10 things Taiwan does better than anywhere else

With 23 million residents packed into just over 36,000 square kilometers, Taiwan ranks as one of the most densely populated places on the planet.

Known worldwide for its affordable electronics, Taiwan offers much more than just gadgets. This industrious island has already proven itself economically, yet its people remain fiercely proud and hardworking.

As you plan your visit, consider these 10 things Taiwan excels at like no other place:

1. Night markets

Despite being smaller than Switzerland, Taiwan boasts an impressive 300 night markets scattered across the island.

These vibrant outdoor markets are best known for their street food, called xiao-chi, meaning 'small eats.' Popular dishes include oyster omelets, stinky tofu, and a variety of grilled snacks served on sticks.

Specialty beverages range from bubble tea to even more adventurous offerings like snake blood shots. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau reports that about 70% of tourists visit a night market during their stay.

The top three Facebook check-ins in Taiwan for 2013 were all night markets. Tainan's Flower Night Market claimed the top spot globally (12th overall), followed by Luodong and Feng Chia night markets in Yilan and Taichung.

2. Themed restaurants

If you enjoy humor that's as literal as it is quirky—think dining out of miniature urinals and toilet bowls—Taiwan has plenty to offer for a good laugh.

Modern Toilet restaurants take a humorous approach to dining etiquette, asking cheeky questions like: “To eat or to pee? That is the question.”

For a completely different vibe, dive into a world of cuteness at a Hello Kitty-themed café, where everything from burger buns to soup bowls is modeled after the iconic cat (for more on Taiwan's Hello Kitty obsession, see point 9).

Craving more pink and glitter? Taiwan has you covered with the world’s first Barbie-themed restaurant, complete with Mattel-approved decorations of plastic pink and frilly tutus.

Past themed eateries in Taiwan have included a cafe designed like an Airbus A380, where 'trolley dollies' serve food and drinks from carts, as well as restaurants with prison, hospital, and school themes.

3. Free Wi-Fi

Since 2011, Taiwan’s residents have enjoyed free access to iTaiwan, the island's Wi-Fi network.

Taiwan is one of the pioneers of widespread free Wi-Fi, rolling out the service in June 2013 to tourists across four of its five largest cities, with more than 4,400 hotspots available.

Visitors can register for an iTaiwan account at Taiwan Tourism Bureau centers and transportation hubs with their passport, granting them free Wi-Fi access in cities like Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan.

4. Chinese artifacts

While you might expect it to be in Beijing or Shanghai, the National Palace Museum in Taipei boasts the world's largest collection of Chinese artifacts and artwork, with over 650,000 items in its permanent collection.

Chinese history is brought to life through bronze sculptures, jade carvings, calligraphy, lacquerware, and other historical treasures—many of which once belonged to China's imperial families. Highlights include a strangely realistic meat-shaped stone and a jadeite cabbage.

Despite numerous expansions, only a small portion of the collection is on display at any given time (no more than 10,000 items), making the museum worth multiple visits throughout the year.

5. Animated news

With a team of around 400 animators, Taiwan's Next Media Animation (NMA) can transform any news story into a cartoon in as little as 90 minutes (‘making-of’ video available here).

Even more impressive: the videos are often satirical, wildly exaggerated, and downright hilarious.

Founded by a Hong Kong media mogul, the studio took infotainment to a whole new level. Established in 2007 to produce CGI-animated news segments for Apple Daily in Hong Kong and Taiwan, the world was introduced to Taiwan’s animation talent with their viral 2009 video reimagining what might have happened during Tiger Woods' infamous car crash.

The video depicted Tiger Woods' ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, chasing his car with a golf club after discovering his affair. After the video went viral, the company expanded to serve international audiences in Japanese and English. Some of their recent popular works include a video about the execution of Kim Jong-un’s uncle and a satirical take on 'five stories that need to die in 2014.'

6. Mock meat

As one of the world’s most vegetarian-friendly places, Taiwan boasts about 6,000 restaurants serving a wide range of mouthwatering vegetarian dishes to cater to the 10% of locals who avoid meat. While India may offer more variety, Taiwan is the best spot if you're craving the taste of meat without actually eating it. Yes, we're talking about mock meat.

Considering how central meat is in traditional Chinese cuisine, it’s no surprise that Taiwan’s mock meats, often made from soy protein or wheat gluten, are so realistic they can fool even the most devoted meat lovers.

While there have been scandals involving actual meat found in dishes marketed as mock meat, Taiwan’s mock meat industry continues to thrive and is considered a staple of local cuisine. Mock meat stir-fries, in particular, taste surprisingly close to the real thing.

7. Little League baseball

Baseball is Taiwan’s most beloved sport, with diamond fields almost as common as dumplings across the island.

Taiwan holds the record for the most Little League World Series championships (17), nearly twice the number of its closest competitor, Japan. Adding to their trophy collection, a team from Taiwan also won the 2013 Junior League Baseball World Series.

8. National health coverage

Taiwan boasts one of the best universal healthcare systems in the world. Legal residents can visit any specialist, and doctors nationwide can access their complete medical records via a smart card, offering both Western and traditional Chinese treatments.

Fees are directly billed and reimbursed by the National Health Insurance Administration, which operates with the lowest administrative costs in the world at just 2%.

9. Hello Kitty obsession

Taiwan’s love for the Japanese-born Sanrio character goes beyond themed restaurants. The island also became the first in the world to offer Hello Kitty-branded beer.

Brewed by Taiwan Tsing Beer, this unique drink debuted earlier this year. It offers a light, fruity taste with flavors ranging from lime to a daring banana infusion.

In 2013, Eva Airways made headlines by bringing back its Hello Kitty-themed planes, adorning everything from the exterior livery to the headrest covers, even cutting fruit into the shape of the famous cat.

Eva Airways’ dedicated Hello Kitty Jets website offers fun trivia, like Hello Kitty’s height (five apples tall) and weight (three apples).

The Grand Hi-Lai Hotel in Kaohsiung features Hello Kitty-themed rooms, where the iconic cat’s ribbon and silhouette are stamped on almost every surface in sight.

From pink kitty curtains to Hello Kitty bath amenities, tea sets, and even a radio playing the cat’s music, the experience is complete. Still not enough? You can even book a breakfast with a ‘live,’ talking, and moving Hello Kitty.

10. Little dumplings

While xiaolongbao is traditionally a Shanghai creation, Taiwan is slowly becoming a global dumpling sensation, one soup-filled bite at a time. What began as a single shop in Taipei, Din Tai Fung, now serves its famous xiaolongbao in countries from Australia to Thailand and the United States.

Two of Din Tai Fung's Hong Kong locations have earned a prestigious Michelin star, with its flagship store in Taipei making it into the Miele Guide. Not bad for a chain, especially one that isn’t even ‘fancy.’

When Tom Cruise visited Taiwan in 2013, he joined the dumpling-making fun with a cooking class at the Taipei 101 branch, learning how to make 18-pleat dumplings.

Even more impressive? Dinogo ranked Din Tai Fung as the second best franchise for travelers.