TAIWAN – March 4

Name:            Steve, Helen, Nikolas and Danika
Date:            March 03, 2005
Time:            10:05 PM
comments:

Howdy folks,
 We have just cruised by Taiwan and will not be stopping due to a Monsoon. We will now be in Hong Kong one day earlier.

Steve, Helen, Nikolas and Danika

Retrieved from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/north_east_asia/taiwan/

Taiwan is a modern industrialised megalopolis clinging to the fringes of an ancient culture; a string of teeming cities at the feet of a glorious mountain range. It has traditional noodles from a 7-Eleven, aboriginal tribes in mini-skirts and a day of temple rituals followed by waterslide rides.

If you step outside chaotic Taipei you'll discover why Taiwan is known as Ilha Formosa, 'the beautiful island'. Mountain peaks puncture a sea of clouds, slick black volcanic rock wraps the coastlines and waterfalls shroud themselves in mist. Taiwan is a computer-generated Chinese watercolour.

It is precisely Taiwan's history with China that has caused the most friction and heartache for the Taiwanese. The continuing tug-of-war between the People's Republic of China on the mainland and the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan is often prone to seem like a civil war - albeit one that has not, as yet, developed into an all-out brawl. Mainland China insists on the truth of 'one China' while Taiwan has managed the impossible tightrope act of agreeing, in principle, to one China but acting, in practice, like an independent republic.

Full country name: Republic of China
Area: 35,563 sq km
Population: 22.5 million
People: Taiwanese (84%), Aboriginal (2%), Chinese(14%)
Language: Mandarin
Religion: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism
Government: multiparty democracy
Head of State: President Chen Shui-bian

GDP: US$247 billion
GDP per capita: US$16,100
Annual Growth: 4.8%
Inflation: 3.1%
Major Industries: Machinery, electrical equipment, electronic/computer goods, textiles, iron and steel
Major Trading Partners: USA, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea