What makes Smangus unique is not just that it was the last Aboriginal village in Taiwan to get a road link to the outside world, nor simply its groves of giant Formosan cypress trees. Rather it is the fact that Smangus is the only community in all Taiwan that successfully operates as a cooperative. Here, the residents divide up the work between themselves, farm the land collectively, and distribute their income equally.

Nestled away on the campus of Academia Sinica, the Hu Shih Memorial Hall stands unchanged by time. It was here that the philosopher and writer lived and worked, giving his all in both, and it is here that he set down his final roots in Taiwan.
Hu Shih’s eventful and extraordinary life is laid out in detail at his eponymous memorial hall, and the park dedicated to the man evokes the memory of his works, his life, and the many high-profile people and events that were part of them.

Scientific illustration arose in a time before the invention of the camera and allowed scientists to capture the distinctive characteristics of plant and animal species. Armed only with keen powers of observation and an artist’s simple tools, illustrators rendered lifelike images of botanical and zoological specimens. Scientific illustration developed into a unique art form and introduced viewers to the diversity of the natural world.

A steel cable can bring the world together. Cables that have carried visitors from all over the globe to the top of Tai­pei 101 have been shaped by the hands of artist Kang Mu­xiang into forms that embody the supple strength of Taiwan’s spirit. Moreover, through the process of cleaning the cables, prison inmates have experienced hope for a new life.

Ahronglong Sakinu, author of the books The Sage Hunter, Wind Walker, and Grandpa’s Ocean, is the recipient of numerous literary prizes, as well as being the Aboriginal author who most often appears in school textbooks.

What does “black kid” mean? Interpretations depend on whom you ask. Some say it refers to a dark-skinned child who labors steadfastly under the sun; but Chen Jun­lang, founder of “Kids’ Bookhouse,” says it is a child who confronts the black hole within the mind, and finds a way out of those dark shadows.

The founder of Field­office Architects and the winner in 2018 of both a Presidential Innovation Award and a National Award of Art, ­Huang Sheng­-yuan has been receiving domestic and international prizes continually for the past 20-plus years. But the halo of excellence that stems from these accolades has never caused him to forget his original intentions. However, it has allowed him to attract new blood in the form of a group of likeminded people who do what needs to be done without complaint or

Gordon Shi-wen Chin, winner of a 2018 National Award of Art, is widely known for his multifaceted compositions. He is not only one of the most important international modern-school composers, he has courageously introduced different elements into his work, and is constantly trying new things, exploring originality in life.

American author Ernest Heming­way once wrote: “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.”
Though not large, Taiwan ranges across more than 3,000 meters of elevation. Its peaks and valleys, coastlines and villages, and lovely days in every season offer stunning views of its varied landscapes.

Humpback Whale House opened its doors in Tai­chung with a flurry in December 2017, dedicating itself to promoting original Taiwanese artwork via diverse forms of creative expression, such as painting, music or installation art. From that day onward, the house has joined the Gao­mei Wetlands as a new attraction in Qing­shui District, a coastal suburb of Tai­chung.