Since the establishment of the five-day work week, increasing numbers of Taiwanese are finding the time to pursue outdoor activities and o...
Since the establishment of the five-day work week, increasing numbers of Taiwanese are finding the time to pursue outdoor activities and organised sports. Land developers and government have really, er, stepped up to the plate. Newest is the Taipei Arena, a state-of-the-art sports complex that seats 15,000 within its cavernous dome. The Tianmu Baseball Stadium seats 10,000, and is where many of Taiwan's professional baseball games are played.
Basketball and baseball are two of the most popular organised sports in Taiwan. The teams in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League include Brother Elephants, China Trust Whales, President Lions, Makoto Gida, Sinon Bulls and First Securities Agan. Because the teams don't have a home stadium, games rotate at various local stadiums around the island.
Basketball is popular largely because it can be played indoors and is not dependent on Taiwan's volatile weather. Amusingly, the most strident fan clubs devoted to their favourite stars.
Golf is the oldest organised sport in Taiwan and a favourite pastime for the well-to-do. Most golf clubs are open to the public and only require a guest membership to play. Fees can be hefty, though, reaching NT3000 for 18 holes. The Professional Golf Association of the ROC holds annual tournaments in Taiwan and participates in international competitions.
Martial arts have always been practised in Taiwan as a way to keep fit and keep healthy by regulating ones (vital energy). There are more than 20 different kinds of martial arts including the one most foreigners are familiar with, tàijíquán (taichi). Taichi is graceful but powerful slow motion shadow-boxing and is commonly practised in the early morning as the sun rises. The 2 - 28 Peace Park or the Sun Yat-sen Memorial in Taipei are good places to watch taichi practitioners.
Dragon boat racing, another traditional sport, takes place in June. The Taipei International Dragon Boat Race Championships attracts local and international competitors.
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