Taiwan (island) Island

Taiwan is an island in East Asia located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, home to around 23 million people and covering roughly 36,000 square kilometres. The island contains a densely populated western plain and a mountainous interior dominated by the Central Mountain Range.

Landscapes range from lowland urban corridors and agricultural plains to high alpine peaks, coastal cliffs on the east coast and offshore archipelagos. The island’s economy is highly urbanised and export-oriented, with major cities including Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung.

Historically, the island has been inhabited by Austronesian indigenous peoples and later shaped by waves of migration and rule from mainland China and, from 1895 to 1945, Japanese administration; it has been governed by the Republic of China since the mid 20th century.

Geographically the island sits in the western Pacific, bordered to the west by the Taiwan Strait and to the east by the Philippine Sea.

• Size and population: Total land area about 36,000 square kilometres and a population of roughly 23 million people.
• Highest point: Highest point on the island is **Yu Shan** at 3,952 metres above sea level.

• Plan travel around Taiwan's seasonal patterns: spring (March-April) and autumn (October-November) generally offer the most stable weather and smaller crowds than summer and typhoon season.
• Use the Taiwan High Speed Rail (west coast) to move quickly between major cities (Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung) and reserve time to explore the east coast and mountains by slower provincial trains or car, since services there are less frequent.
• Expect big climate variation: coastal areas, cities, and high mountains have very different weather-build itineraries that allow flexibility for mountain hikes or island trips which may need alternative days due to weather.