12 Facts About Taiwan You Probably Didn't Know

Traveling to Taiwan has recently become a hot trend due to its cool climate towards the end of the year and vast culinary paradise. Did you know that Taiwan is one of the friendliest destinations in the world and highly ideal for expatriates? And there are many other facts... Before heading to one of the hottest tourist destinations in 2016, make sure you've got some interesting facts about this country in your pocket.traveling to Taiwan
Surely you've heard that since September 1, 2016, the Taiwanese government has relaxed visa requirements for Vietnamese tourists visiting Taiwan. Therefore, exploring Taiwan is almost within reach.

Taiwan Island is located near Hong Kong, Guangzhou (China) with an area of about 36,000 km² and is the 38th largest island in the world. Compared to some countries in Europe, Taiwan's area is larger than Belgium (30,528 km²)

Although not currently a member of the United Nations, Taiwan was a founding member and a permanent member of the UN Security Council from 1945 to 1971. Due to diplomatic pressure from the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan) left the United Nations in the 1970s. Today, Taiwan has a thriving economy outside of this organization.

The birth rate in Taiwan has declined significantly in recent years due to the struggle for gender equality yielding positive results. Professional women seek to enjoy life more. They are also reluctant to give up financial independence and stay at home to take care of children. Meanwhile, high job pressures make young people unprepared to plan for children. This is a common trend in developed countries.

Taiwan's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measured by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is 45,853,742 USD, ranking 19th in the world in 2016.

Taiwan's economy is part of the Four Asian Tigers along with Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore. Due to its massive trade surplus, Taiwan's foreign exchange reserves rank 5th in the world.

Nearly 99% of Taiwan's population can meet basic living standards. In Taipei, an individual needs about 337 USD per month to cover basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and tuition fees. Minimum living standards vary depending on different cities.

Surely you've heard about Japan being an incredibly safe country, where you can leave your bike unlocked or your belongings in public places without fear of losing them. Following closely behind Japan is Taiwan, so you can feel even more at ease if you're planning a trip here.

Sports are a popular form of entertainment in Taiwan. Besides basketball, which is the most popular sport, there's also volleyball, football, tennis, taekwondo...

According to data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), there are currently around 10,199 convenience stores across Taiwan, ranking second in the world after Japan. When traveling to Taiwan, one thing you'll notice is the abundance of convenience store chains like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, OK Mart, Watson, etc., lining the streets and alleys. These convenience stores in Taiwan offer dining areas, restrooms, ATMs, free wifi, and a plethora of unique snacks.