Boisterous and bustling, the modern metropolis of Taipei puts up a convincing front of being a hotbed of frenetic wheeling and dealing; an in-demand success story of a city packed to the brim with six million worker-bee residents. But in its quaint back streets, temples, and parks, Taipei, like its mother nation of Taiwan, transcends its shiny new-school guise.
The heaving megalopolis that is Taiwan needs a forgiving eye to appreciate the traditional heart that beats behind the façade of being one of the region's commercial powerhouses. World-class architecture, cutting-edge art, museums and galleries jostle with old teahouses, traditional shops and back streets seemingly devoted to the sale of exotic and expensive medicinal ingredients.
By contrast, outside of the cities the island is sparsely populated, and high mountainous forests and gorges provide crisp clean air and safe refuge for the Formosan black bear, deer and salmon.
Dramatic Taroko Gorge is the boast of Tienhsiang complete with shrines, waterfalls and some lovely walks. For a more cultural offering, head for the temple-packed town of Tainan, the country's former capital, and soak yourself in tradition.
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