The National Geographic Traveler magazine has listed Taiwan as one of the top 20 destinations for travelers, urging them to pack their bags and visit during the New Year holiday.
In addition to Taiwan, Corsica, Colombia’s Medellin Koyasan, Oklahoma City in the US and Tunis, Tunisia, are among the top 20 destinations on the list.
In this month’s edition, the magazine said that unlike China, which has marginalized its ethnic groups, Taiwan prides itself on its diverse cultures, having reintroduced tribal languages to schools, and developed a thriving Aboriginal society.
The magazine praised the nation’s efforts to provide free Wi-Fi services nationwide, while China has restricted access to the Internet.
The National Geographic Traveler said Taiwan ranks in the top 50 on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) out of a total of 178 nations, but China only made the 118th spot in the EPI rankings.
The magazine said despite its small size, Taiwan has developed a high-tech urban sector. The article said that products “Made in Taiwan” have gone from being a sign of bad quality to a source ofnational pride.
The National Geographic Traveler said the nation’s capital, Taipei, home to the former world’s tallest building, Taipei 101, has been named 2016’s World Design Capital.
A number of new buildings are scheduled to open next year in Taipei, including a performing arts center designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas’ firm OMA, the magazine said.
More importantly, foreign visitors cannot afford to ignore the nation’s reputation as a food paradise, the magazine said.
It cited Peray, a popular Taipei food blogger, as urging foreign visitors to forget about breakfast at the hotels in the capital city.
“In the early mornings, at food stalls, you can get clay oven rolls, charcoal grill sandwiches, rice with chicken and rice noodle soup with pork,” Peray said.
The magazine said that Taipei’s Shilin Night Market is very popular among foreign visitors. However, it said that visitors have other choices that are less touristy, including the Ningxia Night Market, where they can get to know Taiwanese street food.
The National Geographic Traveler said that the best way to travel in Taiwan is to tour by train.
The nation’s railways can take travelers all the way around the country as train stops are mostly located near downtown areas, the magazine said, adding that in Taipei, the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway system is a cheap and convenient choice.
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