From October - November 2018 I travelled to Taiwan to escape my 40th birthday. Aside from a childhood of toys stamped with 'Made in Taiwan', and reading more recently that two-thirds of the world's semiconductors are made there, I really had very little idea of what to expect.

From the tasty night markets of Taipei, to the crazy firecracker streets of the triennial Wang Yeh Boat Burning festival in Donggang. And from the surf shacks of Dulan, epic temples in Kaohsiung, to whizzing around Little Liuqiu Island on an electric moped en route to snorkel with giant sea turtles, it had far more to see than the industrial land I had imagined.

The title of my series is taken in part from the name of the Taiwanese flag, and is meant to reflect what a sunny, friendly and fascinating place it is.


The Eyes Have It. Ningxia Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Crosstown Traffic. Taipei, Taiwan 2018.


Sharpened Canines. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018


No Hang Ups. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Skipped Track. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018


The Light That Never Goes Out. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018


Cruise Control. Donggang, Taiwan 2018


Man and Machine. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Aim Higher. Ningxia Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Golden Years. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Set Sail. Little Liuqiu Island, Taiwan 2018


Under the Dome. Formosa Boulevard MRT station, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018

Designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata, the ‘Dome of Light’ (at 30m diameter and with 4,500 panels) is the world’s largest glass work of art.


Sweep Away The Sunshine. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018


Man The Desk. Donggang, Taiwan 2018


Palm Reader. Donggang, Taiwan 2018.


Doin' Great. Longshan Temple, Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Underneath Flower Vase Rock. Little Liuqiu Island, Taiwan 2018


Walk The Line. Little Liuqiu Island, Taiwan 2018


Speed Kings. Little Liuqiu Island, Taiwan 2018


The Devil You Know. Ningxia Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Space Cadet. Ningxia Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Emperor Clothing. Liuhe Night Market, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018


See Daylight. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018


The Rough And The Smooth. Ningxia Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Ten Green Bottles. Liuhe Night Market, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018


House of Horrors. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018



Make Your Presence Felt. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018

Seen in the garden of Fo Guang Shan, the the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan.


Neighbourhood Watch. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018

Golden monks in the garden of Fo Guang Shan, the the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan.


High Maintenance. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018

Gardeners work at Fo Guang Shan, the the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan.


Gold Top. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018

A monk enters one of the towers at Fo Guang Shan, the the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan.


Live Life Like It's Golden. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018

Fo Guang Shan, the the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. Shown here is the enormous Shakyamuni Buddha at the end of a path.


Colour Gap. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018


Inside Out. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018.

The National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, the largest arts venue in the world, containing four theatres and the largest pipe organ in Asia.


Comb Over. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Joystick. Donggang, Taiwan 2018


Miles Ahead. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


When Work Rolls Around. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018


On A Stick. Ningxia Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Pace. Xi Ben Yuan Temple, Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Raise The Roof. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018


Parlour Games. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Put A Pin In It. Ningxia Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Bobby. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Squish. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Trailing in the Wake. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Life Is A Journey. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018


Tyres On Fire. Little Liuqiu Island, Taiwan 2018


Two-Up Two-Down. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


The Signs Were All There. Donggang, Taiwan 2018


Water Cooler. Little Liuqiu Island, Taiwan 2018


We Are your Biggest Fans. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2018


Lights Out. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Which Side Of The Glass. Taipei, Taiwan 2018


Fast Food. Taipei, Taiwan 2018

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The following shots show some of the sides of the fishing industry in Donggang on Taiwan's western coastline, one of Taiwan's biggest fishing harbours.


Take A Load Off. Donggang, Taiwan 2018.

A fishing boat arrives at the harbour, prior to its crew unloading their morning's catch.


The Crew. Donggang, Taiwan 2018.

Fishermen fill their boat with ice to store their catch.


Fish Out Of Water. Donggang, Taiwan 2018.

Tuna is sprayed with water in a loading bay, before being taken to a truck for transport.


Harbour Feelings. Donggang, Taiwan 2018.

Loaders are used to transport tuna and other fish from the harbour to trucks, before being transported to the rest of the country.


Shipyard. Donggang, Taiwan 2018.

Sign painters work in a shipyard in the important fishing township of Donggang on Taiwan's western coastline.


Furball. Huaqiao Fish Market, Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018

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The following shots were all taken in Donggang Township during the week-long festivities of the triennial Wang Yeh Boat Burning Festival


Think Pink. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018


Temples. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018.

Monks watch the festivities in the street, illuminated by nearby shop signs.


Pole Position. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018

Two performers take a break from performing in the street.


Dragon For Too Long. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018


A Face in the Crowd. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018

A masked performer during a dance outside a temple.


Red Lantern. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018.

A vendor paints a symbol onto a lantern before a sale.


Red Riding. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018.

Taken in the square by Donglong Temple. This square is where the boat is stored for the week before it goes up in flames.


Food For Thought. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018.


Step Outside The Line. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018.

Parades continuously traverse the streets, from morning until night for its duration. Trucks such as this one are full of food and drink items, handed out as gifts to passersby.


Street Light. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018.


Led Down The Alley. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018

Many of these illuminated palanquin-like structures are carried through the streets while people set off firecrackers, watch dancing parades, and are handed free offerings of food and drink.


On The Shoulders Of Giants. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018.


You're On Fire! Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018.


The Golden Boat. Donggang Township, Taiwan 2018.

The boat is stored here, in the square by Donglong Temple, for the week before it goes up in flames.
© Michael Goldrei 2024