New Approaches to Border Control—Balancing Convenience and Security

The end of 2015 was a period of enormous global turbulence. People worldwide were feeling the anxiety created by a series of terrorist attacks. More than 10 million people arrived in or departed from Taiwan last year, and the number is rising. By the end of 2015, close to 161 countries had per......

Making History for Cultural Exchange— A Remarkable Exhibition of Vatican Artifacts

“Treasures from Heaven: A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See” opens in early February. Representing an unprecedented example of transnational, multidisciplinary curatorial cooperation, the exhibition is writing a new page in the history of cultural exchange between the ROC and t......

From Taiwan with Love: The ROC’s Humanitarian Work in Thailand

Spread open a map and examine Thailand’s borders. In the north, mainland China isn’t far away. Thailand borders Laos in the east, and Myan­mar in the west. Complex historical, political and economic factors have led to large numbers of refugees in its border regions. Since the 1950s, via organ......

Trending in Taiwan!

What’s hot on the island right now? Since trendy brands, fashionable clothes and stylish shoes have become passé, just about the hottest thing to do is to show Taiwan to the world using nothing but your camera and a bit of creativity.......

Learning Huayu in Taiwan

—A Journey of Boundless Possibilities

Lukas Engström is a Swedish national based in Taiwan. Shortly after he started to learn Mandarin Chinese here, he visited a soft drinks bar to buy a cup of pearl milk tea. While in the queue, he kept repeating to himself the Chinese phrases he had to say to the staff. When at last he gave the ......

Soothing Taiwan’s Sweet Tooth

Stories of Local Pastries

Rivaling Willy Wonka’s legendary chocolate bars, and laden with even more stories than Marcel Proust’s madeleine cakes, Taiwanese pastries continue to satisfy our sweet tooth. With their origins in traditional Chinese confectionery, they are made with local ingredients rich in cultural meaning......

Tradition and Innovation:

The Protean Power of Instant Noodles

Who invented instant noodles? In Taiwan, we come across the forerunner of instant noodles, the world’s first instant noodles with sauce packets containing sumptuous chunks of meat, as well as those featuring distinctively local recipes that make use of Chinese medicinal herbs and huadiao, a cl......

A New Trend in Medical Tourism

—Healthcare and Health Maintenance in Taiwan

Hospitals in Taiwan possess high-end medical technology and equipment, and Taiwan is a world leader in certain specialties, including liver transplantation and reproductive medicine. Institutions here provide very cost-effective healthcare services and have a competitive advantage against the ......