Ilha Formosa or “Beautiful Island” is what a group of Portuguese sailors, said to have been the first Westerners to lay eyes on the island, uttered upon seeing Taiwan for the first time.

The main island of Taiwan is located in East Asia off the coast of China, southwest of the main islands of Japan but directly west of the end of Japan’s Ryukyu Islands, and north-northwest of the Philippines.

While not every Westerner has the same love-at-first-sight reaction to Taiwan, Portuguese seafaring friends were just the first of many. With the lush mountains of Wulai, pulsating cities like Taipei, the stunning basalt cliffs of Penghu , excellent hiking in Taroko Gorge, not to mention some of the world’s best hot springs (we especially like the Taian Hot Springs), Taiwan cuts a figure as one of the most diverse destinations in Asia.

Much has changed in the centuries since the Portuguese first saw Taiwan. Still, we think if the same group of sailors came back in the present day, they’d call it Ilha Formosa all over again. ( More details, check Welcome2Taiwan. )

4D 3N Taipei / Chiufen + Hot Spring Best Cheap Budget Package

[ From RM 448, price excluding air ticket | USD | Brochure + Details 01/09/09 – 31/12/09 ]

• Memorial Hall – Erected + National Concert Hall

• Visit Martyr’s Shrine: To view an elaborate ceremony of changing guards hourly

• National Palace Museum: The world’s largest assemblage of priceless Chinese art treasures

• Chiufen – To see the old fashioned way of life that still exists

• Famous local dishes as is Taro and Sweet Potato Ball, etc.

• Shopping at Shih Lin night market

5D 4N Taiwan Flying Cow Leisure Farm & Hot Spring

[ From RM 758, price excluding air ticket | USD | MAP | FEB - JUL | AUG - DEC ]

• Taoyuan, Take Bullet Train, Taipei, Wen Wu Temple

• National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, Peacock Garden

• Chiufen, Miaoli, Flying Cow Ranch, Mao Wan Yeh’s House, Tonpo

• Wu Fong Earthquake Museum, Tamsui Old Street

• Fisherman Wharf, National Palace Museum, Handicraft Center

• 101 Shopping Mall, Shihlin Night Market, Free Leisure

7D 6N Hualien | Chihpen Hot Spring | Alishan | High-Speed Railway Experience Tour

[ From RM 998, price excluding air ticket | USD | MAP | FEB - JUL | AUG - DEC ]

• Taoyuan, Bullet Train, Taipei, Hualien

• National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, Linzi & Tea Center

• Nantien Temple, Suhua Highway National Road, Hualien, Amei Aboriginal Cultural Village

• Taroko Memorial Arch Building, Enternal Spring Shrine

• Spring & Autumn Pavilion, Hsuan Tien Shangti Temple

• Dream Shopping Mall-Hello Kitty Ferris Wheel, Taichung

• Alishan, Forest Park, Shou Jen Temple, Martyr’s Shrine

• Fong Jia Night Market, Miaoli Fruit Ranch, Shihlin Night Market

• National Palace Museum, Handicraft Center, 101 Shopping Mall

Have A Previous On Taiwan Tourism Video:

• Taiwan green tea farm “茶园”