Adventure Fosters Creativity

—The Social Benefits of Greater Wilderness Access

“What we call a mountain is… in fact a collaboration of the physical forms of the world with the imagination of humans,” writes British author Robert Macfarlane in Mountains of the Mind.  Though our island is small, Taiwan’s abundant natural resources include 268 peaks over 3000 meters tall. Y......

Cradle of Champions

—The Hsu School in Taiwan Kendo

In the Japanese sport of kendo (fencing with bamboo swords), the term ippon refers to a valid strike that scores one point. But it has a deeper meaning, for it also refers to a competitor’s energy, fencing style, and body control. What every fencer seeks is that magic moment—kikentai ichi—when......

Ran Lee

Taiwan’s Father of Muay Thai

What comes to mind when you hear the name “muay Thai”? Despite its reputation for ferocity, the muay Thai practiced at Ran Lee Muay­thai Gym in Kao­hsiung is nowhere near as brutal as what you’ve seen in the movies. In fact, even people with high blood pressure can take part! Gym leader Ran Le......

Li Shiao-yu: Carrying the Flag to the Finish Line

“Our champion: Shiao-yu Li, from TAIWAN!” These words have reverberated many times around the venues of international triathlon competitions as Li Shiao-yu, representing Taiwan, crosses the finish line, panting with exhaustion and draped in the nation’s flag. The organizers then honor her by p......

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 ......