“Each fictional work paints a vivid portrait of Taiwan in transition, offering a way to get to know our country.” In this month’s Cover Story, we tell you numerous reasons to visit Taiwan. The quote above comes from our article on the fascination of seeking out movie and TV show filming locations. We also look at tourism based on cycling, historical trailways connecting the mountains to the coast, and even medical tourism. We hope that every overseas visitor can find a Taiwan travel experience all their own.
Food and drink have always been a memorable part of every traveler’s journey. In this issue we introduce bitter orange tea, a Hakka specialty. After nine cycles of steaming and sun-drying, ball-shaped cakes of compressed tea are charcoal roasted and stored for at least three years to develop their distinctive sweet and mellow flavor. Meanwhile, following numerous wins by Taiwanese bakers in international competitions, Taiwan’s baking industry now incorporates Japanese- and European-style breads, while the creative use of local ingredients has led to the rise of delightful Taiwanese flavors.
Following our previous article on medical sustainability, this month we visit institutions of higher education to learn about University Social Responsibility programs, and see how schools apply their expertise to help solve regional problems. Professor Chen Ku-fan of the Department of Civil Engineering at National Chi Nan University tells us about his own university’s USR program: “It was only when students from Taiwan arrived in Cambodia that they understood the importance of UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, and saw practical aspects of implementation that they had never seen before.”
Similarly, at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, a USR program called Engineering in Action has worked with schools in Indonesia and Vietnam to bring change to local communities in Southeast Asia.
In this issue we also bring you a special report on the successful operations in India of a Taiwanese firm, Taisys Technologies Company, as well as an article on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “Trending Taiwan” short film competition, held for the tenth time in 2024. As Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said in his remarks at the awards ceremony: “Creators are looking for Taiwan’s particular DNA. Since people relate to countries as well as to one another, by establishing points of mutual resonance and coming closer together, we can enrich each other’s lives.”
Taiwan Panorama has worked for decades to faithfully document every step in Taiwan’s development, and I here wish to thank all the readers at home and abroad who have continually supported us. We hope to see you at the 2025 Taipei International Book Exhibition!
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