I’ve lived in Taiwan for three years and I have a bold declaration: Taiwan is the best country in Asia because it perfectly combines China, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
Taiwan is the Best of China
Ninety-five percent of Taiwanese people have Chinese ancestors. As they migrated to the island over the years, they brought their vibrant culture, colorful festivals, and delicious food while leaving behind the worst aspects of modern China.
Taiwanese people celebrate the Lunar New Year and other colorful holidays, just like China. Almost everyone in Taiwan speaks Mandarin, and the beautifully complex Chinese characters are everywhere, making even the most mundane signs into art. Chinese immigrants imported Buddhism along with a love of intricate and ornate temples. And, of course, they brought culinary delights such as noodles, dumplings, and stinky tofu – one of the world’s most polarizing foods.
Taiwan is a progressive, open democracy with a free press, a female president, and the only country in Asia to legalize gay marriage. It is the kind of place my parent’s generation calls “woke.” Conversely, China has the CCP and all the wonderful things that come along with it, like internet censorship, state-controlled media, rampant corruption, war-mongering, modern slavery, and ethnic cleansing, so there is that.
China can be tough to visit, as locals often spit on the sidewalk and stare at foreigners. Chinese people aren’t the best at queuing, so buying train tickets or boarding a bus is always an adventure. Although the air pollution in Taiwan can be a little bad in the dry season, it is nothing like the toxic haze that hangs over China all winter.
In short, Taiwan is a thriving democracy with lively festivals, delectable cuisine, and ancient culture from China, but without the oppressive government, toxic pollution, and annoyances of the mainland.
Taiwan has the best elements of Japan.
Taiwan sometimes feels like Japan, especially when traveling on the highway, metro, or rail network. Japan controlled Taiwan for 50 years, from 1895 to 1945, and built much of the rail lines in place today. Taiwanese streets are clean, safe, and organized, much like the neighboring country to the north. High-speed rail connects all the cities on the West Coast, and the Taipei metro is as extensive and (nearly as) punctual as the subways in Japan.
The similarities extend beyond transportation. Japanese food is prevalent in Taiwan – you can eat sushi and udon noodles or drink at Izakayas all over the island. The Taiwanese love baseball, and games are similar to those in Japan, with cute cheerleaders dancing on the dugouts and special chants for each player. There are still some beautiful Japanese-style buildings left over from the colonial period, and there is a Japanese flair to many shops in Taiwan.
Taiwan is a mountainous island with the highest peaks in East Asia. In fact, Taiwan’s Jade Mountain is 200 meters taller than Mount Fuji, so take that, Japan! The soaring mountains in the north of Taiwan are covered in thick forests and are home to several Japanese-style hot springs resorts.
The Tropic of Cancer bisects Taiwan, dividing the tropical south with the subtropical north. The north is delightfully cool and rainy in the winter, making it feel like Japan during the Sakura. However, the tropical south is warm even in January, out of reach of the bitter Siberian winds that assault Japan all winter.
In part due to the tropical location of Taiwan, it is much more laid back and less formal than Japan. I can wear my Hawaiian shirts here and feel at home – okay, I stick out a little. In Japan, nearly everyone seems to wear stuffy business attire, whereas people in Taiwan dress more casually.
Taiwan has many aspects of Japan, like efficient public transportation, izakayas, mountainous terrain, hot springs, and colonial buildings. But, it is friendlier, more laid back, and warmer in the winter.
Taiwan has Southeast Asian vibes.
Taiwanese people are kind, welcoming, and laid-back, much like the friendly people of Southeast Asia. The indigenous people of Taiwan are Austronesian, with genetic, cultural and linguistic ties to people from Oceania, Southeast Asia and Madagascar. They have a rich, colorful culture with boisterous festivals featuring resplendent traditional clothes and thumping music.
The city streets in Taiwan are orderly and clean, but as soon as I enter a traditional market, I feel like I’m back in Myanmar or Vietnam. Taiwanese markets buzz with activity as locals haggle over fresh fish, butchers chop up roasted ducks, vendors serve up many things I’ve never seen before, and motorbikes weave through the shoppers. At dusk, crowded and noisy night markets pop up all over the island, filling the air with a miasma of deep-fried batter, grilled meats, stir-fried garlic, and pungent stinky tofu.
Southern Taiwan has sandy beaches with the clear turquoise water of your Thai beach vacation dreams. Sure, there may be a nuclear power plant on the best beach in Taiwan, but if you look the other way, you’ll barely notice it. The jungle-clad mountains of the south are a hiker’s paradise, with thundering waterfalls and jagged peaks to explore, similar to the Philippines, Laos, or Indonesia. The mountains are filled with monkeys – but the monkeys here are chill and don’t often attack people. In contrast, I know dozens of people who were robbed, assaulted, or peed on by monkeys in Southeast Asia.
Although the heat and humidity in Taiwan are oppressive all summer, the winters are perfect. The tropical south is a paradise of warm days, cool nights, and sunny skies for about five months. In contrast, sweltering heat engulfs Bangkok, Saigon, Jakarta, and most other metropolises of Southeast Asia all year.
Taiwan is much more politically stable and safer than its Southeast Asian neighbors. There is virtually no street crime and – not naming any names – (cough cough Thailand), but some neighbors seem to have an annual coup. Although Taiwan faces a real threat from China, the lack of crime and government stability makes it a better place to live.
In short, Taiwan has tropical beauty, friendly people, indigenous cultures, and traditional markets like Southeast Asia but without the year-round oppressive heat, corruption, and urban chaos.
Taiwan isn’t a utopia, but when you factor in weather, crime, health care, public transportation, natural beauty and political stability, it is clearly one of the best places to live in the world.
What do you think? I’d love to hear your comments below.
Planet Bell 
Thank you for sharing Taiwan Jeff. GREAT article and as always, your photos are awesome.
I hope all is well with you and Kristi.
Thanks Marilyn. We are doing well. I hope all is well with you and your family as well.
Good to see you’re still at it, Jeff!! Now you’re in Taiwan? .I’ve spent the last four years in Bali, retired..Badfish/Keith
I have some friends who moved there recently. Are you still there? We will probably try to make it soon.
You are always amazing…as are the word pictures and photos. Would like to have a peak at one of your average days in the classroom…how fortunate for your students to have you as a teacher.
I don’t know if they are fortunate 🙂 They are good at getting me off topic and talking about Oklahoma, Alaska or something random. Thanks for your kind words.
Great to hear from you, Jeff! I have long thought Taiwan would be a great place to visit, and you are reinforcing that idea here. I keep thinking of a road trip around the island with lots of stops to hike and take in all the various regional foods, personalities, etc. I finally made it back to Southeast Asia this past spring, and I’m already itching for another Asian foray, this time with my husband, who I think would like Taiwan a lot more than other options. Hi to Kristi and keep on enjoying your (sort of) new home!
A trip around the island would be really cool. They call it a Huandao here, or around island. The west coast is basically one huge city, from Taipei to Kaohsiung where we live. The east coast is wild, rugged and spectacular. There are rice paddies and small towns. Much of the coast looks like Hawaii. The south coast has the best beaches. And the interior is all soaring mountains, with unlimited hiking. It is an easy place to visit – so bring your husband! We will take you out to eat! Thanks for commenting.
Hi, Jeff. Long time no see. I get bored with street photo or taking photo this time. So, I don’t post or write in blog quite long. I like to read your blog, especially when you did street photo at Myanmar. Anyway, I will go to Kaohsiung next month for conference. Is there any place that you recommend for local or street photo? 🙂
There are a lot of great places to visit for street photos. I’d say the Pier 2 Art Center and all the new buildings around the bay are great. Also, Cijin Island has several great photo spots. Let me know when you are here and we can go shoot.
You’re back! I’ve wanted to visit Taiwan for so long. We tried once, but because of the time of year/climate settled on Malaysia and then had to cut that trip short anyway because of Covid. Anyway your post really convinced me Taiwan is worth visiting, and taking the time to do a little exploring.
Alison
Taiwan is a great place but like you, we often went to larger countries in the area since there was more to explore. I think you’d like it here. It is an easy place to travel with a variety of cities, mountains, beaches and history. If you make it to Kaohsiung we will show you around. We spent the morning with James and Bama!
How fabulous. I’m determined to meet those two IRL too. One day . . . . .
Good to read your stories again Jeff! This is like your love story to Taiwan, I can heat the passion in your words. I haven’t been to Taiwan but you’re making it more tempting! Maggie
It is a fun place to visit. If you like East Asia, I think it is the best, but again maybe I’m biased :).
Great. Now there’s another place I have to visit. 😉 (But only in the winter.)
Nice to see you back.
Definitely in the winter! We had friends visit today and walking around we about died of heat. Come November through March for sure.
Love it!
Thanks Doug.
Bama and I may have only just returned from Taiwan just last night, but we’re missing it already! I couldn’t help chuckling at your reply to Dave – if it wasn’t so hot and humid that day, I’m sure we would have carried on a little longer after our picnic lunch. It is amazing how Taiwan packs in so much geographical/natural diversity into a small area (I read that it is about the same size as the Netherlands or only slightly bigger than Maryland). I’ve not had the chance to explore the central peaks and would really love to go someday. As you mentioned earlier on in this post, the country is a great counter-argument to the myth that democracy and liberalism aren’t suitable for Asia or Asian culture in general. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Taiwan the next time we come back for a holiday!
The central mountains are spectacular and varied. There are waterfalls, tea plantations, and a couple of great towns up there, although to be fair most Taiwanese towns can be a bit ugly. Taiwan is small, and 60% of it is mountains, so everyone lives on this sliver of land on the coast. They just had the pride parade this weekend, and presidential elections are in January. This country is a shining example of what a democracy can be.