Taiwan is a fascinating country, with a culture that matches its geographical location, somewhere between China and Japan. The food is a spin on southern Chinese, with delicious dumplings and other delights, and there’s a Japanese influence too, seen in its architecture and love of quirky Japanese cartoon characters, and the Taiwanese’ well-mannered and helpful nature. Some things however, are uniquely Taiwanese – and you won’t experience them anywhere else in the world.
5. Taroko Park, Kaohsiung. Go racing on the only Suzuka go-kart racetrack outside Japan – it feels like Formula One, if only for 15 minutes. Inside the complex there are all sorts of indoor sports to try out as well, including basketball, mini golf and baseball.
6. Leofoo Safari & Theme Park, Taipei. Hand-feed King Julian, the lemur, and his mates at this open-plan zoo on the outskirts of Taipei. The complex also includes a theme park and water park, so you’ll need a full day to explore.
7. Rainbow Village, Taichung. This painted village is one of the last of Chiang Kai Shek’s veteran housing projects, saved from demolition by its determined owner, who taught himself to paint and turned it into a tourist attraction.
8. Modern Toilet. Yep, in Taipei’s Xi Men shopping district you’ll find a three-storey eatery where you can eat lunch from a toilet bowl. It’s actually been here for over 10 years – proof that gimmicks work? Well maybe that, and also, the food’s actually pretty good. Try the Thai green curry, served in a baby blue toilet bowl, or the chocolate icecream shaped like a…
10. Quirky Accommodation. Stay in a hotel where you can slide to reception. Taiwan has plenty of quirky boutique hotels and at The Red Dot Hotel you can skip the elevator and slide down two storeys to reception on your way out to explore the city.