Taiwan in General

Often known to the West as "Ilha Formosa", the beautiful island of Taiwan is just 144km wide and 395km long. Spread over an area of 35,563 square kilometers, Taiwan is approximately half the size of Tasmania, Australia's island state.

Taiwan is situated in the western Pacific, about 160km off the southeastern coast of the Chinese Mainland. Positioned midway between Korea and Japan to the north and Hong Kong and the Philippines to the South, Taiwan is a convenient gateway to Asia for travelers from all over the world.

About two thirds of the island is covered with lush forested mountains. The tallest peak in Taiwan, Jade Mountain, is at 3952 meters above sea level; it is also the highest mountain in northeast Asia. Taiwan's natural beauty includes sun-splashed beaches and tranquil lakes, gushing waterfalls and soothing hot springs. The island also has an exotic array of tropical flora and fauna. With an annual rainfall of more than 1500mm, Taiwan ranks as one of the most agriculturally productive places in all of Asia.

Most areas of Taiwan enjoy a subtropical climate. It is generally warm and mild all year round. The temperature rises above 25 degree Celsius between June and September, sometimes going up to as high as 35 degrees. In summer there are also occasional typhoons, but these do not have a long-term impact on the island. In winter, the temperature drops below 15 degree between November and March, with an occasional snowfall on the higher mountains.

Taiwan's population is approximatley 23 million. Except for the nearly 390,000 Aboriginal people, whose origins are still hotly debated by scholars, the inhabitants of Taiwan originated from the Chinese Mainland. Most came from the coastal province of Fukien.

The largest city in Taiwan is Taipei, with more than 2.7 million people. The surrounding Taipei County adds another 3 million people. Other large cities in Taiwan include Kaohsiung with 1.4 million residents, Taichung with 860,000 and Tainan with 708,000.

The national language of the Republic of China on Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese. However, many island residents also speak Taiwanese, the local dialect.

Traditional Chinese religions include Buddhism, Taoism and folk beliefs. Taoism is indigenous to China while Buddhism was introduced from India. Some Taiwanese follow Protestant faiths or the Roman Catholic Church.