AMSEP TAIWAN
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About amsep
About taiwan
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tradition
FOOD
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TOURIST SPOTS
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AMSA members
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Ontents
Steven From csmu
Hi, everyone! I’m Steven. It’s my pleasure to be one of the AMSEP officers in Taiwan.. For the past few years, I ‘ve devoted myself to the field of AMSEP and built lots of connection with my close international friends. Now, I can’t wait to discuss AMSEP with every AMSA chapter due to my enthusiasm and passion for AMSEP.. During AMSEP, you’re gonna get to know genuine cultures and authentic food here in TAIWAN. Most important of all, We Taiwanese will definitely show our kindness and hospitality to our honorable guests.
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Dear fellow explorers, Welcome to our friendly island paradise! It’s our pleasure to host you with the warmest smiles and greatest hospitality. Taiwan is not only famous for the delicious food and beautiful scenery, but also well known for its friendly people. We pride ourselves on our hospitality, and are committed to creating an inclusive and convenient environment for you to experience Chinese and indigenous cultures. Join AMSEP Taiwan and get ready to enjoy unforgettable moments with us. It promises to be a lot of fun and will be the decision of your life time.
Johanna From tcu
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AM s e p B O U T
Greetings All, We are the AMSEP officers of Taiwan, Steven and Johanna, for the tenure of 2017-2018. First of all, it’s our greatest pleasure to be AMSEP officers and we are looking forward to discussing AMSEP with you. We’ll be dedicating ourselves to make sure that AMSEP Taiwan can be connected with every AMSA chapter around the world. Second, AMSEP is a platform for medical students to share experiences and make friends based on genuine friendships and academic knowledge. .
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AMSA Taiwan is experienced in hosting incoming delegates. Based on the programs AMSA Taiwan has done, we are going to present you: different aspects of healthcare systems and working environment in hospitals, the passion and hospitality of people, and the diversities and specialties of cultures in Taiwan. Moreover, members in AMSA Taiwan are eager to be outgoing delegates, and join the AMSEP of your country. By sharing academic knowledge and establishing long-term friendships, delegates from different countries will create tight bonds and build intimate connections with one another. Last but not least, you can find all the information about Taiwan in the following contents of the booklet. We hope this booklet will arouse your interests in joining one of our AMSEPs. We trust that you will enjoy the programs we offer, and hope to meet every one of you
soon!
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capital Taipei, officially known as Taipei City, is the capital city of Taiwan. Central Taipei is home to nearly 2.7 million people. Sitting at the northern tip of the island, Taipei’s appropriate name literally means “north of Taiwan.”
AIwan
history The name "Taiwan," meaning "terraced bay," was first used in 1430. In the 16th century, the Portuguese named the island "Ilha Formosa" meaning "Beautiful Island." The name Formosa was used until the end of WWII. Situated between northern and southern Asia, Taiwan has long played a crucial role in trade and politics. Taiwan's location brought frequent invasions, but also provided the conditions needed for a modern, prosperous and democratic country.
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culture The culture of Taiwan is a blend of modern and traditional, national and international, unique and universal. Due to Taiwan's complex political history, the influences of indigenous culture, Confucianism, Japan, and Western civilization all can be seen at the same time. The dominant culture in Taiwan is Chinese. Immigrants from mainland China brought Confucianism and Chinese culture to Taiwan and visitors will see ornate temples and traditional Chinese characters here.
LANGUAGE Officially the largest and most commonly understood language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese. The form of ‘standard Chinese’ is taught as the primary language in schools and spoken fluently by virtually the entire population under sixty years old. There is also a widespread dialect form of Chinese known as Hokkien (also known simply as Taiwanese) that originates from the widespread historical immigration of populations from Southern China.
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PEOPLE Taiwan has a population of about 23 million people which consists of various ethnic groups. The larger part of the country’s inhabitants are the descendants of immigrants from various provinces in China. Taiwanese people are unquestionably some of the friendliest in Asia, if not the entire world, and most foreign visitors are impressed by their hospitality from the moment they arrive. The Taiwanese are a warm, hospitable group of people who never fail to be courteous and helpful.
WEATHER Taiwan is located mainly in the tropical area, so the weather is usually warm to hot and humid. The average temperature is from 18˚C to 31˚C. Southern Taiwan has a tropical, marine climate with generally warm and relatively dry weather. However, during winter in the north of Taiwan, it might be chilly and rainy in Taipei. In the mountains, snow may accumulate and rain may fall at any time. Typhoon is a frequent natural disaster in Taiwan and its season is from May to September.
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GEOGRAPHY Taiwan is located at the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, between Japan and the Philippines. The Central Mountain Range divides the east and west coasts and stretches from north to south. A wonderful variety of geo-graphical contrasts exist: mountains, hills, plateaus, plains, basins and coastline, all of which have a diversity of unique flora and fauna thrive.
CURRENCY Currency in Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar. The currency code is T WD and is commonly abbreviated as NT$ or simply $ in front of the amount, or a Chinese character ĺ…ƒ following the amount. 1 USD ≈ 30 NTD
VOLTAGE Electricity in Taiwan is 110 Volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. If you bring a device that does not accept 110 Volts at 60 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. Also, outlets in Taiwan generally accept 1 type of plug, so if your appliances plug has a different shape, you may need a plug adapter
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trad TA religion In terms of religion, 35% of the population in Taiwan believe in Buddhism. Religion is a very important role in our daily lives, while our traditional festivals and spiritual comfort are related to it.
incense
JOSS
Temple is one of the most crucial parts of Buddhism. We often pray to God for safety by burning incense. The concept of incense is to get rid of unluckiness and have access to fortune.
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On specific occ get some Traditio Traditional Joss P as Ghost Paper, be burnt and w transferred to ou
tion WAN Ba ja jang Ba Ja Jang was originated from Chinese folk beliefs and turns out to be a kind of traditional dance performed by 8 persons. These 8 persons aimed to perform exorcism of evil spirits for Wufu emperor in ancient times
PAPER
casion, we tend to onal Joss Paper. Paper, also known , which is used to we hope it to be ur ancestor’s world.
Spring couplet During Chinese New Year, people always put couplets on the front door to create New Year atmosphere. There are phrases on the couplets in order to pray for good luck and prosperity.
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FO in
OD taiwan
Bubble milk tea is one of most popular “ night market ” drinks in Taiwan. The combination of chewy bubble and fresh milk tea gives rise to the sweetness and refreshment of it. Huge variations have emerged in recent years such as chocolate milk tea, pudding milk tea, taro milk tea, etc.. More specifically, bubble milk tea was originated in Taichung, the middle part of Taiwan. If you’re tempted, don’t hesitate to give it a try. The most disgusting or the most delicious ? That’s how different people think about “ STINKY TOFU”. These cube-shaped tofu was deep-fried and further draped with spicy sauce. Finally, the crispy surface and the tender center of Stinky tofu mixed with stench make people drool. The smellier it is, the more delicious and traditional it will be.
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Fried chicken cutlet is one of Taiwan’s specialties. Even if you are not a gourmet, you can still be hooked on it by its mouthwatering appearance and salty flavor.. Take a visit to night markets in Taiwan!!! I promise that you will definitely get fat after sampling fried chicken cutlet Be sure to pay a visit to the night markets in Taiwan, you will put on some weight after sampling fried chicken cutlet. Oyster omelet was originated in Tainan, the southern part of Taiwan. During the cooking process, it is thickened with mixture of cornstarch and water, while eggs, oysters, and vegetables are added in The gummy chewiness is the selling point. No wonder it was voted “the best snack to represent Taiwan” in a poll of 1,000 Taiwanese by Global Views Monthly in 2007.
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For Taiwanese people, braised pork rice is really the representative of Taiwan. The popularity of this food is based on its chopped pork, aromatic soy sauce and five spices. After spooning the meat over a bowl of rice, it can’t be appetizing anymore.
In Taiwan, we got our own festival “ Taipei International Beef Noodles Festival ”, which indicates our Taiwanese people love beef noodles. The magic power of beef noodles lies in the perfect fusion of the springy beef, tasty noodles., and especially how the soup is processed. With more innovative recipe about it springing up like mushrooms, the texture becomes more and more scrumptious
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“Taiwanese Hot Dogs” are made with regular sausages wrapped in glutinous rice sausages. Because Taiwanese hot dog is a normal hot dog with sticky rice, it’s oversized compared to the normal one. Some toppings such as garlic and cucumber are usually added on it. You definitely can’t miss the tradition when taking a trip to Taiwan. Xiaolongbao is a kind of Shanghainese food, but Taiwanese’s creativity makes it more terrific than before. The most famous Xiaolongbao restaurant in Taiwan is “Din Tai Fung”. Bao has a flat bottom and curved top and basically is made up of flour, water and sugar. Having a bite of it, then the hot juicy filling popping out will surprisingly satisfy your appetite It’s really a taste feast.
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The National Palace Museum is home to the world's largest and arguably finest collection of Chinese art. This vast collection covers treasures in painting, calligraphy, statuary, bronzes, lacquer ware, ceramics, jade and religious objects. Spanning China's nearly 5,000-year history, the historical range at this museum is truly outstanding. It’s your chance now to have a feast for the eyes, to take a look at all the amazing exhibition representing diverse styles in different dynasties.
Gaomei Wetland located in Dajia, Taichung, is one of the most well known and well preserved wetland habitats in Taiwan. It is a special mix of mud and sand which bred diverse organism of animal and plants. Every year around fall and winter, large flocks of migrating birds would come here for either short or long stay over the winter, serving as the best spot for bird-watching. Besides, the breath-taking scenery during the sunset is 15 truly a must see while visiting Taichung.
The Alishan National Scenic Area lies east of Chiayi. The area holds a fantastic reputation in the minds of the Taiwanese, famous for such pleasant things as idyllic sunrises, high-quality tea, spring cherry blossoms, hiking trails, and much, much more. With its giant cedar and soaring pines reminiscent of sculptures or temples, not to mention the uncanny way in which clouds, wind and sun interact with it, Alishan can take your breath away.
Taroko National Park is Taiwan's top tourist destination. Taroko Gorge, an 18km marble-walled canyon, is considered one of Asia's scenic wonders. Created by the continual rising of the mountains combined with the erosive power of the Liwu River, Taroko Gorge with its tall, almost flat walls are a true marvel to view. Besides the gorge, other attractions include aboriginal settlements, temples, museums, and numerous hiking trails for visitors to experience the true beauty of mountainous Hualien 16 County and eastern Taiwan.
Taiwan's largest lake, Sun Moon Lake is located in the mountains of Nantou at the geographic center of Taiwan Island. The name of the lake is inspired by the beauty of the area. The east side of the lake is round, like the sun, while the west side is long and narrow, like a crescent moon. Visitors can tour the lake on a yacht or paddle boat, bike around the lake, or visit historic sites.
Towering above the city like the gigantic bamboo stalk it was designed to resemble, Taipei 101 is impossible to miss. At 508m, Taipei 101 held the title of 'world's tallest building' for a number of years. Until 2011 it held the title of the world's tallest green building. Visitors can purchase tickets and take the Guinness World Record breaking high-speed elevator to the observatory, which provides a commanding view of the city in all directions, on the 89TH floor. 17
One of the premier destinations in northern Taiwan, Yehliu Geopark is home to a number of unique geological formations including the iconic "Queen's Head", and is located along a cape stretching around 1,700 meters. The cape is formed as thousands of years of geological movement forced the Datun Mountains to change their shape, jutting out into the ocean. Besides the Queen's Head, other remarkable formations include Sea Candles, Fairy Sho, Ginger Rocks, Elephant Rock, Ice Cream Rock, Kissing Rock, and Princess' Head.
Qixingtan Beach in Hualien is where the mountains meet the sea. It is one of the most popular beach sightseeing spots of Hualien for it lies at the tip of a crescent bay offering extensive sceneries overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Qixingtan is consisted of a scenic area, geological area, the Katsuo Museum, as well as a stargazing observation area allowing visitors to have a wonderful experience stargazing by the sea.
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