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Where Fiction and Reality Coalesce: Tours Inspired by Films and TV SeriesPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Where Fiction and Reality Coalesce: Tours Inspired by Films and TV Series

Have you ever thrust your hand into the Mouth of Truth at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin in Rome? Have you knocked on the door of 221B Baker Street in London, or swung down the streets of New York on high heels in imitation of Carrie Bradshaw?
As travelers, we take pleasure in following leads from novels and films and imagine ourselves playing a part in fictional scenes. In doing so, we find ourselves freely overstepping the lines between reality and fantasy.

“Green India,” Smart Manufacturing — TECO’s “Head Start” in IndiaPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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“Green India,” Smart Manufacturing — TECO’s “Head Start” in India

One target of the “National Mission for Green India” policy set out by the Indian government is for all government and commercial vehicles to be electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. TECO Corporation, the third largest supplier of industrial electric motors in the world and the largest in Taiwan, has landed an order from India to produce 55,000 powertrains for EVs. The order is a result of the company’s technological competitive advantage and its superior human networking.

“Made in India” and Smart Cities: Advantech’s Deep Involvement in IndiaPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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“Made in India” and Smart Cities: Advantech’s Deep Involvement in India

The Advantech Company is one of Taiwan’s hidden champions. It ranks first by global market share in industrial personal computers (IPCs), it has been deeply involved in the Indian market over the last 25 years, and its “embedded PCs” are to be found everywhere, from airports and mass transit systems to chain restaurants and big box stores.

Hot Springs Bathing in an Indigenous Community — Pengpeng Hot Springs and the Atayal LifestylePhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Hot Springs Bathing in an Indigenous Community — Pengpeng Hot Springs and the Atayal Lifestyle

Netizens have dubbed Pengpeng (also spelled Bong Bong) Hot Springs the most user-­friendly wild hot springs in Taiwan. They are located near the Atayal indigenous community of Knbung in Datong Township, Yilan County. After parking one’s car, it is only a 15-minute walk to the springs, nestled amid mountains and a waterfall. The local Atayal indigenous people, whose lives are interdependent with the Pengpeng River, invite you to come and experience their culture.

Hidden Waters in the Mountains: Enjoying Wild Hot SpringsPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Hidden Waters in the Mountains: Enjoying Wild Hot Springs

Taiwan has abundant geothermal energy and hot springs, and especially a large number of “wild” open-air hot springs hidden away close to watercourses in mountain valleys. These secret springs, which have a fascinating aura of the rough and primitive, attract many people with a taste for adventure.

A Stroll through Su’ao: Walking Tour of a Small TownPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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A Stroll through Su’ao: Walking Tour of a Small Town

Su’ao is a colorful harbor town with its back to the mountains and its face to the sea. It has developed in the foothills of Mt. Qixing with the Pacific Ocean on one side. Its “Su’ao mirage” was once considered one of the eight wonders of the Lanyang Plain. Today it is a transit hub for road, rail and sea transportation.

The Cold Springs of Su’ao — Year-Round Bathing at 22°CPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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The Cold Springs of Su’ao — Year-Round Bathing at 22°C

Immerse yourself in a cold spring with a temperature of 22°C (which it stays at throughout the year), then quietly remain there without moving, and your body will begin to feel hot. As bubbles cover your skin, you may get a sensation that has been described as being like soaking in soda pop. Have you ever had this experience?

Soaking by the Sea: Green Island’s Zhaori Hot SpringPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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Soaking by the Sea: Green Island’s Zhaori Hot Spring

“Taiwan’s vibrant hot-spring culture has fostered the development of a saltwater hot spring on Green Island rivaling those of the Japanese island of Kyushu and the Italian island of Sicily.

Come to Us for a Hot Spring Soak! — The Century-Old Bathing Culture of “Long Nice”Photos - New Southbound Policy
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Come to Us for a Hot Spring Soak! — The Century-Old Bathing Culture of “Long Nice”

Stepping into the Long Nice Hot Spring in Taipei’s Beitou District is like returning to a traditional public bath of 100 years ago. There is none of the elaborate decor of modern hot springs facilities, only a simple wooden structure and wafting steam, making this a comfortable place for ordinary people to take a routine hot springs bath.

A Misty Wonderland: Beitou and Its Hot SpringsPhotos - New Southbound Policy
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A Misty Wonderland: Beitou and Its Hot Springs

“The mountainous district of Beitou in Taipei is one of the two places in the world whose turquoise-colored hot springs are known to contain radium. Beitou’s hot springs are richly varied in terms of their chemical compositions. With its traditions of itinerant musical performances and high-end cuisine, the place also boasts a vibrant cultural history that sprang from its famous spas.