Taiwan has a lot to offer for travellers

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TAIWAN, popularly known as the Treasure Island, has something to offer just about everyone.

Both of its tourism ambassadors, director Wu Nien-Jen and pop star Jolin Tsai, can vouch for that by promoting two facets of the island under the tagline Welcome 2 Taiwan.

During the duo’s recent visit to the Matta Fair, Wu, whose focus is on cultural tourism, spoke fondly of his hometown, Jioufen.

The quaint town was revived following the success of the movie A City of Sadness in 1989, which was also co-written by Wu.

Join us: Tourism ambassadors Wu and Tsai talking about some of their favourite spots in Taiwan.

“A mixed feeling of satisfaction and a surge of sadness awaits visitors to Jioufen, especially in autumn,” he said.

As Wu observed, Jioufen is the prettiest in the period after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

“The mountains are turned into a sea of white with fluffy blooms on the reed catkins. It is particularly scenic when the wind blows,” he said.

“Jioufen is a quiet and relaxed place and when I go back, it is like returning to the embrace of my mother,” the 57-year-old said.

Not far away, Miaokou Night Market in Keelung offers a variety of tasty snacks such as tian bu la (tempura) and lu rou fan (stewed meat with rice).

“The night market has existed for more than 100 years, so each stall is equally famous for its delicacies,” Wu said.

Tsai, a trend-setter, is naturally the best person to speak of the fun and vibrant side of Taiwan.

To get a glimpse of the attractive places in Taiwan – mostly in Taipei – look out for the music videos of her expressive songs.

“For instance, Sky features Yangmingshan National Park while The Smell of Lemon Grass was shot in Yingge,” she said.

Wu, on the other hand, promoted Happy Time, a newly- released drama with him starring as a fruit farmer.

As an effort to go green, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau is encouraging tourists to tour the beautiful island on bicycle.

Wu pointed out that bicycles could be rented from the local biking clubs.

The bureau also assured visitors that the main tourist spots in Taiwan were affected by the recent typhoon.

One of the tour packages offered will delight Mayday rock band fans - a Mayday 2009 DNA Taipei concert ticket for Sept 26 or 27 is included in the Taiwan Rocks Mayday in Concert tour package.

Wu and Tsai also gave some insights into some must-visit places in Taiwan.

Backpackers

Tsai: Kenting (Pingtung County), where adorable resorts are aplenty and water sports are popular. Aside from sunbathing, you can befriend the amiable locals and enquire about less-known spots for snorkelling to take in the sea and corals. Remember to try the famous shaved ice with fresh fruits at Hai Zhi Bing (literally translated as Ice of the Sea) located at Kaohsiung County.

Couples

Wu: Sun Moon Lake (Nantou County) with its picturesque scenery is a romantic getaway. Another place is Penghu County with an archipelago off the western coast of Taiwan, where couples can stroll on the beaches and even take a nap there at night, admiring the stars. The islands, such as one by the name of Jibei, are poetic!

For a seafood meal, you can consult the locals on the restaurants that they frequent instead of hopping into those commercialised ones. The search for food is also an adventure and would be fun for couples.

Families

Tsai: Parents can bring their children to the amusement parks in Taiwan, such as Leofoo Village (Hsinchu County), Window on China (Taoyuan County), Formosa Fun Coast (Taipei County) and West Lake Resortopia (Miaoli County).

Wu: The leisure farms are designed for families, too. You can try your hand at horse-riding, sheep-shearing and other activities to get closer to nature. Unlike hotels, leisure farms present a homely atmosphere for a Malaysian family to interact with the host, a Taiwanese family. Cingjing Veterans Farm (Nantou County) located in the highlands is my personal favourite. With green surroundings and mild weather, this leisure farm is exceptionally gorgeous.

Senior citizens

Wu: After visiting the National Palace Museum (Taipei County), you can travel half an hour to reach Wulai to bathe in the hot springs. Steps away from the streets are forests and streams — a great source of fresh air. Delicacies conducive to our health and well-being are a must-try, too.

Groups of friends

Tsai: Danshui (Taipei County) offers ferry rides while Jinshan (Taipei County) is great for enjoying a cup of coffee. You can also take a drive down to Yilan County and stay at the guest houses.

Wu: For energetic young people, I would recommend eastern Taiwan, where you can cycle along the coast from Hualien County to Taitung County. There are a number of guesthouses along the way so you can always stop for a rest if a particular place catches your eye. With mountains on one side and sea on the other, the route is perfect for youngsters.