Recreation in Taiwan

As introduced by the Yearbook of the Republic of China:

Until the government implemented a five-day workweek in 2001, weekends lasted only a day and a half. To promote recreation for all citizens, the government established centers for local sports and recreational activities in all 25 counties and cities in Taiwan, including the major metropolises of Taipei and Kaohsiung. The Taipei Youth Activity Center, which opened in December 2001, offers courses in computers and aerobic exercise, as well as a wide range of other facilities, including an exhibition center, bookstore, theater, gymnasium, comic book and video library, conference hall, Internet workstations, dance floor, roller-skating rink, and restaurants.

Group activities hold a strong appeal for the Taiwanese. Many local corporations, government agencies, and schools have intramural sports teams and activity clubs. Table tennis, basketball, softball, badminton, and tennis give all workers a chance to get some moderate exercise. Ecological and cultural trips are organized regularly. Multipurpose summer camps focusing on culture, ecology, and sports are common among primary school students. In addition, more and more parents are sending their children to English camps in Taiwan or abroad during summer or winter vacations.

More importantly, the introduction of a two-day weekend and promotional efforts by the government have led to a significant increase in domestic travel by Taiwan citizens as part of their recreational activities. Starting in 2003, a national travel card, combining credit card and domestic travel services, was issued to Taiwan's public servants, who receive a US$228.50 subsidy for every week of mandatory, paid vacation spent within Taiwan, up to a maximum of US$457 for two weeks.

A survey commissioned by the Tourism Bureau found that in 2002, 90 percent of Taiwan's citizens over 12 years of age traveled domestically at least once to make a total of 104.3 million trips, a 4 percent increase over 2001. The main purposes for such domestic travel included: vacation, relaxation, and recreation, 60.5 percent; visiting friends and relatives, 18.7 percent; religious travel, 6.0 percent; ecological tours, 5.9 percent; and physical exercise, 4.0 percent. The main attractions were shopping and cuisine in the north, shopping and amusement parks in central Taiwan, water activities such as swimming, diving, and surfing in the south, and hot-spring spas in the east.

The following table shows the popular recreational activities in Taiwan:

Popular Recreational Activities in Taiwan