In recent years the old quarter of downtown Taichung City has seen a wave of restorations of old buildings, the reopening of the Central Bookstore, and the opening of Taiwan Connection 1908, seemingly heralding a cultural renaissance in the city’s old central business district and injecting new vitality into this historic area.
On the streets of Taiwan, you can find Vietnamese at hairdressers and nail salons as well as Vietnamese rice noodle shops. You can also find them working at tea plantations in Nantou, lychee orchards in Taitung, water lily fields in Meinung, and bed and breakfasts and sesame twist factories on Xiaoliuqiu.
Just as Vietnamese are making their presence felt in Taiwan, so too are Taiwanese leaving their imprint on Vietnam.
“If you want to run, just run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon.” Drawing on this quote by Czech runner Emil Zátopek, triple gold medalist in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, we can say: If you want to both run a marathon and admire the beautiful craftsmanship of nature, then run a canyon marathon.
The streets of Ho Chi Minh City are always packed with people and vehicles, while boats dance along the Saigon River. The animated scene hints at Vietnam’s economic vitality.
Tianzhong is a small town in Changhua, one of the major agricultural counties of Central Taiwan. During the Tianzhong Marathon, the townspeople show their warm hospitality to runners as they enthusiastically cheer them on along the course and provide well-stocked aid stations. Runners call this “a marathon that you have to experience at least once in your life.”
Statistics from the National Central Library show that over 50,000 books were published in Taiwan during 2022, of which 70% were by local authors. Considering its population size, it is no exaggeration to say that Taiwan boasts one of the liveliest publishing scenes in the world. Such stunning bibliodiversity, however, has to rely on the vigor and enthusiasm of foreign translators for its global impact.
Running a marathon can be the realization of a dream, a pleasurable journey through urban and rural scenery, or an experience of food and fun. We invite you to come and run marathons in Taiwan and carry home memories of not only beautiful scenery, but also warmhearted people.
Everyone associates Alishan (Mt. Ali) in Chiayi County with spectacular sunrises, beautiful evening skies, and immense seas of clouds, but did you know that Alishan is featured on the NT$1,000 banknote? Apart from the giant ancient trees and cherry blossoms, have you come across those endemic plants that grow only in the Alishan National Scenic Area? Having enjoyed Alishan’s celebrated mountain tea, have you tried its chrysanthemum tea as well?
Medium-sized mountains in Taiwan from 1,500 to 3,000 meters in height have a reputation for being filled with mystery and the unknown. Although not especially tall, they are considered the most difficult climbing terrain in all of Taiwan.
Put some raw rice and other ingredients into a wok and stir-fry them. Then, gradually add your precooked broth. As the rice grains slowly cook through, they absorb the essence of the broth without clumping together, while achieving an al dente texture. Finally, top it off with some fourfinger threadfin, mullet roe, and fiddlehead greens, and voilà, a seafood risotto made entirely from Taiwanese ingredients is ready to be served.
