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Night Markets, WiFi, Baseball: 10 Things Taiwan Does Better Than Anywhere Else, Praised by CNN

Published: 2026-11-08 👁 100 views

Last updated 2026-11-08 — Taiwan — don’t let our small island nation make you sell yourselves short. Recently, CNN listed 10 remarkable achievements where Taiwan leads the world, showcasing what makes

By MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network, compiled and reported by Chen Guanxin

Taiwan — don’t let our small island nation make you sell yourself short. Recently, CNN listed Taiwan

Tainan Garden Night Market became the 12th most popular Facebook check-in spot in the world in 2013. (Photo provided by Tainan City - Tourism Bureau)

1. Night Markets

CNN reported that although Taiwan is smaller than the "world's park" Switzerland, it has around 300 night markets. Dishes like stinky tofu, oyster omelet, and various skewers remain perennial favorites. Additionally, drinks such as bubble tea and snake blood in night markets are also unique treats. The top three most popular night markets on Facebook in Taiwan are, in order, Tainan’s Garden Night Market, Yilan’s Luodong Night Market, and Taichung’s Fengjia Night Market.

2. Themed Restaurants

Tired of the same old dining experiences? Taiwan’s themed restaurants offer a fresh twist beyond just food. Especially famous is the “Modern Toilet” restaurant, where everything from spatial design to furniture is toilet-themed — this unique humor is truly eye-opening. Other notable mentions include Hello Kitty restaurants, prison-themed eateries, and elementary school-style restaurants, all of which left a deep impression on CNN reporters.

Hello Kitty restaurants and other themed dining spots have become another hallmark of Taiwan’s tourism appeal. (Photo provided by Monocle Editorial Department)

3. Free WiFi

According to CNN, Taiwan is one of the few places in the world that has widely deployed and offers free WiFi services. As of last June, visitors in Taiwan’s four major cities could access the internet via more than 4,400 hotspots.

4. National Palace Museum

Where can you find the world’s richest collection of ancient Chinese artifacts? Not Beijing, not Shanghai, but Taipei, Taiwan. The museum houses over 650,000 ancient Chinese relics spanning various dynasties of Chinese history. Highlights include the Jadeite Cabbage and the Meat-shaped Stone, both beloved by many.

The National Palace Museum’s collection of ancient Chinese artifacts is arguably the best in the world. (Photo provided by Monocle Editorial Department)

5. Animated News

Taiwan’s Next Media Animation company employs about 400 animators. This impressive animation team can turn any news story into animated format in as little as 90 minutes, taking news presentation to a whole new level.

6. Mock Meat

In this category, CNN described Taiwan as the most vegetarian-friendly place in the world. With about 10% of the population being vegetarian, Taiwan is home to roughly 6,000 vegetarian restaurants offering a wide variety of meat-free dishes. But what really stands out is the “mock meat” — made from soy protein and wheat gluten, these meat-like products are so realistic that even avid meat-eaters can hardly tell the difference.

7. Baseball

Taiwan’s most popular sport — baseball — has won the Little League World Series 17 times, nearly twice as many as Japan, which ranks second.

8. National Health Insurance

Widely considered one of the best healthcare systems in the world, Taiwan’s high-quality yet affordable National Health Insurance has drawn many expats to share their positive medical experiences in Taiwan in the comments section of the report.

9. Hello Kitty Craze

CNN was also amazed by the extent of Taiwanese enthusiasm for Hello Kitty. Beyond themed restaurants, there are Hello Kitty-painted airplanes, Longshan Beer, and hotel rooms dedicated to the Sanrio character, showcasing the nation’s deep love for Hello Kitty.

The “Hello Kitty Hand-in-Hand” plane was the first Hello Kitty-painted aircraft to fly across the Pacific under EVA Air. (Photo provided by EVA Air)

10. Xiao Long Bao

Although xiao long bao (soup dumplings) originated in Shanghai, Taiwan’s version has earned its own place in the dumpling world, and the internationally renowned Din Tai Fung has received high praise.

● Further Reading:

Monkey Cave Cat Watching: New cat toilets and guard booths unveiled

www.mook.com.tw/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=9444

Taiwan’s xiaolongbao are famous worldwide. (Image provided by EVA Air)

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