Where's next for InsideAsia?

Last year, we launched India, and it’s been a little too long for our liking without a new pin on our InsideAsia map. Our next country may not be top of your list yet, but we think it should be, and here’s why.

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First and foremost, its food is seriously delicious. Yes, that’s something we can say about all our destinations, but food here isn’t just fuel – it plays a huge role in how people think and feel about the country. We’re talking beef noodle soup, oyster omelette, soy milk and doughnuts, stinky tofu (for those who dare) and… a particular passion for pineapple cakes. Its food is a literal melting pot of the Chinese, Japanese and Indigenous influences that make up the country’s DNA.

Its cultural history is layered, and its link to China is strong. This country holds over 600,000 art objects from China’s imperial collection in one museum. Whether this country is part of China or not today depends on who you ask. Either way, its influence on culture, buildings and food is undeniable. This country still uses Traditional Chinese characters that are no longer even in current use in modern China. It celebrates Lunar New Year, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival – Chinese holidays. But its Chinese influence isn’t the beginning of its story.

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Up until 1620, the island was populated by Indigenous peoples (before the Spanish arrived). As is all too often the case, their language and cultures are endangered. And yet – 2.5% of the population identify as Indigenous, an Indigenous tribe chant was used in a TV advert for the 1996 Olympics and there are market stalls dedicated to Indigenous cuisine.

Some might say this place is pretty similar to Japan. And in some sense, they would be correct. Its (poetically named) high speed rail system is based on the same engineering principles as the Japanese Shinkansen. In fact, trains are almost identical to the N700 on the Tokaido line. It is the Shinkansen, just with a fresh orange and black paint job. As a country, it loves its hot spring bathing almost as much as Japan (plus, you can bathe with tattoos here). And you can see some pretty impressive cherry blossom scenes, without shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

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Over 65% of this country’s terrain is mountainous. Elephant Mountain is perhaps the most popular entry route, just 15 minutes by subway from the capital city centre. It’s a short (but steep!) climb through thick forest that gives you a city view in half an hour. For longer, more expansive hiking, there’s nine national parks with volcanoes, rivers, mountains, and even spring cherry blossom spots. Similarly to South Korea, people love to hike here.

And speaking of love, it was the first Asian country to legalise same sex marriage.

So, if you haven’t guessed yet…

It’s the size of Belgium, the most widely spoken language is Hokkien. It’s the birthplace of bubble tea, and is known as “Bicycle Kingdom”.

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Introducing, Taiwan.

We’ve chosen Taiwan because it’s got cultural adventure written all over it.

Many people will know that its capital is Taipei. But beyond that, there’s Kaoshing, the arty, kitschy, cool southern city with mad 1970s Buddhist architecture and repurposed warehouses. And Sun Moon Lake, where Taiwanese and visitors alike come to cycle along or paddleboard across the crescent moon and sun shaped lake. Then there’s Yilan where, at its Atayal village, you can listen to elders tell stories of history and tribe daily life, before trying traditional food, like bamboo stuffed with rice.

We often say this about the countries we travel to, but Taiwanese people are really friendly. You’ll find yourself chatting over the bar, Yilan county whiskey in hand, or with Jiufen tea farmers as the rain hammers down outside. Perhaps you’ll meet a family who’ve been making soy sauce for nearly a century. Or a Taipei t-shirt vendor, who will tell you how she comes up with her designs.

It could be somewhat surprising that Taiwan isn’t that popular for travellers (yet). But that is changing. Overshadowed by Japan, China and indeed, the sheer politics of it all for too long, it has, meanwhile been busy. It’s been building itself up as its own democratic island nation, with 4,000-metre-high mountains, marble-cut canyons, green tea plains, hot springs, volcanos and dozens of night markets. Exporting everything from semi-conductors to boba bubble tea.

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Cultural adventure: made in Tawian

We’ve spent the past year taking trips, putting together our favourite routes and strengthening connections with some of Taiwan’s most interesting people on the ground. From meeting printers preserving the ancient art from of Chinese movable type printing, to the fifth-generation tea growers of Pinglin, or your Taipei Insider guide simply taking you to their favourite place to get fried dough sticks dipped in soy milk for breakfast (youtiao and douyjiang).

This isn’t just “the next Japan”, a “smaller China” or “another Korea” – and while echoes of each are present, Taiwan has its very own, distinct flavour of cultural adventure – and we can’t wait for more of you to try it out for yourself.

Whether that’s weaving Taiwan into an existing Japan or South Korea trip, or giving it the time it deserves as a standalone journey, we’ve built itineraries that take you to Taipei and beyond – into the mountains, tea fields and night markets that make Taiwan… Taiwan.

We launch Taiwan on 1st July – speak to your travel consultant now to start planning.