The National Youth Commission is sponsoring 38 tours around the country to open young people's eyes to Taiwan's culture, customs and natural beauty during the upcoming winter vacation.
The "Youth Travel in Taiwan " program, initiated by the commission in 2005, was designed to encourage local and overseas students to join in-depth tours that provide rare opportunities to gain a deeper perspective on the nation and its people, commission Chairwoman Cheng Li-chun (
38 TOURS
The 38 "Trekking Taiwan: Creative Tours" feature a wide variety of themes, including exploring Taiwan's art and history, observing how local people live, discovering Taiwan's ecosystem and learning about Taiwan's indigenous people.
Depending on the tour they choose, Cheng said, participants can travel around the island county of Penghu or cycle through the eastern county of Taitung; raft down whitewater rapids in Hualien County or get a close-up view of the lives of Aborigines by staying in their homes.
Participants can also learn about brick-making by descending into a tunnel kiln or experience the daily lives of farmers and fishermen.
DAY IN JAIL
Of all the theme tours, perhaps the most unusual was what the commission calls "a day in jail" in Chiayi.
Participants are handcuffed, chained and fed prison food in jail to "let them feel what it's like when a person loses their freedom," Cheng said.
Instead of traveling abroad for new learning experiences, students can learn about the colorful aspects of Taiwan's culture, customs and natural environment by enrolling in the program, which offers quality trips at the lowest possible prices, Cheng said.
Young men and women between the ages of 15 and 30 who are interested in the program can register on the commission's Web site at www.youthtravel.tw/youthtravel.
The commission will also be offering 10 free spots on the tours this winter to benefit 10 young people from low-income families or from outlying islands, Cheng said.
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