Taiwan: The Beautiful Island

Early Portuguese sailors named Taiwan Ilha Formosa, meaning ‘beautiful island’, due to the breathtaking scenery, which still impresses modern visitors today. The energetic capital, Taipei, is home to possibly the best collection of Chinese artefacts in the world, while Tainan showcases Taiwanese architecture. The countryside is perhaps the biggest surprise, with deep gorges, snow-capped mountains, hot springs, tea plantations and rugged coastline.