Taiwan Travels Trivia Quiz

Answer: Philippine Sea

Taiwan lies off the east coast of China across the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Sea lies to the east of the island, the East China Sea lies to the north. The south side of the island borders the Luzon Strait, and the southeast part of the island borders the South China Sea. The location of the island leaves it vulnerable to typhoons which hit the island regularly.

Answer: Angkor Wat

Any visit to Taiwan should include a visit to its capital city of Taipei. There are many things to see in this exotic city. These include the Shilin Night Market, the National Palace Museum, and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. This lovely city is a wonderful mix of the past and the present. Angkor Wat is located in Cambodia.

Answer: Hoodoo Stone

Located on the northern tip of the island, the Yehliu Promontory is a geological enigma. The most distinguishing characteristic of this location is the plethora of hoodoo stones. They come in many strange shapes including the unique stone depicted in this image. Known as "The Queens Head" this rock formation is one of the country's icons.

A hoodoo rock is best described as a pillar of rock/stone, usually in an unusual shape that is the product of uneven erosion.

Answer: It is home to a large nuclear waste storage facility.

Orchid Island is a wonderful island if you are looking to get away from it all. It is also home to the country's largest, and only, nuclear waste storage facility. The residents of the island were not advised of the plans to deposit the country's nuclear waste on their home.

They have staged multiple protests requesting the nuclear waste be removed from the island. Should this facility crumble during one of the frequent monsoons in the area, the results to the island and its people would be catastrophic.

Answer: A wonderful hiking trail.

Located in the center of the island, Nenggao Mountain is home to a popular hiking and cycling trail. The trail was first used by the aboriginal population for trade and travel through the mountains. In the 1950s, the trail was used to build a line of power lines across the island. This is a tough two to three day hike through high elevations and requires a good level of fitness.

Answer: Fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar calendar

The spectacular Taiwan Lantern Festival is held on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year. Replete with thousands of paper lanterns, parades, and hours of fireworks, the Lantern Festival is truly a sight to see. The origins of the festival are thought to lie with the agricultural peoples who were celebrating the lengthening of daylight hours and the joy the spring was around the corner.

There is also a legend that the festival was started to pay respect to Buddha. The exact origins are not known, but resulting celebrations are elaborate cultural celebrations that will make a wonderful addition to any visit.

Answer: It has 101 floors.

When it opened in 2004, the Taipei 101 was the tallest building on the planet. It has 101 floors (from which it derived its name), and was designed to look like a stalk of bamboo. It has high-pressure elevators which take only 40 seconds to take its riders from the first floor to the observation deck on the 89th floor.

This futuristic masterpiece of architecture is the product of "green" (eco-friendly) design. The building towers over Taipei's skyline and every evening its pinnacle displays a colored light which changes every day.

It is said to be a symbol of freedom and welcome.

Answer: Love River

The Love River, also known as the Ai He, is a fine example of Taiwan's efforts to clean up their country and protect their unique ecology. At one time, the city of Kaohsiung reeked from the smell of this waterway which was extremely polluted due to raw sewage and industrial waste. Today, it has been cleaned up and is lined with beautiful buildings, riverside cafes, and live bands. Nighttime river cruises are also available up and down this 7.5 mile (12 km) river.

Answer: False

Located in the southern region of the island, the Wushanding mud volcano in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, is one of the geographical wonders on the island. Locals found the location to be sacred and it is a popular tourist attraction. There is no mining going on at the location and never has been. Due to geothermal activity, these mud volcanoes seem to grow from the ground, developing into cone-shaped protrusions. Mud runs down the sides and hot gas spurts out in bubbles from the top of the cone. Each peak is temporary and can wash away in a day or a month. New mud volcanoes are forming daily, both here and on other parts of the island. If you are looking for an interesting place to visit while on the island, this is a wonderful site.

Answer: False

Located in the city of Hualien, the Saoba stone pillars are relics from an ancient culture known as the Beinan Culture which dates to about 3,000 years ago. These two megaliths are the only prehistoric cultural relics to be found on the island and are a source of pride and superstition.

It is unknown who made these stone pillars, where they came from, nor how they were brought to their present location. This lack of answers is a matter of scholarly debate as well as a source of mystery that surrounds these unique stone pillars.