Why Taiwan should be on your travel radar
From its rich culture to natural wonders, fabulous food and ease of travel, Taiwan is a surprising and rewarding place to visit.
Ping! A piercing sound reverberates around the crowded bus as it lurches along the winding mountain roads of central Taiwan. Jolted from their mid-afternoon reverie, the weary hikers peer down as one at the message on their phones. Headlined Presidential Alert and written in Chinese characters with the English translation below, it reads: “[Air raid Alert] Missile flyover Taiwan airspace, be aware.”
We glance around at the other passengers, most of them locals. They seem fairly calm; only the handful of fellow foreign travellers on board appear to be alarmed. It’s two days before Taiwan’s general election, and speculation about China’s reaction to the island’s show of democracy has been a hot media topic. Sure, the Taiwanese are well known for taking China’s threats in their stride. But are they really so cool that even a missile flyover doesn’t faze them?
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