TAIWAN ~ Taroko National Park - Hualien ~

... Great new NP to add to my collection... it is the second largest national park in Taiwan... one of the top destinations for tourists in the island... famous for its Grottos, scenic bridges, mountains, temples, cliffs, and waterfalls... the gorge also offers a large variety of animals for people to observe...
Thanks a lot Kayu!! ❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

Taroko National Park is one of the nine national parks in Taiwan and was named after the Taroko Gorge, the landmark gorge of the park carved by the Liwu River. It is located on the eastern coast of the island and became a national park in 1986.

Covering 1,200 square miles, the park rises from sea level to 3,700 metres (12139 ft) and is 90% mountains. The park features marble-walled canyons and over half of Taiwan’s animal and plant species.

Stamp:

Chinese New Year 2018 - Year of the Dog
(Issued 01-12-2017)

TAIWAN ~ Ximen Red House - Tapei ~

... Beautiful card nr2... the Red Theatre is an ancient landmark with a history of almost a century old... one of the symbolic buildings in Taipei... the most well preserved historical site....a popular tourist destination... the cultural and creative center of the capital... Thanks once more Jobbo!!ヽ(ヅ)ノ

The Red House built in 1908 by the Japanese, this Western-style building and its surrounding square located at Ximending which now hosts many cultural events including weekend markets for artists and designers. The building features an octagonal entrance and cross-shaped floor plan where merchants could showcase their goods.

The Red House is home to Taipei’s “gay village”, which comprises of a collection of gay bars, restaurants and cafes. The Red House building is actually a historical theater building which now hosts many cultural events including weekend markets for artists and designers. The ‘gay village’ surrounds the Red House, in the nearby streets.

Stamp:

Chinese Classic Novels - Red Chamber Dream
(Issued 29-06-2016)

TAIWAN ~ Presidential Offfice Building - Tapei ~

... First of two Taiwan cards from Jobbo... great view of one of the most recognizable buildings in Taiwan.... the Presidential office building is a magnificent structure... really beautiful architecture... a national historical monument and the highest authority building... Thanks a lot Jobbo!!❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

The Presidential Office Building houses the Office of the President of the republic of China and is located in the national capital of Taipei. The building, was designed during the period of Japanese rule of Taiwan (1895-1945). Damaged in Allied bombing during World War II, the building was restored after the war. It became the Presidential Office in 1950.

It was designed by a Japanese architect Uheiji Nagano. The style of the building is a combination of traditional European elements, including Baroque, Neo-Classical features, and Renaissance.

At present, this building is a symbol of the Government of the Republic of China. The two-part main building, six stories high, mainly houses government offices and maintenance services.

Stamps:


Qing Dynasty Embroidery
(Issued 20-03-2013)

The 100th Anniversary of Scouting in Taiwan
(Issued 01-11-2011)

TAIWAN ~ Guishan Island (Turtle Island) - Yilan ~

 ... Great view of a well-known sightseeing spot surrounded by sapphire blue ocean... Turtle Island is the only active volcano in Taiwan and the largest uninhabited island in Yilan County... with the growing popularity of dolphin and whale watching, the island has become a famous tourist attraction... in order to preserve the natural environment, the number of tourists is controlled... with beautiful special matching island postmark... Thanks Shang Hong!!【ツ】

Guishan, literally means Turtle Island also known as Kueishan Island,  is situated in the most northern water in Yilan County in the Pacific Ocean. The island  got its name because its shape resembles a turtle.

The island is 3.3 kilometers wide from east to west and 1.7 kilometers long, coming to a total area of 2.85 kilometers squared, with a total coastline of approximately 10 kilometers.

Even with its small size, there are steep cliffs, active hot springs, hills and peaks, erosion caves, lakes, cold springs, rare cliff vegetation and a rich ocean ecology.

Stamp:

Railway Bridges of Taiwan
(Issued 09-06-2017)

TAIWAN ~ Xiao Wulai Skywalk - Taoyuan ~

...Great view of the first skywalk in Taiwan...also with special cancellations...Post Day ( 21-10-2016) Thanks a lot Ravindra!!❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

Xiao Wulai Skywalk is located in Taoyuan Fuhsing Township, rose beside the Wind-Rolling Stone and suspended above the Xiao Wulai Waterfall.

The shape of skywalk was in a concise design with geometrical pattern, and tempered glass construction in the bottom. The walkway extended in the sky for 11 meters. Standing on the glass platform, 70 meters high above the bottom of waterfall, tourists can admire the beautiful valley and spectacular waterfall scenery.

Stamp:

Berries
(Issued 12-01-2012)

TAIWAN ~ Rippling Moonlit Talk - Holland Lake - Chiayi city ~

...First of three great postcards sent by my dear postcard friend Ravindra who visited PHILATAIPEI 2016 World Stamp Championship Exhibition....all with beautiful temporary stamp cancellations...Thanks a lot !! ヽ(ヅ)ノ

Rippling Moonlit Talk Bridge is designed by the artist Wen-chih Wang and built in 2011 of aluminium, stainless steel, pottery steel and iron.

The subject structure is a see-through artwork of knitted aluminium plates. It is so designed as to display a magical scene of light and shadow like a birds nest on the lake.

 The upper half of the birds nest in the middle of the artwork in a peach shape symbolizes "the Peach City" as the city was originally called. On one side the tree nests seem to stand out in the shape of a turkey's tail end in association with the renowned local delicacy of "Turkey Rice", incorporating the cultural and sight-seeing characteristics of Chiayi City into the artwork. – from a notice made by Chiayi City Government.

Stamp:

Berries
(Issued 12-01-2012)

TAIWAN ~Chiayi - Alishan Forest Railway ~

...Last great postcard from Jobbo's travels in Taiwan...I do love the cherry blossom trees...they look wonderful...and as extra bonus a "matching" stamp... Thanks a lot!!

Photo © 2012 Lim Chien Chuan Art CO Alishan is located in the east part of the county by Taiwan's tallest peak, Yushan. Alishan — "Mount Ali" — is Taiwan's most-visited national park.

The Alishan Forest Railway is an 86 km network of  narrow gauge railways running up to and throughout the popular mountain resort of Alishan in Chiayi County.

The railway,(1912) was originally built for logging the area's giant cedars. By the 1970s, logging had pretty much ended and tourism had become the area's primary earner with unique Z-shaped switchbacks, 50 tunnels, and over 77 wooden bridges.

The entire area was declared a "national scenic area" in 2001.

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of the Alishan Forest Railway
(Issued 25-12-2011)

TAIWAN ~Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall- Tapei ~

...second card from travelling Jobbo...great view of a famous landmark in Taipei...Thanks a lot and   ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯Merry Christmas to all my postcard friends and blog visitors who celebrate it✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a Taiwanese national monument in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. He passed away on 5 April 1975, after his fifth year of death anniversary (5 April 1980), the CKS Memorial Hall was officially completed and the public was allowed to give respect to the leader in this Hall.

The monument, surrounded by a park, stands at the east end of Memorial Hall Square. The structure is framed on the north and south by the National Theater and National Concert Hall.

Stamps:
Outlaws of the Marsh - Slaying the Tiger on Jingyang Ridge
(Issued 25-04-2012)

Lighthouses
(Issued 28-07-2010)

TAIWAN ~JIUFEN ~

... wonderful street view...it looks so narrow and with so many houses in such a small space...a really special atmosphere... and a must see place if you're travelling to Taiwan...Thanks once more Jobbo (and yes my last received postcard from Taiwan dates from 2013!!【ツ】

Jiufen is a small town in northern Taiwan famous for its nostalgic old street, food and ocean view. Jiufen was a prosperous gold mining town since 1890s but its popularity faded as the gold resource was depleting since 1950s.

The town centre is a labyrinth of narrow paths  on a hill, so it come with a lot of staircases.


The village was once home to nine families in the Qing Dynasty, and was named Jiufen for the number of shipments that were delivered to the town. (Jiu means the number nine in Chinese, and fen is a measure word for a portion of something.) Nine portions were always requested whenever shipments were delivered to the village.

Stamps:

1&3 Children at Play
(Issued 02-04-2013)

Chinese Classic Novel - Red Chamber Dream (Issued 30-03-2015)

TAIWAN ~Buddhist zen meditation ~

...Nice painting showing a person practices meditation in a cave...The person who sent this wrote that meditation clears your mind an thoughts...It helps you a lot by concentration and emotion control...
...Sounds like something I should try  too ... (so different to our "Western" belief)
Thanks chenchaoan! (TW-847209)


With three nice stamps used

Zen is a part of Mahayana Buddhism, referred to as "Chan" in Chinese. There are different forms of meditation emphasized by Zen, one being "zazen." The goal is the attainment of awakening, or becoming enlightened. It focuses less on theoretical knowledge but the actual experience through meditation and dharma practices.

TAIWAN ~Hualien-Chishing Lake~

A fantastic official (TW-631802)...it has such a tranquil feeling...the colors of the sky are just amazing...it seems to be a popular and famous place for holidays...and I can understand why!!:D Thanks a lot Iris!

Great stamp! The Inauguration of the 13th President and Vice President of the Republic of China Commemorative Issue
(Issued :2012-05-20)

Located on a strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Central Mountain Range, Hualien is considered one of the most pleasant cities in Taiwan. Many tourists visit the city to enjoy the scenery and fresh air.
Unlike the usual seaside, the beach area of ChiShing Lake does not have sand but is made out of all kinds of tiny stones.

TAIWAN

...Nice card from Taiwan... The sender wrote that this card shows the history of Taiwan...From 1912 till 1945 Taiwan was a part of Japan, so the icon got the flag of Japan. But I don't know why some years are green??
With really nice stamp!

TAIWAN

An official from Taiwan(TW-303565). Nice painting... I must admit I'm not so fond of "art" postcards... But I found interesting information about Chinese myths and legends...


From the back of the card:
Advanced-scholar Chung Moving (detail) Kung K'ai, Sung Dynasty (960-1279) "Portraits of Chung K'uei" from Ancient Chinese Painting; National Palace Museum, Tapei.
The character Chung K'uei (鍾馗) has his roots in talismans, used by the Chou Dynasty court to ward off evil spirits, that were called 'chung-kuei".

During the South and North Dynasties, the court promoted the use of chung-kuei among the people.
The folk belief in man named Chung K'uei, who became a deity after he died, began in the Tang Dynasty. In more than one thousand years since, Chung K'uei has become very popular.
With widely held view of him as the greatest ghost buster of all--capable of vanquishing demons and monsters and eating ghosts--painters, novelists and dramatists have all made him the focus of their works.
As the end of the year approached and during the Dragon Boat festival, each and every household used to put up his portraits to ward off evil and bring good fortune.

TAIWAN ~Tapei 101~

Got a nice view of a very tall and impressive looking skyscraper in Tapei...Knowing that Taiwan, like Japan, is in the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and therefore has a lot of earthquakes, they must have been very brave to built such a high tower...:D


Taipei 101 formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Taipei, Taiwan. It is Built to resemble a stalk of bamboo.
The building contains 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground.
The '101' has several references: the 101 floors, then, 101 is the postal code of Taipei's international business district.

TAIWAN ~Dajhih Bridge~

The Dajhih Bridge, Taipei is one of Taipei city’s new landmarks. It is the first cable-stayed bridge with a single pylon in the shape of a fishing rod in the city. It was partially opened to traffic in June 2002. In January 2003, the main span was opened
to traffic. The bridge has a total length of 820 meters and eight-lanes, with two-way traffic. It is an important bridge connecting the Dajhih district to other parts of Taipei. At night, when its red cables and pylon are illuminated, it resembles a dazzling work of large outdoor art that sets off the beautiful scenery of neighboring Keelung River Park.

TAIWAN ~The Rythm of Ferns~

When I first saw this strange postcard I couldn't imaging what it was.... It seems to be a plant, ferns...


Taiwan's incredible diversity of fern species is creating a hothouse environment for interest in the oft-overlooked flora. More than 600 species from 37 fern families grow in Taiwan. As interest in ferns blossoms, moreover, these wallflowers are revealing their remarkable personalities. Ferns, it turns out, have a propensity to adapt to various environments and conditions. They sprout up in misty forests, barren lands of limestone, salt swamps and inhospitable volcanoes.

TAIWAN ~Wufeng Chingchuan Waterfall~

Today I received a beautiful card from Taiwan with great and colorful stamps. Taiwan is an island in East Asia off the coast of mainland China.

TW-30505 ~Wufeng Chingchuan Waterfall~
Originally uploaded by gerda_dager

The waterfall is composed of eight small ones, so it is also called Pa Hsien (Eight Gods) Waterfall. Chingchuan Hot Springs nearby is also a popular sightseeing place and the area attracts many local and international visitors.

TAIWAN ~Taipei 101~

~Taipei 101~
Originally uploaded by gerda_dager

Tapei 101 is a 101-floor landmark skyscraper (508m) located in Taipei, Taiwan. Its the world's tallest completed skyscraper and is one of the Seven New Wonders of the World and Seven Wonders of engeneering.

TAIWAN ~Taroko Gorge-National Park~

TAIWAN ~Taroko Gorge-National Park~
Originally uploaded by gerda_dager

Sent by ya-chu. View of Taroko Gorge in The National Taroko Park, a fantastic 19km long canyon. It's unique geology means that it displays one of the most varied arrays of plant and wildlife in Taiwan.

TAIWAN

TAIWAN
Originally uploaded by gerda_dager

Sent by AKS. From Tapei.