I had the chance to spend about a month at a time in Taiwan two years ago, and a large portion of it was spent either sightseeing or going through everyday life as one would do as a resident. Most of my time was spent in the capital, Taipei, and another large city, Taichung, but I also got to spend time in the countryside, which was especially pretty. Just note, but I have never been to the southern side of Taiwan, which is very different in many ways. Personally, I would say that, unless you’re there to visit a jungle, you could stick to the northern half and have all of the experiences.

Taiwan itself is just off of the southeastern coast of China. It itself is a relatively small country, considered by China to be one of their provinces but considered by the Taiwanese themselves to be a sovereign country officially known as the Republic of China.

In the city, it’s much like any other city in that it’s very diverse. When I stayed at a fancier place, there was a Rolex store within walking distance, just as close as the grocery store. At the countryside, there was definitely a need for a car, but that’s no different from living in somewhere in most of the US.

Most of the population speaks Chinese Mandarin, but many people know English or native Taiwanese. As someone who doesn’t know how to read Mandarin, it wouldn’t be too hard to find where you’re going, as most signs are in English as well as Chinese. English, because of it’s prominence in the world, is taught in school. If I was to give a rating on the language barrier in Taiwan, I would say it’s not bad, but not as good as those of Singapore or maybe Japan.

The public transportation of Taiwan is very good. Taxi, buses, subways, and high speed rail all play a part, and there is never a need for a car in the city. Even when I visited the countryside, looking out over the ricefields, you could see a elevated rail for a high speed train, which was a beautiful clash of traditional growing of rice and the modernization of the country, all in one scene.

Eating in Taiwan varies quite a bit. Restaurants can be very high class, yet you can find excellent food in stalls or ground-floor restaurants that line the street. If you need to eat on the go, there are literally malls build into some subway intersections, complete with food courts. Taiwan has a high density of 24 hour convenience stores, so there will always be something to eat within walking distance from your apartment.

The food itself is very good and varied. I remember once walking around a large, mall-like shopping center and finding food of cultures all over the world. From French baguettes to English teas, it was surprising to see how popular other foods were. You can, of course, find more traditional Asian cuisine from masterfully prepared seafood such as tuna or even shark to dumplings of any style of your choosing. There are also more popular foods like bubble tea or beef noodle soup that you could find in the shop on the corner. If you’re brave, you can even try pig’s blood cake or a grilled squid.

In landmarks, there are quite a few, both traditional and modern. There are absolutely stunning, native Taiwanese architectural structures, but the country also features Taipei 101, which used to be the tallest building in the world, at one of the times I visited. It is currently the sixth tallest building in the world.

If you were to visit for a business trip, I would suggest you definitely see what there is around you. If you are in Taipei, which you probably are, you should see Taipei 101 and later visit a museum for a great look into Asian art. There are many works of traditional Chinese art, as when the Nationalists moved to Taiwan after the revolution, they brought the best works with them. Because of this, much of China’s art is actually in Taiwan, as that is the “official” capital. One of the largest collections of Chinese art is the National Palace Museum of Taipei. Classical music is very developed in Taiwan as well, so if you were to listen to a concert, you should be very pleased.