Over the years, Taiwan Panorama has probed into the evolution of Taiwanese society from the perspective of gender equality. From home-based manual work to entrepreneurship, from housekeeping to jobs in the military and police and in various other professional fields such as orchestral conducting, we have illuminated how Taiwanese women defy conventions and embrace new social roles.
As the US calls for “reshoring of manufacturing,” global industrial chains are being redefined. In manufacturing, however, competition is not only about prices, but about national capabilities, technology, and trust. And one name has continued to resound throughout this worldwide competition—Taiwan.
For half a century, Taiwan Panorama has been bearing witness to environmental action in Taiwan, tracking the shift from a development-first orientation to sustainable thinking. From pollution prevention in the early days to citizen activism, circular design, and marine conservation, the transition in viewpoint has been a mark of this island’s maturation.
A Taiwan Panorama article represents the up-close observations of contemporaneous social phenomena by a reporter. If the same subject can be pursued in depth continually for several decades, we may gain some understanding of the overall developments and trends in society.
Taiwan ranked No. 1 globally for the second straight year in the 2025 Numbeo Health Care Index. This performance is not a simple reflection of Taiwan’s advanced medical equipment and technologies; more importantly, it also reflects the fact that for a half century Taiwanese society has consistently pursued “the right to health” and “human-centric care.” During its 50 years of reporting, Taiwan Panorama has been a conscientious witness to this process.
“Taiwan warriors, hoooo, hoooo! Hero! Hito!” “Tell the world, Team Taiwan! Whose house this is, Team Taiwan!” During the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 baseball tournament, the world was rocked by waves of cheering for the Taiwanese team. For many foreigners encountering Taiwan baseball for the first time, this was a real culture shock.
In Greek mythology Zeus is majestic but emotional, while in Norse mythology Loki is cunning and capricious. In many cultures deities have human feelings, including joy, anger, sorrow, happiness and even desire. This likewise applies to the divine beings in Taiwanese temples. Not only does each have his or her own responsibilities, but also very human-like stories and personalities, making religion more accessible and interesting.
Over the past 40-plus years, shrimp fishing and related products have grown into a leisure industry worth NT$5 billion per year in Taiwan. More recently, this activity has developed into a sport, and Taiwan competitors have demonstrated world-class skills in international tournaments.
Taiwan has the world’s highest concentration of venues for shrimp fishing, a.k.a. prawn fishing. There are places where you can catch and eat prawns; businesses that combine shrimp fishing with diverse leisure activities including stir-fry, barbecue, and karaoke; and even 24-hour venues. The pleasure of hooking prawns, the lively socializing among friends and family, and Taiwanese-style stir-fry have made this activity into an essential recreational experience for visitors to Taiwan.
It’s hard to say how Taiwan’s rechao (“hot stir-fry”) style restaurants got started, but they emphasize high heat and the resultant “wok hei” effect. With the rise of industrial society, people in Taiwan began eating less at home and ate out with increasing frequency, or turned to low-cost traditional eateries that popped up in large numbers to meet the needs of blue-collar workers.
