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TAIWAN FUN MAGAZINE > December 2008
 

Unknown Taiwan

By Josie Wu Translated by Ann Lee

The Government Information Office (GIO) and Discovery Networks Asia are cooperating again to co-produce an "Unknown Taiwan" TV series, which will begin airing in December every Friday at 11 p.m. and focus on secrets not yet revealed about our beautiful island.

 

December 5: Tamsui--An expedition to the Fort San Domingo (Hong Mao Cheng)

December 5: Tamsui--An expedition to the Fort San Domingo (Hong Mao Cheng)

The Dutch controlled this historical Tamsui site from 1644 to 1662 and what's left of it today is known is the Fort San Domingo ("Hong Mao Cheng" in Chinese). Former Director of Fort San Domingo Chang Bao-chuan joins Dutch historian Walter Hellebrand, who journeys to Taiwan to share the story about how the Dutch constructed this famous historical landmark. The account includes Dutch funding for construction, and details about a well within the fort. It also deals with the question of whether or not tunnels are located under the fort--conjecture triggered by three huge pits first discovered in 2007 on hillsides around the fort, and local rumors--first printed in 1718--that tunnels extend all the way to Keelung. Are these true? Watch the program to find out.


December 12: The Magical Tale of the Alishan Warriors

December 12: The Magical Tale of the Alishan Warriors

Alishan is a well-known tourist destination. The Tsou Aborigine tribe has lived here for over 4,000 years and is considered a loyal guardian of Alishan. Pop singer Francesca Kao comes from the Tsou tribe and in this episode introduces her ancestors, culture, customs, and long-gone head-hunting tradition. Although headhunters were traditionally considered savages by outsiders, many sacred meanings were attached to this practice. While Japanese colonial rulers were mainly concerned with construction of an Alishan railroad, the Dutch and Tsou reconciled cultural differences to begin a friendly trading business. Find out how the Tsou tackled the challenges of foreign cultures, and have maintained their long-lived hunting traditions into modern times.


December 19: Jinguashih and its Golden Legend

December 19: Jinguashih and its Golden Legend

Jinguashih's mining industry is famous throughout Taiwan. Its gold mines were reputed to hold over NT$200 billion in riches. The area was sparsely inhabited until gold mining started in 1893. From 1895, Japanese colonial rulers began large-scale mining operations, earning Jinguashih the label, "Eastern Asia's Number One Gold Town". A century of glorious history ended when the mines were destroyed in a fire about 20 years ago. At that time, foreign mining interests visited the area to research the value of Jinguashih's gold. Today, the question of how much minable gold remains is a mystery.


December 26: Penghu--An Ancient Town with Mystic Oceans

December 26: Penghu--An Ancient Town with Mystic Oceans

Penghu, an archipelago rich with sunshine and beaches, has long been portrayed as a place with hidden mystical powers. The previous sea trading era was a heyday for Penghu. However, its coastline is also among the most dangerous--from 1850 to 1894, 83 vessels sank here and were never found again. Some aircraft have also crashed in the vicinity, from Japanese World War II fighters to more recent China Airlines and TransAsia Airways crashes. Are these disasters all a coincidence, or is Penghu's coastline some kind of Bermuda Triangle?