Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mainlanders
Around 13% of the people are those and their descendents who immigrated following
WWII and the defeat of the Nationalist Army by the communists in 1949. They tend to
be concentrated in urban areas such as in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung and are among
the most educated, connected and wealthy of citizens, but also among the most poor. In-
termarriage and a Taiwan-centered consciousness among the young has made the label
somewhat passe, though one still hears the phrase 'high-class waishengren' used as a
mark of distinction in certain circles.
Indigenous People
The population of Taiwan's 14 officially recognised aboriginal tribes is around half a
million (2% of the total population). Villages are concentrated along the east coast and
the mountainous interior, though many young aboriginals work in the major cities. Al-
though aboriginal people are by far the least prosperous, and most discriminated against,
group in Taiwan, in recent years many villages have seen a rebirth of indigenous prac-
tices and pride and have begun building a sustainable and non-exploitative tourism in-
dustry around traditional culture.
Nearly all aboriginals speak Mandarin in addition to their own tribal languages. DNA
tests have shown that 88% of ethnic Taiwanese have some aboriginal blood in them,
likely owing to the lack of Chinese female settlers in the early days.
Aboriginal tribes in Taiwan include the following:
Amis
(population 184,000) Mostly live on the east coast in Hualien and Taitung Counties.
Paiwan
(population 88,000) Live in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County.
Atayal
(population 80,000) Across the central and north mountainous regions with Wulai
(near Taipei) their most northerly extent.
Bunun
(population 51,000) Live in the central and southern mountains as well as Taitung
County.
Truku
(Taroko; population 26,000) Live in Taroko Gorge and other parts of Hualien.
Tao
(Yami; population 3900) Live only on Lanyu Island.
One of the best books for a quick understanding of the Taiwanese character in all its
quirks and qualities is Steve Crook's
Dos and Don'ts of Taiwan
.
