Welcome to Taiwan!

Hop on the Taiwan's High Speed Rail with me and I will take you through an educative trip about TAIWAN!

Taiwan’s history is closely related to that of mainland China which has helped to produce rich and vibrant socio-cultural colours of the country. Taiwanese life consists of both ancient and modern traditions. Whether it is the blending of cultures (Hakka, Taiwanese & Mainland), religion, architecture, language, lifestyle, or its food culture, it is just too exciting and satisfying for visitors who chose to visit this rich cultural scene. Not only can tourists enjoy the picturesque mountainous sceneries, they can also immerse themselves in the hustle and bustle of the city which could last throughout the day. This is Taiwan - the paradise for some shopping sprees and eating treats!

Cultures

A) Cultures of the place

Religion
Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism are the main religions on the island. They were brought about centuries ago by the early Chinese settlers.

Confucianism – a code of ethics concerning proper behaviour, was derived from Confucius‘s teachings. He was a philosopher who supported a set of ideals that included respect for authority & one’s ancestors and strict moral behaviour. These are very important ethics in part of a everyday Taiwanese life.

Buddhism – teachings from Siddhartha Gautama, who founded the faith in India during the 6th century B.C. This includes search for enlightenment, giving up valuable possessions, and living a life of virtue and wisdom.

Taoism – Similar to Confucianism, it is more of a philosophy than a religion. It also adopted many features of Buddhism. It emphasizes simple lifestyle, free from social obligations, and rejection of greed and desire.

Other than these religions, there’s also an estimated 1 million or more Taiwanese who identified themselves as Christians.

Literature
Chinese literature was derived from the local influences and the formation of Republic of China (ROC). During the initial years of the ROC’s formation, some people followed Chiang Kai-Shek, the leader of the ROC from the mainland to Taiwan. These people then went on to write about these tremulous times. One example is Li Ang, a contemporary novelist who focuses on feminist themes. Her most famous novel, The Butcher’s Wife, was written in1983.

Poetry also plays a significant role in Taiwan’s literature. Lin Heng-tai is one of the most important Taiwanese poets who wrote socially critical poems in the 1940s.

Located in Tainan, The National Museum of Taiwanese Literature contributes to Taiwan’s literary output by researching and showcasing manuscripts and other literary artefacts.

The National Museum of Taiwanese Literature

Visual Arts
A lot of Taiwanese art uses ideas passed down centuries ago in China. Young artists were also encouraged to develop new styles of painting. Hu Nien-tsu, a prominent figure in the Taiwanese painting world, combined traditional Chinese forms and styles with more Westernized style of vibrant colours.

Calligraphy, a traditional form of art writing is still being practiced and modernized today. It has various shapes and forms. Calligraphers have to change the thickness, length and shape of the strokes to come up with new designs.

Calligraphy

Also, traditional Taiwanese handicrafts are popular among the modern society. It includes wood, bamboo and stone carvings. Others are paper fans, cloth, feathers, kites, bamboo lanterns and embroidery. Modern-day artists also create works of porcelain. They followed the ancient porcelain makers who worked during the Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

Music, Theatre, and Movies

Music
The Taiwanese music is being loved in the country. It is a mix of classical Western and Chinese music plus the traditional styles taught in schools. This is brought about by the local, Chinese and Western influences, whether new or old. The difference between the Taiwanese and Western music is: Chinese and Taiwanese music is based on a five-note scale instead of the eight-note pattern found in Western music.

The Taiwanese uses traditional instruments such as: a seven-stringed lute called qin, a bamboo flute, and the san xian (a three-stringed guitarlike instrument) to play music. Other instruments include gongs, drums, flutes and horns. These are used to perform folk music, which is indispensable in many festivals.

San xian

Moreover, contemporary music brought about by the younger generation has become the hit in the modern society. One example is Jay Chou who has gained a large number of listeners in Taiwan, the mainland China and throughout Asia.

Theatre
Chinese operas played an important role in traditional Taiwanese music. Taiwanese dialects of Chinese are often used in these operas. Dress and facial makeup depicts the role of each actor. These operas require few props but largely depend on the movements and expressions of the actors.
Other traditional entertainments are folk dances and puppet shows.

Chinese Opera

Film

Film is a popular way to showcase the local artistic talents in Taiwan. The early island’s moviemakers used the Amoy dialect in their productions. However, from 1965 onwards, most actors speak in Mandarin. The movie themes usually revolve around historical subjects of the China’s imperial era.

From the New Wave period, movies focused on everyday scenarios and realistically looked into the Taiwanese life and society. An example of successful director from this period is Hou Hsiao-Hsien, whose works are known for being emotional and visually beautiful.

Beginning of the 1990s, it was when the 2nd generation of New Wave directors emerged. The most well-known director of the Second New Wave is Ang Lee. His famous productions which attracted international fan base were Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Hulk (2003) and Brokeback Mountain (2005).

Cuisines
For cuisines, Taiwan has different food cultures derived from the various parts of the mainland such as Zhejiang, Hunan, Guangdong, Yunnan, Shanghai, Beijing, Sichuan etc. There is also the local Taiwanese cuisine, with many mouth-watering specialties from different parts of Taiwan.

Its main ingredients are rice, pork, and soy products like soy sauce and tofu. It is very common to see noodle dishes and soups with pork and vegetables in restaurants and roadside stalls.
Pork meat is usually used as the filling for many delicacies such as ba wan, a dumpling that is an all time-favourite snack, steamed and fried buns called Xiao Long Bao. Seafood also makes up the key part of the Taiwanese diet.

Taiwanese chefs used seasonings such as chili peppers, soy sauce, sesame, oil, ginger and pickled radishes to spice up the dishes.

During the period with warm weather, fresh fruits are eaten as dessert. An example is mango which is also used in pudding and shaved ice. Custards and pastries are also typical ways of eating desserts.

Mango Shaved Ice

There are many counties in Taiwan who have their own specialties. Hsinchu, for instance, is known for its soup with pork meatballs while Taichung’s signature dish is flaky, filled pastry called the sun cake.

Night markets are also very popular among the locals and tourists. It is a must-go for everyone who visits the island. They usually operate in the evening till dawn, serving xiao chi, which means finger food.

The Sporting Life
Schools encourage physical fitness and thus, sports are popular islandwide. Taiwanese athletes excel in Track & field, archery, table tennis, Taekwondo, and weight lifting. Many sportsmen and sportswomen also take part in local sporting events such as basketball and soccer.

Professional golfers in Taiwan are also well-known in international tournaments. Baseball is considered the leading sport in Taiwan. One prominent figure in this sport is Wang Chien-ming, who is the country’s pride as he is currently playing for New York Yankees.

Wang Chien-ming

The way of life

B) The Traditions of the place
Holidays and festivals
Taiwanese celebrate many different occasions, which mainly originated from ancient China. The most important celebration is the New Year, which is held on the 1st day of the lunar year and ends on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Lasting for several weeks, before and after, due to preparations and festivities, the preparation includes New Year’s delicacies, decorations, firecrackers, parades and visiting of friends & relatives’ homes.

The 23rd day of the third lunar month is a special day for many sailors and fishermen. It is the birthday of Matsu, the traditional folk goddess of the sea, who protects these people from any harm. This celebration is particularly large in Peikang, a town near Taiwan’s western coast and houses one of Matsu’s most important temples. During the celebration, folk music, dancing, puppet shows and other performances would be available to entertain the crowds. People usually carry large statues that represent Matsu herself as well as her fellow gods and goddesses when they go to the temple.

Matsu Festival

Other festivals include: Mid-Autumn Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Tomb Sweeping Festival, and the Birthday of Confucius (Teacher’s Day).

Paying respect to one’s ancestors is also important in traditional religious practices. Relatives burn paper money, cars and houses in order to honour deceased family members as they believe that wealth may be passed on to the ancestors in the Netherworld.

Tajwan has an abundance of temples housing various household and regional gods; this symbolizes the local beliefs of the residents.

The indigenous groups celebrate their own festivals such as harvest festivals to offer gratitude. The Amis and Rukai people would sing and dance for this joyous occasion. The most important celebration for the Yami people is the Flying Fish Festival, which marks the springtime arrival of the fish.

Schools, government offices and shops are closed on non-religious holidays in Taiwan as they mark important events or honour prominent figures in its history. One such holiday is Double Ten Day, held on October 10, which commemorates the birth of the Republic of China (ROC) on the same day in 1911. This is celebrated with parades and fireworks, as well as a prepared speech made by the president.

Guan Xi (Relationships) and keeping face
Guan xi refers to the relationships between people. The Taiwanese treat appreciating the effort and returning the favour to the person helping them very seriously. This is important as social network is needed in the working society.

“Keeping face” is part of a Chinese society, which means upholding a person’s dignity in the society.

Daily practices
Due to the economic boom in the late 1950s and the 1960s, many Taiwanese lifestyles were affected. The country’s progress towards high industrialization and technological advancements is evident in the people’s daily lives.

As people become wealthier and are moving towards the urban areas, they are able to afford vehicles. However, it also causes environmental and noise pollution.

On the other hand, it is not true that all living in the rural areas are poor. Some are also able to enjoy modern comforts. For example, they have boast antennas to improve the reception of urban television broadcasts.

Taiwan is influenced by the Western cultures like Europe and North America. Some examples are: the dressing styles and entertainment which are similar to them.

Taipei, the country’s most popular tourist destination, has many Internet cafes, where patrons can use computers with high-speed Internet connections, while sipping some hot coffee or tea.

Family ties
Although family members may still live closely in the neighbourhood, the responsibility for taking care of the older people has gradually been shifted to the government.

In the modern society, women have different roles to play. They are significant in the working population as they dominate the labour force in electronics manufacturing & textile industry. Women are able to take up a broader range of jobs such as banking, medicine, and the armed forces.

However, these women are facing challenges in the society. The most serious is prostitution, which is illegal in Taiwan. Some started from a young age as they were sold to help earn money for the family while others were being tricked into prostitution.

Weddings
Although the Taiwanese lifestyle has been influenced by the West, occasions like weddings and funerals still keep the customs, traditions and values intact. In the past generations, it is common to have arranged marriages where the groom and bride might not even have seen each other until the wedding day. In the modern society, most are able to choose their own spouses. However, parents still bring their children together in the Xiang qin sessions, which means matchmaking.

When a couple gets engaged, their parents would consult suan ming shi, fortune-tellers, to determine whether it is a good match and to choose an auspicious date. After the wedding ceremony, the couple would have their farewell meal at the bride’s house, which symbolizes the last meal the bride takes in her own home. Upon reaching the groom’s house, the couple must pay respects to the family ancestors at the family altar.

Funerals
Chinese death customs involve elaborate rituals prior to and during cremations or burials. The Chinese believe that a person will become a spirit in his/her afterlife. Thus, certain rites must be performed to cater to the deceased’s spirit. Family members of the deceased wear white clothes to show their respect and grief. A 7-week mourning period is a custom, where offerings (paper money, paper cars, paper houses, paper clothes and other goods) are burned for the spirits. It is a belief that they the spirits would be able to receive and lead an affluent lifestyle in the Netherworld.

Family members of the deceased

Aborigines

C) Their indigenous groups

Representing less than 2 percent of the entire Taiwan’s population, these aborigines, also known as yuan zhu min, are believed to be part of the Austronesian group, who came to settle in Taiwan from regions as far away as Easter Island, Madagascar and New Zealand.

There are 12 major indigenous tribal groups in Taiwan: Amis, Atayal, Yami, Saisiyat, Paiwan, Bunun, Punuyumayan, Rukai, Tsou, Kavalan, Thao and Truku. These people differ from the Han Chinese as they tend to have darker skins, bigger eyes, and sharper noses. As more mainland Chinese arrived in Taiwan, the aborigines who used to live in the plains, had gradually retreated into the mountains.

Their traditional occupations were farming, hunting, animal husbandry, and fishing. Women are still involved in handicraft works such as weaving and metalwork. All the aborigines except for the Yami practiced headhunting until the 20th century when the Japanese stepped in; this custom was then completely abolished.

Amis
The largest aboriginal tribe in Taiwan, living mainly in the eastern region from Hua-lien to Tai-tung. They have a matriarchal society where the oldest woman in the family holds the highest rank in the household. When men get married, they would move in with their wives’ families hence, the children inherit their mother’s surname.

Traditional Amis homes are thatched huts with wooden beams. These houses are usually large as they are used to house large families living together. This group of people worships gods of nature. As the Amis are mainly farmers, they have many rites and ceremonies to pray for a healthy harvesting season, for example, the most important being the harvest festival held in July and August annually.

Atayal
Scattered mainly all over the northern parts of Taiwan, this group of people depends on farming and hunting for survival. Different from the Amis' culture, the Atayal women are married into the men’s families. The Atayal religion is based on a belief in utux, which means supernatural spirits or the dead spirits.

Yami and Saisiyat
They are the smallest tribal groups, each consisting of about 4200 people. The Yami peoples’ homeland is Lan-yu, but many emigrated to live in Taiwan in search of more job opportunities. They are mainly fishermen but in order to have a more stable income, they breed pigs and grow taro, sweet potato, yam, and millet. The men prepare the fields for cultivation, build boats, go fishing, build homes, weave baskets, and make pottery; the women tend the crops and harvest them, take care of the domestic chores, and weave cloth. They are also famous for their beautifully carved and painted canoes which are used for fishing.

Like the Amis, they have the matriarchal system. If a woman does not approve of her husband in a trial marriage which lasts for a month, she can divorce him and look for a new husband.

The Saisiyat are mainly agriculturalists and foresters. 3 or 4 households of the same surname usually make up one Saisiyat settlement. A few neighbouring settlements may join to form a village and share the land and amenities. The Saisiyat culture has been strongly influenced by their neighbours, the Atayal.

Yami

Saisiyat

What do they speak?

D) Their languages

The Peking dialect, called mandarins was used by the government officials during the 17th century Qing dynasty period. The success of the efforts put in to spread this language was limited. After the founding of the ROC in 1913, the government established a national standard of pronunciation based on the Peking dialect. Since then, Mandarin has been the national language of both the ROC on Taiwan and the PRC on the mainland.

The usage of Mandarin varies among the different groups of people. Mainlanders usually speak Mandarin. The native Taiwanese, who forms about 85% of the population, speaks Mandarin outside but not necessarily at homes. About half of these people communicate in other Chinese dialects with their families.

The older native Taiwanese may not speak Mandarin at all because they grew up during the Japanese Occupation. Living in different parts of the country can influence the language they used. For example, young people living in the northern parts of Taiwan typically speak Mandarin with their peers; on the other hand, those in the southern areas tend to speak a mixture of Taiwanese and Mandarin.

Taiwanese Mandarin has been influenced by the dialects spoken on the island, especially the Fujian (Hokkien) dialect.

Dialects
The 2 most widely spoken dialects are the Fujian and Hakka dialects. Each is derived from particular areas in China. The Fujian dialect comes from the Fujian Province on the mainland and is more commonly spoken in the southern part of Taiwan and in parts of the western coastal region that have historically absorbed immigrants from Fujian.
Hakka originated from the Hunan province on the mainland and is widely spoken in Taiwan’s Hsin-chu, Ping-tung, Miao-li, and Tao-yuan counties, which consist of a considerable amount of Hakka population.

In the 1960s and 1970s, greater emphasis was made on Mandarin rather than the Chinese dialects. However, this has made people gained more interest in learning the latter. This interest was fuelled by the existing television and radio channels which have introduced more programs in the Fujian and Hakka dialects during the 1980s.

Other languages
English is not widely spoken in Taiwan although it is part of the school's curriculum. Many who do speak English are not proficient in it. However, people have begun to recognize that English is very important.

Education

E) Their mode of education

Government has made education compulsory for all Taiwanese ages 6 to 15. They even take on the responsibility in paying the fees during these years. Taiwan has more than 95% of its people above the age of 15 who are literate. Also, the government makes a concerted effort to ensure equal educational opportunities for all – Children from low-income families receive free textbooks and financial aid, special educational policies are implemented to cater to the people with disabilities like setting up special schools to serve the needs of these people, and supplementary schools provide education for those who missed out on schooling in their earlier years.

Academic is not everything. Physical education and moral development also play significant roles in the school's curriculum. In secondary schools, coursework can lead either to higher education or to a technical profession.

More than 1.25 million students chose to go on to a further education after completing their secondary school’s studies. Enrolling themselves in more than 100 colleges, universities and other institutions which offer a wide range of courses ranging from nuclear science to journalism.

To gain admission, students have to compete with many others in taking a joint university entrance examination. In 2004 to 2005, there were more than 142 universities and colleges in Taiwan. The largest and oldest university is National Taiwan University in Taipei.

The education system in Taiwan is considered as among the most highly ranked in the world. For example, the students scored the best math and science tests worldwide. As students study in this competitive environment, great pressure is placed on them to excel, hence causing the suicidal rates among students to be very high.

Leisure Programmes

F) Types of Leisure Programmes

In Taiwan, it is very important to spend quality time with family and friends especially on weekends. From the 1980s onwards, Taiwanese are spending more on recreation and entertainment as their income increased. Some popular activities are as follow:

1. Park outings
People usually go to the park for activities like strolling, exercising, mediating, gossiping, or simply relaxing. On weekends, whole families turn up to enjoy the scenery.
In the morning, parks can accommodate up to hundreds of people, young and old, who exercise before attending school or work. The different ways of exercising are: tai chi, dancing and badminton. It is also common to see older men playing Chinese chess in the park. Some even hold singing sessions there with their portable music players.

2. Shopping and visiting attractions
Besides spending time in the parks, many families eat out on weekends or go shopping. Taipei’s shopping malls are flooded with people, and night markets bustle with shoppers. Shilin Night Market is one example of the largest night markets in Taipei. Some families visit temples and others visit National Palace Museum, the Zoo, or any of the amusement parks.

A temple in Taiwan

Facilities in Taiwan

3. Mahjong and Pachinko
Mahjong is an activity that is popular with the adults, and pachinko, a Japanese word for pinball machines, is an alternative for the young and old to pass their free time.

Mahjong

Pachinko

4. Teenagers' activities
Taiwanese teenagers go to the movies, meet their friends in parks, or hold barbeques. When the weather turns cold or on rainy days, the youngsters hang out in arcades to bowl or play pool, table tennis, and computer games.

5. Chinese-style workouts
Tai chi is the ancient Chinese art of shadowboxing. It is actually a form of exercise with a series of set meditative movements. Kung-fu is another popular martial art and is part of the physical education curriculum. Martial art displays can be seen daily in Taipei’s city parks, at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and at Yang-ming-shan National Park.

6. Getting Away
Home to many beautiful mountainous types of scenery, Taiwan offers city dwellers the opportunity to escape from the usual work routine. Hiking in the Central Mountain Range has become a popular leisure pastime.

Some examples of hiking hideouts:
Yu Shan National Park, the largest and most pristine national park in Taiwan, provides hiking trails and showcases the ruins of aboriginal settlements and the Qing dynasty.

Hohuan shan (Mountain of Harmonious Joy) in the Central Mountain Range is Taiwan’s only ski resort. Besides appealing to skiers in winter, it also attracts numerous hikers during summer.

Grand Taroko Gorge, a dramatic, rocky, coastal scenery of Yehliu in the northern part of the island draws many of Taipei’s residents who like to visit the area on weekends.

Ho huan shan

7. Sports
The most popular sports in Taiwan are basketball, baseball, and table tennis. These are played by children as well as the adults. Many are also trying to take up golf and tennis.

Baseball team

8. Traditional Sports
Skipping has been popular since the Tang dynasty. Shuttlecock is a game where players are to kick the object back and forth without it falling to the ground. Top spinning was once popular with children, but it is played mainly by men in Taiwan today. Diabolo spinning looks like a yo-yo and is played by moving the Diabolo using a long cotton string attached to a stick at either end of the string.

Diabolo performance

9. KTV Entertainment
Karaoke Television, is to sing along to pre-recorded music videos, and is a widely popular activity for socializing in Taiwan. “Karaoke” derived from the Japanese word meaning “empty orchestra”. There are many KTVs in Taiwan and it is one of the most patronised places by the young people.

Famous things in Taiwan

G) What is the country known for?

1. Night markets and street foods
Night markets as the attractions themselves, are also selling some famous street snacks such as smelly bean curd, oyster mee sua, fried chicken cutlets and bubble tea etc. Sometimes the night markets sell accessories and clothes at affordable prices but visitors can still further cut down the prices by bargaining.

One example is the Shilin Night Market.

2. Ding Tai Fung
A Chinese dim sum restaurant where the signature dish is the Xiao Long Bao. Locals and visitors visit this restaurant which have many outlets (even in Singapore) in Taiwan for the juicy and delicious Xiao Long Bao.




3. Taipei 101
Currently, it is the tallest building in the world, standing at 508 meters above the ground, with 101 levels. The building consists of shops and restaurants. It is a must-go attraction for tourists.


4. Fights during parliament meetings
Evidently, these fights can be seen on television news. It happens when the people in the parliament verbally or physically use violence on the opposition party.


5. Wu fen Pu Clothing Wholesale Market
Cheap clothing is found here where you can get further bargains to slash prices. This is the place where boutique shop owners and tourists come and get their clothes. There are also many eateries located nearby. Hence, shoppers can shop till they drop!


6. Street artistes
Talented young people who wants to fulfill their dreams would start out as performers on the streets, attracting onlookers as they sing and perform.


7. Music
Prominent figures who helped the Taiwanese music gained much popularity are Jay Chou, A-mei, Wang Lee Hom and Jolin Tsai. Taiwanese music has spread throughout Asia.


8. Film
Ang Lee, director of Brokeback Mountain, has created a benchmark for the younger generation of moviemakers. He’s the role model of many young inspired-to-be directors. His movies plus many other Taiwan films has gained acknowledgements in the Western culture.


9. Earthquakes
Earthquakes are common threat to the island as it is situated along a crack in the Earth's crust. There are about 1500 tremors occurring during an average year.


10. Sun Moon Lake
Situated in Yuchih, Nantou, the lake and its surrounding countryside have been designated as one of thirteen National scenic areas in Taiwan. This famous tourist attraction is the largest body of water in Taiwan. The name is derived from its appearance: The east side of the lake resembles a sun while the west side resembles a moon.

Disneyization in Taiwan

I) Spot “Disney” in the modern society of the city or country

The Disneyization of society argues that the contemporary world is increasingly displaying characteristics of the Disney theme parks. The people are surrounded by the themed atmosphere, which is usually a complementary of the main purpose to why they visit a particular place. However, it has become an increasing trend for themed environments, as they appeal more to the customers.

The dimensions of Disneyization are:
Theming - clothing institutions or objects in a narrative that is largely unrelated to the institution or object to which it is applied.
Hybrid consumption – a general trend whereby the forms of consumption associated with different institutional spheres become increasingly difficult to distinguish
Merchandising – the promotion and sale of goods in the form of or bearing the copyright images, under license.
Perfomative labour – the growing tendency for the frontline service to be viewed as a performance, especially when the staff deliberately displays a certain mood at work

Here are some examples of "Disneyization" that I have spotted in Taiwan in relation to some of the dimensions above:

1. Doraemon Story House at Window on China
Located in Taoyuan County in northern Taiwan, the Doraemon Story House at Window on China is one of Taiwan's leading theme parks. Common gadgets like the “anywhere” door, time-machine, telephone booth device and many more which we saw on TV taken out from Doraemon's 4D pocket, are now all available at the theme park. Not to forget, the main characters of the show: Doraemon and his friends, are all brought to life to give welcoming performances to the children.

Merchandises featuring the characters are sold in souvenir shops. This is to help promote the theme park itself as these merchandises have the theme park's logo printed on them. When tourists buy products from the theme park, logos are printed on them for copyright issue and to help market the place.

This Doraemon-themed program has helped to boast the park’s popularity, while tapping into the childhood memories of many people, regardless locals or foreigners.

2. Leofoo Village Theme Park
Located in Longtan, Taiwan, started its operations in 1979 as a wild animal park. Like Disney, it is divided into separately themed areas. Currently, it houses 4 themed areas - Wild West, South Pacific, Arabian Kingdom and African Safari--and is the first park in Asia to combine a zoo with other amusement components.

Why is it so popular?
This is due to a growing trend in towards a social environment that are driven by combinations of eating out, playing and living.

Its architecture, landscaping, recreational facilities, music, costumes of staff, merchandise, F&B are carefully planned and produced to complement to the themes.

There are now many other interesting ways to watch the animals other than standing outside their cages. For examples, they can take a steam train called the Nairobi Express, for an excursion to observe herbivores like the rhinoceros or hop on a tour bus for an adventure through the predatory animal area to see American black bears and baboons.

Still not satisfied?! There are more facilities!

The place also has three different roller coasters, including an inverted shuttle coaster called the Screaming Condor. The other roller coasters in the park are called Sahara Twist and Little Rattler.

A 164-room hotel which is able to accommodate about 800 tourists, allows the guests to observe the animals just by popping their heads out of the windows. This has provided an opportunity for the guests to live in a wildlife environment. Now, visitors can sleep, play, and watch the animals all at one go.

This can be related to the process of convergence, where there is a growing trend towards places which consist of a combination of consumers' activities such as eating, shopping and sightseeing. Also, in relation to hybrid consumption, the different aspects (Food outlets, accommodation, sightseeing, and play) are blended together; it is hard to distinguish them as we cannot define what the visitors really look for when they visit the theme park.

3. Taiwan modern toilet theme restaurant
People are curious, and seeking quality and unique experience, are reasons why there’s increasing number of toilet-themed outlets in Taiwan.

This is not a new trend in Taiwan as it has already started since 2004. It is a restaurant where people dine in a toilet-like ambience and eat their food from mini toilet bowls. Toilet rolls are hung over the tables for use as napkins, and drinks come in miniature urinals. "WC" signs are hung on the walls as a form of decor to complement to the atmosphere. This is one of the dimensions of Disneyization: Theming. In this case, the restaurant with a toilet narrative is applied. Diners in the restaurant are surrounded by visuals and ambience that are aligned with the toilet-themed environment.

In my opinion, the reason why the toilet-themed restaurants are becoming a trend is because of the popularity of the successful overseas themed-restaurants such as Hard Rock Café. Also, due to globalization, people are becoming more demanding; they seek different aspects in a product. For example, they are no longer satisfied in patronizing a restaurant which provides them with basic food and rest place. They desire for more qualities in a consumer product. Hence, themed outlets have become increasingly popular nowadays.

The changes brought by growth in tourism

J) Analyze the changes that have been brought about by the growth of tourism in the country.

Taiwan has recognized that tourism is an important sector and they began marketing it in the last few years. In February 2010, Taiwan (+39.2%) registered the highest growth out of the top 15 markets in tourism, which can be largely attributed to the Chinese New Year holiday. The growth of tourism in the country has caused some changes in Taiwan:

1.Technological advancements

The growth of tourism has brought about larger population of people travelling to Taiwan. In order to cater to this group of tourists and their increasing demands, technological advancements and developments are being made to the country. Technology is a double-sided coin. It has both pros and cons. For pros, roads are being built to connect isolated areas of the islands, including native reservations, with urban centres. These not only benefitted tourists, it also allows the city dwellers & locals to travel conveniently. On the other hand, as Taiwan builds more tourism developments, there's a need to clear lands and use resources for these developments. Government have to consider and weigh the importance between the tourism sector and other aspects of the country.

2. Leave their homes

Taiwan has become increasingly urbanized and industrialized. The rural life of the aborigines no longer fits in with the urban society. Many leave their traditional homes to seek jobs in towns. In 2002, the flow of indigenous people into the city numbered around 130000 which are almost 30% of the indigenous population. This might caused risk of the native culture being forgotten someday.
This is an article: http://in.reuters.com/article/idINTRE56J0L520090720 about the issue of the indigenous group losing its identity.

3. Contribution to the economy

Tourism is the largest industry which aid in economic growth for many countries, including Taiwan. Taiwan has had one of the fastest growing economies for the past 5 decades. This is not only due to imports and exports, but also the tourism sector. Due to the intense promotions and marketing of the country as a one-stop centre which includes MICE, shopping and sightseeing, it has successfully attracted many different target markets. This has help improve the country’s economy.

4. Locals start to value culture

There is a re-evaluation of the indigenous culture and traditions. Not only has tourism helped to re-create the sense of pride in the aboriginal people, people from the urban areas and foreigners are valuing this unique heritage and have greater awareness to protect them. For example, the younger TV programmes in the city are broadcasting documentary shows to these villages, this allows the younger generation to understand the culture of this group of people. In Taiwan, awards are also presented to the aborigines to acknowledge their efforts in music instead of giving it only to the more popular celebrities. This provides equal chances for everyone and also opportunities for them to interact and exchange their views.

Indigenous group in Taiwan

Tourism a Culprit?

K) Comment on whether tourism has been a culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions?

Like many other countries, Taiwan is becoming dependent on the tourism industry for economic growth. The government has developed many tourists’ facilities to accommodate the increasing numbers of enthusiastic visitors who are interested in the indigenous groups of Taiwan. Therefore, this has resulted Taiwan to gradually become an urbanized society. However, as these tourists participate in trips there, the locals, who are the conforming end will have to cater to the needs of the visitors as they are providing them with the income, this has led to implications such as turning the cultures and traditions into products to sell, which is called commodification. Hence, tourism is definitely a culprit in commodifying cultures. Some examples are:

1. City people make use of aboriginal designs

With advanced transportation network, more tourists (from the city or outside the country) are able to gain access to aboriginal villages which are scattered all over the island. This has made the aboriginal culture very popular especially in the cities. Hence, business people saw the potential in this, and started making clothing and decorations with aboriginal designs, or statues and costumes of the native people. These have result in exploitation of the indigenous groups.

2. Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

At Sun Moon Lake in the Central Range, the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village houses a model re-creation of aboriginal villages representing each of the 12 tribes in Taiwan. It is a combination of culture-study centre and amusement park. There are demonstrations of crafts, food, dance, and religious celebrations, which are being displayed to the visitors. As I have mentioned, the 12 tribes are scattered all over in Taiwan, hence, by asking some of them to come and live with the other groups in a small cultural village might cause social conflicts amongst them. The handicrafts & celebrations of each indigenous group is another example of commodification. Also, this has resulted in a loss of authenticity as developments and amenities are added to the place for the convenience of the tourists, which is very different from the village where the aborigines live.

3. Atayal Village in Wulai

Wulai, an Atayal village located in the hills upriver from Sindian in Taipei County is where the Atayal lives. Although this place is known for its scenic attractions and hot springs, if you head to Wulai Old Street you will be able to find a plethora of indigenous-cuisine restaurants and handicrafts stores.

These are examples of commodification of the aboriginal cultures in Taiwan. The unique culture is being commodified into products and hence they are no longer unique. Visitors can now bring souvenirs such as sculptures, handicrafts and other artworks back to their homelands.

However it is not until now, that commodification of the culture has happened. In the early 1990s, "Return to Innocence" by Enigma was a global hit. It turned out that the song was adapted from the Amis language. Luckily, an ethnomusicologist in Taiwan discovered where the music originated, and filed a lawsuit on behalf of the tribe.

Examples of the handicrafts:

Paiwan traditional 1-strand necklace

Amis pottery pendant necklace

Amis handmade girls' shawl

In conclusion...

I guess all of you have a deep understanding in Taiwan's culture now. Now, I will present you with a short video on my Taiwan trip in 2008.

Bibliography:

Behnke, A. TAIWAN In Pictures. Twenty-First Century Books (Lerner Publishing Group).
Moiz, A., & Wu, J. Cultures Of The World Taiwan . New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark.

Bryman, A. (1999). The Disneyization of society. The Editorial Board Of Sociological Review.

ChinatownConnection.com. (N.D). Culture in Taiwan. Retrieved Dec 5, 2010, from ChinatownConnection.com: http://www.chinatownconnection.com/culture-in-taiwan.htm

HER, K. (2009, Oct 1). Adventures in Wonderland. Retrieved Dec 5, 2010, from Taiwan Review: http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=64211&CtNode=1337&mp=1

KOGGARD, I. A. (N.D). TAIWAN. Retrieved Dec 5, 2010, from Countries and Their Cultures: http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Taiwan.html

Kwintessential. (N.D). Taiwan - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Retrieved Dec 5, 2010, from Kwintessential.com: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/taiwan.html

Myers, K. (2009, July 31). commodification of culture . Retrieved Dec 5, 2010, from Matthews House Project: http://www.matthewshouse.net/2009/07/commodification-of-culture.html

Republic of China Ministry of Communications goes sightseeing bureau . (N.D). Home. Retrieved Dec 5, 2010, from Amusement Park in Taiwan Website: http://www.themeparks.net.tw/eng/index.asp

Singapore Tourism Board. (2010, April). Tourism Sector Performance for February 2010. Retrieved Dec 5, 2010, from Singapore Tourism Board: https://app.stb.gov.sg/asp/new/new03a.asp?id=11423

Tourism Bureau, R. o. (Director). (2008). Welcome to Taiwan [Motion Picture].

YienJee. (2007, Nov 15). Taiwan Modern Toilet Restaurant. Retrieved Dec 5, 2010, from YienJee's Asian Blog: http://yeinjee.com/2007/taiwan-modern-toilet-restaurant/

Lu, B. T. (2009, July 20). Taiwan aboriginals lament losing identity to modernity. Taitung, Taiwan.


Music source: www.musicdumper.com

Pictures source (Top to bottom):
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