Taiwan is the publishing hub of the Chinese-speaking cultural sphere, and ranks second in the world in the number of titles published. Where do we go from here? How about even further abroad? Taiwan caught the interest of the international community during the Covid pandemic. As the pandemic waned, that global attention then transformed into something of a Taiwan craze in neighboring nations and international book markets.
With moderate water temperatures and an abundance of coral reefs, the seas around Taiwan are an important habitat for the migration and feeding of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), and the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), as well as being a major breeding ground for the green sea turtle.
Apart from renowned bookshop chains such as Eslite, Taiwan is home to a di-verse array of independent bookshops. Scattered all over our islands, these places not only sell books but also host lectures, exhibitions, and performances. As the capital city, Taipei especially abounds with bookish events, reminding us of the literary feasts that grace the Rive Gauche in Paris.
Taiwan’s budget hostels enable young travelers to stay in cities at a reasonable price. Those who stay in them can breathe in the air of unfamiliar locations, experience the richness of local culture, and make a connection with this land.
Literature opens windows into a country’s soul.
Through Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence, we imagine life in the countryside of southeastern France. Digesting Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, we find ourselves untangling an allegory of Latin American history and social realities. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series conjures up a magical world, but between the lines we catch glimpses of British confidence, eccentricity, and deadpan humor.
Producer Tim Lee, who won three Golden Bell Awards for his series 30 Meters Underwater, in 2023 filmed Taiwan’s first ever documentary on the ecology of shipwrecks. While doing so, he discovered a previously unknown wreck in the waters off Penghu.
Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2023 was “authentic.” It reflects the fact that with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-generated content, we now live in a world where the lines between the real and the fake are blurring, making us crave “authenticity” more than ever.
As a result of their geographic proximity, Taiwan and the Philippines are exposed to similar types of natural disasters, and both countries face severe challenges from extreme weather. These shared risks have prompted Taiwan and the Philippines to engage in collaborative scientific research.
As crowds of devotees on foot follow the pilgrimage of the goddess Mazu through streets and lanes, often for 100 kilometers or more, there are always cases of exhaustion or the urgent need for a bathroom along the way. Fortunately, there is help on all sides. It was out of gratitude for this precious destiny that brings people together that Jieyuanpin (“destined relationship goods”) came into being.
In The History of Eating in Taiwan (2021), Ang Kaim and Tsao Ming-chung list Wenzhou wontons, Sichuan beef noodles, and Mongolian barbecue among authentically Taiwanese dishes that appear to have come from abroad. Cooked in unfamiliar ways, and evoking overseas places in their names, they are often considered to be “imports.” However, despite the complex histories of these classic foods, there is no mistaking their Taiwanese provenance.
