Taiwan

Shaped by 50 years of Japanese occupation and mass immigration of Han Chinese, Taiwan’s culture is a melting pot of Japanese and Chinese influences. Tuck into a lunchtime feast of dumplings at Din Tai Fung in Taipei, famous for their xiaolongbao before soaring to the top of Taipei 101 for views over the twinkling city. Grab fresh pork and cucumber bao buns for dinner at the Shilin Night Market and hop on the high-speed train to Tainan to explore the old city. Watch the sun rise over the lush landscape in Alishan and hike through Taroko Gorge for views down the rushing river. Cycle along wooden boardwalks around Sun Moon Lake and go snorkelling off the golden beaches of Kenting National Park.