I have travelled to the Far East several times on business and holiday and like it very much. Can you tell me what Taiwan is like, though, as I can’t find a tour operator that features the country?
Neil Edwards, London
Taiwan is as developed as Japan, with a cultural heritage to rival China’s. In fact, the best bits from Beijing’s Forbidden City were shipped to Taipei (in 13,400 crates) in the 1940s to avoid the ravages of war in China. They can be viewed in the excellent National Palace Museum (www.npm.gov.tw).
It’s an extraordinary treasure trove, with pieces to amaze the most museum-weary. There’s a hunk of jade carved to look like a cabbage, and an intricate boat with hinged latticed screens, fashioned from a single olive stone. There’s a gorgeous wood-panelled teahouse, too.
The capital, Taipei, is a modern city of about 2.5m people, and the best views of it are from the Taipei 101 tower (www.taipei-101.com.tw) — briefly the world’s tallest building (1,671ft) until the Burj Khalifa in Dubai took over. At the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall you can see memorabilia from the nationalist leader’s life, including two bulletproof Cadillacs, as well as a huge Lincoln-like statue of him. Nearby, the Longshan temple, one of many in the city, is an inspiring place, where people flock to have fruit and household items blessed.
At night, the Ximending area is a mini version of Tokyo’s Ginza, with fashion shops, bars and youth culture much in evidence. And the Shilin night market is excellent fun: the local speciality of stinky tofu tastes a whole lot better than it reeks — trust me.
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The Taiwanese are friendly, but the language barrier is formidable, and without a driver or help from a guide, navigating your way around isn’t easy.
About an hour’s drive from Taipei is the evocative gold-mining museum at Jinguashi, as well as the tea plantations of Pinglin, and the mountains around Wulai, great for hiking and swimming. If you get the chance, ride the fast train to the second city of Kaohsiung (214 miles in 1hr 40min). Soak up the tranquillity of the Fo Guang Shan monastery, and end up spying ships from the terrace bar of the former British consulate residence (uk.khhuk.org.tw), perched above the harbour.
Cox & Kings (020 7873 5000, coxandkings.co.uk) has a week from £1,995pp, with flights from Heathrow to Taipei, three nights in Taipei and three in Kaohsiung, high-speed train between the two, and excursions. Or try Black Tomato (020 7426 9888, blacktomato.co.uk). For more information, see go2taiwan.net.
Got a question for Richard? Then email travelclinic@sunday-times.co.uk