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Putting Their Best Foot Forward: Taiwan’s Shoemakers Break New GroundPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Putting Their Best Foot Forward: Taiwan’s Shoemakers Break New Ground

In 2021, Taiwan ultramarathon runner Lo Wei-ming finished second in the world’s longest certified road race, the Sri Chinmoy Self-­Transcendence 3100 Mile Race, setting a new record for Asian runners. Athletes from around the world were not only in awe of Lo’s focus, they were also greatly interested in the “Y Sandals” (thong sandals) that he was wearing on his feet. The idea that someone would run a marathon in sandals became an international topic of conversation.

At Home in Formosa: Canadian Missionary George Leslie MackayPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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At Home in Formosa: Canadian Missionary George Leslie Mackay

In Tamsui, Taiwan, more than 11,000 kilometers distant from the township of Zorra in the Canadian province of Ontario, there is a Mackay Street, and June 2 is “Dr. Mackay’s Day.” George Leslie Mackay (1844–1901) was the first missionary sent overseas by the Canada Presbyterian Church, and he contributed much to Taiwan in the fields of religion, healthcare, and education.

Connecting with the World: Novel Fruits Gain Traction in TaiwanPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Connecting with the World: Novel Fruits Gain Traction in Taiwan

Bananas were first grown in Taiwan several hundred years ago. Today, after centuries of cultivar selection, Taiwanese bananas are proudly exported to Japan and Dubai, and were even chosen as a food for the athletes’ village at the ­Tokyo Olympics.

Fruitful Endeavors: The Many Uses of Taiwanese FruitPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Fruitful Endeavors: The Many Uses of Taiwanese Fruit

Fruit is best eaten in season right where it is grown. But what if in the chill of winter you want to eat summer fruits like mango or lychee? The answer lies in the old saying “spring cultivation, summer weeding, autumn harvesting, and winter storage.” If you transform tropical fruits by dehydration or cooking, concentrating their flavors into dried fruits or jams, you can capture their magni­ficent tastes and enjoy them all year round.

A Dual Sense of Home: Malaysian-Born Writers in TaiwanPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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A Dual Sense of Home: Malaysian-Born Writers in Taiwan

Originally from Southeast Asia, these writers have put down roots in Taiwan, where their books are widely acclaimed. As Taiwanese writers, they even enjoy popularity overseas. We may refer to them as “Malaysian-born writers in Taiwan.”

Persimmons to Eat, Persimmons to Dye with—A Visit to Persimmon CountryPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Persimmons to Eat, Persimmons to Dye with—A Visit to Persimmon Country

Autumn is the season when the persimmons ripen, and the only time of you can eat them fresh. Take a trip to Hsinchu’s Xinpu Township, Taiwan’s largest producer of dried persimmons, and stop for a moment to appreciate the scenes of sunlight pouring through the fruit drying racks. Any photo you take will be beautiful, for at a moment like this every­one is a master photographer.

Local Lantern Festivals Bring New Life to CommunitiesPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Local Lantern Festivals Bring New Life to Communities

For ten years now, two neighborhoods in Southern Taiwan have chosen to make light their calling cards. With their colorful, artistic lanterns that line the streets and canals, the Tainan Phoo Tse Lantern Festival and the Yuejin Lantern Festival offer more than just opportunities for Facebook and Instagram photos. For their locales in greater Tainan, the fest­ivals have also made deep cultural impressions and become important sources of living memories.

Now That’s Good Fruit! The Great Taste of Taiwan PineapplesPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Now That’s Good Fruit! The Great Taste of Taiwan Pineapples

Taiwan boasts the largest number of pineapple vari­eties in the world. Fresh Taiwanese pine­apples’ delicate texture and balanced flavor also make them the world’s best. Superior cultivars and stringent cultivation techniques have laid a strong foundation for exports, and pine­apples are currently Taiwan’s top fruit in terms of export volume.

Memory and Nostalgia: Remembering Old TaipeiPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Memory and Nostalgia: Remembering Old Taipei

After more than a century of development, no matter how dazzling the skyscrapers of Taipei’s East District and Xinyi District may be, the old city area centered on the North Gate still retains the traces and charm of times past.

Jujubilation: The Sweet Succulence of Taiwan JujubesPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Jujubilation: The Sweet Succulence of Taiwan Jujubes

Jujubes come onto the market in Taiwan in the run-up to the Lunar New Year. In 1944, Indian jujubes (Ziziphus mauritiana), less than ten grams in weight and sour and astringent in taste, were introduced to the island. But since then they have been dramatically transformed into sweet, juicy fruits weighing up to 200 grams. For this the credit goes to agricultural experts and farmers, whose hard work enables us all to experience the joy of jujubes.