Taiwan: An Introduction

Name: 臺灣/台灣 (Táiwān)

Formally known as: 中華民國 (Zhōnghuá Mínguó)

(Republic of China)

Formerly known as: Formosa

Capital: 臺北市 (Táiběi Shì)

(Taipei)

Official Language: 國語 (Guóyǔ)

(Taiwanese) Mandarin

Other Languages: 臺灣閩南語/臺灣語 (Taiwanese)

客家話 (Hakka)

Indigenous Languages

Area: 36,000 square kilometers

Population: 23 million

Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (NT$)

Taiwan is a little island off the coast of China, east of the Taiwan Strait. Formally known as the Republic of China (ROC) (not to be confused with the People's Republic of China (PRC)), Taiwan was founded in 1912 and was the first democratic republic in Asia. In addition to the island of Taiwan, the Republic of China also consists of the neighboring islands of Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, Dongsha, Zhongsha, and Nansha.

Because of its location close to the equator, Taiwan is a tropical island that remains relatively warm all year round with an annual average temperature of about 22 degrees Celsius (about 72 degrees Fahrenheit). Taiwan generally receives a fair amount of rain, but during the rainy season lasting from March to May, drizzles and rain are a continuous affair. Like its neighbors, Taiwan also has a monsoon season, hence the climate can get rather hot and humid in the summer. In addition, typhoons also occur during the summer from June to August.

Average rainfall per month in various locations in Taiwan (mm) (1971-2000)

Average temperature per month in various locations Taiwan (Celsius) (1971-2000)

The earliest inhabitants of Taiwan, ancestors to the island's indigenous people, were the Austronesian who arrived between 7000 and 400 years ago. It was not until the 17th century that the Han Chinese arrived to Taiwan. Over the next 200 years during the Qing dynasty, the number of mainland Chinese immigrants to Taiwan increased steadily thus leading to the predominantly Han society in Taiwan today.

Because of its strategic location in East Asia, Taiwan was colonized under Japan in the late 19th century and remained under Japanese control for about half a decade. Traces of Japanese occupation can still be found in Taiwan today such as in the older generation Taiwanese who can speak fluent Japanese. Under Japanese rule, Taiwan transitioned from a traditional to a more modern society. It was not until the end of World War II in 1945 that Taiwan was released from colonial rule. Since then, Taiwan has grown rapidly, both economically and socially.

Taiwan is unique for its blend of traditional and modern culture. Taiwan is one of the few places where Traditional Chinese characters are still being used in writing and where visitors can still experience many aspects of traditional Chinese culture. Yet, within the same block, aspects of modernity are also prevalent as Taiwan has a highly technologically advanced society. Being so eco-conscious, Taiwan's cities present an interesting intersection between nature and metropolis. Thus Taiwan, steeped in history, yet advanced in technology, where the traditional and modern, the wildlife and urban life, and the past and the future intersect, offers a unique experience of Chinese culture.

Why Taiwan?

Not to sound like a travel agency (although I think I already did that above), I truly think that Taiwan is a great place to travel. I went to Taiwan last year on a class trip for a little over a week and I loved everything about it--the food, the sights, the atmosphere. But even before that I have long longed to go to Taiwan. Growing up, I was exposed to a lot of Taiwanese music and TV through my mother. I have never been to an American concert, but I have been to Chinese concerts on the few occasions that these artists came to the area. Unfortunately as I grew older, I became further estranged from Chinese culture (it's because I'm a 竹升) and stopped watching these dramas with my mother, opting instead for American TV and, more recently, Korean TV (though I've long since stopped watching American TV). In fact, up until senior year of high school, I was a lot more interested in learning Korean than Mandarin (yes I know, I'm a bad Chinese daughter).

Still that doesn't really answer the question of why I chose to study in Taiwan as opposed to mainland China does it? The simplest, shortest, reason I can give you is that Taiwan uses Traditional Chinese characters instead of Simplified. I have decided since long before I actually started learning Chinese that, if I ever were to learn Chinese, I would learn the Traditional script. Simplified may be easier and look less crowded but I have always found Traditional characters to be far more beautiful and, once I actually did start learning Chinese, to be filled with such fascinating history. Simplified takes away from much of the history and backstory of the character (classic example: 愛 (ài) love, of which its Simplified counterpart is missing the heart--心--component: how can one love without a heart?). And of course, my mother writes in Traditional so at the end of the day, it always goes back to family. 

Moreover (and this may not be a good reason since I've never been to China), I prefer the urban-rural atmosphere of Taiwan to the infamously busy (and smoggy) one of China's. Now I do want to visit China at some point in my life (actually if there's anywhere in China I want to go it's Hong Kong), but when we're talking about studying and living there for six months, I choose Taiwan. And as Confucius said, "Wherever you go, go with all your heart," so to Taiwan I go. ^-^

Sources
Taiwan Tourism Bureau (you can also click the link on the side)