Taiwan is well known internationally for its mountain and ocean scenery, its healthcare system, and its convenient transportation. It is also a center for the study of Mandarin Chinese. It attracts travelers from around the globe to come for stays of several weeks or more. Our Cover Story this month looks at four reasons why travelers should come for long stays in Taiwan: surfing, mountain hiking, healthcare, and language study.
Following our recent reports on Vietnam, starting this month we switch our focus to the Philippines. Taiwan is the Philippines’ eighth largest trading partner, and the two countries are geographically close. We will showcase the friendship between our two nations by reporting on aspects of bilateral interactions including historical connections, Austronesian culture, academic cooperation, and charitable activities.
A 2023 report by the Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute shows that of 59 reported cases of dead or injured leopard cats, road deaths accounted for 31. Because the foothills habitat of leopard cats in Taiwan overlaps with areas of human activity, these animals face numerous threats, of which the greatest is road traffic. This month we look at the issues facing leopard cat conservation and how the government, private sector, and citizens are together doing what they can to help Taiwan’s last remaining native feline survive.
In recent years many startup businesses in Taiwan have provided innovative solutions to the problems of household pets in areas including diet, veterinary care, play, and day-to-day care. For example, Furbo has developed a 360-degree pet camera that enables pet owners to interact with their pets via a cellphone app, while Lulupet has created an AI-enabled cat litter box that can detect markers of disease in cat waste, which could provide early warning of potential health problems. Other services include at-home pet sitters, a cat shelter that supports itself sustainably, and more. Please enjoy this month’s report on creative pet-care measures.
Continuing our series on early artists in Taiwan, this time we report on Huang Ou-po (1917–2003), who had a profound impact on Taiwan’s arts world. Huang’s works evince a spirit of tolerance by blending together nihonga (Japanese gouache painting), Chinese ink-wash painting, and Western art. He created many works featuring folk customs, and was not only a painter, poet, teacher, and playwright, but a social commentator too. Through interviews with Lin Po-ting, former deputy director of the National Palace Museum, Professor Huang Tung-fu of National Pingtung University’s Department of Visual Arts, and Huang’s son Chen-chih, curator of the Chan Liu Art Museum, we trace Huang’s life story and the development of fine arts in Taiwan, to explore the charm of Taiwanese art.
