Taiwan

Taipei serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Taiwan, positioned in Eastern Asia. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Taipei sits in a basin surrounded by volcanic mountains, its skyline punctuated by Taipei 101 — the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010, engineered to withstand typhoons and earthquakes on a fault-crossed island — while its night markets, Buddhist temples, and tea houses coexist with one of Asia's most dynamic technology corridors.

With a population of approximately 23.6M, Taiwan is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is Mandarin, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Taiwan is reached via the dialling code +886. Taiwanese identity is complex and contested — a Han Chinese majority arrived in waves since the 17th century, joining 16 recognised indigenous Austronesian peoples, and the island's political history produced a distinct Taiwanese consciousness that expresses itself in democratic institutions, LGBTQ rights (Asia's first same-sex marriage legislation in 2019), and a cultural confidence that is neither wholly Chinese nor colonial.

Taiwan spans 36,197 km², in the Eastern Asia subregion of Asia. Geographically centred around 23.5°N, 121.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Asia convention.

The official currency is the New Taiwan dollar ($), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Taiwan's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+08:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

The emblematic dish of Taiwan is Beef Noodle Soup. Taiwanese night markets are among Asia's great culinary institutions — stinky tofu fermented in a brine of vegetables and shrimp, oyster vermicelli, scallion pancakes, and shaved ice mountains with condensed milk are eaten standing at neon-lit stalls that operate from dusk until 2 AM, representing an eating culture more social performance than mere sustenance.

Baseball / Basketball holds a special place in the heart of Taiwan's national identity. Baseball arrived with Japanese colonial administration in the early 20th century and became Taiwan's defining sport — the national team's unexpected gold medal at the 2023 World Baseball Classic Qualifier shocked the region, while Little League championships cultivated at Taichung's Chaoyang Park represent decades of grassroots development that produced MLB players including Chien-Ming Wang.

The highest point in Taiwan is Jade Mountain (Yushan), rising to 3,952 metres above sea level. Taroko Gorge on Taiwan's east coast is a 19-kilometre marble canyon carved by the Liwu River to depths exceeding 1,000 metres — its walls polished white and turquoise by river erosion, the gorge road blasted through solid marble in the 1950s by demobilised soldiers at enormous human cost, now threading past hanging bridges and waterfalls in one of Asia's most spectacular landscapes.