Outings in the Park

The park is a very important venue for leisure activities in Taiwan. Almost every day city parks are thronged with people walking, exercising, mediating, gossiping, or just relaxing, weekends are even busier as whole families turn up to enjoy the fresh air and scenery.

Early morning is the best time to exercise in the park. This is when hundreds of people, young and old, head to the park to exercise before going to school or work. Among the different ways of working out are tai chi, dancing, calisthenics and racket games, such as badminton, among the older generation, it is common to see men playing Chinese chess in the park. Some even bring portable music players and hold singing sessions there.

Traditional Sports

Skipping with a jump rope has been popular since the Tang dynasty and is promoted in calisthenics exercises in schools. Shuttlecock is described in historical records of the Han and Sung dynasties. The object is to kick a shuttlecock back and forth and keep it from falling to the ground, top spinning was once popular with children, it is played by mainly men in Taiwan today. Diabolo spinning is taught in schools, the diabolo looks like a large yo-yo; it has two wooden or plastic wheels with a shaft between them, the player moves the diabolo by using a long cotton string attached to a stick at either end of the string.

KTV Entertainment

Karaoke Television[KTV], or singing along to precorded music videos, is a popular activity for socializing in Taiwan. Karaoke is actually a Japanese word meaning “empty orchestra”. Karaoke clubs offer private rooms with television sets, music videos and a microphone.

Getting Away

Taiwan’s dramatic mountain scenery offers city dwellers the opportunity to get away from the noise and stress of city life. Hiking in the Central Mountain Range has become a popular leisure pastime, and hiking clubs in Taiwan enjoy a growing popularity. Evergreen forests cover two-thirds of the island, and hikers can enjoy the scenic views of forest, plains, waterfalls, and lakes.

Yu Shan National Park is a favorite destination of many. The largest and most pristine national park in Taiwan, Yu Shan offers hiking trails and showcases the ruins of aboriginal settlements and the Qing dynasty. Another popular locale for enthusiastic hikers is Hsueh Shan, the second highest mountain in Taiwan. Standing at an impressive height of 10,321 feet (3,146m), Hohuan Shan ( meaning Mountain of Harmonious Joy) in the Central Mountain Range is Taiwan’s only ski resort. Besides drawing skiers in winter, it attracts numerous hikers during summer.

The Taiwanese also enjoy travelling to mountain resorts to take in the scenery. The tranquil beauty of Sun Moon Lake makes it a favorite destination among honeymooners and tourists. Ali Shan, with views of 18 mountain peaks in the Central Mountain Range and the grand Taroko Gorge, also boasts a popular resort. A favorite excursion from Taipei involves a trip to the shore. The 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.

Outings in the Park

The park is a very important venue for leisure activities in Taiwan. Almost every day city parks are thronged with people walking, exercising, mediating, gossiping, or just relaxing, weekends are even busier as whole families turn up to enjoy the fresh air and scenery.

Early morning is the best time to exercise in the park. This is when hundreds of people, young and old, head to the park to exercise before going to school or work. Among the different ways of working out are tai chi, dancing, calisthenics and racket games, such as badminton, among the older generation, it is common to see men playing Chinese chess in the park. Some even bring portable music players and hold singing sessions there.

Traditional Sports

Skipping with a jump rope has been popular since the Tang dynasty and is promoted in calisthenics exercises in schools. Shuttlecock is described in historical records of the Han and Sung dynasties. The object is to kick a shuttlecock back and forth and keep it from falling to the ground, top spinning was once popular with children, it is played by mainly men in Taiwan today. Diabolo spinning is taught in schools, the diabolo looks like a large yo-yo; it has two wooden or plastic wheels with a shaft between them, the player moves the diabolo by using a long cotton string attached to a stick at either end of the string.

KTV Entertainment

Karaoke Television[KTV], or singing along to precorded music videos, is a popular activity for socializing in Taiwan. Karaoke is actually a Japanese word meaning “empty orchestra”. Karaoke clubs offer private rooms with television sets, music videos and a microphone.

Getting Away

Taiwan’s dramatic mountain scenery offers city dwellers the opportunity to get away from the noise and stress of city life. Hiking in the Central Mountain Range has become a popular leisure pastime, and hiking clubs in Taiwan enjoy a growing popularity. Evergreen forests cover two-thirds of the island, and hikers can enjoy the scenic views of forest, plains, waterfalls, and lakes.

Yu Shan National Park is a favorite destination of many. The largest and most pristine national park in Taiwan, Yu Shan offers hiking trails and showcases the ruins of aboriginal settlements and the Qing dynasty. Another popular locale for enthusiastic hikers is Hsueh Shan, the second highest mountain in Taiwan. Standing at an impressive height of 10,321 feet (3,146m), Hohuan Shan ( meaning Mountain of Harmonious Joy) in the Central Mountain Range is Taiwan’s only ski resort. Besides drawing skiers in winter, it attracts numerous hikers during summer.

The Taiwanese also enjoy travelling to mountain resorts to take in the scenery. The tranquil beauty of Sun Moon Lake makes it a favorite destination among honeymooners and tourists. Ali Shan, with views of 18 mountain peaks in the Central Mountain Range and the grand Taroko Gorge, also boasts a popular resort. A favorite excursion from Taipei involves a trip to the shore. The 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.