Taiwan. Is it a country or a state? Taiwan considers itself the Republic of China with Taipei as the capital. The People’s Republic of China, on the other hand, considers Taiwan as one of its states. Only around 25 countries consider Taiwan as a sovereign nation. But as far as tourism is considered, it doesn’t matter if Taiwan is a country or not, this entity with a land area of 36,197 square kilometers (8.9 million acres) is truly magnificent. It is one of the most densely populated regions of the world, as the small land area is occupied by close to 23.8 million people. The actual number of people in Taiwan also balloons every day because many tourists flock to this beautiful region.
Taiwan is a cultural experience. It is a country that is tech-savvy; it is home to Acer and Asus after all—two of the world’s largest laptop producers. It is also one of the largest global producers of computer components. Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world, is also known for hosting a grand display of fireworks every year. Taiwan is also a gastronomic destination with its delicious beef noodles and the pearl milk tea, which originated in the region. Taiwan hosts many tea shops—both for its hot teas and pearl milk tea. Tea leaves are also popular souvenir items.
The world’s largest bike manufacturer, Giant, hails from Taiwan. It makes sense that Taiwan makes popular bikes because the region has some of the best landscapes that are best seen driving a bike. Tourists should try renting a bike in Taiwan and visit these five unexplored national parks:
1. Dongsha Atoll National Park
Scuba divers will find this park on the Pratas Islands a paradise. Pratas Islands, also known as Dongsha Islands, which comprises of three atolls: North Vereker, South Vereker, and Pratas. Pratas Atoll forms part of the marine park.
The park is rich in marine resources. There was a need to protect the area after authorities noted that it has become a significant breeding ground for various marine species like the sicklefin lemon sharks. The presence of this species in Dongsha waters is significant because this type of shark is not known for traveling long distances. The sicklefin lemon shark usually stays in the coral system, which is quite vibrant in the Dongsha Atoll. Other forms of marine life found in the park are fish, green sea turtles, jellyfish, and squid.
2. Shei-Pa National Park
The park comprises rugged mountains and different ecosystems, making this area one of the best places to visit in terms of biodiversity. There are high mountains, rivers, valleys with abundant flora and fauna. The park is also quite high with its lowest point situated at 760 meters above sea level. It hosts the Xueshan, which is Taiwan’s second tallest mountain.
One of the highlights of the park is the Pintail Mountain because of its notable geological features. The water bodies within the park are also significant sources of water for the region. Among the rivers that run through the park are Da-an, Daijia, Danshui, Takejin, and Toucan. There is an asteroid that is named after the park: 278956 Shei-Pa.
3. South Penghu Marine National Park
The park comprises various islands, the bigger of which are Dongjiyu, Dongyupingyu, Xijiyu, and Xiyupingyu. The area used to be inhabited, but it was remote and there weren’t jobs around. Hence, from thousands of people in the islands, the population came down to just 50 in the area. The park was only established in 2014. There was a need to protect the marine life in the area after a lot of underwater resources died of cold weather in 2008. The marine park is meant for germplasm conservation.
Among the marine mammals in the park are dolphins and whales. The coral reefs are also vibrant. Migratory birds like terns also frequent the island during summer.
4. Taroko National Park
Taroko Gorge offers one of the stunning visions of Taiwan, especially since unlike most gorges, the marble cliffs have sparse vegetation on them. The gorge was carved by the Liwu River. The park was originally established in 1937 when Taiwan was still under Japanese rule. The park wasn’t re-established until 1986.
The gorge is not the only massive natural structure in the park as 27 mountains within the territory are over 3,000 meters tall. The Qinshui Cliff also majestically rises above the Pacific Ocean, providing a picturesque image. There are also dozens more natural attractions within the park, like the Cimu and Motherly Devotion Bridges, Eternal Spring Sunshine, Shakadang Trail, Tunnel of Nine Turns, and Zhuilu Cliff.
5. Yushan National Park
At 3,952 meters, Yushan, also known as Mount Jade, is Taiwan’s tallest mountain. It is the centerpiece of Yushan National Park, which contains a large part of the Central Mountain Range, which is the main mountain range of the region. It is also a mountain range with high peaks as over 30 mountains with an elevation of over 3,000 meters are found within the park.
The island of Taiwan was naturally created through the plate tectonics. Seismic activities are regularly felt on the island. There is also evidence of such activities within the park such as the Great Precipice, which can be seen on the Yushan Trail. The cliff contains fossils of ancient marine species. There are also wavy marks on the rocks that signify their age. The foot of Yushan also has a steep slope, which entails periodic rockfall over the years. A fault scarp, which is a result of a movement from an active fault, can also be seen in Liaoning.
There are also archeological sites in the park where ancient artifacts were discovered. In terms of flora and fauna, there is great biodiversity within the park. Among the resident animals are a black bear, sambar deer, Taiwan macaque, and Taiwan serow. The various altitudes within the park also favor different ecosystems, which means a large variety of vegetation types.