IAB Conference 2025

    We are excited to introduce some attractions in Taiwan and hope you can take the time to explore this beautiful island before or after the meeting. Taipei City is very accessible to foreign visitors. In addition to Taipei, transportation is convenient in Western Taiwan, where we recommend several attractions. You can click the photos containing the super link on the right of each attraction; clicking them will redirect you to the website with more information about it.

Jiufen 

The history of Jiufen can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty when the Ketagalan people inhabited the area. In the early 1890s, gold was discovered in Jiufen, and the town quickly became a boomtown. During its peak, Jiufen was home to over 40,000 people and was one of Taiwan's most critical gold mining towns.

The gold mines in Jiufen closed in the 1970s, and the town declined. However, Jiufen experienced a revival in the 1990s, thanks to its role in the film "A City of Sadness". The film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and brought international attention to Jiufen.

Today, Jiufen is a popular tourist destination. Visitors can wander through the town's narrow streets, visit its traditional tea houses, and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Jiufen is also a popular spot for photographers, and it has been featured in many films and television shows. The city began to see many visitors, especially from Japan after 2001, due to the resemblance of the town in Spirited Away, even though Miyazaki has said that Jiufen was not the inspiration for the movie.

Tainan City 

Tainan City has a history dating back to the 1620s. It is the earliest developed city in Taiwan, and the name "Taiwan" originated there. Walking into the ancient city of Tainan is like stepping into a living history. As the first developed city in Taiwan, it is also the source of people's livelihood development. You can walk into the first school in Taiwan and marvel at where Taiwanese education was developed, step into various temples to explore the history of ancient and modern beliefs, wander through the ancient canals, and witness the changes of civilization stories. In Tainan, you can turn a corner and encounter hundreds of years old temples and ancient monuments.

The rich, affordable, and delicious Tainan snacks have been listed as recommended delicacies by the world-renowned Michelin Green Guide. Whether it is beef soup, sticky rice with fish floss/meat floss, or savory rice pudding, these local staple foods, and traditional snacks are the root of Taiwanese food culture and also carry the 300-year-old historical memory of Tainan.

Kaohsiung City 

Kaohsiung City, the most prosperous international city in southern Taiwan, was the host city of the 2009 World Games. Due to the regulation of the ocean climate, it is sunny and pleasant all year round, with a unique "ocean capital" characteristic. In recent years, it has vigorously promoted the tourism industry and become one of Taiwan's most beautiful cities.

In addition to the well-known attractions such as the Love River, Shoushan Mountain, Sizihwan, Lotus Pond, Cijin Island, and Zuoying Old Town, Kaohsiung is also a city of "mountains, seas, rivers, humanities, and ancient sites" that integrates the cultures of Hokkien, Hakka, Pingpu, Tsou, Rukai, Bunun, Paiwan, and military dependents' village. When you come to Kaohsiung, you can experience the natural ecology, taste the delicacies, and appreciate the diverse ethnic cultures, such as the Hakka oil paper umbrella, the Neimen Song Jiang Battle Ritual, the Buddha's Light Mountain, etc. Not to mention the largest shopping mall in Taiwan and the famous tourist night market, all the tourism elements are available, and it is worth your visit.

There are many more attractions to discover on the Tourism Administration of Taiwan website.