People from China gradually came into contact with Taiwan by the time of the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) and Han Chinese people started settling there by the early 17th century. The island became known by the West when Portuguese explorers discovered it in the 16th century and named it Formosa. A comprehensive budget travel guide to Taiwan with tips on what to do, where to stay, transportation, costs, and ways to save! Plan your Taiwan trip with this ultimate guide: top attractions, itineraries, food tips, transportation, culture, and travel advice for every traveler. Taiwan is an island in the western Pacific Ocean that lies roughly 100 miles (160 km) off the coast of southeastern China. Taipei, in the north, is the seat of government of the Republic of China (ROC; Nationalist China). With its unique fusion of cultures, breathtaking scenery, diverse cuisine, exciting city life and well-developed hospitality industry, Taiwan is an ideal destination for many types of travelers. With around 23.9 million inhabitants, Taiwan is among the most densely populated countries. Taiwan has been settled for at least 25,000 years. Ancestors of Taiwanese indigenous peoples settled the island around 6,000 years ago. Un sondage du 30 mai 2016 31 mené par le Taiwan Indicators Survey Research indique en effet que 52,6 % des habitants seraient favorables à une indépendance officielle, 30,9 % y seraient opposés et 16,5 % seraient indécis. But Taiwan sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically-elected leaders. Taiwan has strong links to China, its biggest trading partner. And. The Republic of China (ROC; Chinese: 中華民國; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó), commonly known as Taiwan, is a self-governing country in East Asia. The Republic of China once governed all of China (from 1911 to 1949) but moved to the island of Taiwan after their defeat in a Chinese civil war. Taiwan (Republic of China) is located about 160 km off the Southeast coast of the continent of Asia, at the western edge of the Pacific Ocean between Japan and the Philippines.