Taiwan a haven for incentive groups

Many areas could justify a stay of several weeks, but the island is small enough for almost everything to lie within the scope of a day trip from Taipei. Taiwan offers something for most tastes — serious mountaineering or watersports, sightseeing from the comfort of an air-conditioned bus, a feast for the eyes in the National Palace Museum, a gourmet banquet in one of a hundred different regional styles or a relaxing day in a hot-spring resort. Alishan Like most of Taiwan's mountain areas, Alishan is part of the jagged mountain ridge that runs over 170 kilometres, or almost half the island's length from north to south. Anarrow gauge railway zigzags its way from Chiayi at 30 metres above sea level to a height of 2,200 metres in three hours, crossing 71 bridges and going through 49 tunnels en route. One of the world's last three alpine train rides, the journey is an engineering and scenic marvel. National Palace Museum The permanent collection in the National Palace museum features more than 650,000 pieces of the finest porcelain, bronzes, paintings, jade and ivory carvings. But this is by no means Taiwan's only museum. From ethnography to science, earthquakes to glass, drinking water to tea, no matter how obscure the interest, you can be sure that somewhere on the island there is a dedicated museum. Hot springs Taiwan has hot springs in almost every part of the island. The most famous ones around Taipei are in the Beitou district, which has many Japanese style bathhouses, inns and other features. Less than an hour south of Taipei lies another attractive hot spring area centred on the Aboriginal village of Wulai. Aspectacular waterfall, a forestry reserve, interesting ethnic shopping and unusual food make this a delightful place for a relaxing day out with a difference. Among Wulai's many small hot-spring hotels is the Pause Landis, which has hot spring baths in each of its 30 rooms. The restorative properties of the water can be reinforced at the world-class spa that is part of this boutique hotel. Four meeting rooms and a fine-dining restaurant combine to make this the ideal executive getaway incentive destination. Jiufen Gold-panning ended several generations ago at the picturesque former mining village, Jiufen, perched on the side of a mountain overlooking Taiwan's northeastern coast. A century ago, this was Japan's major source of gold. During the 1930s Jiufeng prospered to the point that it earned the nickname 'Little Shanghai'. When the gold ran out, however, Jiufen was quickly forgotten although the quaint little houses and wooden teashops remained. Many of them were turned into studios by artists seeking a creative environment outside the city. In 1989 Jiufen was the location for a very successful Taiwanese film, City of Sadness, and interest in the picturesque little town revived once more. Taroko Gorge The Taroko Gorge is deservedly Taiwan's most popular tourist destination. Sheer-sided cliffs of white marble, dramatic stone canyons and sharp mountain peaks soaring to almost 4,000 metres make this a spectacular natural wonderland, created over millions of years. Hiking, whitewater rafting, hot springs, dining and shopping for marble souvenirs are among the many activities available in this area. Lugang Sometimes referred to as Lukang, the prosperous 17th-century port city of Lugang is a living museum. It offers a wealth of traditional buildings and narrow, winding streets to explore and an equally varied range of food, especially local snacks of all kinds. Although once a harbour, severe silting of the sea and the Lugang River have left it some distance from the shore. The Dutch started Lugang along the road to riches when they arrived here to trade deer hides (which the Japanese used to make Samurai armour). Entrepreneurs from many parts of China moved here and constructed fine temples and other buildings in various regional styles. In the late 19th century the port silted up and lost its importance, but not the architectural and culinary heritage that remain to this day.