No. 47, 2011

The Official Bimonthly English Magazine of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.Website: ht tp://taiwan. net .t w I S B N : 1 8 1 7 7 9 6 4

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Toy-Making DIYNighttime Dining in TaipeiConfucius Ceremony

INdIgeNouS Culture

THE BEST ROUTESYangmingshan Day Trip

HISTORYTraditional Hakka Town Meinong

FOOD JOURNEY The Kingdom of Mango

The Sediq and Other Tribes of Central Taiwan

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---灣觀---英-形象稿outline.pdf 1 2011/8/11 下午 05:11:32

Welcome to Taiwan!Dear Traveler,

It’s September, summer has left, autumn is now up, and Taiwan is cooling down. It’s now safe

to get away from your air-conditioners, and time to head down the highways and byways you’ll be

reading about in just a moment.

In our Feature section this issue we head up into the cool air of the central mountains to

explore facets of local indigenous culture. Our destination is Ren’ai Township, and we introduce

historical sites, museum facilities, monuments, and other places that will help you understand

the life of the local people and key events in this island’s history – sometimes turbulent, always

fascinating. Staying with the history theme, in another article on the rural Meinong area we

delve into the history of Taiwan’s Hakka minority and the great pride they take in their thriving

traditions.

Moving over to our Best Routes section, you’ll f ind yourself again amidst the cooling mists and

breezes of Taiwan’s mountain-getaway spots, this time in the far north and within Taipei’s borders,

along a “best route” we’ve mapped out for you through Yangmingshan National Park and the Beitou

District. You’ll be hiking trails, visiting fumaroles, and soaking in hot-spring waters – the makings

of the perfect early-autumn outing.

“When in (place travel destination here), do as the locals do.” If it’s Taiwan, it’s Saturday night,

and it’s between 8 and 10 pm, this means there’s a very good chance you’ll be watching “Variety Big

Brother,” a long-running and hugely popular variety show. In our On Stage/Of f Stage department

we take a closer look at the production of this show and watch Taiwan entertainment icon “Brother

Fei” in action during a taping session.

Among the other aspects of Taiwan life we have decided to highlight for you in the pages to

come are the ins and outs of the production of mangoes in the south’s Yujing District, a basin area

largely encircled by mountains and called Taiwan’s “kingdom of the mango,” and, assuming you’re

still hungry for more on local food, an urban trek searching out the myriad midnight snacking

options available in Taipei.

It is our pleasure having you here in Taiwan. We wish you cool autumn breezes, happy outings,

and fond memories.

Janice Seh-Jen Lai

Director GeneralTourism Bureau, MOTC, R.O.C.

台 灣 觀 光 雙 月 刊

Travel in Taiwan BimonthlySeptember/October, 2011www.tit.com.tw/vision/index.htmCopyright © 2011 Tourism Bureau. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form without written permission is prohibited.

Publisher Janice Seh-Jen Lai editing Consultants

David W. J. Hsieh, Wayne Hsi-Lin LiuPublishing organization Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communicationsaddress 9F, 290 Zhongxiao E. Rd., Sec. 4, Taipei, 104, Taiwan Tel: 886-2-2717-3737 Fax: 886-2-2771-7036 E-mail: tbroc@tbroc.gov.tw Website: http://taiwan.net.tw

ProduCer Vision Int,l Publ. Co., Ltd.

address Rm. 5, 10F, 2 Fuxing N. Rd., Taipei, 104 Taiwan tel: 886-2-2711-5403 Fax: 886-2-2721-2790

e-mail: vision@tit.com.twgeneral Manager Wendy L. C. Yen dePuty general Manager Frank K. Yeneditor in Chief Johannes Twellmann english editors Rick Charette, Richard Saunders direCtor of Planning & editing dePt Joe LeeManaging editor Sunny Su editors Aska Chi, Aysel Then, Ming-Jing Yin, Vivian Liu, Gemma ChengContributors Cheryl Robbins, Owain Mckimm, Rick Charette, Joe Henley, Phil Dawson, Kurt WeidnerPhotograPhers Sunny Su, Maggie Song, Bobby Wu art direCtor Sting Chen designers Ivy Chen, Maggie Song, Rinka Lin, Karen PanadMinistrative dePt Hui-chun Tsai, Nai-jen Liu, Xiou Mieng Jiang advertising hotline + 886-2-2721-5412

CONTENTS Sep ~ Oct 2011

18

8

Where you can pick up a copy of Travel in TaiWan abroadOffices of the Tourism Bureau in Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Frankfurt; Taiwan Representative Offices; Overseas Offices of the Ministry of Economic Affairs; Overseas Offices of the Central News Agency; onboard China Airlines, EVA Air and other selected international airways; selected travel agencies in Asia, North America, and Europe; and other organizations

onlineRead the online version of Travel in Taiwan at www.zinio.com . Log in and search for "Travel in Taiwan". Or visit www.tit.com.tw/vision/index.htm

in TaiWanTourism Bureau Visitor Center; Tourism Bureau; Taiwan Visitors Association; foreign representative offices in Taiwan, Tourism Bureau service counters at Taiwan Taoyuan Int’l Airport and Kaohsiung Int’l Airport, major tourist hotels; Taipei World Trade Center; VIP lounges of international airlines; major tourist spots in Taipei; visitor centers of cities and counties around Taiwan; offices of national scenic area administrations; public libraries

Scene from "Seediq Bale," a new movie about the indigenous Sediq Tribe and the Wushe Incident (photo courtesy of ARS Film Productions)

This magazine is printed on FSC certified paper. Any product with the FSC logo on it comes from a forest that has been responsibly maintained and harvested in a sustainable manner.

Travel in Taiwan 3

THE BEST ROUTES42 Taipei’s Own National Park

— Stunning Scenery and Pristine NatureClose to Taipei’s Center

On STagE/Off STagE18 Show Time!

— Behind the Scenes at “Variety Big Brother”

LET’S EaT38 Mango Feasting — Eating Your Way through Yujing District

nOSTaLgIa22 Time Spent in Meinong — Past and Present in Bucolic Harmony

4234

16

feaTure8 Indigenous Culture — Main Following the Footsteps of “Seediq Bale” in Ren’ai Township — eat Indigenous Cuisine in the Heart of a Big City — stay Camping, Hot Springs, Panoramic Views & Indigenous Culture — buy Ren’ai Township’s National Treasure

16 Indigenous Culture — Five Great Places to Experience Indigenous Culture

1 Publisher’s Note 4 News & Events around Taiwan 6 Concerts, Exhibitions, and Happenings

27 Peculiar Taiwan52 Festivals and Events

fESTIVaL48 Confucius Day

— Getting Ready for the Traditional

Ceremony to Honor the Great Sage

fOOD JOURnEY34 Yujing, Kingdom of the Mango — Finding Out about Fruit Production in

Southern Taiwan

LET’S gO OUT TOnIgHT30 A Real Taste of Taiwan — Eating after Midnight in Taipei

MY PHOTO TOUR28 Light Painting in Leofoo — Adding Fun to a Fun-Filled Time

at One of Taiwan’s Best ThemeParks

LEaRnIng EXPERIEnCE 40 From Noodle Maker to Toy Maker — Putting Discarded Plastic Bottles to New Use

WHAT'S UP

NEWS & EVENTS

AROUND TAIWAN

Restaurants Receive Halal CertificationIn an effort to make

travel in Taiwan

more convenient for

Islamic visitors, the government has,

for the first time, issued certificates

to restaurants offering Halal food,

allowing Muslims to easily identify

those restaurants adhering to the

strict Islamic rules for preparing food.

In total, 14 restaurants have received

the certificate. A list of all Halal

restaurants in Taiwan can be found on

the website of the Chinese Muslim Association at www.cmainroc.org.tw.

Restaurants

Glass-Floor Waterfall Skywalk Walking on a glass floor suspend-

ed high above the ground has an

irresistible appeal to thrill-seekers and strikes

fear in those afraid of heights. Opened this July,

the Xiao Wulai Skywalk in Fuxing Township,

Taoyuan County is Taiwan’s first such transpar-

ent walk. A remarkable engineering feet costing

NT$8 million to construct, the skywalk presents

visitors with breathtaking views from high above

the Xiao Wulai Waterfall. To make access to the

somewhat remote Xiao Wulai Scenic Area more

convenient, the Taoyuan County Government

provides a shuttle-bus service from several towns

in the county, including nearby Daxi. For more

on traveling in Taoyuan, visit travel-taoyuan.

tycg.gov.tw.

Scenic Spots

“Taipei Day and Night”Another travel guide on Taipei has been added to

the travel section of local bookstores, and this

one stands out. It’s a bilingual guide published

by Taipei City’s Department of Cultural Affairs, co-written by

Yang Li-ling (Chinese) and Jeff Miller (English), who have cre-

ated two different, independent parts. The English part is not

the translation of the Chinese, but Miller’s (a long-time resi-

dent of Taiwan) own perspective on the city, while Yang presents Taipei

through the eyes of seven local celebrities. As the title of the book

indicates, it offers suggestions for having fun in the city at all times of

the day, with segments for “in the early morning,” “at noon,” “in the

afternoon,” “in the evening,” and “into the night.” The 280-page book

is priced NT$360, and can be found in major bookstores around Taiwan.

Book

“Time for Taiwan – My Beautiful Island” Tourism-promotion videos are often highlight reels of the most scenic spots, the

most thrilling activities, and the most delicious foods available in a country. The

producers of a film recently released by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau have chosen

a quite different approach. The 17-minute film “Time for Taiwan – My Beauti-

ful Island” focuses on the emotions of travelers visiting Taiwan, following a backpacker, three

young women from Japan, a family of four, and an elderly couple during their respective dis-

covery tours of Taiwan. The film, shot by director Johnason Lo, will whet the appetite of any

traveler who loves those little encounters that make traveling such a great experience, reveal-

ing the warmth and hospitality of the local people. The film, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/

user/TheTbroc, provides a great glimpse of what to expect from a trip to Taiwan.

Film

New Online Source for Travel Information: Taiwan eBook

Users of smartphones and tablet computers now

have a new and comprehensive Taiwan tour-

guide option. The Taiwan eBook, which can be

downloaded for free from Apple’s iTunes Store

and App Store, offers information about ecologi-

cal tours, bicycle tours, urban highlights, arts,

and culture, and is presented by local TV-show

host Dennis Nieh. A total of 101 scenic sites and

20 recommended itineraries are explained in this

guide, which can also be read free of cost at www.

go2taiwan.net/eBook_05032011/book_swf.html.

Tourist Info

Travel in Taiwan

5?Do You Know Taiwan?

If you know the answers to the following

questions, you are most likely an experienced

Taiwan traveler. If you don’t know the

answers, you can find them within the pages of this issue

of Travel in Taiwan.

1. The Wushe Incident was a conflict betweenthe Japanese and: Hakka people, Kuomintang troops, indigenous people?(Find the answer on page 10)

2. The district of Yujing in Tainan is best knownfor which fruit: mango, lychee, guava?(Find the answer on page 34)

3. September 28 is the birthday of: Confucius,Sun Yat-sen, Mazu? (Find the answer on page 48)

New Visitor Center at Taoyuan HSR StationThough a majority of visitors to Taiwan arrive on the

island at Taiwan Taoyuan Int’l Airport, Taoyuan County

itself is not high on the list of must-visit areas. This is unfortunate,

because tourists are indeed missing out when passing through

Tourist Info

Travel in Taiwan 5

Tell us what you think!We, the producers of Travel in Taiwan, wish to improve our maga-

zine with each issue and give you the best possible help when

planning – or carrying out – your next trip to Taiwan. Tell us what

you think by filling out our short online questionnaire at www.tit.

com.tw/survey/travelintaiwan.html. Senders of the first ten com-

pleted questionnaires in each issue will receive three free issues of

Travel in Taiwan. Thank you very much for your feedback.

Jiji Branch Line & Bus to Sun Moon Lake

After being shut down for more than a year for improvement work,

the Jiji Branch Line in Nantou County was reopened this July. The

line connects the main railway line following the western coast of

Taiwan with the small town of Checheng, close to the geographic

center of the island. With the reopening of this popular railway line,

a tour-bus service between Checheng and nearby scenic Sun Moon

Lake has been revived as well, allowing convenient access to one

of Taiwan’s premier tourist destinations. There are 10 bus services

daily, with one-way tickets priced NT$60 (NT$100 for all-day tick-

ets).

Tourism Earnings Up 28% in 2010According to the results of a survey about the consumer

behavior of visitors to Taiwan in 2010, earnings from

tourism grew by 28% for the year to reach US$8.7 billion

in total. The 5.56 million visitors in 2010 spent an average of US$222

per day, with Japanese visitors spending the most (US$284) and, not

far behind, visitors from mainland China (US$245). Among the places

most visited, according to the survey, were night markets (visited by

77% of those surveyed), Taipei 101 (59%), and the National Palace Mu-

seum (54%). Jiufen and Sun Moon Lake were named most often as best-

liked places. Most of the surveyed responded that they were satisfied

with their overall Taiwan travel experience (93%) and that they would

consider visiting again (95%).

Tourism Transport

Taoyuan without stopping while on their way to other destinations.

Getting off the train at Taoyuan High Speed Rail Station to find out

more about this interesting county at the brand-new visitor (“i”)

center is highly recommended. You’ll be presented with myriad infor-

mation about scenic spots and convenient travel options to start your

journey to this lesser-known part of the island. Website of Taiwan

HSR: www.thsrc.com.tw

CULTURE SCENE

Concerts, Exhibitions,

and Happenings

Taiwan has a diverse cultural scene, with art venues ranging from international-caliber concert halls and theaters to makeshift stages on temple plazas. Among Taiwan’s museums is the world-famous National Palace Museum as well as many smaller museums dedicated to different art forms and aspects of Taiwanese culture. Here is a brief selection of upcoming happenings. For more information, please visit the websites of the listed venues.

Taipei International Convention CenterAlessandro Sa�na 2011 Taiwan Concert義大利歌神-沙費納 2011台灣演唱會

From early child-

hood on, Italian

tenor Alessandro

Safina has been in

love with music, in

particular opera.

After studying at

the prestigious Con-

servatorio di Musica

Luigi Cherubini in

Florence, he began

singing leading parts

in famous operas on stages around Europe. In the ’90s

he was discovered by Italian pianist/composer Romano

Musumarra; the two musicians teamed up and produced

Safina’s first album in 1999. Over the last decade he

has become an international star, known for his unique

style combining opera with modern-day pop music. He

has been performing all over the world in recent years,

but focusing on concerts in Russia and other countries

of the former Soviet Union in 2010/11.

9/10

Taipei Arena, K-Arena (Kaohsiung)

Cheer Chen – A Piece of Summer II World Tour Concert陳綺貞2011夏季練習曲_世界巡迴演唱會

Cheer Chen is a hugely

popular Taiwanese singer who mostly sings

in Mandarin Chinese and writes most of her

own music and lyrics. Her earlier work is

more folk-oriented, generally using acoustic

guitar accompaniment, but much of her more

recent music is rock-based. Her songs are

generally straightforward and melodic, and

she has a pure, youthful-sounding voice. During her concert tour this year she has been

performing in Taiwan and abroad, including concerts in Beijing, Singapore, Macau, and

Melbourne. The concert in Kaohsiung will be the finale of her tour.

9/17 ~

10/2

National Museum of Natural ScienceSiraya – The Connection between the Past and Present西拉雅 歷史與當代的連結特展Taiwan’s 13th national scenic area is named after the Siraya,

an indigenous group that used to live on the coastal plains of

southwestern Taiwan but was for the most part assimilated into Han Chinese

culture over the last two centuries. Though the Siraya have not been officially

recognized as one of Taiwan’s indigenous tribes, there are many people

with Siraya roots who have been working to preserve their tribe’s cultural

characteristics. This very informative exhibition introduces visitors to this

lesser-known Taiwan native people, giving insight into their distinctive cultural

traits and history.

7/8 ~

12/4

National TheaterBallet Nacional de España – Dualia + La Leyenda 西班牙國家舞團 佛朗明哥傳奇Ballet Nacional de España is one of Spain’s foremost dance

ensembles, having performed in some of the world’s most

renowned theaters and having received some of the highest accolades, including

the Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes, awarded to artistic director

Jose Antonio in 2005 by the Spanish Ministry of Culture. For the troupe’s Taipei

appearance two of its most successful works will be performed, “Dualia” and

“La Leyenda.” Both pieces feature passionate flamenco dancing. While “Dualia”

explores the sensuality of looks and caresses through movement and music, “La

Leyenda” is a tribute to famous flamenco star Carmen Amaya, portraying scenes

from her life.

Future Museum of the NPM at Taiwan Taoyuan Int’l Airport

3D NPM 3D故宮Visiting the Future Museum of the National Palace Museum

(NPM), located at Taiwan Taoyuan Int'l. Airport (4F, Departures

Hall, Terminal 2), is a great way for travelers to spend time when

waiting for a flight. The museum uses state-of-the art technologies in presenting

the vast trove of treasures collected by the NPM. With the help of advanced 3D and

virtual-reality technology, the museum now goes a step further, bringing visitors

the amazing interactive experience of immersion in the world of ancient arts. One

highlight is the “Magic Crystal Ball,” an apparatus that allows you to – virtually –

hold the NPM’s best-known treasures in your hands and turn them around.

7/25 ~

6/30

2011

2012

9/30 ~

10/2

Travel in Taiwan 7

VenuesTaipei

Taipei Zhongshan Hall （台北中山堂）

Add: 98, Yanping S. Rd., Taipei City( 台北市延平南路 9 8 號 )

Nearest MRT Station: Ximen

Taipei International Convention Center （台北國際會議中心）

Add: 1, Xinyi Rd., Sec.5, Taipei City( 台北市信義路五段 1 號 )

Tel: (02) 2725-5200, ext. 3517, 3518 www.ticc.com.tw/Nearest MRT Station: Taipei City Hall

National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall （國立中正紀念堂）

Add: 21 Zhongshan S. Rd., Taipei City( 台北市中山南路 21 號 )　　

Tel: (02) 2343-1100~3www.cksmh.gov.twNearest MRT Station: CKS Memorial Hall

National Concert Hall （國家音樂聽）National Theater （國家戲劇院）

Add: 21-1 Zhongshan S. Rd., Taipei City( 台北市中山南路 21-1 號 )

Tel: (02) 3393-9888www.ntch.edu.twNearest MRT Station: CKS Memorial Hall

National Museum of History （國立歷史博物館）

Add: 49 Nanhai Rd., Taipei City( 台北市南海路 4 9 號 )

Tel: (02) 2361-0270www.nmh.gov.tw Nearest MRT Station: CKS Memorial Hall

National Palace Museum （國立故宮博物院）

Add: 221 Zhishan Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei City( 台北市至善路 2 段 2 21 號 )

Tel: (02) 2881-2021www.npm.gov.twNearest MRT Station: Shilin

National Taiwan Museum （國立臺灣博物館）

Add: 2 Xiangyang Rd., Taipei City( 台北市襄陽路二號 )

Tel: (02) 2382-2566www.ntm.gov.twNearest MRT Station: NTU Hospital

Novel Hall （新舞臺）

Add: 3 Songshou Rd., Taipei City( 台北市松壽路 3 號 )

Tel: (02) 2722-4302www.novelhall.org.twNearest MRT Station: Taipei City Hall

National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall （國立國父紀念館）

Add: 505 Ren-ai Rd., Sec. 4, Taipei City( 台北市仁愛路四段 5 0 5 號 )

Tel: (02) 2758-8008www.yatsen.gov.tw/englishNearest MRT Station: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Taipei Arena （台北小巨蛋）

Add: 2 Nanjing E. Rd., Sec. 4, Taipei City( 台北市南京東路 4 段 2 號 )

Tel: (02) 2577-3500www.taipeiarena.com.twNearest MRT Station: Nanjing E. Rd.

Taipei International Convention Center （台北國際會議中心）

Add: 1 Xinyi Rd., Sec. 5, Taipei City( 台北市信義路五段一號 )

Tel: (02) 2725-5200 ext. 3000. 3151~52 www.ticc.com.twNearest MRT Station: Taipei City Hall

Taipei Fine Arts Museum （台北市立美術館）

Add: 181 Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec. 3, Taipei City( 台北市中山北路 3 段 181 號 )

Tel: (02) 2595-7656www.tfam.museum Nearest MRT Station: Yuanshan

Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei （台北當代藝術館）

Add: 39 Chang-an W. Rd., Taipei City( 台北市長安西路 39 號 )

Tel: (02) 2552-3720www.mocataipei.org.twNearest MRT Station: Zhongshan

National Taiwan Science Education Center （台灣科學教育館）

Add: 189 Shishang Rd., Taipei City (台北市士商路 189號 )Tel: (02) 6610-1234www.ntsec.gov.twNearest MRT Station: Shilin

TaichungTaichung Zhongshan Hall （台中中山堂）

Add: 98 Xueshi Rd., Taichung City( 台中市學士路 9 8 號 )

Tel: (04) 2230-3100www.tccgc.gov.tw

National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts （國立台灣美術館）

Add: 2 Wuquan W. Rd., Sec. 1, Taichung City( 台中市五權西路一段 2 號 )

Tel: (04) 2372-3552www.ntmofa.gov.tw

TainanTainan City Cultural Center （台南市立文化中心）

Add: 332 Zhonghua E. Rd., Sec. 3, Tainan City( 台南市中華東路 3 段 332 號 )

Tel: (06) 269-2864www.tmcc.gov.tw

KaohsiungKaohsiung City Chungcheng Cultural Center （高雄市立中正文化中心）

Add: 67 Wufu 1st Rd., Kaohsiung City( 高雄市五福一路 67 號 )

Tel: (07) 222-5136 ext. 8908, 8909, 8910www.khcc.gov.tw (Chinese only)Nearest KMRT Station: Cultural Center

Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts （高雄市立美術館）

Add: 80 Meishuguan Rd., Kaohsiung City( 高雄市美術館路 8 0 號 )

Tel: (07) 555-0331www.kmfa.gov.tw Nearest KMRT Station: Aozihdi Station

Kaohsiung Museum of History（高雄市立歷史博物館）

Add: 272 Zhongzheng 4th Rd., Kaohsiung City( 高雄市中正四路 27 2 號 )

Tel: (07) 531-2560http://163.32.121.205/Nearest KMRT Station: City Council

Lisa Ono 2011 Live in Taiwan小野麗莎 微笑 輕快 Bossa Nova 2011演唱會

Lisa Ono is one of the best Japanese

interpreters of contemporary bossa nova.

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1962, she

moved to Japan at the age of 10, but has

spent half of each year since in Rio de

Janeiro. After her debut as a professional

bossa nova singer in 1989, she became

an ambassador for Brazilian popular

music in Japan. With her natural voice,

rhythmic guitar playing, and charming

smile, she’s been very successful in making

Brazilian music popular in Japan and other

countries around the world.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall10/6

~ 2/6

Taipei Fine Arts Museum

Super Contemporary – Designed in London 倫敦超當代設計展

The whole world will

be watching London in 2012, when the

city hosts the 30th Summer Olympic

Games. A traveling exhibition curated

by the Design Museum in London,

Super Contemporary shows that not

only England’s athletes, but also its

designers, perform at top international

level. The exhibition features works by

15 London-based designers who were

asked to respond to problems faced in urban living. Their works

reflect their observations of the city’s rich culture and human

landscapes. On display are objects, installations, and architectural

models, as well as documentations of design proposals, influential

historical figures, and events. The close relationship between the

designers and the city they live in is apparent throughout the

exhibition, and visitors are presented with some startlingly unique

perspectives of London.

8/27 ~

11/27

Future Museum of the NPM at Taiwan Taoyuan Int’l Airport

FEATURE

Travel in Taiwan 8

FEATURE

Travel in Taiwan 8

Following the Footsteps of “Seediq Bale” in Ren’ai Township

Seen on a map, Ren’ai Township in central Taiwan’s Nantou County looks deceivingly small and compact. But, as someone who has traveled here extensively, I assure you an in-depth exploration of its history, indigenous culture, and mountain forests requires several days at minimum. This township is famed for its spectacular displays of cherry blossoms in early spring and brilliant red maple leaves in fall, and is home to members of the indigenous Atayal, Sediq, and Bunun tribes.

By Cher yl Robbins

INDIGENOUS CULTURE

Travel in Taiwan 9

INDIGENOUS CULTURE

Travel in Taiwan 9

Warriors of the Sediq Tribe crossing a mountain river; scene from the film “Seediq Bale”

Pho

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Film

Pro

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ion

MORE

A discussion of Ren’ai Township’s history must include references to the Wushe Incident. Numerous movies have

been made about this event. The newest and most anticipated is “Seediq Bale” (www.seediqbalethemovie.com), the f irst epic f ilm about Taiwan’s indigenous history, written and directed by Wei Te-sheng. Wei shot to fame in 2008 with the release of “Cape No. 7,” which became the third-highest grossing f ilm in Taiwan history.

“Seediq Bale” is set to be released in two parts, “The Rising Sun Flag” and “The Rainbow Bridge,” on September 9 and 30 this year, respectively. The former refers to the military f lag of Japan and the latter to a belief among the Sediq that after death one can be reunited with the tribe’s ancestral spirits by crossing a rainbow bridge. These are keys to the message of the movie – Wei depicts the Sediq and the Japanese f ighting each other over their fundamental beliefs, but forgetting that

no matter whether they believe in the rising sun or in the rainbow bridge, they both share a belief in the same sky.

As this is an important story for Taiwan’s indigenous people, Wei cast actors from the Sediq, Atayal, and Truku tribes, both professional and non-professional, in the numerous

indigenous roles. Much of the dialogue in this movie is in the Sediq language, with subtitles in Chinese and English. Wei is convinced that “Seediq Bale” will have international appeal, as struggles for freedom have taken place in many places over many periods of history, and the f ilm thus highlights a universal concept.

“Seediq Bale” was f ilmed in several locations, including the mountainous areas of northern and eastern Taiwan. The movie set used to f ilm scenes of Wushe in 1930 is located in New Taipei City’s Linkou District. Following the shooting, the New Taipei City government has been carrying out renovations and will open it to the public this September.

The Sediq and the Japanese fought each

other over their beliefs, though both shared a belief in the same sky

FEATURE

Travel in Taiwan 10

1. Scene from the film “Seediq Bale” 2. In the past, women of the Sediq Tribe had facial tattoos3. Old Sediq village reconstructed for the film “Seediq Bale”

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A good starting point in your exploration of this historical event and Ren’ai Township is the Mona Rudao Memorial

Park, located in Wushe along Provincial Highway No. 14, near the Ren’ai Township Administrative Off ice. Towards the end of the f ighting with the Japanese, Mona Rudao committed suicide while hiding in a cave, refusing to be taken prisoner. Many years later he was laid to rest in this memorial park, the entrance of which is marked by an elegant white gateway.

Continue along No. 14 to the Lushan Hot Springs. Take the road that leads uphill, past the hot-spring resorts, and follow the signs to the Old Mahepo Battlefield. It is claimed that this is where the f ighting continued with the Japanese once the Sediq warriors retreated from Wushe. However, locals say that the actual battlef ield is several kilometers away in the adjacent forest and is nearly impossible to reach even on foot. Today, the Lushan area is a place to soak up the tranquil mountain scenery and to soak in relaxing hot-spring waters.

Between Wushe and the Lushan Hot Springs, you will pass the Sediq village of Chunyang, which is also blessed with natural hot springs and inspiring mountain scenery,

as well as the bright-red Yunlong Bridge. Sculptures of Sediq warriors in traditional clothing decorate both ends. Standing inconspicuously next to this landmark are the remains of one end of an older version of the bridge. Mona Rudao destroyed this bridge to keep the Japanese from entering what is today the Lushan Community and punishing its residents for their participation in the resistance.

The best way to get around Ren’ai Township is using your own vehicle. The Nantou Bus Transportation Co. offers bus services to many, but not all, parts of Ren’ai Township, and services are not frequent. Having your own transportation allows you to take in a larger number of sights, as some are located off of Provincial Highway No. 14 and some off of Provincial Highway 21. For example, along Nantou County Road No. 80, via Provincial Highway No. 21, is the Qingliu Community of Huzhu Village. This is the site for the closing scenes of the Wushe Incident. The more than 200 survivors, members of Mona Rudao’s family and his supporters, were brought here by the Japanese, where the conf luence of the Meiyuan and Beigang rivers forms an islet – in other words, a natural prison.

INDIGENOUS CULTURE

Travel in Taiwan 11

1. On the set of “Seediq Bale” 2. Statue marking the Old Mahepo Battlefield 3. Yunlong Bridge between Wushe and Lushan

Inspiring mountain scenery seen from Chunyang Village

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Today, the Qingliu Community is connected to the outside world by a bridge, and for a time a tourism boon was enjoyed due to an inf low of government subsidies. The Wushe Incident Aftermath Museum, weaving workshops, and a traditional Sediq watchtower were constructed. However, the subsidies have since dried up and only one homestay and one workshop remain. The museum, which can still be visited with advance reservation (contact the Qingliu Community Development Association), includes a large number of historical photographs from the period of the Wushe Incident and descriptions of what conditions were like for the survivors. Tours in Chinese are led by the community residents themselves. On the day that Travel in Taiwan visited, one of our guides was a granddaughter of Mona Rudao. In addition, the women of the village have formed a group to provide demonstrations of Sediq traditional weaving techniques, also with advance reservation.

If your thirst for historical knowledge has been quenched and you would like to experience more of the natural beauty of this township, continue along Nantou County Road No. 80 to the end, about a 10-minute drive from the Qingliu Community. This will bring you to the Huisun Forest Recreation Area, where you can hike forest trails, take a nap in a hammock suspended between towering trees, and splash around in the crystal-clear waters of a stepped waterfall.

There is much more to explore of Ren’ai Township’s history, culture, and natural beauty than can be explained in a few pages of a magazine. As only a few areas of the township have been developed for tourism, this is the perfect place for those seeking to get off the beaten path and discover the stories and sights that make Taiwan so unique.

REN'AI TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE (仁愛鄉公所)Tel: (049) 280-3973Website: www.renai.gov.tw

QINGLIU COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (清流社區發展協會)Tel: (049) 294-1923, 294-1085 or 294-1058

HUISUN FOREST RECREATION AREA (惠蓀林場)Tel: (049) 294-2001~3Website: http://huisun.nchu.edu.tw

NANTOU BUS TRANSPORTATION COMPANY (南投客運)Tel: (049) 298-4031 (Puli Bus Station) Website: www.ntbus.com.tw

ENGLISH & CHINESE

Atayal Tribe 泰雅族

Beigang River 北港溪

Bunun Tribe 布農族

Chunyang 春陽

Huisun Forest Recreation Area 惠蓀林場

Huzhu Village 互助村

Linkou District 林口區

Lushan Hot Springs 廬山溫泉

Mahepo Community 馬赫坡社

Meiyuan River 眉原溪

Mona Rudao 莫那魯道

Mona Rudao Memorial Park 莫那魯道紀念公園

Old Mahepo Battlefield 馬赫坡古戰場

Qingliu Community 清流社區

Ren 'ai Township 仁愛鄉

Sediq Tribe 賽德克族

Seediq Bale 賽德克·巴萊

The Rainbow Bridge 彩虹橋

The Rising Sun Flag 太陽旗

Truku Tribe 太魯閣族

Wei Te-sheng 魏德聖

Wushe 霧社

Wushe Incident 霧社事件

Wushe Incident Aftermath Museum 餘生紀念文物館

Yunlong Bridge 雲龍橋

The Lushan area is today a place to soak up the tranquil mountain scenery and to soak in the relaxing hot-spring waters

FEATURE

Travel in Taiwan 12

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31. At Huisun Forest Recreation Area 2. Demonstrations of Sediq traditional weaving are provided at Qingliu Community 3. Sediq women are skillful weavers

GULU GULU MUSIC RESTAURANT(咕嚕咕嚕音樂餐廳)Add: 2, Lane 13, Wuquan West 4th St., Taichung City (台中市五權西四街13巷2號)Tel: (04) 2378-3128

By Cher yl Robbins

Gulu GuluIndigenous Cuisine in the Heart of a Big City

At Gulu Gulu, people come for the food but

stay for the fun

Located a block away from the

entrance to one of Taichung City ’s major attractions, the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Gulu Gulu Music Restaurant exudes – inside and outside – the spirit of simplicity and hospitality found in Taiwan’s indigenous villages.

Gulu Gulu was opened by Jang Kn Jang (Chinese name: Qiu Jin-ming), who is from the Paiwan Tribe. He notes that, traditionally, indigenous cuisine incorporated few spices and the natural f lavors were allowed to come through. Before refrigeration became common, meat, such as that of the wild boar, and grains, such as millet, were heavily fermented. These were complemented with what could be gathered fresh, such as wild greens. Although modif ied to appeal to the modern palate, the cuisine served at the restaurant is inspired by the food Qiu grew up eating in his village in Taitung County in southeastern Taiwan.

The most popular selections at the restaurant are the meat dishes. Examples are the stone-grilled pork and spring chicken. Another favorite is “warrior tofu,” a tofu fried until crispy outside and mixed with salty egg. For vegetarians, a very tasty vegetable and millet casserole is also available.

The menu includes set meals that come with ah vai as an appetizer. Ah vai is a mix of millet and meat wrapped and steamed in

leaves, and is a modif ication of a traditional Paiwan dish. This is followed by

soup and a choice of entrée. Set meals range in price

from NT$380 to NT$520. Qiu is also open to requests to put together a special menu for small groups; the advantage to this method is that it is possible to sample a wider variety of dishes.

On most nights there are l ive music performances, and it is of ten Qiu himself who takes the stage. He likes to interact with his audience, asking for requests and even inviting people to sing with him. At Gulu Gulu, people come for the food but stay for the fun.

EAT

Travel in Taiwan 13

Selection of Gulu Gulu’s meat dishes

Indigenous art outside the restaurant

Warm ambience inside the restaurant

To say that the Atayal Resort in Nantou County’s Ren’ai

Township “has it all” would not be an overstatement. You would be hard pressed to run out of things to do during your stay here. One of its many attractions is its natural spring water, available in outdoor hot and cold pools complete with sauna area.

Accommodation options are numerous, and include two campgrounds featuring barbecue facil ities. Bring your own food or ask the resort staff to prepare the necessary ingredients for you (this should be done in advance). The Atayal Palace is where you will want to stay for VIP treatment, with

hot-spring suites that allow you to bathe in the soothing local waters in the privacy of your room. Guests can also stay in cozy wooden cottages.

Food is available in two restaurants, a snack bar, and a small convenience store. At night, view an indigenous-dance performance by a local troupe. There are also several gardens and eco-tours focused on the unique local plant l ife.

The resort’s name comes from one of Taiwan’s largest

tribes, the Atayal, and all around the resort are explanatory panels with descriptions of various aspects of Atayal

culture. Overlooking this more-than-50-hectare resort is a giant statue of Mona Rudao, the Sediq leader of a rebellion against Japanese occupying forces in 1930, called the Wushe Incident. The Sediq were once thought to be part of the Atayal, but were off icially recognized as a separate tribe in 2008. A steep path leads up to the

statue; those not up to the climb can take the resort’s mini train. The reward for reaching the top is a glass-bottom platform from which a splendid view of the resort below and the surrounding mountains and indigenous villages can be enjoyed. Adjacent to this platform is a series of tunnels with dioramas that explain events happening before, during, and af ter the Wushe Incident.

A great-value day pass costing NT$250 can be used to access all of the resort’s attractions, excluding accommodation and dining.

By Cher yl Robbins

All-in-One Vacation SpotCamping, Hot Springs, Panoramic Views, and Indigenous Culture

ATAYAL RESORT (泰雅渡假村)Add: 45, Qingfeng Road, Huzhu Village, Ren 'ai Township, Nantou County(南投縣仁愛鄉互助村清風路45號)Tel: (049) 246-1311Website: www.atayal.com.tw (Chinese)

ENGLISH & CHINESE

Atayal Tribe 泰雅族

Mona Rudao 莫那魯道

Ren 'ai Township 仁愛鄉

Sediq Tribe 賽德克族

Wushe Incident 霧社事件

Overlooking this more-than- 50-hectare resort is a giant

statue of Mona Rudao

STAY

Travel in Taiwan 14

A glass-bottom platform of fers splendid views of the resort and the surrounding mountains

Guestroom inside wooden cottage

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In Sediq t r i ba l t rad it ion, women w ith f ac ia l tattoos were those who had proven their skill

at weav ing. These tattoos involved one or several ver t ical l ines on the forehead and patterns across both cheeks and around the mouth, and were a symbol of entry into adulthood and el igibil ity for marriage. Although f acial tattooing is no longer pract iced, the women of the Sediq tr ibe are st i l l considered outstanding weavers.

Bagan-Narwee (Chinese name: Chang-Hu Ai-Mei), also known affectionately as Mama Chang, began learning how to weave at the age of eight. Now, at 80, she is, even without facial tattoos, considered a national treasure as one of the most experienced and talented Sediq weavers.

Among the best “mementoes” of a trip to Ren’ai Township are memories of time spent with Mama Chang at her workshop in Chunyang Village, along Prov. Hwy No. 14 near the picturesque Chunyang Catholic Church. Mama Chang is very will ing to share her knowledge, explaining the materials used in traditional weaving and how they were processed and dyed. International visitors will also f ind the visit valuable, as she speaks some English.

If you let her know in advance, she can set up the antique horizontal backstrap loom lef t to

her by her mother and provide a short demonstration of traditional weaving techniques. She keeps other antiques in her workshop as well, such as the woven cloth used to transport her on her mother ’s back when she was an infant. Although used and washed many times, the cloth’s colors appear almost as bright as when new. Mama Chang designs patterns based on traditional Sediq colors and motifs, such as facial-tattoo patterns, and incorporates them into modern and functional products such as handbags, backpacks, clothing, coin purses, and cellphone holders. There are also display cases that hold larger pieces that can be used as table runners or tablecloths, each handmade and a one-of-a-kind work of art.

MAMA CHANG'S WORKSHOP (張媽媽工作室)Add: 27, Yongle Lane, Chunyang Village, Ren 'ai Township, Nantou County(南投縣仁愛鄉春陽村永樂巷27號)Tel: (049) 280-2323; (0919) 805-917

By Cher yl Robbins

Woven BeautyRen’ai Township’s National Treasure

Mama Chang is one of the most experienced and talented Sediq weavers

BUY

Travel in Taiwan 15

Mama Chang demonstrating traditional weaving techniques

A wide variety of hand-woven items in bright colors is available at Mama Chang’s Workshop

With 14 officially recognized tribes and several hundred indigenous communities, there are an almost infinite number of opportunities to experience indigenous culture in Taiwan. The only limits are your travel schedule and your level of thirst for adventure. Choosing just five areas is tough, but whichever of the following you choose, you are guaranteed a fascinating journey of cultural discovery. By Cher yl Robbins

FEATURE

Travel in Taiwan 16

Traditional f ishing craf t on Lanyu Island

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As Remote as It Gets

From either the Zhubei Interchange of National Freeway No. 1 or the Zhudong Interchange of National Freeway No. 3, it is about a three-hour drive, mostly along winding mountain roads, to Smangus, also known as Simakusi, in Hsinchu’s Jianshi Township. As one of the most remote settlements in Taiwan, this indigenous Atayal community is blessed with breathtaking mountain scenery and a very rustic feel, as the homes are mostly built of wood.

Tourism is encouraged, and the residents work together to provide accommodation, serve meals, organize performances, and conduct tours. They then share equally in the revenues. As the community welcomes outsiders, there are plenty of opportunities to interact with the locals. A popular activity is completing the f ive-kilometer hike to a cluster of ancient trees. Reservations for meals and accommodation can be made through the Smangus Visitor Center at tel: (03) 5847-688 / 0928-804-983.

Close to a Popular Tourist Destination

Taroko Gorge is at the top of any list of places to visit in Taiwan. This was once home to the indigenous Truku Tribe, which was forced to leave by the Japanese during their occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945). Tribal members did not go far, however, and a side trip into the surrounding areas of Xiulin Township is a great way to experience the culture of this tribe. Climb to the top of a traditional Truku watchtower in Sanzhan Village, sample fusion cuisine based on traditional Truku dishes at the Dageeli Tribe Restaurant in Chongde Village, and learn about facial tattooing traditions at the Taiwanese Aborigine Tattoo Culture Museum.

Island Hopping

Lanyu (Orchid Island), off the coast of Taitung County, consists of six communities of the Yami tribe, and can be reached by plane or ferry. The most colorful time to visit is during the Boat Launching Ceremony, part of the annual Flying Fish Festival. Traditional f ishing-craf t building techniques are still practiced, and when a craf t is completed it is blessed in a series of intricate rituals. Just before being placed in the water for the f irst time, the males of the tribe throw the empty canoe-like vessel into the air while f lexing their muscles and grimacing menacingly to scare off evil spirits. Depending on the time of year, it is possible to go hiking, snorkeling, swimming, and scuba diving on a Lanyu trip. Visitors can also rent a scooter and travel the island to take in its cultural attractions, such as artisan workshops, traditional semi-subterranean dwellings, and shaded breeze-catching platforms.

Art and Shopping Paradise

Sandimen Township in Pingtung County is a showcase for the arts of the Paiwan Tribe. Glass beads, pottery vessels and bronze knives are the three cultural treasures of this tribe. Artisans in this area create traditional versions of these treasures as well as more contemporary ones. A good place to start your visit is the Sandimen Cultural Center; on weekends, its central plaza becomes an outdoor market where indigenous artists and artisans sell their works. Next to the plaza is a stage on which local musicians perform. Along the nearby Sandimen Handicraft Trail, visit glass-bead, pottery, and woodcarving workshops. If all of that shopping has made you hungry, there are restaurants serving Paiwan dishes. Be sure to try the local specialty, roasted free-range chicken.

If Leaving Taipei Is Not an Option

A very good place to get an overview of Taiwan’s indigenous culture is at the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines (open Tuesday through Sunday 9 am to 5 pm), across f rom the National Palace Museum. The permanent-exhibition areas focus on traditional music and musical instruments, clothing and accessories, dwell ings, ceremonies, and weaponry. In the special-exhibition gallery, topics are related to indigenous current affairs, tribal history, and contemporary indigenous arts. There is also a theater where animated f ilms depicting tribal legends are shown. Audio guides are available in English, and with advance reservation guided tours can also be arranged in English.

ENGLISH & CHINESE

Atayal Tribe 泰雅族

Boat Launching Ceremony 大船下水典禮

Chongde Village 崇德村

Flying Fish Festival 飛魚祭

Jianshi Township 尖石鄉

Lanyu (Orchid Island) 蘭嶼

Paiwan Tribe 排灣族

Sandimen 三地門

Sandimen Handicraft Trail 三地門工藝步道

Sanzhan Village 三棧部落

Smangus (Simakusi) 斯馬庫斯

Taroko Gorge 太魯閣峽谷

Truku Tribe 太魯閣族

Xiulin Township 秀林鄉 Yami Tribe 雅美族

DAGEELI TRIBE RESTAURANT (達基力部落屋)Add: 96 Chongde Village, Xiulin Township, Hualien County(花蓮縣秀林鄉崇德村96號)Tel: (03) 862-1033

TAIWANESE ABORIGINE TATTOO CULTURE MUSEUM(花蓮縣柏達散文化學會/賽德克紋面文史工作室)Add: 28-8, Lin 2, Fushi Village, Xiulin Township, Hualien County(花蓮縣秀林鄉富世村2鄰28-8號)Tel: (03) 861-1573 / 0932-523-463

SHUNG YE MUSEUM OF FORMOSAN ABORIGINES (順益台灣原住民博物館)Add: 282, Sec. 2, Zhishan Rd., Shilin District, Taipei City(台北市士林區至善路二段282號)Tel: (02) 2841-2611Website: www.museum.org.tw

INDIGENOUS CULTURE

Travel in Taiwan 17

What you don’t see on TV are the technical dry runs a show goes

through – where it wasn’t Zhang Fei but a stage hand behind

the doors, which sometimes opened unevenly – or the performance rehearsals, or

the mass of wires, cameras, and people with clipboards and headsets rushing around

making sure that everything looks just right on camera.

Being backstage at one of Taiwan’s biggest variety shows is a strange experience

indeed, but it’s also an intimate affair. The studio and set are surprisingly small,

and the average number of l ive audience members is about a hundred (though there

are more today due to the presence of madly popular Taiwanese-American singer

VanNess Wu, who’s been booked to perform). This makes for a very up-close-and-

personal show, with many audience members sitting on the f loor at most 5 feet away

from the action.

ON STAGE／OFF STAGE

Taiwanese-American singer VanNess Wu Artists invited to take part in the show

Behind the Scenes at “Variety Big Brother”

Travel in Taiwan 18

The lights go up and a fanfare erupts from the band. A wobbly spotlight settles on the stage doors amid wild applause from the crowd. Suddenly the doors slide open, and host Zhang Fei bounds down the stairs smoothly delivering his weekly opening line to the camera: “Welcome viewers, to Variety Big Brother!” By Owain Mckimm

Travel in Taiwan 18

Acrobatic performances

are often part of Taiwanese

variety shows

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One of the most popular genres on Taiwanese TV, the

variety show is a zany celebrity-f illed world of games,

jokes, wacky sound effects, and ad-libbing. Turn on your

cable-TV at any time of day and one of the many different

specimens of this uniquely Taiwanese genre will almost

surely pop up to greet you with a larger-than-life host and

a troupe of eager celebrity guests ready to throw modesty

and better judgment to the wind.

Combining elements of a game show, talk show, and

talent show, the broadcasting of this kind of program

began in Taiwan during the ’60s, and through the years all

kinds of entertainment formats have been thrown into the

mix, with segments ranging from mainstream forms such

as singing and magic to more unusual approaches such as

fashion, shopping, and even straightforward gossip.

The glue that keeps these shows together and gives them their unique character, however, has always been the presenter. “Taiwanese are interested in people,” says Variety Big Brother ’s producer Li Hui-lan, “so they really focus on the hosts. They like to think of them as a friend, or even part of the family.”

Zhang Fei has been presenting Variet y Big Brother since its f irst broadcast in 2002, but his credentials go back a lot further than that. A show-business veteran at 59, he has been presenting variety shows on TV for well over 30 years. Sporting a grey suit, a jazz musician’s sunglasses and a bouffant hairstyle, his manner is relaxed and casual with a twinkle of mischief.

VARIETY SHOW

Travel in Taiwan 19

The audience sits close to the action during a recording of “Variety Big Brother”

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ON STAGE／OFF STAGE

“To make an

entertainment show you

need to really understand

people; to make people

cry is easy, but to make

them laugh is a lot

harder”

Travel in Taiwan 20

After his entrance, he introduces each of the celebs

appearing on his show, to rapturous applause. Then,

pausing before New York-based singer Moon, he switches

to broken English, which receives woops of laughter from

the crowd. “I don’t need a translator for English, Spanish,

Korea [sic],” he says proudly, before turning to another

guest and asking in Chinese, “how do you say ‘Russian’ in

English?”

Producer Li describes Zhang Fei as a natural host, who

rarely relies on notes or information sheets, preferring

to base conversation on his relationship with, and/or

impression of, each guest.

“The most important thing for a host is to observe the

audience – what makes them laugh, what moves them –

and then try to predict what they’d like to see,” says Li. “To

make an entertainment show you need to really

understand people; to make people cry is

easy, but to make them laugh is a lot harder.”

Some presenters, such as Here Comes

Kangxi host Xiao S (“Little S”; real

name Dee Hsu), who co-hosts with

trilby af icionado Kevin Tsai and

Gossip Queen host Regine Wu, have

become notorious for their biting

comments and unabashed teasing.

“Sometimes you need to

complement a guest, and sometimes

you need to tease,” says Li. “It’s an

art to be able to tease someone yet

keep it acceptable as a joke – that way

the audience likes it, and the

guest enjoys it too.”

After the opening guest-introduction segment is wrapped up, taping momentarily stops so the

set can be rearranged for the next segment. However, the four cameras used are in fact almost continually trained on the stars; there are few if any cuts, and it’s as if the show is set up and then let loose, only controlled marginally via prompts written by the production team on large sheets of paper which are held up for the host or guests to see and react to. And it’s very important that the guests, who are a real focus because of the free-style nature of the show, react big.

“The variety shows in Singapore, for example, usually focus more on the public, and the host is really the only artist,” says Singaporean singer Kelly Poon, one of the celebrities appearing on the program. “It doesn’t really matter that I’m not from Taiwan,” she adds. “They only really care about whether you sing enough and how well you promote yourself. Being on the show is a lot about personality, and

when you get the chance to perform you need to perform the best you can.”

It’s clear from my backstage vantage point that the show relies heavily on the personalities of the celebrities, and their desire to perform (and thus promote their material), to make the shows lighthearted and enjoyable, and to keep the momentum going during the long takes.

T V show

host Zhang Fei

(Li Hui-lan)

High-school girls make up the majority of the live audience

ENGLISH & CHINESE

˝Good Timing˝ K歌郭抬銘

Gossip Queen 麻辣天后宮

Here Comes Kangxi 康熙來了

Kelly Poon 潘嘉麗

Kevin Tsai 蔡康永

Li Hui-lan 李慧蘭

Master Kong Kiang 孔鏘老師

Regine Wu/Li Qing 吳明恩/利菁

VanNess Wu 吳建豪

Variety Big Brother 綜藝大哥大

Xiao S/Dee Hsu 小S/徐熙娣

Zhang Fei 張菲

VARIETY SHOW

Travel in Taiwan 21

“Being on the show is

a lot about personality,

and when you get the

chance to perform you

need to perform the

best you can” (Kelly Poon)

The segment now being taped is the “Good Timing” game, a singing competition where guests are required to sing a song and simultaneously count to a pre-determined number before hitting the stop button. If they stop at the right time, they get a huge cheer; if their timing is off or they forget the words, they get blasted with a jet of dry-ice vapor.

This is where the guests really do their thing. They over-react, let out big screams of disbelief, banter back and forth, and crack jokes about bad performers, and the audience clearly couldn’t be happier. Although they are prompted to applause by a staff member blowing a whistle, their laughter and elation at being so involved in the show are completely genuine.

It does create an incredible atmosphere, and the roll ing nature of the taping helps make this feeling constant. Being one in a crowd of many hundreds, as with some British or U.S. shows, would be far less personal.

Perhaps the unsung hero of the night is the music director, Master Kong Kiang. The

music for the show is recorded live with a band, and Master Kong must be constantly on alert for any impromptu jokes, to which he must immediately respond with a drum beat and the crash of a cymbal – the signature punch-line of variety-show humor.

The speedy taping (one show takes 3~4 hours), and the big reliance on guest input, means that the show can be made on a relatively small budget, and around a fairly basic concept. The production crew numbers a mere 10 people or so, and the editing, special effects, subtitles, and voiceovers are all f inished in 3 days.

Variety Big Brother is a

big success with international audiences as well as the home-grown one, popular across Asia and even broadcast in the U.S. Though many of Taiwan’s variety shows don’t have live audiences, using canned laughter, this can only be to their detriment, as the chemistry between Zhang Fei, his guest, and the live audience is surely a big factor in the show’s success.

If you want to be a part of the audience at a taping of Variety Big Brother, call (02) 2528-2028 to register. There is no charge, and large groups are encouraged. Two shows are recorded every second Tuesday from 2 to 9 pm. Variety Big Brother is broadcast on Saturdays from 8 pm to 10 pm on Taiwan’s CTV channel.

“Punishing” performers with jets of dry-ice vapor is part of the fun

Travel in Taiwan 21

Hand-painted oil paper umbrellas are the best-know product of Meinong

Past and Present in Bucolic Harmony

HISTORY

Travel in Taiwan 22

HISTORY

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Elderly Hakka woman sorting wild lotus, a speciaty of Meinong

The lovely Meinong area, in the northeast of the former Kaohsiung County, now part of

Kaohsiung City, sits deep in a divide where a high-mountain valley eases off and opens up into

farm-able land of deep, rich earth. Framed on two sides by pretty misty hills hundreds of meters

high, this is a proud Hakka enclave; in pioneer days, the Hakka were commonly forced up into the

hills from the coastal flatlands by their Chinese brethren from other areas in China. By Rick Charette

Travel in Taiwan 23

MEINONG

Settled in 1736, the area is today perhaps best known for its exquisite hand-painted oilpaper umbrellas, which are sold around the globe. Visitors can look in on master craf tsmen in

shops practicing the craf t in much the old ways.

The Hakka Story Told

The Hakka on the island number about four mill ion, about 15% of Taiwan’s population. Their path through history is shrouded in mist and mystery, but it’s thought they came south in stages from China’s northern regions, especially in times of turmoil, in the great southward Han Chinese migration. As they moved into hilly areas south of the Yangzi River, their other Han Chinese brethren didn’t see them as being of the same race, though in fact they all share most physical/cultural traits.

They have close-knit communities, arising in large part as a result of oppression and discrimination. The term “Hakka” in fact means “guest people.” Heavily outnumbered, in Taiwan they eventually became concentrated in two areas – in the foothills of Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli counties in northwest Taiwan, and in the south’s Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties. Until recent times there was limited intermarrying with other groups.

Travel in Taiwan

Many older architectural gems have been caringly preserved along the narrow old streets of the main town and out in the surrounding farm country, notably along Yong’an Old Street; the Hakka take great pride in their traditions.

Many visitors l ike to purchase the distinctive traditional Hakka dress, and you can have your own clothing made at a quaint old open-front shop on Yong’an Old Street that’s changed little if at all since the elderly owner couple entered the trade in their youth. They’ ll need a few days minimum for custom cuts, however.

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HISTORY

Travel in Taiwan 24

Heritage Sites

Old-style residences abound in Meinong. The huofang or semi-enclosed courtyard style is most common in Taiwan, with a single main entrance and high exterior walls to enable defense. To the center-rear of the courtyard is the ancestral altar. True Hakka residences have white brick and black tile; red brick and tile indicates inf luence by the Taiwanese majority, whose ancestors came from China’s southern Fujian Province. Most Hakka ancestors immigrated to Taiwan from northeastern Guangdong. Other characteristic features of Hakka residences are the name of the house above the door and three-sectioned walls of white-painted mud brick on top, earthenware tiles in the middle, and stones at the bottom. The white represents the white hair of the older generation, the red-tint earthenware symbolizes the blood (sweat and tears) of the hard-working

middle generation, and the stones represent the hope for many children in the new generation.

The old town is home to many old residences, shrines, and other

representative structures. Walk along Yong’an Old Street, paralleling the Meinong River, and don’t be shy about dipping into the narrow side lanes and pathways – the people

are friendly and inviting. Walk past No. 177 and you’ll l ikely see master tailor Xie Jing-lai and his wife hard at work on traditional Hakka tunics and other clothing in their small open-front business, the Jin Xing Shop, opened in 1929. Xie loves to tell interested visitors (apologizing that he can’t speak English) all about Meinong’s history and traditional Hakka culture, tailoring technique, and the rich symbolism incorporated into the old-style blue-dye attire. One example: The wide band around the collar of the men’s tunic symbolizes the shape of the classic Hakka fortif ied village.

At one end of Yong’an Old Street is the tall East Gate, telling of a time when watch towers were raised as protection against bandits, rebels, marauders from rival ethnic groups, indigenous warriors and, sometimes, government troops, always poorly paid and almost always unwelcome. Between gate and river is the original Earth God shrine built when this riverfront area was opened. Such protective shrines dot the area, as do jingzi ting or “respect writing pavilions,” miniature pavilions where paper with writing was ritually burned and sent back to heaven, for it was heaven that had given the miracle of paper and written character to humankind in the f irst place. P

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Oilpaper Umbrellas

The eye-caressing oilpaper umbrella is perhaps the most visually stunning memento you can take home from your Taiwan voyage of discovery. Featuring an intricate bamboo frame and translucent paper, each is a distinctive work of art painted with bold, colorful designs and lacquered. If actually used to stop the rain, they’ ll last 10 years or more; if treated as an artwork, as done by almost all buyers today, they’ ll last pretty much forever.

The secret of the art – along with a master craf tsman that possessed it – were brought from Guangdong in the early 20th century by a Meinong businessman, the lacquer changed from dark-brown to yellow, and artistic designs were added later to what was a practical household item. The family is all-important to the Hakka, and the umbrella’s circular perfection symbolizes the “perfection” of family togetherness. They are traditional wedding gif ts, for the pronunciation of “paper,” zhi, is similar to that for “sons,” zi. Such a gif t promotes fecundity.

Oilpaper umbrellas are sold in many Meinong shops

At Jin Xing Shop, traditional Hakka attire has been made since 1929

Travel in Taiwan 25

MEINONG

At local shops, an 8-inch umbrella should be NT$400 to NT$600, a 19-inch version NT$1,200 or more. Most handle overseas shipping. Yuan Xiang Yuan Cultural Village, on the town's southern outskirts, is a large and attractive souvenir mall with ample parking, a good range of umbrellas, and live demonstrations.

A more intimate experience can be had at Meinong k.c.s. Umbrella, a small workshop with a nationwide reputation located in the countryside in the rear of a traditional courtyard residence belonging to the Lin clan. At this shop, run by a kindly and calmingly gentle couple, Lin Rong-jun and Wu Jian-ying, you can have your umbrella made to order and can also DIY-decorate your own miniature umbrella for a few hundred NT dollars. The couple inherited the business from Lin’s father, and their grown son has just returned to the umbrella-making fold, making Mom and Dad, worried that this now rare and precious skill set is dying out, very happy.

Meinong’s tall East Gate was once a watch tower used as protection against outside enemies

The small workshop of Meinong k.c.s. Umbrella is located in the rear of a traditional courtyard residence

HISTORY

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Hakka Cuisine

Traditionally, isolated Hakka communities grew their own food, with few fresh vegetables available during cool winters. Preserved meats and pickled vegetables were thus common. Another differentiation was vegetables – chill i peppers, bitter melon, and so on – stuffed with minced meat. The culinary style is characterized by an especially sensitive way of combining only the freshest of crisp vegetables, when available. These are chopped and combined in myriad manners, stir-fried lightly to evince the most delicate f lavors.

The heavy use of garlic, oils, and spices is avoided, as is the heavy use of lard that characterizes the Fujianese/Taiwanese style. The frugal Hakka have a dish for all animal parts; for example, pig’s intestine with ginger slices is a favorite.

The heavy labor of both men and women in f ield, mine, and forest – traditional Hakka industries – led to substantial salt loss, leading to extra-salty dishes. Most restaurants these days will hold back, on their own or on request.

Recommended is the Meinong Traditional Hakka Cuisine restaurant, spacious and f illed with old-time Hakka household items. Be sure to try the wild lotus, which many locals report plucking from local Zhongzheng Lake when swimming as kids, and which has become popular nation-wide since the 1980s. Farms now circle the lake, workers submerged in water up to chest and neck.

Meinong Hakka Culture Museum

This young, attractive facil ity sits in open farm country, with big views all about. Its shape evoked Meinong’s tobacco-growing sheds, which stand in the hundreds, abandoned, throughout the area; there is a full-scale mock-up inside. Meinong was long synonymous with tobacco production, but the allowance of imports (tobacco and related products) in recent times resulted in a startlingly rapid demise. Some displays have English, there are free English-audio guides, and English tours are available with advance booking.

Getting There

Take the High Speed Rail to Zuoying Station in Kaohsiung, or take the Taiwan Railway to Kaohsiung Station, then use the Kaohsiung Bus Meinong Route service (NT$148 one-way; 90 minutes; service 5:40 am to 10:10 pm; www.ksbus.com.tw). If driving, take National Freeway No. 10, which connects with both north-south national freeways, to the town of Qishan (Qishan District), then take Provincial Highway No. 28 east and turn lef t onto County Route No. 181. Meinong’s main town area is minutes away. Road signs have English.

MEINONG TRADITIONAL HAKKA CUISINE (美濃古老客家菜)Add: 362-5, Sec. 1, Zhongshan Rd., Meinong District, Kaohsiung City (高雄市美濃區中山路一段362-5號)Tel: (07) 681-1156Website: www.5658.com.tw/6811156

MEINONG K.C.S. UMBRELLA (廣進勝紙傘)Add: 47 Minquan Rd., Meinong District, Kaohsiung City (高雄市美濃區民權路47號)Tel: (07) 681-3247Website: http://urhome.shop2000.com.tw (Chinese)

YUAN XIANG YUAN CULTURAL VILLAGE (原鄉緣文化村)Add: 147, Sec. 1, Zhongxing Rd., Meinong District, Kaohsiung City (高雄市美濃區中興路一段147號) Tel: (07) 681-0888Website: www.meinung.com.tw (Chinese)

ENGLISH & CHINESEEast Gate 東門樓Hakka 客家人huofang 夥房/伙房jingzi ting 敬字亭Lin Rong-jun 林榮君Meinong 美濃Meinong River 美濃溪 Xie Jing-lai 謝景來Wu Jian-ying 吳劍瑛wild lotus 野蓮Yong’an Old Street 永安老街zhi 紙Zhongzheng Lake 中正湖zi 子

JIN XING SHOP (錦興行)Add: 177 Yong 'an Rd., Meinong District, Kaohsiung City(高雄市美濃區永安路177號)Tel: (07) 681-1191

MEINONG HAKKA CULTURE MUSEUM (美濃客家文物館)Add: 49-3 Minzu Rd., Meinong District, Kaohsiung City(高雄市美濃區民族路49-3號)Tel: (07) 681-8338Website: http://meeinonghakka.kccc.gov.tw

FOR GUIDED TOURS, CONTACT:KAOHSIUNG TOUR GUIDE ASSOCIATION (高雄縣導覽協會)Tel: 0933-375-588 E-Mail: m91023e@yahoo.com.twOr Meinong District Farmer 's Association Promotion Division(美濃區農會推廣組) Tel:(07) 683-3309

Hakka dishes

Meinong Hakka Culture Museum

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Travel in Taiwan 27

Peculiar Taiwan

A familiar sight on Taiwan’s roads is the construction-site

dummy, warning oncoming traffic of ongoing work. Like

scarecrows in farm fields often passed by, you get to know them

as individuals, for many are highly individualized by site workers.

Almost all will be wearing yellow-plastic raingear, safety vests, and

a safety helmet, and fitted out with warning f lags and/or lights.

One long-in-place dummy near my home had a black (sometimes

blonde) wig, which did wonders attracting the attention of passing

drivers. The Filipinos in another crew darkened their dummy’s face,

feeling the original lighter version was not representative. Another

crew did the same, and painted in tears, representing long hours

and sunburn. You’ll see dummies decked out in moustaches, beards,

and glasses, dangling cigarettes and cigars, and sporting all sorts of

other whimsical beautif iers. Say hello whenever you can, for each

stands on guard shift after shift, with little reward and nary a

complaint.

Travel in Taiwan 27

No, Not in Your Office

By Rick Charette

On Taiwan’s Roads

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Adding More Fun to a Fun-Filled Time at One of Taiwan’s Best Theme Parks

MY PHOTO TOUR

Travel in Taiwan 28

A visit to Leofoo Village Theme Park (www.leo f oo.com.tw/village) in Hsinchu County is all about having fun. In recent years, the park has done an excellent job in

not just providing thrill rides but also in creating a very tasteful environment with an intimate feel. Areas such as “South Pacif ic” and “Arabian Kingdom” are especially attractive in the evening, when buildings and other structures are illuminated in imaginative ways. Superb backgrounds for nighttime photo shoots abound. If you want to make your photos even more fun and memorable, use a tripod, set your camera to long exposure (30 seconds or more), choose a very small aperture, and paint with a f lashlight during the capturing process. It will take a bit of practice, but l ight-painting photography allows you to be very creative, and brings you dazzlingly unique shots! P

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On Fuxing South Road, not far from the MRT Technology Building

Station, sit three havens, nearly next door to one another, for those in need of a late-night meal or a post-midnight snack. Just walk out of the MRT station, turn right, and cross the street at the f irst crosswalk you come to. Turn right once you hit the other side of the road, walk north for a short stretch, at a leisurely pace of course, and simply look for the crowds of people, multiple cars pulling up out front, and friendly hostesses waving patrons inside. If you follow this path, the f irst restaurant you’ ll come to is Xiao Lizi Rice Porridge, a popular spot for taxi drivers working the graveyard shif t, hard-working

professionals of all kinds, and families looking for an inexpensive night out.

The service is buffet style, with scores of dishes, half vegetarian and half f ish- or meat-based, on display in the middle of the restaurant, dished out by affable and knowledgeable staff. Just grab a tray and tell them what you want – don’t worry about not knowing the names, just point and smile. For a vegetarian option, try some “world-famous” stinky tofu, fermented bean curd that, in all honesty, tastes inf initely better than it smells. Be warned, it is an acquired taste, but Taiwanese love to see foreigners enjoying this local favorite. And if

you’re into spicy dishes, load up on gongbao chicken, pig’s ears, and spicy eggplant.

Every order comes with an all-you-can-eat serving of sweet-potato rice porridge, a Taiwanese breakfast mainstay in decades past. In those weaker economic times, families of ten had to make what little rice they could afford last for as long as possible, so water was added to make porridge; and sweet potatoes, being cheap and plentiful as well as tasty, were put into the mix as well. Whereas families used to cut the potato up into smaller pieces, at Xiao Lizi a large section served whole comes with the porridge.

Eating after Midnight in Taipei

Taipei truly is a city that never sleeps. At all hours people are on the go, and with that work-hard-play-hard ethos comes an appetite that lasts far beyond the borders of the nine-to-five world. Luckily, this is also a city that caters to those who are in need of a good, hearty, affordable meal long after the office lights have been turned off and the refrain of the last song of the evening at the karaoke parlor has rung out. Here are three can’t-miss late-night institutions that will put your midnight case of the munchies to bed. By Joe Henley

Buf fet at Yi Liu Rice Porridge

LET’S GO OUT TONIGHT

Travel in Taiwan 30

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Inexpensive late-night buffet-style restaurants such as this started to become popular in Taipei in the late ’80s, and Xiao Lizi is one of the oldest in the area, as well as one of the most popular. And with four dishes plus unlimited rice porridge, more than enough to feed two hungry people, coming to the low sum of about NT$350, just over US$10, it’s a cheap, fast way to satisf y that midnight craving. Xiao Lizi is open nightly from 5pm until 6am the following morning, and is located just a few doors down from two other local favorites, No Name Rice Porridge and Yi Liu Rice Porridge, which serve variations on the same theme. Try one, or stop by all three for a dish or two, and join the crowds who pack these places to the raf ters af ter the sun goes down.

Just across Zhongzheng Bridge in Yonghe District, New Taipei City, is another landmark for Taipei’s food lovers – “food lovers” a term that encapsulates virtually the

entire population of this island of gourmands. World Soy Milk King is conveniently located close to the MRT Dingxi Station. Af ter getting off the train, head for Exit 1, then turn right once you’re outside. Walk down Yonghe Road, cross Zhulin Road, and keep an eye out for the busy restaurant with racks of fresh-made baozi, or steamed buns, cooling outside, and white tabletops, yellow chairs, and an open kitchen inside. Congratulations – you’ve just arrived at one of the best-known eateries in the Taipei metropolitan area.

World Soy Milk King serves fresh soy milk , danbing, and youtiao wrapped in shaobing

Buf fet of Xiao Lizi Rice Porridge

Xiao Lizi Rice Porridge

Eating at a late-night buffet-style restaurant is a cheap, fast way to satisfy that

midnight craving

"I think I need some rice

porridge before going to bed

again..."

MIDNIGHT SNACKS

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Rounding out the trio of great late-

night eating haunts is Lin Dong Fang Beef Noodles, purveyor of what might well be called Taipei City’s signature dish, beef noodles, which even has a yearly festival staged in its honor. This humble – if only in appearance –shop is located between the MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing and Nanjing East Road stations on the Wenhu (Brown) Line. Go to Zhongxiao Fuxing and walk north along

Fuxing South Road to Bade Road. Turn left when you get there, and head west along the left-hand side of the street for a few minutes. When you espy the huge vats of boiling beef sending their mouthwatering aroma out into the street, you’ve arrived. The area beside the kitchen boasts a small seating area, but unless you somehow manage to go to Lin Dong Fang during a highly uncommon downtime period, you’ll be directed to a larger seating area just a few doors down.

World Soy Milk King has been serving up traditional Taiwanese fare for decades, to everyone from the common working man and woman to Hong Kong movie stars such as Chow Yun-fat and Jackie Chan, and is the place that f irst put what is now generically called “Yonghe soy milk” on the map as a result of the opening of countless similar establishments. But make no mistake, this is the original. Even former ROC President Chiang Ching-kuo and his stepmother, First Lady Soong Mei-ling, separately stopped by. The First Lady was so taken with the shop's soy milk that she quoted eight words from an ancient Chinese poem which, loosely translated, mean “Elixir made from beautiful jade, sweet as milk.” The Chinese characters from this quote have since then adorned a restaurant wall.

The restaurant is separated into takeaway and sit-down areas, and is famous for its danbing, a thin f lour pancake with a thin layer of egg inside that is rolled up like a crepe, its xiao long bao, or steamed dumplings, and its soy milk, which in the local parlance is dou jiang. The soy milk comes in both sweet and salty varieties, and it’s well worth trying one of each to experience the contrasting f lavors. Soy milk goes well with a youtiao, or oil stick, which is basically deep-fried dough, and perhaps a shaobing, a kind of crunchy, f laky pastry, with either beef or sour cabbage in the middle. There is no English menu, but fear not, there are replicas of the dishes the restaurant is best known for in a glass display case in front of the shop that you can point to if all else fails. What's more, you never have to worry about showing up to f ind World Soy Milk King closed. It's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and even has 24-hour delivery to all areas of Taipei City if you don't feel l ike making the modest trip to Yonghe. Two dishes and two drinks will set you back all of NT$110 or thereabouts, which is just over US$3.

When you espy the huge vats of boiling beef sending their

mouthwatering aroma out into the

street, you’ve arrived

32

Shaobing and youtiao

Spring rolls Baozi

LET’S GO OUT TONIGHT

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With this being a beef noodle restaurant, and a famed one at that, what else would you order for your main course? But throw in a few side orders for the full experience. Try some dougan, which is a form of tofu made with the almighty soybean, or some cucumber in sesame oil with garlic, as you while away those scant few minutes between ordering and the arrival of your aromatic bowl of beef noodles, which come in large or small sizes, depending on your appetite. The tender slices of fatty beef melt in your mouth, and the broth will have you begging for the secret recipe. And speaking of secrets, try adding some of the special concoction of spices mixed with beef stock located at the side of your table for a l ittle extra kick. There’s nothing fancy about this place; it’s simple and old school – and a real taste of Taiwan where the food speaks for itself, and speaks volumes.

YI LIU RICE PORRIDGE (一流清粥小菜)Add: 104 Fuxing S. Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei City (台北市復興南路二段104號)Tel: (02) 2706-4528

NO NAME RICE PORRIDGE (無名子清粥小菜)Add: 130 Fuxing S. Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei City (台北市復興南路二段130號)Tel: (02)-2784-6735

XIAO LIZI RICE PORRIDGE (小李子清粥小菜)Add: 142-1 Fuxing S. Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei City (台北市復興南路二段142之1號)Tel: (02) 2709-2849

WORLD SOY MILK KING (世界豆漿大王)Add: 284 Yonghe Rd., Sec. 2, Yonghe District, New Taipei City (新北市永和區永和路二段284號)Tel: (02) 8927-0000

LIN DONG FANG BEEF NOODLES (林東方牛肉麵)Add: 274, Sec. 2, Bade Rd., Taipei City (台北市八德路2段274號)Tel: (02) 2752-2556

Beef noodles

Fried tofuBeef noodles

MIDNIGHT SNACKS

Travel in Taiwan 33

FOOD JOURNEY

Travel in Taiwan 34

Freshly picked aiwen mango is a source of joy in Tainan’s Yujing District

MANGO

Travel in Taiwan 35

Travel in Taiwan 35

Travel in Taiwan 35

Finding Out about Fruit Production in Southern Taiwan

Yujing is Taiwan’s biggest mango producer, selling about 10,000 tons each year

plied us with the freshest possible slices of mango, from bright specimens just plucked from his trees. He is actively engaged in the promotion of Yujing’s products, and proved to be a bottomless well of information.

“Yujing grows a number of mango varieties, but two, the aiwen and tu (lit. “local,” meaning native Taiwan) are by far most important. Mango season is April through September, and Yujing is Taiwan’s biggest producer, selling about 10,000 tons each year," said Mr. Zheng. That certainly felt about right, for everywhere we went we passed f ield after f ield of heavily-laden trees.

“The aiwen is Taiwan’s most popular mango, because it’s big and plump and has a well-balanced rounded shape. And it’s

pretty in color too, bright with red and some golden-yellow. It’s a bit sweeter than the tu variety, which is greener and smaller. The tu also has somewhat f irmer f lesh. The aiwen was in fact brought from Florida in the 1950s, and f irst successfully grown right here in Yujing in the 1960s, though it only became popular many years later.” We were in fact to meet the farmer known as the “godfather of aiwen” a little later, now in his 80s and still out in the f ields each day.

Aiwen mango ripens June through August. Other varieties must be picked early and then ripened, but aiwen must be left on the tree until ripe to attain the fullest f lavor. “As soon as they start to form", said Mr. Zheng, "we wrap white-paper bags around them, which helps to keep away birds and bugs. Maybe you’re lonely for Christmas back home, with so much white on the trees, eh?” He’d read my thoughts, and I smiled.

Each torrid Taiwan summer, the people of this land engage in a torrid love affair with the mango, consuming it in stupendous quantity and in myriad forms — sliced, as a fruit juice, as ice-cream and sorbet, and in pudding, cake, mousse, yogurt, and many other inventive variations. The recognized “Homeland of the Mango” is the Yujing area in the main island’s southwest. By Rick Charette

Taiwan folk often refer to their super-fecund homeland as the “Kingdom of Fruit,” so

the moniker “Kingdom of the Mango” follows logically for Yujing. When I recently told my father-in-law I was headed to the area, he merely exclaimed “Mangoes!” and walked out of the room (a taciturn fellow who spends his days in Taiwanese and doesn’t feel comfortable in Mandarin Chinese; that’s the normal duration of our conversations).

So one f ine day soon after, I headed out for Mangoland with a few friends. It is located in the eastern limits of sprawling Tainan City, where the Jianan Plain meets the central mountains, encircled by ridges of the Alishan Mountain Range that form an open-ended basin. The f lat areas are about 100 meters above sea level. Conditions are especially ripe for mango cultivation: the

soil is alkali limestone, and there is full sun exposure through all four seasons, with only a moderate swing in temperatures that allows leisurely slow growth. The more intensive sun and heat in competitor areas to the south stimulate more rapid growth that results in less juice build-up and less f lavor.

We were blessed with great fortune on our trip, for local authorities were pleased that the readers of Travel in Taiwan might be attracted to the area, and as it turned out, the heart-warmingly friendly small-business owners and farmers we met were also tickled, and we at times moved about with more guides – off icial and unoff icial – than travelers.

A highlight was time spent with mango farmer Zheng Shi-xiong, who took us right into his f ields, happily donned his traditional douli, or farmer’s hat, to pose for pictures, and

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FOOD JOURNEY

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“It ’s rea l ly tough work, a l l done by hand, but the pesticide spraying is even tougher, lugging around the heavy equipment on your back up and down these slopes.” The Yujing terrain is uneven, making machine use impractical.

Before we lef t, farmer Zheng showed us a trick used to stagger r ipening times and spread out the sell ing season, making for a better supply/demand balance and optimizing farmers’ sel l ing pr ices. “Each small branch w il l have a

cluster of hanging mangoes,” he said, “one per twig. Very early in the season we pare many clusters, for with fewer f ruit competing for sun, etc., these grow faster and r ipen earl ier. Greater cluster density means later r ipening, and we’ ll still be sell ing af ter the seasons in competing areas are over, optimizing our prices.”

Yu jing’s season is a f ull month longer than those of competitors Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties, because of

MANGO INDUSTRY CULTURAL INFORMATION HALL (玉井鄉芒果產業文化資訊館)

Add: 228 Zhonghua Rd., Yujing District, Tainan City (台南市玉井區中華路228號)Tel: (06) 574-8551

ENGLISH & CHINESE

aiwen mango 愛文芒果

Alishan Mountain Range 阿里山山脈

douli 斗笠

Homeland of the Mango 芒果故鄉

Kingdom of Fruit 水果王國

Kingdom of the Mango 芒果王國

Jianan Plain 嘉南平原

tu mango 土芒果

Yujing 玉井

Yujing Mango Festival 玉井芒果節

Yujing Vegetable and Fruit Market 玉井鄉青果集貨場

Zheng Han-chi 鄭罕池

Zheng Shi-xiong 鄭世雄

Mango Selection Tip

According to farmer Zheng Shi-xiong,

consumers want, and pay most for, the

largest and roundest aiwen specimens,

but it is the smaller ones, weighing in at

about 250 grams, that generally pack the

richest f lavor and are sweetest – with the

bonus that they are priced lower as well.

1. Mango farmer Zheng Shi-xiong proudly presents some ripe mangoes in his orchard 2. The fruit is transported to town 3. Cleaning and sorting

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Other Yujing Attractions

The annual Yujing Mango Festival is a multi-

day event held in July that features produce

competitions, beauty contests, tours with farm

visits, and more. The Mango Industry Cultural Information Hall (f ree entry), open Mon-Fri 9 am

to 4 pm, has exhibits detail ing the full f lowering

story of the Yujing mango.

MANGO

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the advantageous evenness of Yu jing’s warm, mild cl imate preva il ing f rom March f ruit format ion to harvest t ime. Flavor and texture are affected when mangoes grow rapidly under hotter conditions.

We headed back into town for some delicious mango shaved-ice to cool down (see "Let's Eat!" article), then

moved over to the nearby Yujing Vegetable and Fruit Market, Taiwan’s largest market for mango and longan. Longan is Yujing’s second specialty. The market is busy throughout the day, and we sidled up to one of the farming folk manning a selling space, who was happy to chat.

“We’re in the f ields between 4 and 5 am every day,” she said, “as soon as there’s enough light to see which mangoes have ripened overnight. It’s easy for aiwen – green yesterday, red today. They must be picked the same day or they’ ll go sof t, and the birds try to get at them. We quickly pick a number of baskets and send a team back to wash them, box them, and rush here to get a good selling spot near the front – it’s f irst come, f irst served. The rest of the team continues picking. There’s no fee for a spot; the local farmers’ association takes a cut from all sales. Most of us have regular customers off-site – restaurants, stores – and the association itself takes a large amount for sale further af ield, in Taiwan cities and maybe abroad.

“We’re in the f ields until the last ripe mango is picked, and we’re here until everything is sold.” Her two children sat behind her, eating a late noodle lunch. “Nothing sells the next day – too sof t.”

A most pleasant surprise capped our Yujing visit. A meeting with the man who planted Taiwan’s very f irst aiwen tree, Mr. Zheng Han-zhi, was arranged, with a visit to the tree itself as well, still faithfully producing. Zheng is well into his 80s, still spry and with a twinkle in his eye, and had just returned from a full day of harvesting.

“I was a stubborn youngster,” he said, “wanted to help my country, and understood the risk was mine. Other farmers – we were so poor – couldn’t or wouldn’t take the risk. The government gave us the saplings (there were a couple of others, who soon gave up), but for years that was it. It took years of failure to f igure out how to grow aiwen properly, and Taiwan consumers resisted, used to the tu variety. I drove all over the place, selling from the back of my truck.

“Things are different now, aren’t they!”

They most certainly are. And I cannot express adequately in words how thrilled I was to be talking to this man, a piece of living history and a national treasure.

1. Mr. Zheng Han-zhi, the “godfather of aiwen mango” 2. One of the first aiwen mango trees planted in Yujing

All sorts of mangoes are of fered in large quantity at Yujing’s Vegetableand Fruit Market

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LET’S EAT!

Travel in Taiwan 38

Eating Your Way through Yujing District

Mango Feasting

The mango is far and away the main claim to fame of the bucolic Yujing area, not long ago a township, today a district of sprawling Tainan City, tucked away on undulating land against the base of the Alishan Mountain Range. So, then, what would you guess is the star edible at local restaurants, shaved-ice shops, and food retailers? By Rick Charette

If in the mood for a full meal, you’ve perhaps no better choice than the restaurant Green Space, located high

atop Hutoushan or Tiger Head Mountain, a spur that juts out into the wide valley in which the town of Yujing sits. Everything is built of dark-stained wood here, most seating is outside under umbrellas along a snaking boardwalk just below the spur’s crest, the views down into the valley are lovely, and the unusual bird life f litting about provides live music. There are a number of restaurants atop Hutoushan, but this is No. 1.

The menu is stuffed with mango-based treats, all the reward of experimentation by the friendly, free-spirited owner. My favorite, a new offering discovered on my most recent area trip, is Cordon Bleu mango pork. Ripe mango joins white cheese and thick ham inside a chicken breast that is lightly fried. A mid-sweet mango yogurt sauce is then spread atop.

For your beverage, tr y a mug of the delicious mango beer, per fect on lazy, hot,

steamy summer days

Cordon Bleu mango pork and refreshing mango beer served at Green Space restaurant

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The restaurant uses either local aiwen (Mandarin for “Irwin”) mango or tu (i.e., local/native Taiwan) mango in its creations. The former is somewhat sweeter; the latter has a deeper, richer taste. Very ripe mango is used when a pudding-like texture is desired, while just-ripening mango (usually the tu variety) assures firmness.

Honorable mentions must be given the fried mango, with delectably oozing, pudding-like innards, local f ish topped with light mango yogurt, grilled steak cutlets with Japanese-style mango sauce, a mango sandwich, and the yummy mango cheesecake (two servings for me).

For your beverage, try a mug (or two) of the delicious mango beer, perfect on lazy, hot, steamy summer days, which Taiwan supplies aplenty. To heady draft beer is added fresh, not-too-sweet tu mango juice, and you can choose to have a scoop of fresh mango ice-cream f loating atop.

MANGO

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GREEN SPACE (綠色空間)

Tel: (06) 574-7666Add: 25-66 Shatian, Yujing District, Tainan City (台南市玉井區沙田25-66號)Website: www.greenspace.tw (Chinese)

YOU JIAN BING PU (有間冰舖)

Tel: (06) 574-9360Add: 152 Zhongzheng Rd., Yujing District, Tainan City (台南市玉井區中正路152號)

SHENGFA SHIPIN (盛發食品行)

Tel: (06) 574-2932Add: 50 Zhongzheng Rd., Yujing District, Tainan City (台南市玉井區中正路50號)Website: www.mango-yang.com

ENGLISH & CHINESE

aiwen mango 愛文芒果

Alishan Mountain Range 阿里山山脈

Hutoushan 虎頭山

tu mango 土芒果

Yujing District 玉井區

Zhongzheng Rd. 中正路

Your Green Space experience will no doubt have merely whetted your appetite for more

mango-inspired food inventions, so head back down the mountain into Yujing town. On Zhongzheng Rd. you’ ll f ind a cluster of very popular shaved-ice shops where the most of ten ordered toppings are – surprise – fresh mango and homemade mango ice-cream. At No. 152 is the reigning queen, You Jian Bing Pu (You Jian Ice Shop), in business since 1992, run by an extremely likeable sister act. The two grew up on a local mango farm and decided early on to move upstream business-wise, where prof its were better. As before, however, they are already hard at work each day at 4 am, preparing the day’s fresh toppings. Everything served is made the same day and no additives are used.

The most popular mango ice-creams are made with the aiwen and tu varieties. The aiwen has a strong orange color and is sweeter; the tu is greener, with a stronger, earthier f lavor (not only my favorite but that of the sisters too). The mix for all ice-creams is about 80% fruit, 20% milk; through cream is not used, the fruit brings a creamy texture. A little sugar is added only if the just-plucked fruit is less sweet than usual.

Before leaving the area, do as Taiwan folk do and pick up a box or two of fresh

mangoes. You’ ll see them on display at many stores, and a visit to the local farmers’ association market will bring you even lower prices. But I also recommend a visit to Shengfa Shipin (Shengfa Foods) at 50 Zhongzheng Rd. for the dried mango. They have the size and thickness of steak cutlets, and are deliciously sof t, chewy, and meaty. The rich f lavor and dark color comes from low-temp charcoal roasting over 48 hours. There are two versions, one natural, the other with a l ight ref ined-sugar coating. Both have great character.

Two sisters run the You Jian Ice Shop

Mango ice-cream

Dried mangoVegetable rolls made with green mango

Daxi Townwhip is one of Taoyuan County’s main tourist draws. Famous for dried beancurd, old buildings with facades inspired by Western architecture, and the mausoleum of late President Chiang Kai-shek, the township is also the starting point of the Northern Cross-Island Highway, which traverses the northern part of the Central Mountain Range and connects the counties of Taoyuan and Yilan. On a recent excursion to Daxi we met a very interesting man,

From Noodle Maker to Toy Maker Visiting a Restaurant Owner

Who Puts Discarded Plastic Bottles to New Use By Kurt Weidner

step 6Cut the bottle along the seam to the bottle’s neck, and do the same on the opposite site. Fold the two flaps and cut each in the middle. Repeat the process for the four flaps you now have, so you get eight flaps in total (the wings of the wind wheel).

step 5Cut open the bottle with a utility knife and scissors and detach the bottom half.

step 7Cut the ends of the flaps to make them round.

step 8Bend each flap in the same direction, at an angle of approx. 30 degrees.

step 9Attach the bottle to the cap. Voila, your wind wheel is ready to turn!

step 2Insert a shorter stick into the hole and fix with some glue.

step 3Drill a hole into the cap of a soft drink bottle.Insert a fitting straw (cut to desired length) into the hole.

step 4Insert the short stick attached to the chopstick into the straw and attach a small piece of bamboo to act as stopper.

step 1Drill a hole in one end of a long bamboo chopstick.

Wind Wheel

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LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Huang Cai-zheng (“Huang Ba Ba” or “Daddy Huang”), who has become a celebrity with elementary-school students in the area and is often invited by local government units to teach children about the art of turning used plastic bottles and other trash into toys and funny-looking objects.

Sitting down at his restaurant, located on Prov. Hwy No. 7 just a few kilometers south of Daxi town, we asked him to teach us how to make some of the roughly 200 different toys and objects he’s invented so far. He agreed to show us the steps needed to create a simple handheld wind wheel from a plastic bottle and a noise-making device from an old fish can.

step 2Put an old chopstick or skewer stick through both holes and cut the s tick so that it pro-t ru d e s a b o u t 1 c m o n b o t h sides.

step 3Take a 50cm-long thick thread, or three thinner threads to-gether, and make simple knots every 2cm.

step 4Attach the string to a detached tab of a beverage can.

step 5Put two thin rubber bands through the ring of the tab and attach them to both ends of the stick by pul ling them across the bottom of the can.

step 6That’s it! To create the noise you just have to hold the can in one hand and pull the thread down slightly, then let the knots slip through your fingers. The cap hit-ting repeatedly against the bottom of the can makes a sound resembling a machine gun or a cicada depending on the can used.

step 1Make two holes on opposing sites of a fish can or other can or suitable container.

HUANG BA BA’s HiGHWAY NO. 7 ENViRONMENT CONsERVATiON CREATiViTY sTUDiO (黃爸爸七號公路環保創意工廠)Add: 770, Sec. 1, Fuxing Rd., Daxi Township, Taoyuan County (桃園縣大溪鎮復興路一段770號)

Tel: (03) 387-2797Website: papatoys.noadsfree.com (Chinese)

How to get there:Mr. Huang’s noodle restaurant is located on Prov. Hwy No. 7, a few kilome-ters south of Daxi town. Buses of the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle service’s (www.taiwantrip.com.tw) Cihu Route stop nearby at the Daxi Mausoleum. From the bus stop it’s a 5-minute walk along the highway in the direction of Daxi.

ENGLisH & CHiNEsE

Cihu 慈湖Daxi 大溪Daxi Mausoleum 大溪陵寢Huang Cai-zheng 黄財正

Noise Maker

Mr. Huang is happy to share his knowledge in making toys, and even arranges classes. His

most famous creation to date is his amazing water-bottle rockets; propelled by compressed

air, the rockets easily ascend as high as a 15-story building in a matter of seconds. He has

even developed a tiny parachute that allows the rockets to descend to Earth safely.

TOY-MAKING

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Travel in Taiwan 42

Grand View Resort

Yangmingshan is a hiker’s paradise

Taiwan Folk Arts Museum

Many of Yangmingshan’s mountain peaks are covered with silver grass

THE BEST ROUTES

Travel in Taiwan 42Travel in Taiwan 42

THE BEST ROUTES

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Travel in Taiwan 43

Taiwan’s unique geology has given rise to countless mountains and endless valleys . The steep roads that wind through

these areas of great natural beauty are perfect for exploring on two wheels. Among the many great routes in Taiwan, the

highways traversing the mountains of Yangmingshan National Park stand out as must-do attractions for travelers based in

Taipei, perfect for motor-scooter or bicycle trips. By Phil Dawson

Stunning Scenery and Pristine Nature Are Just a Short Scooter Ride Away from Taipei’s Center

Exploring geothermal activity

Yangjin Highway

YANGMINGSHAN／BEITOU

Travel in Taiwan 43

Travel in Taiwan 43

YANGMINGSHAN／BEITOU

There are numerous minor roads that lead up and down the cluster of

mountains that make up the park, but on a recent outing my friends and I chose to explore some of the main roads. As we began our ascent up Yangde Boulevard in Shilin District, it was hard to believe that just a few minutes earlier we were riding through heavy traff ic in the f lat area of a city of almost three mill ion people. The road was lined by trees on both sides, and in no time we were winding, ever higher, into some beautiful high-hill countryside.

Our plan was to visit Juansi Waterfall by following Yangde Boulevard, which becomes Gezhi Road higher up (all sections are part of Prov. Hwy No. 2A, commonly called the Yang jin Highway), and then turning right on Jingshan Road at the small community of Shanzaihou, where Chinese Culture University is located. At Shanzaihou we f illed up at what would be the last gas station on our route before returning to the city. We then followed Jingshan Road to a settled area called Pingdengli, best known for its many farms offering self-picking of fruits and vegetables and a number of lovely cafés with nice mountain views. We decided to stop at the Take a Break Coffee Shop, a delightful l ittle restaurant located on Lane 10 of Ping jing Street. We sat out in one of the secluded booths overlooking the wonderfully craf ted garden as we pored over maps of the day’s route and sipped fresh-brewed premium coffee. Back on our scooters, we headed to and then along Lane 101 of Jingshan Road, where we stopped at the head of the trail to Juansi Waterfall.

It’s an easy 1km walk to the waterfall along a beautiful paved trail that meanders through the dense forest. Our walk was accompanied by the ever-louder sound of countless cicadas, and the occasional “zao an!” (Good Morning!) from passersby. Before long the cicadas’ song was interrupted by the sound of running water, and through the trees we caught glimpses of the waterfall, looking like a veil of silk f lowing down the side of the clif f.

It is possible to continue walking from Juansi Waterfall to both Lengshuikeng and Qingtiangang – two popular recreation spots in the national park. However, our trip was all about the ride, so we got back to our bikes and headed up the steep road (Lane 101, Jingshan Road), passing a group of panting, out-of-breath cyclists on the way.

Through the trees we caught glimpses of the waterfall, looking like a veil of silk flowing down the side of the cliff

Juansi Waterfall

THE BEST ROUTES

Travel in Taiwan 44

Lengshuikeng or “Cold Water Pit,” our next stop, is

famous for its cold mineral spring. The temperature of the water here is only 40 degrees, meaning that while technically still a hot spring it is a lot cooler than the park’s other springs.

We rode our scooters a l ittle further down the road and parked beside Lane 101 at the Qingtiangang parking lot. Qingtiangang is one of the most visited places in Yangmingshan, and it is easy to see why. The area is a terrace that was formed by lava f low from Seven Star Mountain (more in a moment), its east side looming high above, and the result is an expansive, lush meadow with spectacular views in all directions. This is a place for families to picnic, newlyweds to have wedding photos taken, photographers to hone their skills, and others to go for a gentle walk or a long hike on the trails that shoot off, blanketed in fresh air.

Af terwards, we continued along the road to its intersection with the Yang jin Highway, then turned lef t (south), back toward Taipei. By the time we arrived at the Xiaoyoukeng Visitor Center, on Seven Star Mountain’s west side, it was already mid-morning and the temperature was creeping up to 35 degrees. We ducked into the cafeteria, ordered some ice-cold drinks, and decided not to make the tough climb up to the peak of Mt. Qixing (i.e., Seven Star

Mountain). The peak is the highest point within Taipei City boundaries, 1,120 meters above sea level. It takes about an hour to hike up the steep trail f rom Xiaoyoukeng, but it is more than worth it, for the tremendous 360-degree panorama view you get at the top. Go when temperatures are moderate, however.

Having cooled down, we followed the crowds over to Xiaoyoukeng’s (Little Oil Pit) famed fumaroles. The sulfurous fumes that spill out can be seen from the highway and are a really spectacular sight when in full f low.

A little further south along the Yang jin Highway, we turned right onto the Bailaka Highway (County Road 101A). Feeling a l ittle guilty about chickening out of climbing Mt. Qixing , we all agreed to give our hard-working scooters a rest and put our hiking boots on. We parked at the head of the clearly marked Butterf ly Corridor trail, leading to Erziping Recreation Area, located west of towering Mt. Datun. This is one of the island’s best places to spot butterf l ies, and even though we were a l ittle late (mornings are the best time), we were still greeted with the wonderful sight of these beautiful creatures f lying all around us. A friend had once told me that if you wear bright colors some butterf l ies will land on you, but my luminous-green T-shirt didn't prove as popular as hoped – though we did see one child screaming with delight, a host of butterf l ies clinging to her poppy-red dress!

Traversing the mountains of Yangmingshan from Taipei, you can reach the northern coast of Taiwan

YANGMINGSHAN／BEITOU

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After resting for a while in the Erziping Recreation Area we decided to walk a bit further, to one of my favorite Yangmingshan places, Xiangtian Pond, another great spot that showcases the volcanic nature of the area. The hike is not particularly strenuous, and well worth it – as you walk into the dried-out pond, it becomes clear you’re standing right in the crater of an extinct volcano. Pretty cool! It’s also a lovely picnic spot, though perhaps best saved for cooler weather.

Back on our bikes, we headed down to the Beitou hot-spring area, continuing west along the

Bailaka Highway and then taking sections of County Road 101, Prov. Hwy 2, Yangtou Highway, and Quanyuan Road. We had one more stop on the way – Sulfur Valley, which is the source of the majority of the hot-spring water that supplies the hotels in Beitou. The scenery around here is very eerie, and very different from the rolling green hills we had just been walking over. Vent holes spew hot fumes into the air, and the barren rock-laden landscape is strewn with milky-blue pools of sulfurous water.

We arrived at Beitou late in the af ternoon, continuing downhill along Quanyuan Rd. and then Youya Road. The area was teeming with people and energy. The hot springs of Beitou were f irst commercialized during the time of Japanese

A: Start PointB : Pingdengli area cafésC : Juansi WaterfallD: LengshuikengE : Xiaoyoukeng and Mt. QixingF : Datun Nature Park/Erziping/Xiangtian PondG: Longfeng ValleyH : Beitou hot springs, Folk Arts Museum, and Grand View Resort

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YangmingshanN

occupation (1895~1945). In the 1950s and ’60s, Beitou's beautiful natural and man-made scenery served as setting for hundreds of movies. However, glory days never last forever, and after that time a period of decay set in. Fortunately, Beitou has seen a remarkable revival in recent times, with new museums and inns being opened, along with a lovely park and the Beitou Public Library – a stunning Noah's Ark-style eco-friendly building.

On this day, we chose to visit the excellent Taiwan Folk Arts Museum. This former Japanese officers' club has been lovingly converted into a showcase for artifacts from Taiwan’s Han Chinese culture, as well as some from the island's indigenous tribes. The two-story wooden building is a beautiful example of Japanese-style architecture, and as we walked around the grounds we could easily imagine that we were in the Japanese countryside. Inside the museum, all the exhibits have thorough explanations in English, and audio guides are available for those who want to learn more. There is a wonderfully designed restaurant and teahouse attached to the museum, a superb spot for lunch.

Just a short distance from the Folk Arts Museum was our f inal stop of the day, and the most eagerly anticipated – the Grand View Resort. It had been a long, hot day, and we were all ready to step into the resort’s steaming sulfurous hot-spring

baths to relieve the aches and pains accrued from the day’s exertions. Upon arriving we were immediately greeted by the bright smiles of the staff and taken inside. Deciding it was best to have our soak before eating dinner, we opted for an outdoor private pool. The hotel combines contemporary décor while

The sulfurous fumes that spill out can be seen from the highway and are a really spectacular sight when in full flow

Sulfur pit at Xiaoyoukeng

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GRAND ViEW REsORT (北投麗禧溫泉酒店)Add: 30 Youya Rd., Beitou District, Taipei City (台北市北投區幽雅路30號)Tel: (02) 2898-8888 Website: www.gvrb.com.tw

TAKE A BREAK COFFEE sHOP (台北奧萬大)Add: Lane 10, Pingjing St., Shilin District, Taipei City (台北市士林區平菁街十巷)Tel: (02) 2861-9862 Website: http://takeabreak.myweb.hinet.net (Chinese)

TAiWAN FOLK ARTs MUsEUM (北投文物館)Add: 32 Youya Rd., Beitou District, Taipei City (台北市北投區幽雅路32號)Tel: (02) 2891-2318 Website: www.folkartsm.org.tw

maintaining that traditional Japanese feeling, giving it a unique look and ambiance. The pool décor was lovely, and we sat outside gazing at the mountains as the afternoon mist rolled in.

Fully relaxed, we headed into the resort’s C'est Bon restaurant, where we were seated by a window overlooking Beitou as the sun began its descent. The set meal was sumptuous, with every course bringing new sensory delights. The freshly baked bread and the Yilan-style duck were highlights.

Night had arrived, but our ride wasn't quite f inished yet; we still had to get back to central Taipei. So, with satisf ied appetites and relaxed bodies, we climbed back onto our iron horses to complete the last leg of a thoroughly fulf illing journey.

ENGLisH & CHiNEsE

Bailaka Highway 百拉卡公路

Beitou 北投

Butterfly Corridor 蝴蝶花廊

Chinese Culture University 中國文化大學

Erziping Recreation Area 二子坪遊憩區

Gezhi Road 格致路

Jingshan Road 菁山路

Juansi Waterfall 絹絲瀑布

Pingdengli 平等里

Pingjing Street 平菁街

Lengshuikeng 冷水坑

Mt. Datun 大屯山

Mt. Qixing 七星山

Provincial Highway No. 2A 台2甲

Qingtiangang 擎天崗

Quanyuan Road 泉源路

Shanzaihou 山仔后

Shilin District 士林區

Sulfur Valley 硫磺谷

Xiangtian Pond 向天湖 Xiaoyoukeng 小油坑

Yangde Boulevard 仰德大道

Yangmingshan National Park 陽明山國家公園

Yangjin Highway 陽金公路

Youya Road 幽雅路

zao an 早安

Grand View Resort

YANGMINGSHAN／BEITOU

Travel in Taiwan 47

If you happen to be in Taipei on September 28 and you don’t mind getting up very early, consider heading to the Taipei Confucius Temple to witness the solemn annual Confucius Ceremony. If you can’t make it that day, a visit to this or another Confucius temple in Taiwan is highly recommended at any time of the year. By Kurt Weidner

Once a Year, the Great Sage and Many Other Great Teachers inChinese History Are Honored with a Traditional Ceremony

Confucius DayFESTIVAL

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On September 28, students per form a ceremonial dance on the plat form in front of Dacheng Hall

The Confucius Temple is one of the few places in the core

area of Taipei where you can experience quiet and peacefulness amidst all the hectic and busy activity the city is known for. Walk through the side gate and you enter a temple complex with a small park area that is very different from most other temples and parks you might have visited in Taipei. Af ter receiving a major facelif t recently, the temple is in perfect shape and the grounds are spotlessly clean. Squirrels can be seen jumping from tree to tree, and in the morning hours older folks go about practicing taiqi and qigong.

In sharp contrast to other temples in Taipei – for example Baoan Temple, which is just a stone’s throw away and is a must-visit site in its own right – there are no large crowds at the Confucius Temple, and the air is not f illed with the smoke of burning joss sticks. Everything is calm and orderly here. A Confucius temple is, af ter all, traditionally a place of learning, not of worship.

For most of the day it’s pleasantly tranquil at the temple, “safe” for the occasional tourist group coming for a visit. Airplanes can be seen low overhead on their approach to nearby Taipei Songshan Airport (as a passenger you can easily recognize the temple by its strict symmetrical layout). At eight o’clock each morning, however, the courtyard in front of the main hall, Dacheng Hall, comes to life – something I witnessed during a visit earlier this summer. About 80 elementary school students, all wearing pink T-shirts with a logo depicting Confucius on the front, gathered and lined up in rows f ive deep. Moving to the beat of a big drum and the instructions of their teacher, the students (5th and 6th graders at nearby Dalong Elementary School) went through a strict routine of changing poses.

CONFUCIUS

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A Confucius temple is traditionally a place of learning, not of worship

The Wanren Gongqiang wall symbolizes the deepness of Confucius’ knowledge and morals

Students of Dalong Elementar y School practice in the courtyard of Confucius Temple in the early morning before going to class

The routine seemed to be quite a challenge for the 10~12-year-olds. They started by standing rigidly still, and

then slowly moved from one precision pose to another. Teacher Chuang Wen-chen constantly guided the students in ref ining their movements, and in minimizing wavering and hesitation. It was diff icult to tell, f rom their expressions, whether they enjoyed or loathed this early-morning drill. After the end of the half-hour practice, the friendly and knowledgeable Chuang assured me that “All of them are volunteers; no one is forced to take part in this,” adding, af ter a moment’s thought, that “of course, there might be a certain amount of pressure from some of the students’ families.” The annual Confucius Ceremony, during which these students are going to perform this year, has been staged since 1931 at the Confucius Temple, and many of the students’ parents – in some cases even grandparents – have performed the same ritualistic moves the students are learning now, every weekday before going to class. Parents take great pride in the fact their children are continuing this family tradition.

An annual event, the Confucius Ceremony is staged September 28th (also known as “Teacher ’s Day”)

in the early-morning hours. The ceremony is carried out to honor China’s greatest teacher on his birthday (his 2561st this year), and also the some 200 most famous teachers in Chinese history, whose wooden name plates

are displayed in the buildings surrounding the main courtyard. During the dance, known as the Yi Dance, which dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368~1644), the students line up in rows on the platform in front of Dacheng Hall. They wear traditional yellow costumes (the color yellow symbolizing hope) and carry two items in their hands.

One, the Yue, is a red 2-foot-long pipe-like object symbolizing a bamboo f lute, and the other, the Di, consists of a

golden-colored dragon-shaped handle holding three long pheasant feathers, the distinct segment-like pattern on the feathers symbolizing “moving upward (in learning) step by step”.

FESTIVAL

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CONFUCIUS

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CONFUCIUS

The number of students taking part in the dance depends on the rank of the highest off icial attending. In ancient times the Confucius ceremony was staged not only to honor Confucius but also to pay respect to the emperor or local ruler in attendance. The largest dance formation, with 8 x 8 rows of dancers, was reserved for the emperor, while smaller formations, such as 6 x 6, 4 x 4, and 2 x 2, were used to honor dignitaries of lower rank. Today, the 8 x 8 formation (Ba Y i), is used at Taipei’s Confucius Temple only when the president of the Republic of China, or Taiwan, attends the ceremony (which he did in 2010 and is expected to do so again this year), and the 6 x 6 formation (Liu Y i) is used when the highest-ranking off icial present is the mayor of Taipei.

The Confucius Ceremony traditionally starts at 6 in

the morning, and lasts for up to two hours depending on the formation used. Asked why the ceremony is conducted at such an early hour, teacher Chuang explained that “Qi energy is strongest at the time when the night ends and the morning begins. It is believed that the spirit of Confucius descends (from heaven) during the ceremony, and the

temple square is f illed with positive qi energy emanating from Dacheng Hall. This is seen as a blessing for all people in attendance.”

Despite the early starting time, the ceremony is a popular event, with several hundred spectators f ill ing the courtyard each year, coming to receive

the blessings and absorb the wisdom believed to be “in the air” at this time, or simply to take in the show. At the end of the ceremony, the organizers distribute so-

called “wisdom cakes,” the eating of which is believed to help in

academic achievements. Another method for obtaining wisdom is the “pulling out of wisdom calligraphy brushes” from the back of a cow sculpture placed in the courtyard.

On September 28, all Confucius temples around Taiwan will stage some form of ceremony or Confucius birthday-celebration event. So the Taipei Confucius Temple is not your only option for witnessing how the Great Sage is honored on his special day.

TAIPEI CONFUCIUS TEMPLE (台北孔廟)Add: 275, Dalong St., Datong District, Taipei City (台北市大同區大龍街275號)Tel: (02) 2592-3934Website: www.ct.taipei.gov.twHelpful website: http://confucius.culture.tw/

ENGLISH & CHINESE

Ba Yi 八佾

Chuang Wen-chen 莊汶湞

Confucius Ceremony 祭孔大典

Dalong Elementary School 大龍國小

Di 翟

Liu Yi 六佾

pulling out of wisdom calligraphy brushes 拔智慧毛筆

qi 氣

qigong 氣功

Teacher 's Day 教師節

wisdom cakes 智慧餅

Yi Dance 佾舞

Yue 蘥

Several hundred spectators fill the

courtyard each year, coming to receive the blessings and absorb

the wisdom

Pho

tos/

Mag

gie

Song

, Vis

ion

Int'l

Travel in Taiwan 52

UPCOMINGFestivals and Events from September to November 2011

For more information on upcoming festivals and events visit the website of the Tourism Bureau at http://eng.taiwan.net.tw and click on “Festivals” or call the 24-hour toll-free Travel Information Hotline at 0800-011765.

NOV 5 ~132011 Taiwan Cycling Festival 台灣自行車節

Location: Yilan, Hualien, Taitung (宜蘭、花蓮、台東 )Tel: (02) 2719-2025Website: www.taiwancup.com.tw

NOV 11 ~ 14Taipei International Travel Fair 台北國際旅展Location: Taipei World Trade Center (台北世貿中心 )Tel: (02) 2597-9691Website: www.taipeiitf.org.tw

JUN 24 ~ SEP 25The Delight of Chinese Characters Exhibition 好漢玩字節Location: Pier 2 Art District, Kaohsiung (高雄市駁二藝術特區 ), 1 Dayong Rd., Yancheng District, Kaohsiung City (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路 1號 )Tel: (07) 521-4899, (07) 521-4881Website: http://w4.khcc.gov.tw/2011DCCF

OCT 1 ~ 30Hualien International Stone Sculpture Festival (花蓮國際石雕藝術季 )Location: Hualien County Culture Bureau (花蓮縣文化局 )Tel: (03) 822-7121 ext. 509Website: www.hualienstone2011.tw

AUG 20 ~ OCT 1Taipei – Explore the Endless Possibilities台北‧一遊未盡 Location: Tourist spots around Taipei (陽明山國家公園 ) Tel: 1999 (outside Taipei City, dial 02-2720-8889) ext. 8627 Website: www.taipeitravel.net

AUG 27 ~ SEP 11Taipei Fringe Festival 台北藝穗節 Locations:Taipei International Artist Village (台北國際藝術村 ), Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre (牯嶺街小劇場 ), Nanhai Gallery (南海藝廊 ), The Red House (西門紅樓 ), Taiwan Photo Museum (台灣攝影博物 ) and others Tel: (02) 2528-9580 ext. 196 Website: www.taipeifringe.org

SEP 28Confucius Ceremony 台北祭孔大典Location: Taipei Confucius Temple (台北孔子廟 ), 275 Dalong St., Taipei City (台北市大龍街 275號 )Tel: (02) 2592-3934 Website: www.ct.taipei.gov.tw

SEP 30 ~ OCT 30Taipei World Design Expo 台北世界設計大展Location: Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (松山文創園區 ), Taipei World Trade Center (台北世貿展覽館 ), Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall (世貿南港展覽館 )Tel: (02) 2720-8889 ext. 7577 Website: www.2011designexpo.com.tw

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NO. OF ROOMS: 203ROOM RATES: Deluxe Room NT$ 7,000 Business Room NT$ 8,000 Executive Deluxe Room NT$ 9,000 Boss Suite NT$ 13,000 Premier Suite NT$ 18,000

GENERAL MANAGER: Linda Chu

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Japanese, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Cantonese

RESTAURANTS: Rain Forest Café, Garden Terrace, Lounge 81

SPECIAL FEATURES:Business center, Pyramid Club - luxury executive floor, multifunctional room, Internet service, 32-inch LCD TV, garden terrace, bar, fitness club, outdoor pool, sauna, spa, aromatherapy, car park

83 Civic Boulevard, Sec. 3, Taipei City, 1041 0 4台北市市民大道三段8 3號

Tel: 02.8772.8800 Fax: 02.8772.1010E-mail: info@miramargarden.com.tw

www.miramargarden.com.tw

MIRAMAR GARDEN TAIPEI美麗信花園酒店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 93 rooms, 28 offices, 4 meeting roomsROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 6,000+10% Executive Room NT$ 6,600+10% Junior Room NT$ 7,800+10% Excellency Room NT$ 8,800+10% Premium Suite NT$ 9,800+10%

GENERAL MANAGER: Te Yao

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: Chinese, English

SPECIAL FEATURES: Free wireless access, VIP lounge, private meeting rooms and secretarial services, private office rental services, high-speed ADSL broadband Internet, non-smoking floors, safety deposit box, laundry service, limousine service, airport transportation, base-ment parking, gym

11F, 495 Guangfu S. Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City 11074

1 1 0 74台北市信義區光復南路49 5號 1 1樓

Tel: 02.8780.8000 Fax: 02.8780.5000 E-mail: pbc.taipei@msa.hinet.net

www.businesscenter.com.tw

PACIFIC BUSINESS CENTER HOTEL太平洋商旅 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 487 (Suites: 57)ROOM RATES: Single/DBL NT$ 5,700 – 11,000 Suite NT$ 15,000 – 28,000

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, French, Spanish, and Japanese

RESTAURANTS: Western, Cantonese, Northern China Style Dumplings, tea house, coffee shop

SPECIAL FEATURES: Grand Ballroom, conference rooms for 399 people, 10 breakout rooms, business center, fitness center, sauna, Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, billiards

1 Chung shan N. Rd., Sec. 4, Taipei City, 10461 R.O.C1 0 4 6 1台北市中山北路四段1號

Tel: 886.2.2886.8888Fax: 886.2.2885.2885

www.grand-hotel.org

THE GRAND HOTEL圓山大飯店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 538

ROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 12,000 Deluxe Room NT$ 13,000 Junior Suite NT$ 20,500 Corner Suite NT$ 30,500 Residence NT$ 17,000 Elite Suite NT$ 24,500DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:English, Japanese, Chinese

RESTAURANTS:Szechuan & Cantonese Cuisine, Japanese Cuisine, Steak House & Teppanyaki, Lounge Bar, Buffet, Café

SPECIAL FEATURES: Executive business center, fitness center, sauna, rooftop swim-ming pool, SPA, ballroom and convention facilities, parking, laundry service, 24-hour room service, wireless Internet, airport transportation service

41 Chung Shan (Zhongshan) N. Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei City, 104

1 0 4台北市中山北路二段41號

Tel: 02.2523.8000Fax: 02.2523.2828

www.grandformosa.com.tw

THE REGENT TAIPEI台北晶華酒店 Taipei 台北

Hotels of Taiwan

V isitors to Taiwan have a wide range of choice when it comes

to accommodation. From five-star luxury hotels that meet the

highest international standards, to affordable business hotels, to hot-

spring and beach resort hotels, to privately-run homestays located in the

countryside there is a place to stay that satisfies every traveler’s needs.

What all hotels of Taiwan — small and big, expensive and affordable —

have in common is that serve and hospitality are always of the highest

standards. The room rates in the following list have been checked for

each hotel, but are subject to change without notice. Room rates at the

hotels apply.

NO. OF ROOMS: 241ROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 7,000 Premier Room NT$ 8,000 Deluxe Room NT$ 9,000 Junior Suite NT$ 10,000 Garden Suite NT$ 16,000

(All rates are subject to 10% service charge)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:Japanese, English, Chinese

RESTAURANTS: La Fusion Restaurant, La Fusion Bakery, Hanazono Japanese Restaurant, La Fusion Bar, La Fusion Deli

SPECIAL FEATURES: Fitness Center, Business Center, Conference & Dining Facilities; (Rooms Facilities) 32” LCD TV/Pay Broadband Internet Access/Multi Channel Satellite TV with Domestic and Foreign Programming/En-suite Shower and Bath/TOTO Washlet

1, Zhonghua Rd. Sec. 2, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10065

1 0 0 6 5台北市中正區中華路二段1號

Tel: 886.2.2314.6611 Fax: 886.2.2314.5511 E-mail: fo@taipeigarden.com.tw

www.taipeigarden.com.tw

TAIPEI GARDEN HOTEL台北花園大酒店 Taipei 台北

2011_09-10_專刊飯店名錄.indd 53 2011/8/24 下午 02:52:17

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NO. OF ROOMS: 268ROOM RATES: Single NT$ 6,000~ 8,800 Twin NT$ 6,800~ 9,600 Suite NT$ 8,000~ 36,800 DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Japanese, Chinese

RESTAURANTS: French All Day Dining (French), Chao Ping Ji (Cantonese & Dim-Sum), Sumie Nouvelle Japonaise Cuisine (Japanese), Pozzo Bakery, Zorro Bar

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Two minutes walk from MRT ZhongXiao Dun-hua Station. Business Center, Fitness Center, Conference Room, Banquet Room for 500 people, Free Parking for Room Guests, Free Broadband Internet Access in Guestrooms, In-Room Safe, Express/Dry Cleaning Service, Fine East and West Art Collections on Display

172 ZhongXiao East Rd., Sec. 4, Taipei City, 1061 0 6台北市忠孝東路四段17 2號

Tel: 02.2772.2121 Fax: 02.2721.0302 E-mail: reservation@sanwant.com

www.sanwant.com

SAN WANT HOTEL TAIPEI台北神旺大飯店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 738ROOM RATES: Deluxe Room NT$ 7,700 Premier Room NT$ 8,200 Junior Suite NT$ 9,200 Deluxe Suite NT$ 11,500 Executive Suite NT$ 17,500

EXECUTIVE CLUB FLOOR

Deluxe Room NT$ 9,000 Premier Room NT$ 9,500 Deluxe Suite NT$ 15,000 Executive Suite NT$ 21,000

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: Chinese, Japanese, English

RESTAURANTS: Le Parc Café, Magnolia Court, Canton Palace

SPECIAL FEATURES: 738 large-size guest rooms with high ceilings, incl. 42 suites. Grand lobby entrance with magnificent atrium. Outdoor swimming pool heated during winter. Fully equipped gym, fitness center, sauna, and aerobics room. Fully equipped business center. Hi-speed broadband Internet access. Safety deposit box. Express laundry service. Limousine service, airport pick-up. State-of- the-art audiovisual equipment.

100 Dun Hua North Road, Taipei Taiwan R.O.C.台北市敦化北路10 0號

Tel: 02.2719.7199 Fax: 02.2545.9288 E-mail: bc@sunworlddynasty.com.twwww.sunworlddynasty.com

SUNWORLD DYNASTY HOTEL TAIPEI王朝大酒店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 160

ROOM RATES: Single Room NT$ 4,200 Deluxe Single Room NT$ 4,600 Deluxe Twin Room NT$ 5,000 Suite Room NT$ 6,600

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:English, Japanese, Chinese

RESTAURANTS: Golden Ear Restaurant (Western semi buffet); Golden Pot (Chinese Cuisine)

SPECIAL FEATURES: Business Center, meeting rooms, airport transfer service, parking lot, laundry service, free Internet access, LCD TV, DVD player, personal safety box, mini bar, private bathroom with separate shower & bath tub, hair dryer

186 Songjiang Rd., Taipei City,1041 0 4台北市松江路18 6號

Exit 1 of MRT Xingtian Temple Station on the Luzhou Line.

Tel: 02.2541.5511 Fax: 02.2531.3831Reservation Hotline: 02.2541.6888

E-mail: galahtl@ms18.hinet.net

www.galahotel.com.tw

TAIPEI GALA HOTEL慶泰大飯店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 220

ROOM RATES: Deluxe / Single / Twin & Double NT$ 7,800~8,500 Suite NT$ 9,500~20,000

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: Chinese, English, Japanese

RESTAURANTS: La Fontaine (Western), Chiou Hwa (Chinese)

SPECIAL FEATURES: Coffee Shop, Fitness Center, Business Center, laundry service, meeting and banquet facilities, non-smoking floor, parking lot, airport transfer service

GLORIA PRINCE HOTEL TAIPEI華泰王子大飯店 Taipei 台北

369 Lin-sen (Linsen) N. Rd., Taipei City, 104 1 0 4台北市林森北路3 6 9號

Tel: 02.2581.8111

Fax: 02.2581.5811, 2568-2924

www.gloriahotel.com

43, Chunghsiao (Zhongxiao) W. Rd.,Sec. 1, Taipei City, 100

(MRT Taipei Main Station, Exit 3)1 0 0台北市忠孝西路一段4 3號

(台北捷運總站3號出口)

Tel: 02.2361.7856 Fax: 02.2311.8921 Reservation Hotline: 02.2311.8901

Reservation Fax: 02.2311.8902 E-mail: cosmos@cosmos-hotel.com.tw

www.cosmos-hotel.com.tw

COSMOS HOTEL天成大飯店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 48ROOM RATES: Standard Room NT$ 6,000+10% Deluxe Room NT$ 6,500+10% Superior Suite NT$ 7,500+10%DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Chinese, Japanese,

RESTAURANTS: Lobby Lounge (Western and Chinese buffet breakfast)

SPECIAL FEATURES: Full-amenity meeting rooms, gym, business center, airport limousine service, laundry service, free mechanized parking lot, tour arrange-ments, currency exchange, close to the MRT system and major commercial and tourist sites.

ROYAL BIZ TAIPEI金來商旅 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 60

ROOM RATES: Deluxe Room NT$ 12,000 Grand Deluxe Room NT$ 12,500 Premier Room NT$ 13,000 Premier 9 NT$ 15,000 Éclat Suite NT$ 35,000(All rates are inclusive of 5% VAT and subject to 10% service charge)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:English, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, Cantonese,

RESTAURANTS: Ming Yuen, Éclat Lounge, George Bar

SPECIAL FEATURES: Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World; strategically located in the most fashionable and prestigious district of Taipei; offers guests great convenience for business and entertainment; Wi-Fi connectiv-ity and in-room business facilities; variety of meeting rooms providing the ideal venue for professional meetings, corporate functions, and social gatherings.

370, Sec. 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Da-an District, Taipei City 1061 0 6 台北市敦化南路一段37 0號

Tel: 02.2784.8888 Fax: 02.2784.7888Res. Hotline: 02.2784.8118

www.eclathotels.com

HOTEL ÉCLAT怡亨酒店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 79

ROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 7,500 Business Room NT$ 8,500 Deluxe Room NT$ 9,500 Executive Deluxe Room NT$ 9,000 Executive Suite NT$ 10,000 Sense Suite NT$ 15,000DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Chinese, Japanese

RESTAURANTS: Sen Salon Restaurant

SPECIAL FEATURES: Business center, fitness center, meeting rooms, Club House with luxury furniture and advanced media facilities for private meetings and gatherings, wood-floored open-air Sky Garden, parking tower, close to the MRT system near Zhongshan Elemen tary school MRT station and key commercial and entertainment districts.

HOTEL SENSE伸適商旅 Taipei 台北

477, Linsen N. Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei City 104

1 0 4台北市中山區林森北路47 7號

Tel: 02.7743.1000 Fax: 02.7743.1100

www.hotelsense.com.tw

71, Sec. 1, Jinshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100

1 0 0台北市中正區金山南路一段71號

Tel: 02.2397.9399 Fax: 02.2397.1399 Res. Hotline: 02.2396.9321

E-mail:rsvn@royalbiz.com.tw service@royalbiz.com.tw

www.royalbiz.com.tw

NO. OF ROOMS: 226ROOM RATES: Superior Single Room NT$ 4,000 Executive Deluxe Room NT$ 4,500 Superior Twin Room NT$ 4,500 Family Triple Room NT$ 4,800 Deluxe Triple Room NT$ 5,000 Family Quad Room NT$ 5,500 Deluxe Family Room NT$ 6,000 Deluxe Suite NT$ 7,600 Cosmos Suite NT$ 10,000

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: Chinese, Japanese, English, Cantonese

RESTAURANTS: Cantonese Dimsum, Shanghai Cuisine, Buffet Breakfast, Lily Café, Ditrevi Ice Cream Shop, La Fusion Bakery

SPECIAL FEATURES: Conference Room, Banquet Hall, Gift Shop, Barber Shop, Flower Shop, Parking Space, Laundry

NO. OF ROOMS: 288ROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 8,000 Premier Room NT$ 8,500 Deluxe Room NT$ 9,000 Club Deluxe Room NT$ 10,000 Suite NT$ 13,000 ~16,000 Imperial Suite NT$ 28,000

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:English, Japanese, Chinese

RESTAURANTS:Cantonese, Steakhouse, Bar ,

T3(T Cube)Bar & Restaurant, T2(T Square )

Toyko In Dining Bar, T1(One )Thai Bistro, 24-

Hour Room Service

SPECIAL FEATURES: Banquet and Convention Facilities ,Business Center ,Fitness Center, Club Floors, MRT Transfer Service ,Parking Lot

600 Lin Shen North Rd., Taipei City,1041 0 4台北市林森北路6 0 0號

Tel: 02.2596.5111 Fax: 02.2592.7506E-mail: taipei@imperialhotel.com.tw

www.imperialhotel.com.tw

IMPERIAL HOTEL TAIPEI台北華國大飯店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 88ROOM RATES: Standard Double Room NT$ 6,000 Deluxe Double Room NT$ 6,500~6,700 Superior Twin Room NT$ 6,500~6,700 Deluxe Triple Room NT$ 7,500 Deluxe Family Room NT$ 8,000 Business Suite NT$ 9,000~9,200 Premier Twin Suite NT$ 15,000

( Prices above including 15% Service Charge )

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Chinese, Japanese, Cantonese

RESTAURANTS: Chinese and Western buffet breakfast, Café One

SPECIAL FEATURES: Welcome fruit basket, newspaper, gym, free parking, free self-help laundry, business center, free cable and wireless Internet access, free pick-up service within city limits

NO. OF ROOMS: 211ROOM RATES: Superior Single Room NT$ 4,800 Superior Twin Room NT$ 5,400 Superior Triple Room NT$ 6,000 Superior Family Room NT$ 6,600 Deluxe Family Room NT$ 7,800 Deluxe Suite Room NT$ 8,800 Executive Suite Room NT$ 16,800(All rates are subject to 10% service charge)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese

RESTAURANTS: Western buffet-style, Chinese

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Multifunctional banquet and meeting facilities, business center, male and female saunas, rental facilities for cars and bicycles, lounge bar, children’s games room, fitness center, chess room, outdoor swimming pool, green eco-pond, free transport to railway station and airport.

No.2, Yongxing Rd., Hualien City, Hualien County 970609 7 0 6 0花蓮市永興路2號

Tel: 03.823.5388 Fax: 03.822.1185 hualien.chateaudechine.com

CHATEAU DE CHINE HOTEL花蓮翰品酒店 Hualien 花蓮

No.23, Zhongzheng Rd., Sun Moon Lake, Yuchi Township, Nantou County 55546

5 5 5 4 6南投縣魚池鄉日月潭中正路2 3號

Tel: 049.285.6788 Fax: 049.285.6600www.fleurdechinehotel.com

NO. OF ROOMS: 211ROOM RATES: Mountain View King Room NT$ 13,000~14,000 Mountain View Two Queen Room NT$ 13,000~14,000 Zen Mountain View Room NT$ 13,000~14,000 Lake View King Room NT$ 15,000~16,000 Lake View Two Queen Room NT$ 15,000~16,000 Washiki Lake View Room NT$ 15,000~16,000 Governor Lake View Suite NT$ 20,000~21,000 Royal Lake View Suite NT$ 25,000 Summit Lake View Suite NT$ 120,000 Penthouse Suite NT$ 150,000

(All rates are subject to 10% service charge)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: Chinese, English, Japanese RESTAURANT:Chinese food, buffet, teppanyaki, afternoon tea, lobby lounge, rooftop restaurant

SPECIAL FEATURES:Banquet and conference facil-ity, VIP lounge, boutique, wireless internet, e-butler, laundry service, room service, parking, SPA, hot-spring, play ground, swimming pool, gym, HSR transportation service, out circular concourse, trail hiking, etc.

FLEUR DE CHINE HOTEL雲品酒店 Sun Moon Lake 日月潭

No.3, Sec. 1, Chengde Rd., Taipei City 10351

1 0 3 5 1台北市承德路一段三號

Tel: 02.2181.9999 Fax: 02.2181.9988www.palaisdechinehotel.com

NO. OF ROOMS: 286ROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 11,000 Deluxe Room NT$ 12,500 Family Twin Room NT$ 14,500 Executive Superior Room NT$ 15,000 Executive Deluxe Room NT$ 16,500 Junior Suite NT$ 18,000 Executive Suite NT$ 21,000 La Rose Suite NT$ 100,000 Charles V Suite NT$ 150,000(All rates are subject to 10% service charge)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English,Chinese, Japanese RESTAURANTS: La Rotisserie, Le Palais, Le Thé, Le BarSPECIAL FEATURES:Gym, business center, ballroom and function rooms, VIP salon, wireless internet, gift shop, room service, E-butler service, airport transportation service, located in an area of the city with heritage sites and tourist attractions.

PALAIS DE CHINE HOTEL君品酒店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 35

ROOM RATES: Scenery Suite NT$ 6,600 Honey Suite NT$ 6,600 Fragrant Suite NT$ 8,600 Superior Suite NT$ 9,500 VIP Suite NT$ 12,000(Prices above not including 10% Service Charge)

GENERAL MANAGER: Mr. Jen-Shing Chen

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:Chinese, English, Japanese

RESTAURANTS: Chinese, Café, Courtyard

SPECIAL FEATURES: Broadband Internet access in guestrooms, business center, Souvenir Shop, Gazebo, 1950’s dance hall, foot massage

ALISHAN HOUSE阿里山賓館 Chiayi 嘉義

16 Sianglin Village, Alishan Township, Chiayi County, 605

6 0 5嘉義縣阿里山鄉香林村16號 ALISHAN Tel: 05.267.9811 Fax: 05.267.9596 TAIPEI Tel: 02.2563.5259 Fax: 02.2536.5563

E-mail: service@alishanhouse.com.tw

www.alishanhouse.com.tw

1, Alley 34, Lane 123, Sec. 6, Minquan E. Rd., Taipei City台北市民權東路六段1 2 3巷3 4弄1號

Tel: 02.2791.5678 Fax: 02.2796.2311 E-mail: rsvn@fushin-hotel.com.twwww.fushin-hotel.com.tw

FUSHIN HOTEL富信大飯店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 72ROOM RATES: Superior Single NT$ 5,500+10% Superior Twin NT$ 6,000+10% Deluxe Single NT$ 6,000+10% Leader Suite NT$ 10,000+10% Executive Suite NT$ 15,000+10%

(Rooms on sale starting at NT$3,200)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:Japanese, English, Chinese

SPECIAL FEATURES: Café 83 Fusion Restaurant, City View Lounge, Multi- Functional Meeting Rooms, Gym, Sauna. , Multi- Function Shower, Multi- Function Shower Room with, Mas-sage Function (Suite) , 32”TV/DVD Player, ADSL Modem, Fax Machine Rental

83, Roosevelt Rd. Sec. 4, Da’an District,Taipei City 10673

1 0 6 7 3台北市大安區羅斯福路四段8 3號

Tel: 886.2.8369.2858 E-mail: ntu@leaderhotel.com

www.leaderhotel.com.tw

TAIPEI LEADER HOTEL立德台大尊賢會館 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 100

ROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 5,500 Executive Room NT$ 5,900 Deluxe Room NT$ 6,200 Junior Suite NT$ 6,800 Fullerton Room NT$ 7,100 VIP Suite NT$ 8,100 Presidential Suite NT$ 19,000

(above rates not including 10% service charge; for discount offers, please call hotel or visit our website)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:English, Japanese, Chinese

SPECIAL FEATURES: Close to Taipei 101 com-mercial area; 1 minute on foot to MRT Daan Station; free coffee and handmade cookies in lobby; free wireless Internet access; gym; sauna; business center; valet parking; com-plimentary Chinese/Western buffet breakfast; welcome fruit basket and mineral water.

41, Sec. 2, Fuxing S. Rd., Taipei City 106(near junction with Xinyi Rd.)

1 0 6台北市復興南路2段41號(信義路口)

Tel: 02.2703.1234 Fax: 02.2705.6161E-mail: service2@taipeifullerton.com.tw

www.taipeifullerton.com.tw

TAIPEI FULLERTON – FU-XING SOUTH台北馥敦-復南館 Taipei 台北

2011_09-10_專刊飯店名錄.indd 54-55 2011/8/24 下午 02:52:34

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NO. OF ROOMS: 268ROOM RATES: Single NT$ 6,000~ 8,800 Twin NT$ 6,800~ 9,600 Suite NT$ 8,000~ 36,800 DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Japanese, Chinese

RESTAURANTS: French All Day Dining (French), Chao Ping Ji (Cantonese & Dim-Sum), Sumie Nouvelle Japonaise Cuisine (Japanese), Pozzo Bakery, Zorro Bar

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Two minutes walk from MRT ZhongXiao Dun-hua Station. Business Center, Fitness Center, Conference Room, Banquet Room for 500 people, Free Parking for Room Guests, Free Broadband Internet Access in Guestrooms, In-Room Safe, Express/Dry Cleaning Service, Fine East and West Art Collections on Display

172 ZhongXiao East Rd., Sec. 4, Taipei City, 1061 0 6台北市忠孝東路四段17 2號

Tel: 02.2772.2121 Fax: 02.2721.0302 E-mail: reservation@sanwant.com

www.sanwant.com

SAN WANT HOTEL TAIPEI台北神旺大飯店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 738ROOM RATES: Deluxe Room NT$ 7,700 Premier Room NT$ 8,200 Junior Suite NT$ 9,200 Deluxe Suite NT$ 11,500 Executive Suite NT$ 17,500

EXECUTIVE CLUB FLOOR

Deluxe Room NT$ 9,000 Premier Room NT$ 9,500 Deluxe Suite NT$ 15,000 Executive Suite NT$ 21,000

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: Chinese, Japanese, English

RESTAURANTS: Le Parc Café, Magnolia Court, Canton Palace

SPECIAL FEATURES: 738 large-size guest rooms with high ceilings, incl. 42 suites. Grand lobby entrance with magnificent atrium. Outdoor swimming pool heated during winter. Fully equipped gym, fitness center, sauna, and aerobics room. Fully equipped business center. Hi-speed broadband Internet access. Safety deposit box. Express laundry service. Limousine service, airport pick-up. State-of- the-art audiovisual equipment.

100 Dun Hua North Road, Taipei Taiwan R.O.C.台北市敦化北路10 0號

Tel: 02.2719.7199 Fax: 02.2545.9288 E-mail: bc@sunworlddynasty.com.twwww.sunworlddynasty.com

SUNWORLD DYNASTY HOTEL TAIPEI王朝大酒店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 160

ROOM RATES: Single Room NT$ 4,200 Deluxe Single Room NT$ 4,600 Deluxe Twin Room NT$ 5,000 Suite Room NT$ 6,600

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:English, Japanese, Chinese

RESTAURANTS: Golden Ear Restaurant (Western semi buffet); Golden Pot (Chinese Cuisine)

SPECIAL FEATURES: Business Center, meeting rooms, airport transfer service, parking lot, laundry service, free Internet access, LCD TV, DVD player, personal safety box, mini bar, private bathroom with separate shower & bath tub, hair dryer

186 Songjiang Rd., Taipei City,1041 0 4台北市松江路18 6號

Exit 1 of MRT Xingtian Temple Station on the Luzhou Line.

Tel: 02.2541.5511 Fax: 02.2531.3831Reservation Hotline: 02.2541.6888

E-mail: galahtl@ms18.hinet.net

www.galahotel.com.tw

TAIPEI GALA HOTEL慶泰大飯店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 220

ROOM RATES: Deluxe / Single / Twin & Double NT$ 7,800~8,500 Suite NT$ 9,500~20,000

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: Chinese, English, Japanese

RESTAURANTS: La Fontaine (Western), Chiou Hwa (Chinese)

SPECIAL FEATURES: Coffee Shop, Fitness Center, Business Center, laundry service, meeting and banquet facilities, non-smoking floor, parking lot, airport transfer service

GLORIA PRINCE HOTEL TAIPEI華泰王子大飯店 Taipei 台北

369 Lin-sen (Linsen) N. Rd., Taipei City, 104 1 0 4台北市林森北路3 6 9號

Tel: 02.2581.8111

Fax: 02.2581.5811, 2568-2924

www.gloriahotel.com

43, Chunghsiao (Zhongxiao) W. Rd.,Sec. 1, Taipei City, 100

(MRT Taipei Main Station, Exit 3)1 0 0台北市忠孝西路一段4 3號

(台北捷運總站3號出口)

Tel: 02.2361.7856 Fax: 02.2311.8921 Reservation Hotline: 02.2311.8901

Reservation Fax: 02.2311.8902 E-mail: cosmos@cosmos-hotel.com.tw

www.cosmos-hotel.com.tw

COSMOS HOTEL天成大飯店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 48ROOM RATES: Standard Room NT$ 6,000+10% Deluxe Room NT$ 6,500+10% Superior Suite NT$ 7,500+10%DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Chinese, Japanese,

RESTAURANTS: Lobby Lounge (Western and Chinese buffet breakfast)

SPECIAL FEATURES: Full-amenity meeting rooms, gym, business center, airport limousine service, laundry service, free mechanized parking lot, tour arrange-ments, currency exchange, close to the MRT system and major commercial and tourist sites.

ROYAL BIZ TAIPEI金來商旅 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 60

ROOM RATES: Deluxe Room NT$ 12,000 Grand Deluxe Room NT$ 12,500 Premier Room NT$ 13,000 Premier 9 NT$ 15,000 Éclat Suite NT$ 35,000(All rates are inclusive of 5% VAT and subject to 10% service charge)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:English, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, Cantonese,

RESTAURANTS: Ming Yuen, Éclat Lounge, George Bar

SPECIAL FEATURES: Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World; strategically located in the most fashionable and prestigious district of Taipei; offers guests great convenience for business and entertainment; Wi-Fi connectiv-ity and in-room business facilities; variety of meeting rooms providing the ideal venue for professional meetings, corporate functions, and social gatherings.

370, Sec. 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Da-an District, Taipei City 1061 0 6 台北市敦化南路一段37 0號

Tel: 02.2784.8888 Fax: 02.2784.7888Res. Hotline: 02.2784.8118

www.eclathotels.com

HOTEL ÉCLAT怡亨酒店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 79

ROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 7,500 Business Room NT$ 8,500 Deluxe Room NT$ 9,500 Executive Deluxe Room NT$ 9,000 Executive Suite NT$ 10,000 Sense Suite NT$ 15,000DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Chinese, Japanese

RESTAURANTS: Sen Salon Restaurant

SPECIAL FEATURES: Business center, fitness center, meeting rooms, Club House with luxury furniture and advanced media facilities for private meetings and gatherings, wood-floored open-air Sky Garden, parking tower, close to the MRT system near Zhongshan Elemen tary school MRT station and key commercial and entertainment districts.

HOTEL SENSE伸適商旅 Taipei 台北

477, Linsen N. Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei City 104

1 0 4台北市中山區林森北路47 7號

Tel: 02.7743.1000 Fax: 02.7743.1100

www.hotelsense.com.tw

71, Sec. 1, Jinshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100

1 0 0台北市中正區金山南路一段71號

Tel: 02.2397.9399 Fax: 02.2397.1399 Res. Hotline: 02.2396.9321

E-mail:rsvn@royalbiz.com.tw service@royalbiz.com.tw

www.royalbiz.com.tw

NO. OF ROOMS: 226ROOM RATES: Superior Single Room NT$ 4,000 Executive Deluxe Room NT$ 4,500 Superior Twin Room NT$ 4,500 Family Triple Room NT$ 4,800 Deluxe Triple Room NT$ 5,000 Family Quad Room NT$ 5,500 Deluxe Family Room NT$ 6,000 Deluxe Suite NT$ 7,600 Cosmos Suite NT$ 10,000

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: Chinese, Japanese, English, Cantonese

RESTAURANTS: Cantonese Dimsum, Shanghai Cuisine, Buffet Breakfast, Lily Café, Ditrevi Ice Cream Shop, La Fusion Bakery

SPECIAL FEATURES: Conference Room, Banquet Hall, Gift Shop, Barber Shop, Flower Shop, Parking Space, Laundry

NO. OF ROOMS: 288ROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 8,000 Premier Room NT$ 8,500 Deluxe Room NT$ 9,000 Club Deluxe Room NT$ 10,000 Suite NT$ 13,000 ~16,000 Imperial Suite NT$ 28,000

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:English, Japanese, Chinese

RESTAURANTS:Cantonese, Steakhouse, Bar ,

T3(T Cube)Bar & Restaurant, T2(T Square )

Toyko In Dining Bar, T1(One )Thai Bistro, 24-

Hour Room Service

SPECIAL FEATURES: Banquet and Convention Facilities ,Business Center ,Fitness Center, Club Floors, MRT Transfer Service ,Parking Lot

600 Lin Shen North Rd., Taipei City,1041 0 4台北市林森北路6 0 0號

Tel: 02.2596.5111 Fax: 02.2592.7506E-mail: taipei@imperialhotel.com.tw

www.imperialhotel.com.tw

IMPERIAL HOTEL TAIPEI台北華國大飯店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 88ROOM RATES: Standard Double Room NT$ 6,000 Deluxe Double Room NT$ 6,500~6,700 Superior Twin Room NT$ 6,500~6,700 Deluxe Triple Room NT$ 7,500 Deluxe Family Room NT$ 8,000 Business Suite NT$ 9,000~9,200 Premier Twin Suite NT$ 15,000

( Prices above including 15% Service Charge )

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Chinese, Japanese, Cantonese

RESTAURANTS: Chinese and Western buffet breakfast, Café One

SPECIAL FEATURES: Welcome fruit basket, newspaper, gym, free parking, free self-help laundry, business center, free cable and wireless Internet access, free pick-up service within city limits

NO. OF ROOMS: 211ROOM RATES: Superior Single Room NT$ 4,800 Superior Twin Room NT$ 5,400 Superior Triple Room NT$ 6,000 Superior Family Room NT$ 6,600 Deluxe Family Room NT$ 7,800 Deluxe Suite Room NT$ 8,800 Executive Suite Room NT$ 16,800(All rates are subject to 10% service charge)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese

RESTAURANTS: Western buffet-style, Chinese

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Multifunctional banquet and meeting facilities, business center, male and female saunas, rental facilities for cars and bicycles, lounge bar, children’s games room, fitness center, chess room, outdoor swimming pool, green eco-pond, free transport to railway station and airport.

No.2, Yongxing Rd., Hualien City, Hualien County 970609 7 0 6 0花蓮市永興路2號

Tel: 03.823.5388 Fax: 03.822.1185 hualien.chateaudechine.com

CHATEAU DE CHINE HOTEL花蓮翰品酒店 Hualien 花蓮

No.23, Zhongzheng Rd., Sun Moon Lake, Yuchi Township, Nantou County 55546

5 5 5 4 6南投縣魚池鄉日月潭中正路2 3號

Tel: 049.285.6788 Fax: 049.285.6600www.fleurdechinehotel.com

NO. OF ROOMS: 211ROOM RATES: Mountain View King Room NT$ 13,000~14,000 Mountain View Two Queen Room NT$ 13,000~14,000 Zen Mountain View Room NT$ 13,000~14,000 Lake View King Room NT$ 15,000~16,000 Lake View Two Queen Room NT$ 15,000~16,000 Washiki Lake View Room NT$ 15,000~16,000 Governor Lake View Suite NT$ 20,000~21,000 Royal Lake View Suite NT$ 25,000 Summit Lake View Suite NT$ 120,000 Penthouse Suite NT$ 150,000

(All rates are subject to 10% service charge)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: Chinese, English, Japanese RESTAURANT:Chinese food, buffet, teppanyaki, afternoon tea, lobby lounge, rooftop restaurant

SPECIAL FEATURES:Banquet and conference facil-ity, VIP lounge, boutique, wireless internet, e-butler, laundry service, room service, parking, SPA, hot-spring, play ground, swimming pool, gym, HSR transportation service, out circular concourse, trail hiking, etc.

FLEUR DE CHINE HOTEL雲品酒店 Sun Moon Lake 日月潭

No.3, Sec. 1, Chengde Rd., Taipei City 10351

1 0 3 5 1台北市承德路一段三號

Tel: 02.2181.9999 Fax: 02.2181.9988www.palaisdechinehotel.com

NO. OF ROOMS: 286ROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 11,000 Deluxe Room NT$ 12,500 Family Twin Room NT$ 14,500 Executive Superior Room NT$ 15,000 Executive Deluxe Room NT$ 16,500 Junior Suite NT$ 18,000 Executive Suite NT$ 21,000 La Rose Suite NT$ 100,000 Charles V Suite NT$ 150,000(All rates are subject to 10% service charge)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English,Chinese, Japanese RESTAURANTS: La Rotisserie, Le Palais, Le Thé, Le BarSPECIAL FEATURES:Gym, business center, ballroom and function rooms, VIP salon, wireless internet, gift shop, room service, E-butler service, airport transportation service, located in an area of the city with heritage sites and tourist attractions.

PALAIS DE CHINE HOTEL君品酒店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 35

ROOM RATES: Scenery Suite NT$ 6,600 Honey Suite NT$ 6,600 Fragrant Suite NT$ 8,600 Superior Suite NT$ 9,500 VIP Suite NT$ 12,000(Prices above not including 10% Service Charge)

GENERAL MANAGER: Mr. Jen-Shing Chen

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:Chinese, English, Japanese

RESTAURANTS: Chinese, Café, Courtyard

SPECIAL FEATURES: Broadband Internet access in guestrooms, business center, Souvenir Shop, Gazebo, 1950’s dance hall, foot massage

ALISHAN HOUSE阿里山賓館 Chiayi 嘉義

16 Sianglin Village, Alishan Township, Chiayi County, 605

6 0 5嘉義縣阿里山鄉香林村16號 ALISHAN Tel: 05.267.9811 Fax: 05.267.9596 TAIPEI Tel: 02.2563.5259 Fax: 02.2536.5563

E-mail: service@alishanhouse.com.tw

www.alishanhouse.com.tw

1, Alley 34, Lane 123, Sec. 6, Minquan E. Rd., Taipei City台北市民權東路六段1 2 3巷3 4弄1號

Tel: 02.2791.5678 Fax: 02.2796.2311 E-mail: rsvn@fushin-hotel.com.twwww.fushin-hotel.com.tw

FUSHIN HOTEL富信大飯店 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 72ROOM RATES: Superior Single NT$ 5,500+10% Superior Twin NT$ 6,000+10% Deluxe Single NT$ 6,000+10% Leader Suite NT$ 10,000+10% Executive Suite NT$ 15,000+10%

(Rooms on sale starting at NT$3,200)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:Japanese, English, Chinese

SPECIAL FEATURES: Café 83 Fusion Restaurant, City View Lounge, Multi- Functional Meeting Rooms, Gym, Sauna. , Multi- Function Shower, Multi- Function Shower Room with, Mas-sage Function (Suite) , 32”TV/DVD Player, ADSL Modem, Fax Machine Rental

83, Roosevelt Rd. Sec. 4, Da’an District,Taipei City 10673

1 0 6 7 3台北市大安區羅斯福路四段8 3號

Tel: 886.2.8369.2858 E-mail: ntu@leaderhotel.com

www.leaderhotel.com.tw

TAIPEI LEADER HOTEL立德台大尊賢會館 Taipei 台北

NO. OF ROOMS: 100

ROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 5,500 Executive Room NT$ 5,900 Deluxe Room NT$ 6,200 Junior Suite NT$ 6,800 Fullerton Room NT$ 7,100 VIP Suite NT$ 8,100 Presidential Suite NT$ 19,000

(above rates not including 10% service charge; for discount offers, please call hotel or visit our website)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:English, Japanese, Chinese

SPECIAL FEATURES: Close to Taipei 101 com-mercial area; 1 minute on foot to MRT Daan Station; free coffee and handmade cookies in lobby; free wireless Internet access; gym; sauna; business center; valet parking; com-plimentary Chinese/Western buffet breakfast; welcome fruit basket and mineral water.

41, Sec. 2, Fuxing S. Rd., Taipei City 106(near junction with Xinyi Rd.)

1 0 6台北市復興南路2段41號(信義路口)

Tel: 02.2703.1234 Fax: 02.2705.6161E-mail: service2@taipeifullerton.com.tw

www.taipeifullerton.com.tw

TAIPEI FULLERTON – FU-XING SOUTH台北馥敦-復南館 Taipei 台北

2011_09-10_專刊飯店名錄.indd 54-55 2011/8/24 下午 02:52:34

AdvertisementHOTEL INFORMATION

NO. OF ROOMS: 79

ROOM RATES: Standard Room NT$ 4,000 Superior Twin NT$ 4,200 Superior Triple NT$ 4,800 Superior Double Twin NT$ 5,600 Superior Suite NT$ 6,000 Classic Suite NT$ 10,000

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: Chinese, English, Japanese

RESTAURANTS:Chinese, Western, and Inter-national cuisine, afternoon tea

SPECIAL FEATURES:1/2F public area with unlimited Internet access, broadband Internet access in guestrooms, notebooks available at meeting room, free self-help coffee and tea, free parking, central location (5-min. walk to railway station), pick-up service, projector and screen available at conference room, newspa-pers and magazines, LCD screen TV-sets

139 Guolian 5th Rd., Hualien City, 970970 花蓮市國聯五路139號

Tel: 03.835.9966 Fax: 03.835.9977 Reservation: 03.833.6066

E-mail: service@classichotel.com.tw

www.classichotel.com.tw

HUALIEN CITY CLASSIC RESORT HOTEL花蓮經典假日飯店 Hualien 花蓮

NO. OF ROOMS: 153

ROOM RATES: Superior Room NT$ 3,800 Classic Room NT$ 4,600 Deluxe Room NT$ 6,800 Theme Room NT$ 6,800 Azure Suite NT$ 12,000 DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: Chinese, English, Japanese

RESTAURANTS:Taiwanese/Hakka cuisine, brunch, Western cuisine

SPECIAL FEATURES:Guestrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, views of Pacific Ocean or Central Mountain Range, multifunctional public space, Azure Club, gym, pet hotel, KTV, board game and computer game room, located in Hualien City center, close to snack food and shopping streets

590 Zhongzheng Rd., Hualien City, 970970 花蓮市中正路590號

Tel: 03.833.6686 Fax: 03.3.832.3569 www.azurehotel.com.tw

AZURE HOTEL花蓮藍天麗池飯店 Hualien 花蓮

NO. OF ROOMS: 90ROOM RATES: Business Single Room NT$ 3,900 Deluxe Single Room NT$ 4,100 Deluxe Twin Room NT$ 4,500 Business Suite NT$ 5,600 Deluxe Suite NT$ 6,800 (All rates are subject to 10% service charge)

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK: English, Chinese, Japanese

RESTAURANT: Breakfast Lounge

SPECIAL FEATURES: Located in the center of the city, spacious rooms with wide views, 24H self-service business center, free Internet access, gym, multifunc-tional meeting and banquet rooms, coin laundry, free indoor parking, Tainan Railway Station and shuttle-bus stop for High Speed Rail close by, beside major university campus with century-old trees and jogging opportunity.

2, Daxue Rd., Tainan City 701

台南市大學路2號

Tel: 06.275.8999 Fax: 06.209.3567

www.zendasuites.com.tw

ZENDA SUITES成大會館 Tainan 台南

Edison Travel Service specializes in Taiwan toursand offers cheaper hotel room rates and car rental services with drivers .Edison welcomes contact with other travelservices around the world.

362 Jiuru (Chiu Ju) 2nd Rd., Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City, 80745

(Faces the exit of rear railway station) 8 0 74 5 高雄市三民區九如二路3 6 2號

Tel: 07.311.9906 Fax: 07.311.9591E-mail: ksthotel@ms33.hinet.net

www.kingstown-hotel.com.tw

NO. OF ROOMS: 150

ROOM RATES: Business Single Room NT$ 2,640 Deluxe Single Room NT$ 3,080 Business Twin Room NT$ 3,080 Family Twin Room NT$ 4,400

( Prices above including 10% Service Charge )

DESK PERSONNEL SPEAK:Chinese, English, Japanese

RESTAURANTS:Chinese and Western style food, delicious buffet, cold dishes, fruit, and salad bar

SPECIAL FEATURES:Business center, non-smoking floors, wireless Internet access, 32” LCD TVs, newspaper, free parking, tourist map, currency exchange

KING’S TOWN HOTEL京城大飯店 Kaohsiung 高雄

2011_09-10_專刊飯店名錄.indd 56 2011/8/24 下午 02:52:41

I S S N : 1 8 1 7 7 9 6 4

200 NTDG P N : 2 0 0 9 3 0 5 4 7 5

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