The “art of tea” and the “way of tea” are at the core of Chinese tea culture. The “art” of tea refers to the techniques for preparing, brewing, and drinking tea. The “way” of tea refers to the comprehension of the serene elegance of the art of tea that is gained through the concrete processes of preparing, brewing, and drinking tea, and to the internalization of this appreciation through a spiritual awakening that cultivates the character and is expressed in the rhythms of daily life.

In the early morning, worshippers coming from near and far gather on a beach at Zhenhai Park in Pingtung’s Donggang, to celebrate the return of Qiansui and the other Wangye deities from their eight-day pilgrimage of surrounding areas.

Taiwanese tea is renowned far and wide, its unique flavor a product of Taiwan’s mature tea processing techniques and a terroir that spans tropics and subtropics, high elevations and low.

Those who have seen Yang Li-chou’s film Father will almost certainly remember the scene in which a puppet uses a seal. The puppet picks up the seal, turns its head to study the seal’s engraving, then presses it down on a document with both hands, its shoulders turning slightly to add more pressure. The puppet is operated with such skill and artistry that viewers sense the small movements of the muscles and joints beneath the puppet’s clothing.

Due to the harm caused to the land by conventional farming methods, in Taiwan more and more tea farmers are turning to natural farming techniques, showing their respect for the land. When you treat the land well, nature will generously reward you.

“Eko eado!” This motivational expression from the Nauruan language means “never give up.” It may be used as a warning in calamitous situ­ations, or in a positive sense as an expecta­tion of oneself.

If you take the ferry from Ma­gong, with a brief stop at Wang’an Island it takes about two hours to get to the southernmost island of the ­Penghu archipelago: Qi­mei.

Located in the Pacific Ocean, Taiwan shares that ocean’s precious marine resources with other island nations, as well as facing the shared threat of climate change and rising sea levels. Through the Pacific Islands Leadership Program, Taiwan is working to train a new cohort of leaders for this future, giving a precious gift to the next generation.

In the film Inception, a thief played by Leonardo DiCaprio is able to create false worlds that look remarkably real by using nothing more than his imagination. Similarly, there is a group of people in Taiwan who are using passion as fuel to generate dreams.

Tran Ngoc Thuy came from Vietnam to study in Taiwan, where she realized her dream of learning Chinese and also met her Prince Charming, as Taiwan transformed from a foreign land into her homeland. In order to increase mutual understanding between Taiwanese and Vietnamese, Ngoc Thuy has worked as an interpreter and teacher, hosted a radio show, and run a restaurant.