Taiwan

Capital: Taipei Population: 23,315,822 Official Languages: Standard Chinese Time Zone: +8 Dialing Code: +886

Government: Unitary semi-presidential Area: 36,193km2 largest city: New Taipei City Currency : New Taiwan dollar ISO 3166 code: TW

Basic Info

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is a state in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China now governs the island of Taiwan (formerly known as "Formosa"), which makes up over 99% of its territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and other minor islands. Neighboring states include the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east and northeast, and the Philippines to the south. Taipei is the political capital as well as economic and cultural centre in Taiwan. New Taipei is the most populous city.

Geography

The island of Taiwan lies some 180 kilometres (110 mi) off the southeastern coast of mainland China, which lies across the Taiwan Strait, and has an area of 35,883 km2 (13,855 sq mi). The East China Sea lies to the north, the Philippine Sea to the east, the Luzon Strait directly to the south and the South China Sea to the southwest. The shape of the main island of Taiwan is similar to a sweet potato seen in a south-to-north direction, and therefore, Taiwanese, especially the Min-nan division, often call themselves "children of the Sweet Potato."

Climate

The Tropic of Cancer roughly bisects the main island of Taiwan, which has a humid subtropical climate influenced by the East Asian Monsoon. The climate varies widely by season in the northern part and the mountain areas, but the south belongs to the tropical belt and is warm and humid all year. From May to June is rainy season, with almost daily showers. Typhoons are most likely to strike between July and October, with on average about four direct hits per year. In the northern part of the island, cloudiness is persistent and extensive during the year, while in the south 90% of the annual precipitation falls in the summertime. The annual rainfall is usually more than 2,500 mm (98.4 in), close to 5,000 mm (196.9 in) in some Eastern regions. Intensive rain from typhoons often leads to disastrous mudslides.

Religion

according to the CIA World Factbook and other latest sources from US State Department or the Religious Affairs Section of the MOI, over 93% of Taiwanese are adherents of a combination of the polytheistic ancient Chinese religion, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism; 4.5% are adherents of Christianity, which includes Protestants, Catholics, and other, non-denominational, Christian groups; and less than 2.5% are adherents of other religions, such as islam. Taiwanese aborigines comprise a notable subgroup among professing Christians: "...over 64 percent identify as Christian... Church buildings are the most obvious markers of Aboriginal villages, distinguishing them from Taiwanese or Hakka villages."

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