Bernard Noël, Regent Taipei: "How do we understand the differences with the rest of the Chinese world?

"First and foremost, you have to understand the particular nature of the Taiwanese. And above all you must not equate them with Chinese, because in fact the Taiwanese associate this term with nationality and not ethnicity. This type of description should be avoided, even if there's nothing negative about it! In fact, among the population - and especially among young people - there is a certain fascination with Japan, even a mimicry of tastes. There is a definite influence that is reflected in an aesthetic quest that is more palpable than in the rest of the Chinese world.

Visitors to Taiwan will also be surprised by the way they interact with people on a daily basis. The Taiwanese are helpful, talkative and generally easy to get on with. There is a real curiosity about foreign cultures. What I appreciate here is that people take more time to live than in Hong Kong, for example. I also like Taipei because there are gardens and lots of green spaces. It's a far cry from the oppressive feeling you get in other Asian cities.

Which explains why people are probably more "cool than anywhere else. Among my favourite places, I love walking around the Tiennou district, with its village atmosphere, or cycling along the banks of the Danshui River down to the sea...".