and more of the real world is beginning to resemble a fast food restaurant.

Disneyization comprises of five aspects; theming, hybrid consumption, merchandising, performative labour and control & surveillance.

Theming, the identifying feature of a Disney theme park, has now spread beyond the berm, in that restaurants, shops, hotels, zoos and so on may theme themselves, infusing them symbolism and a constructed history that enhance their appeal. The service provided is enhanced with entertainment, and in a society which relies increasingly more on service over goods, it is a way of plussing themselves, making them unique, and able to charge a higher price.

Hybrid Consumption refers to the blending of services and products in an effort to provide more and retain customers longer. Visiting a theme park is not just riding rides, it is dining, shopping and entertainment, just as a mall will provide entertainment or a restaurant will sell merchandise of itself.

This leads on to Merchandising (and similarly branding), which is the marketing of what would typically be rather indistinguishable items with the logo or creative property of a particular cultural construct. A movie is no longer a movie; through 'synergy' it is the launching point of books, CDs, DVDs, clothing, toys, home goods, merchandise ... and even theme park attractions. By establishing a brand, companies can guarantee higher revenues for a longer duration.

Performative Labour, highly visible in the service industries, is the embellishment of an employee’s role as a service provider to that of a performer. Just as Disneyland workers are not simply staff, they are Castmembers and part of the show, this same expectation is found in chain restaurants and shops. It is epitomised by the smile - a perhaps artificial enthusiasm for helping the customer. Companies recognise that this theatre, like theming, can separate them from the competitors and establish a reputation for service and experience.

Finally, Control & Surveillance is the element which binds the others together. Control & Surveillance refers not only to the business themselves, but also to their customers. Disneyland imposes a dress code on its visitors, and prohibits certain items from its park, but more indirectly filters the type of guests who enter its parks with the high cost of entry to what is typically middle class. Guest movement is specifically channelled, flashes are restricted within attractions, and Disney's real estate and intellectual property are vehemently guarded. For some, even the guests’ imagination is manipulated by the Disney parks (although largely in disagreement with the argument that Disneyland limits the imagination). Disney employees are limited to a specific look, behaviour and personality - their hair, facial hair, make-up and jewellery specifically controlled, and their interaction programmed through Disney University training programs and scripts. Every aspect of the business, from the employee to the customer, is managed to create the desire response.

While both Disneyfication and Disneyization are often used pejoratively, this is perhaps too simplistic. The Disney traditions have guaranteed a successful and popular product consistently for decades, elevating the company to the top of its fields. Other companies may try to mimic Disney's practices, yet none have yet surpassed them - and they do this because, almost universally, this is what contemporary customers desire.

Information Source: http://disneyology.blogspot.com/2010/03/disneyfication-and-disneyization.html

What is Taiwan known for?

So, what is Taiwan known for?

Taiwan is known for its rich & versatile culture, national scenic areas, towering mountains, night markets and many more.

National Scenic Areas

Penghu National Scenic Area, comprising of ninety islets, scattering around the Taiwan Strait. Flat landscape makes it different from Taiwan Island. It is blessed with the most spectacular view in Taiwan. Located in southeast of Taiwan, Orchid Island and Green Island offer the enjoyment of nature environment, such as whale spotting and scuba diving. Matzu National Scenic Area comprises four townships on five islands. Most of the tourist sites are located in Nangan. Beigan has its stone houses and fish noodles. Juguang has its fishing port, as well as a lighthouse designated as a Class 2 historic site. In Dongyin one will find fantastic rock formations and the Dongyin branch of the Matzu Distillery. Southwest Coast National Scenic Area is the 12th national scenic area. Natural and cultural attractions abound at the Siraya National Scenic Area in southern Taiwan's Tainan County. In addition to five scenic reservoir areas (Cengwen, Wushantou, Baihe, Jianshanpi, and Hutoupi), the scenic area embraces the geologically fascinating Caoshan Moon World, the Zouzhen archaeological site, and the skin-pampering mud springs of Guanziling. Colorful aboriginal events and tasty local specialties also await you at Siraya. The scenic area's main attraction is a varied coastline that consists of sand dunes, sand banks, marshes and wetlands, offering precious ecological habitats for wildlife.

Information Source: http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/pda/m1.aspx?sNo=0002012

Towering mountains

Taiwan is known for its towering mountains, and is reputable as a "Mountainous Island". The island is spotted with numerous mountains over 3,000 meters. It is also home to the Northeast Asia's tallest mountain, Yushan, which is nearly 4,000 meter in height. Besides mountains, beautiful coastal scenes are also part of Taiwan's great natural asset. Starting from the northern tip of the island is the North Coast & Guanyinshan National Scenic Area and Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area that features various sorts of coastal geography. Traveling all the way down from here, one will first arrive at the scenic East Coast National Scenic Area and East Rift Valley National Scenic Area, and then the Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area blessed with sunshine and tropical touch. Alongside the mountainous areas is the Maolin National Scenic Area, where a lot of aborigines live and place one can check out the world of butterfly, Rukai stone-made houses and Natural scenes in Taiwan. Legendary tales depict subtle beauty of Alishan National Scenic Area , where you can enjoy the relaxing scene of sunrise & cloud sea. Natural setting of Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area, eagle-spotting at Bagua Mountain, home of fruit-Lishan can sacred Buddhist sanctuary- Lion’s Head Mountain, can bring to you the many faces of the island's beauty.

Information Source: http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/pda/m1.aspx?sNo=0000203

Night Markets

“Seven out of 10 tourists visiting Taiwan have patronized at least one night market,” President Ma Ying-jeou said, noting that night markets represent the vitality of Taiwanese culture.

Some of the most famous Taiwanese food one would think of would be the local specialties (usually small eats) which would usually be found in the night markets (eg. Shilin Night Market in Taipei and Lioho Night Market in Kaohsiung).

Some of them include:

Beef noodles: noodle soup with chunks of meltingly soft stewed beef and a dash of pickles

Oyster omelet: made from eggs, oyster and the leaves of local chrysanthemum, topped with sweet red sauce.

Aiyu jelly: made from seeds of a local fig, usually served on ice

Taiwan sausage：usually made from pork; modified version of the Cantonese lapp cheong which is much sweeter in taste

Bubble tea/ pearl milk tea: milk tea with chewy tapioca balls

Stinky tofu or Fermented tofu: tofu with aroma which is intimidating at first but can be an acquired taste

Scallion pancakes: flour pancake with many thin layers, made with scallions(chopped green onions)

Oyster vermicelli: a thickened soup containing small oysters and Chinese vermicelli

"three cups chicken": chicken with sauce(made of a cup of rice wine, a cup of sesame oil/sugar, a cup of soy sauce)

Information Source: http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.aspxitem=115265&ctnode=426&mp=9

Types of Leisure Programmes

Festivals & Events

Chinese New Year The Spring Festival, of Chinese New Year, is celebrated from the first day to the fifth day of the first lunar month. People refer to this festival as "passing the year," which means shooing out the old and welcoming in the new; it is considered the most important Chinese holiday of the year. There are a number of related customs and traditions that go along with the festival. Normally, on the 23rd or 24th day of the last month, people sacrifice to the Hearth God and send him off on his annual journey to Heaven; this signals the start of the Chinese New Year holidays. On Chinese New Year's Eve, families complete their spring cleaning signifying the sweeping away of misfortunes of the previous year. After the spring cleaning, a New Year's cake is made (the cake is a symbol of "reaching new heights"). The 29th day of the final lunar month is when families stick up spring couplets and New Year prints on their doors and windows to bring good luck. On the 30th day of the last month, families gather together for a New Year's meal, called the "Gathering Around the Stove." Adults then give the younger members of the family, particularly children, red envelopes with cash inside. This monetary gift is thought to bring peace and good fortune to the recipient. Then there is the "Keeping of the Year," which is seeing the old year out and the New Year in by staying up on New Year's Eve. This starts after the family has finished eating the New Year's Eve dinner. Once the clock strikes midnight, firecrackers are exploded to welcome the arrival of the New Year. Chinese New Year also includes the practice of going around to friends and relatives to offer New Year greetings on the 1st day of the year, going to the home of the wife's family on the 2nd, welcoming the God of Wealth on the 4th, and reopening business on the 5th. Lantern Festival The Lantern festival is also known as the "little-New Year." Aside from the usual worship of the gods, the occasion involves guessing lantern riddles, eating rice-flour dumplings, and releasing lanterns into the sky in Pingxi Township. The Yanshui Beehive Rocket Festival in Tainan County is another major event during the Lantern Festival. Colorful and lanterns of all sizes and shapes have always been main attractions of the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated with a grand national festival and major festival in Taipei and Kaohsiung. The Taipei Lantern Festival is held for several days at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, reaching its peak on the day of the Lantern Festival itself. There is a gigantic lantern depicting this year's Chinese zodiac animal, which is the centerpiece of the festival. There are also many traditional lanterns, electromechanical lantern displays, and large themed lantern floats designed by different companies. The Kaohsiung Lantern Festival is held on the Love River. During the festival period, both sides of the river as well as Wufu Rd., Heping Rd., Guangzhou St., and other thoroughfares have lantern exhibitions. There are also musical performances, helping to out the whole city is in a festive mood. Dragon Boat Festival Together with Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival is one of Taiwan's three major annual holidays. Because of its origins and customs, it is closely related to the remembrance of Cyuyuan, a poet who lived during the Warring States Period; that is why, from ancient times, people have also referred to the Dragon Boat Festival as the" Poet's Festival." At the time of the Dragon Boat Festival, the most common customs are holding dragon boat races and eating glutinous rice dumplings called zongzi. Legend has it that when the poet Quyuan jumped to his death into the Miluo River, the local people rowed their boats to and fro in search of him; later, this slowly evolved into the dragon boat races. Today, dragon boat races are a popular activity famous both in Taiwan and abroad; most local areas of the island hold their own races. Each year, there is an international dragon boat race with teams from Taiwan and abroad competing. The practice of making zongzi came from the people who were to save Quyuan from the fate of being eaten by the fish. The people stuffed rice into bamboo sections and threw them into the river to feed the fish; today, the dumplings are wrapped in leaves and eaten by people. Zhongyuan Festival The seventh month on the lunar calendar is the Chinese Ghost Month. Traditionally, it starts from dawn on the first day, when the gates of the netherworld open, and ends on the 29th day of the month, when the gates close. People holt rituals to petition for salvation from disasters and misfortune during the celebration, which reaches a peak on the 15th day. Zhongyuan General Salvation Ceremonies In folk tradition, on the day of Zhongyuan Festival every household has to prepare meat, fruits, fresh flowers, and other sacrificial items; they then offer these to the hungry ghosts at a temple, or on a temporary altar table set up in front of their homes. They also ask monks to say prayers for their deceased loved ones as well as those lost souls who have no living descendants left on earth. This is known as Zhongyuan Pudu, or General Salvation. The ceremonies take place in temple and on streets. On the afternoon of the Pudu, local residents prepare offerings and carry them to the main altar at a temple to join in the ceremonies there. For the street festivities, local residents prepare chicken, duck, and fish for offerings in front of their homes in a ceremony known as doorway worship. Launching of the Water Lanterns The launching of water lanterns is a longstanding custom. Its most important purpose is to help light the way for the lost souls in the water, call the souls to come on land to enjoy the offerings, and pray for the early reincarnation of these souls. It is also said that the farther a lanterns floats, the better the fortune that the clan it represents will enjoy in the coming year. Grappling with the Ghosts Grappling with the Ghosts is a pole-climbing competitions held during the Ghost Month. In Taiwan today, it is carried out only in Toucheng, Yilan County and Hengchun, Pingtung County. Of these two locales, Toucheng, has the bigger celebration. In the early days, people migrating to Yilan from Guangdong and Fujian provinces were beset by natural disasters, accidents, and diseases, and many of them died. Because they became afraid that nobody was going to be left to make offerings after they were gone, and that their souls would have nowhere to go, every year during this festival they held pole-climbing ceremonies to remember those who had passed away. Since Toucheng was the first city in the Yilan area to be developed, residents of its eight major districts jointly hold the general salvation ceremony. They also chose the last day of the month-the day when the gates of the netherworld close-to hold a major pole-climbing competition. Mid-Autumn Festival The Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the Moon Festival, and it is a holiday with a most romantic atmosphere. Because this holiday occurs during the autumn, at a time when harvest season is over, people in earlier days chose this day to make offerings and thank the gods for the bounty of the year. This became a time for families to get together. The most familiar myth concerning this festival is that of Chang-er flying to the moon after secretly drinking her husband's elixir of life. Aside from this, there are also tales of the Jade Rabbit and "Wu chopping down the cinnamon tree." Because most of the activities held during this holiday are related to the moon, it has come to be known as moon day. Important activities at this time include the eating of moon cakes, which symbolize unity and togetherness; strolling under the full moon; and eating pomelos, since the Chinese term for pomelo sounds like "care and protection." As for the barbecues that are held on this holiday, the custom is a recent one in which families and friends get together and enjoy a meal. Kuanyin’s Birthday Kuanyin is the goddess of mercy, and festivals in her honor are held at Buddhist temples all over Taiwan on her Birthday- the 19th day of the second moon. Matsu’s Birthday One of the main Taoist deities is Matsu- the goddess of the sea, who protects and blesses fisherman and sailors and is often prayed to by those embarking on a long journey over the sea. On her birthday (the 23rd day of the 3rd Moon), celebrations in her honor are held at Tao Temples.

More info on Lantern Festival!

Taiwan Lantern Festival The Tourism Bureau has been holding the Taiwan Lantern Festival for 20 years to attract visitors and raise the international profile of the cultural charms of Taiwan. Traditionally, the festival has been celebrated by carrying hand lanterns. The Taiwan Lantern Festival adds a high-tech to this traditional custom and brings the event to the international stage. From to the theme lantern displays to folk arts and performances, the festival has become a perennial favorite of locals and foreign visitors alike. Taipei & Kaohsiung Lantern Festival Colorful and lanterns of all sizes and shapes have always been main attractions of the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated with a grand national festival and major festival in Taipei and Kaohsiung. The Taipei Lantern Festival is held for several days at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, reaching its peak on the day of the Lantern Festival itself. There is a gigantic lantern depicting this year's Chinese zodiac animal, which is the centerpiece of the festival. There are also many traditional lanterns, electromechanical lantern displays, and large themed lantern floats designed by different companies. The Kaohsiung Lantern Festival is held on the Love River. During the festival period, both sides of the river as well as Wufu Rd., Heping Rd., Guangzhou St., and other thoroughfares have lantern exhibitions. There are also musical performances helping to out the whole city is in a festive mood. Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is one of the most colorful activities of the Lantern Festival. Pingxi is a remote hillside town. In former times, those who worked or farmed in the mountains faced the risks of being robbed or killed; so the people used lanterns to tell their families they were safe. The lanterns have lost their function as a warning signal, and today they are a symbol of peace and good fortune. Yenshui Fireworks Festival The fireworks display put on by the God of War Temple in Yanshui, Tainan County is one of the more popular and much awaited events during the Lantern Festival. The display starts one day before the Lantern Festival with the tour of the god's sedan chair, accompanied by the discharge of firecrackers. The noise, lights, and festivities that follow continue well into the following morning. Bombing of Master Han Dan The Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month with a series of activities throughout Taiwan. Among the highlight events at this time is the inspection tour of the deity Master Han Dan in Taitung City. As guardian of the celestial treasury, Han Dan is revered today as a god of wealth, but people believe that he was once a real person named Chao Kung-ming. When the god makes his annual inspection tour of the earthly world, crowds turn out to pray for his blessing and good fortune. On the day of the festival, Han Dan is also joined by other gods of the temples in various townships and Taitung on tours of the community. Households in these areas prepare offerings of fresh flowers and fruit and light strings of firecrackers to welcome the Han Dan. The person representing the god on the tour wears only a headscarf, mask and pair of red shorts. He stands courageously amidst the fusillade of firecrackers protected only by a tree branch. There are several stories as to why the people throw firecrackers at Han Dan. In one version, it is because Han Dan is the god of hooligans and his power grows with the loudness of the explosions. A less widely accepted explanation is that Han Dan is afraid of the cold, so the people throw firecrackers at the god during his tour to keep him warm and win his blessing.

Information Source: http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002021

Hsinchu International Glass Art Festival The establishment of Hsinchu City Craft Glass Museum in 1999, the first glass museum in Taiwan, aims to promote Hsinchu's glass industry by joining the resources of culture and tourism. Its main functions are to research Taiwan's glass manufacturing technology, collect and display glass artworks. In addition, the glass workshop hosting live glass making demonstration is organized to help visitors learn to appreciate the artworks and how to make, paint, and reuse glass. And there is also symposium, led by experts, artists and scholars from Taiwan and abroad is held for visitors that work in the glass industry. Since the glass festival was hosted by Hsinchu City Government in 1995, it has provided the opportunity for the exchange of glass arts. The artists from different countries share their experiences and ideas, and this also offers a best chance for local glass art industry to promote their achievements. Sanyi Wood-Carving Festival The town of Sanyi situated in the southern part of Miaoli County is known internationally as the center of wood carving in Taiwan. The town's wood-carving industry originated back in the 1920s and, in those days, concentrated on oddly shaped pieces of natural wood. The golden age of wood carving in the area came in the 1970s, when most of the products were exported. Facing the recession in 1980s due to the energy crisis worldwide, and this gave the wood-carving industry the opportunity to think how to elevate their products from commodities to artworks. The establishment of the Museum of Wood Sculpture in 1995 prompted numerous wood carvers from other places to gravitate to Sanyi and develop their own styles of artistic creation, and Sanyi became known as a specialized wood-carving area and won the name of "Wood-Carving Town". The Sanyi Wood-Carving Festival has been held in May yearly since 1990 and attracted visitors from all over the island. Through the participation of local wood-carving artists and the exchange of ideas and techniques, their unique styles has been developed and even known in international circles, and this also leads to the development of cultural and tourism resources. The activities include wood-carving exhibition, color wood-carving DIY, wood-carving market, a series of Hakka life and culture shows, etc. (資料來源:全球華文網路教育中心)

Information Source: http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002025

The mysterious customs and traditions of the aborigines, Taiwan's indigenous people, such as the Harvest Festival (Smatto), the Worship of Hunting (Mabuasu), spiritual rituals, totemism, and snake worship, give an extra dimension to Taiwan's culture. The aboriginal tribes of Taiwan form the most northern branch of the Austronesian language group, and ethnically belong to the Malay race. Most aborigines have retreated into the mountains; but although many are faced with assimilation, still some 14 different tribes that have their own languages, traditions, and tribal structure can be distinguished: the Amis, the Atayal, the Paiwan, the Bunun, the Puyuma, the Rukai, the Tsou, the Saisiyat, the Tao (or Yami), the Thao, the Kavalan, the Truku, the Sakizaya, and the Sediq. Mayasvi Ceremony Tsou The Mayasvi is the holiest of all the ceremonies of the Tsou tribe. In the early years, it was held before a battle or hunt. Today, it is held annually in February and is alternately organized by the communities of Dabang and Tefuye in Chiayi County. The ceremony is held at the tribal gathering place for men (Kupah). The tribe's war ceremony includes the rites of triumph, head rites, rites for the heads of the enemies, and welcoming rites for the gods. The Ear-shooting Festival Bunun The Ear-shooting Festival is the most important celebration of the Bunun people. Held from the end of April to the beginning of May, the celebration is divided into sowing rites, hunting rites, and ear-shooting; pig roasting, apportioning the meat, and storing the meat; work celebrations, witch inductions, and other major activities. The traditional ear-shooting ceremony starts well before the celebration itself when the young men of the tribe go into the mountains and hunt. Then they cut off the ears of the their kills, stick the ears on a pole or a tree branch for the village men to shoot with arrows. Small children, accompanied by their fathers and older brothers, also practice shooting arrows, hoping that this will enable them to become good hunters. The Short Spirit Ceremony Saisiyat The Sacrifice to the Short Spirits is the most important traditional rite of the Saisiyat Tribe, with a smaller ceremony every two years and a large ceremony every 10 years. The festival is held around the 15th day of the 10th lunar month, at the end of the harvest season, and lasts for four days and three nights. The first day of the festival starts with welcoming of the spirits, when tribal elders offer wine and meat and then, facing to the east, pray to welcome the Short Spirits. The second day is for entertaining the spirits, which is the centerpiece of the entire festival. The tribes engage in festivities and dancing to commemorate the Short Spirits. On the last day, rites for sending the spirits off are performed. At the appropriate time, the tribes throw sheaves of grass and hazel wood sticks toward the east, signifying that the Short Spirits have already departed. After that, the rice wine, pork, and rice cakes that were offered are given to the participants, bringing the festival to an end. New Year Ritual Puyuma The "Monkey Ceremony" and the "Hunting Ceremony" are together referred to as the annual ritual of the Puyuma tribe. The Puyuma were traditionally the most warlike of Taiwan's aboriginal peoples. Every year toward the end of December, the tribe holds a Monkey Ceremony. Considered the most unique of the Puyuma rites, the Monkey Ceremony is a rite of passage that marks the entry of tribal boys into manhood. Many call it the Monkey Piercing Ceremony as young men of the tribe go through a series of strict trials, the most important of which is the piercing of a monkey with a bamboo staff. This is thought to build courage and cooperation among the young people. Participants have to complete four levels of trials, after which they are allowed to take part in the hunting ceremony. This requires a young boy to be able to hunt down a wild animal within five days. After this, the young boy is considered a man eligible for marriage. Flying Fish Festival Tao The existence of the Tao tribe is closely intertwined with the Flying Fish Festival. Each year the flying fishes come with the Kuroshio Current from January to June, and this brings a rich harvest of fish for the Tao tribe living on Orchid Island. That is why the tribes people believe that these fish are gifts from the gods, and why they treasure this natural resource. Some of the tribe's social norms and taboos are also closely associated with the coming and going of the flying fish. The Flying Fish Festival is a fishing ceremony held sometime beginning in the second or third month of the lunar calendar, and it runs for approximately four months. The festival is divided into different parts including the blessing of the boats, praying for a bountiful catch, summoning the fish, first fishing night ceremony, fish storing ceremony, and fishing cessation ceremony. The men of the tribe wear loincloths, silver helmets, and gold strips, and face the sea to pray for a bountiful catch. Participation is restricted to men. Amis Harvest Festival Amis The Harvest Festival is the largest a festival of the Amis tribe. Held annually during the months of July and August, the festival has three stages, including welcoming the spirits, feasting the spirits, and sending the spirits off. In modern times, the ceremony has been shortened and the religious ceremonies simplified. Several activities have been added, including a race, tug-of-war and arrow shooting competition. The festivities, once limited to tribal participation, are now open to the general public.

Information Source: http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002023

Sports

Some of the most popular sports played in Taiwan are baseball, basketball, badminton, table tennis and various martial arts. One unqiue sport in Taiwan is Diabolo.

Baseball (National Sport)

Baseball is the most popular spectator and team sport in Taiwan. Professional Baseball in Taiwan was initiated by Chinese Professional Baseball League in 1989 and the first official match was played in 1990. Till 2006, Taiwan had only one professional league, the Chinese Professional Baseball League and six professional baseball teams. On an average the matches receive the support of 3,000 spectators per game.

In 2005, an outstanding player, Chien-Ming Wang’s success attracted the attention of all the baseball fans in Taiwan. His performance as a “Son of Taiwan” representing the country in the world’s capital of New York pushed the prestige of baseball in Taiwan to the peak, testifying to the glory and pride of Taiwanese baseball over the past hundred years.

Basketball

Basketball is growing in popularity in the fecund sports arenas of Taiwan. Basketball in Taiwan is especially popular among the school children. Over 90 percent of Taiwan’s schools have basketball courts and more students play basketball than any other ball games. One of the major basketball leagues in Taiwan is the Super Basketball League, which was founded in 2003.

Football

FIFA recognizes Taiwan as the Chinese Taipei National Football Team in international matches. The Chinese Taipei Football Association was established in mainland China under the name China Football Association in 1924. Taiwan's best performance came in 1960 when it secured third place in the Asia Cup.

Golf

Golf is an extremely popular sport in Taiwan. There are numerous well-spread lush green courses. Most of the golf courses remain open the whole year. Lin Keng-chi is one of the most successful golfers in Taiwan.

Tennis

Though tennis is a widely played sport in Taiwan, not many players have emerged from the island. The most famous tennis player in Taiwan at present is the young Yen-Hsun Lu.

Volleyball

The national volleyball team of Taiwan is known as the Chinese Taipei national volleyball team. The team comprises tall promising athletic players. The national volleyball has not yet entered the world cup but it reached the second round in Asian Games.

Recreation

The following table shows the popular recreational activities in Taiwan:

Popular Recreational Activities in Taiwan

Activities	Unit: %
Nature trips	74.7
Nature observation	47.9
Camping, mountaineering, hiking	16.3
Plant/animal observation	10.5
Cultural activities	23.7
Religious activities	7.4
Exhibitions	5.5
Festivals, arts performances	5.2
Cultural relics appreciation	4.6
Traditional folk arts	1.0
Sports activities	8.0
Swimming, diving, windsurfing, water motorcycling	5.0
Canoeing, yachting, cruising, ferrying	1.7
Fishing	0.9
Playing or attending ball games	0.3
Paragliding	0.1
Recreational parks	4.8
Mechanical amusement rides	2.6
Theme parks	2.2
Others	48.0
Window shopping, shopping	14.6
Culinary enjoyment	16.6
Hot spring baths, spas	10.2
Taking a ride	1.8
Visiting orchards/tea gardens	1.3
Others	3.5
The above figures indicate the percentage of respondents in the survey who engaged in the corresponding recreational activities during domestic travel.

Information Source: http://www.taiwan.com.au/Soccul/Recreation/report01.html