Taiwan

Taiwan’s restaurant and dining scene is growing in popularity across Asia as tiny back-alley outfits grow to become international franchises. On the island itself, virtually every corner restaurant offers a mouth-watering selection of noodles or rice dishes, and will tempt you into trying a morsel of the hot soupy noodles made in every way possible. Notable noodle dishes include the steaming hot Hsinchu rice noodles, Nantou slender noodles and noodle...

Taiwan is one of the most popular shopping destinations in Asia. With its incredible amount of shopping malls, Taipei is a great place to find clothes, fashion accessories, footwear, electronic products and virtually everything available under the sun. Except that you don’t have to be under the sun while you shop – you can enjoy the air-conditioned coolness and modern conveniences. At the other end of the spectrum, Taiwan is famous...

Taiwan’s nightlife scene is mostly concentrated in Taipei. The array of things you can see and do after dark there will be more than enough to keep you entertained. The pubs and clubs here are of a world-beating standard, and there’s the added entertainment of karaoke lounges, which are especially popular with locals. Taiwan is also famous for its night markets, and these are just as good in the quieter counties...

Taiwan is undoubtedly one of the most famous islands in Asia, thanks to its remarkable people, culture and natural landscapes. While heavily westernised, it helps to know a little Mandarin, Hokkien or Cantonese to make your travels easier. Otherwise, you can stick to English because most of its locals in major cities are well-versed in this language. The best time to visit Taiwan is during the months between October and December,...