'Recommended reading' "Wanderlust" 'An insightful and useful addition to the ever-expanding library of publications on the island' "Taiwantoday.tw"

Steven Crook moved to Taiwan in 1991 and has been writing about the island's travel destinations and tourism industry since the mid-nineties. He speaks fluent Mandarin.

Introduction vii PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION 1 Chapter 1 Background Information 3 Geography 3, Climate 4, Natural history 5, Conservation and environmental issues 6, Taiwan's history 11, Government 23, Economy 23, People 24, Language 25, Religion 27, Education 35, Culture 36 Chapter 2 Practical Information 39 When to visit 39, Highlights 39, Suggested itineraries 41, Tour operators 42, Tourist information 44, Red tape 44, Getting there and away 46, Health 47, Safety 50, Women travellers 50, Gay/lesbian travellers 51, Travelling with children 51, Disabled travellers 52, What to take 53, Electricity 53, Money 53, Budgeting 54, Getting around 55, Accommodation 61, Eating and drinking 63, Public holidays and festivals 67, Shopping 69, Arts and entertainment 70, Architecture 71, Sports and activities 73, Photography 77, Media and communications 77, Maps 79, Business 79, Cultural etiquette 80, Travelling positively 81 PART TWO THE GUIDE 83 Chapter 3 Taipei 85 History 85, Getting there and away 86, Getting around 87, Tourist information 90, Where to stay 90, Where to eat and drink 95, Shopping 97, Other practicalities 98, Entertainment 98, What to see and do 99, Taipei suburbs 106, Yangmingshan National Park 112 Chapter 4 North Taiwan 115 Taoyuan Airport 115, Taoyuan City 118, Sanxia and Yingge 120, Wulai 122, North Cross-Island Highway 124, Yilan County 127, The northeast 130, Keelung 132, The north coast 137, Danshui 139 Chapter 5 Hakka Country 147 Hsinchu City 147, North of Hsinchu 154, East of Hsinchu 156, The aboriginal interior 158, Nanzhuang 160, Sanyi 162 Chapter 6 Central Taiwan 167 Taichung 167, Heading south 175, Lugang 180, Heading inland 187, Sun Moon Lake 190, Puli to Lishan 195, Shei-Pa National Park 198, Yushan National Park 202 Chapter 7 Southwest Taiwan 207 Tainan 207, Heading inland from Tainan 224, Tainan's coast 225, Chiayi City 231, Chiayi City to Shizhuo by Road 159A 236, Alishan National Scenic Area 237 Chapter 8 Kaohsiung and Pingtung 243 Kaohsiung 243, Heading north from Kaohsiung 255, Meinong 259, Maolin 263, South Cross-Island Highway 265, Heading east 266, Heading south 271, Kenting National Park 274 Chapter 9 East Taiwan 281 Hualien City 281, Taroko Gorge 286, The East Rift Valley 293, Highway 11: the coast road 299, Taitung City 303 Chapter 10 Minor Islands 309 Penghu County 310, Kinmen County 318, Matsu National Scenic Area 326, Little Liuqiu 332, Green Island 335, Orchid Island 339 Appendix 1 Language 343 Appendix 2 Road and Street Names 349 Appendix 3 Further Information 351 Index 355 Index of advertisers 360