With its incredibly diverse topography and rich culture, Taiwan can offer an eye-opening experience for your students. Not only is the island home to a mix of Taiwanese, Japanese, and Chinese cultures, there are sixteen officially recognized indigenous cultures. Indigenous peoples are often overlooked, but here at WildChina Education, we seek to bring you to the margins of cultural understanding. From language immersion to community service to adventure, here are five reasons to take your students on a school trip to Taiwan.
5 Reasons to Take Your Students on a School Trip to Taiwan
1.Culture and language immersion
There are a number of historic landmarks in Taiwan, including the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, but our experts can walk you through the history of Taiwan’s Indigenous communities during your stay as part of WildChina’s Culture and Language Immersion program.
Your students will get a chance to learn about the games of the Amis Indigenous people during an overnight stay at Leader Village Taroko, the cuisine and folklore of the Kiwit people at the Kiwit Tribes Museum, and hear real life stories from Indigenous students at the College of Indigenous Studies. We’ll also take your students on a thrilling rafting tour while teaching them about the Amis ancestors.
2.The never-ending variety of landscapes
Taiwan, also known as Ilha Formosa or 美麗島 (Měilìdǎo), has hundreds of biodiverse mountains, jungles, natural hot springs, and is outlined by the sea. Even in the center of the city, mountains can be seen stretched across the skyline. There are so many types of educational activities that we can offer. Taroko Gorge, located in Hualien, is a national park that boasts one of the country’s most beautiful views. The mountain not only has greenery but is essentially an eroded canyon filled with sandy-white and taupe cliffs. Taroko Gorge is also known as the “Taiwanese Grand Canyon,” shaped by the river current over millions of years.
At the Wushanding Mud Volcano Geology Park, we offer an engaging experience of one of Taiwan’s natural wonders. Another lava pillar to explore is Green Island, where students can have a kayaking competition and an exchange with a local school. Each city in Taiwan harbors a distinct mix of ancient culture and modern architecture.
During a typical day on a school trip to Taiwan, you could literally visit a temple in the mountains by day and walk among the buzzing city crowd by night. A hike up Xiangshan gives an incredible view of Taipei 101, too. To explore the duality between tradition and contemporary expression, our guides can take you to the Pier-2 Art Center in Taiwan to see some cool art.
3.STEAM program
Our STEAM program gives students a hands-on experience of Taiwan’s society, culture, and economy. WildChina has a two-day STEAM school exchange with Grass Book House where students can either participate in a robot-building challenge, cooking workshop, or career path training. We dive into the history of how Indigenous peoples came to live in Taiwan and how past events have shaped Taiwan’s culture today.
At Sanxia, students are taken through a traditional indigo-dyeing workshop, and to Tzushr Temple to learn about its history and the mythology behind the hand-carved stone pillars. Yuan mountain is a great place for a fun hike as students get a chance to take in the scenery. At the Gold Ecological Park in Yilan Jiufen, students can even experience traditional gold mining with the local miners as an immersive way of learning. As an educational tour of Taiwan’s sustainable energy production, we’ll visit the Cingshuei Geothermal Power Plant.
4.Delicious Night Market food
Night Markets are the ultimate place to experience authentic Taiwanese cuisine. The most famous ones in Taiwan are Raohe Night Market and Shilin Night Market in Taipei, Feng Chia Night Market in Taichung, Wenhua Night Market in Chiayi, and Ruifeng Night Market in Kaohsiung. The markets open as early as 4 p.m. and close at 12 a.m., although some markets close later. Foods and drinks such as oyster omelets, stinky tofu, taro balls, glutinous rice cakes, black grass jelly, bubble tea, and starfruit juice are some commonly seen specialties.
Some other popular Night Market foods in Taiwan also include sweet potato balls, Taiwanese fried chicken, beef noodle soup, Lu Wei, fried squid, and red bean cake. Depending on the size of the night market, you and your students can return the next night and still find more unexplored stalls. When students are done eating, they can also shop for clothing, various types of accessories, and have fun at game booths.
5.Tons of fun!
Our programs are designed with time for leisure in mind. ‘Educational’ does not have to mean boring. You can enjoy a walk along the Lotus Pond and a tour of temples, the 85 Sky Tower, and the Formosa Boulevard Metro station in Kaohsiung. There is a Sugar Factory in Taitung with creative studios, cafes, traditional tools, and ice treat shops waiting for you to explore. We even have naturalist experts who can take you stargazing during your school trip to Taiwan.
You can also choose to spend one of your nights relaxing in an ocean hot spring. Students can learn about forest protection and the local Sazasa Indigenous people at the Forest Culture Museum and have lunch in the forest. As an experiential learning experience, students can try out traditional mochi making in a traditional wood kitchen. We can also take your students on a beach hike to get a taste of the breathtaking panoramic view of the beach. Dolphin and whale watching, snorkeling, and cycling are activities your students can also participate in on your school trip to Taiwan.
Interested in taking your students on a school trip to Taiwan? WildChina believes in structuring safe trips and is committed to sustainable travel. Our partnered schools include Columbia University, Harvard University, Stanford University, Dulwich College, Wellington College, and more. Our work has been recognized by National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, and TripAdvisor, amongst other organizations. Feel free to reach out and request a quote. We would also be delighted to assist you in bringing your students on a school trip to Taiwan via phone or email.
