 Overview: Situated off the coast of mainland China, the mountainous island
of Taiwan teems with people in massive urban developments, but at
the same time hides some picture-perfect, breathtaking vistas and
natural attractions. Jet into the airport at the capital, Taipei,
and the island below greets you with majestic peaks, rolling hills
and plains, basins and inlets, tropical beaches and green
forests. At the foot of the mountains cluster the crowded industrial
cities and towns. Modern, high-rise buildings play backdrop to
numerous traditional folk festivals, and ancient temples sit
alongside glass-fronted boutiques in the bustling streets. Old and
new live in harmony in Taiwan, and visitors will be enthralled as
much by the bustling metropolis of Taipei as with the array of
natural attractions throughout this relatively small island. In the six national parks there are thousands of species of
wildlife, 20 percent of which are rare or endangered, including the
Mikado pheasant, the Hsuehshan grass lizard and the Formosan rock
monkey. Unique experiences include taking a ride on the Alishan
train, one of only three mountain railways in the world, and hiking
up northeast Asia's highest mountain, Jade Mountain, and taking in
the spectacular sunsets above a sea of clouds. With its volcanic
origins, tropical climate and Polynesian flavour, Taiwan has
deservedly been dubbed the 'Hawaii of Asia'. Taiwan has long had an uneasy relationship with its larger
neighbour, China. In 1684 the island became the refuge for the
remnants of the deposed Ming Dynasty and when Mao's Communists
forces took control of China in 1949 the nationalist leaders, and
over one million supporters, fled to Taiwan. Economically, the
island quickly became an Asian success story but its independence
from China was never recognised by many governments - primarily due
to the Republic's greater political and military firepower. Many
Taiwanese would like an eventual reuniting with mainland China, but
not on the terms suggested by their dominant
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