Mainland Tourists Top Taiwan Favorites: Fruits & Coffee Shops

When mainland Chinese travellers first get the chance to visit Taiwan on their own, what really grabs their attention? It turns out it’s not just the famous night markets or scenic national parks—it’s something more everyday yet uniquely local. A major online poll sought to find out exactly what makes Taiwan appealing to its growing number of individual mainland visitors.

The top two things mainland tourists love most about Taiwan are its tropical fruits and its characterful independent coffee shops. These beat out even well-known cultural spots like hot springs, night markets, and public bookstores in the poll.

What the Poll Found: Taiwan’s Top 10 Attractions for Mainlanders

Conducted by Qunar.com (China’s largest Chinese-language travel website), the “100 Reasons to Love Taiwan” vote collected responses from mainland tourists. The results showed clear favourites. Leading the list were:

• Tropical fruits (No. 1)
• Unique coffee shops (No. 2)
• 24-hour Eslite Bookstore
• Popular TV show Kangxi Lai Le (“It’s Making Waves Across the Strait”)
• Hot spring hotels
• Shilin Night Market
• Kenting National Park
• Seaside hostels
• Convenient MRT (public transit)
• Writer Sanmao

Rapidly rising in popularity were oyster omelettes , budget-friendly homestays , and Taipei’s trendy Wufenpu shopping area.

Why Aren’t More Mainlanders Visiting Taiwan Right Now?

Despite strong interest, actual visitor numbers didn’t surge in July and August 2011. The much-anticipated launch of individual travel from mainland China to Taiwan took place on June 28, 2011—but the summer months didn’t see the expected flood of arrivals.

According to Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, Tourism Bureau Director-General Lyu Shyh-zhen explained the slower-than-expected start. She pointed out two main factors: first, travel agencies on the mainland were still getting used to the new individual travel procedures; second, July and August are peak domestic travel season in Taiwan, with hotels and scenic spots already packed with local holidaymakers. That made it harder for mainland tourists to secure lodging, dampening enthusiasm. However, she predicted that starting in September, numbers would climb significantly.

How Taiwan’s Tourism Industry Is Preparing for the Influx

With the understanding that September would bring more individual travellers, Taiwan’s tourism businesses began gearing up. Qunar.com partnered with Liontravel.com (Taiwan’s largest travel company) and its media arm Xinmedia.com to launch a special campaign: “Travel Taiwan with Hotel Inspectors in August.”

From August 10, six Qunar.com hotel inspectors—Le Yuelyue, Liu Mingying, Chen Hewei, Li Jia, Zhang Yuemo, and Zhuang Jing—embarked on a 7-day, 6-night trip across Taiwan. They explored six distinct themed routes:

• Taiwan’s Wild Nature
• Taiwan’s Food Map
• Following the Michelin Guide in Taiwan
• Discovering Taiwan’s Folk Culture
• Taiwan in Film
• Taiwan’s Romantic Spots

The goal? To gather fresh, detailed insights to help prepare for the upcoming wave of mainland individual travellers—and to showcase the full range of what Taiwan has to offer beyond the obvious.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top two things mainland Chinese tourists love most about Taiwan?

According to a 2011 Qunar.com poll, the top two attractions for mainland visitors to Taiwan are tropical fruits and unique, independent coffee shops. These ranked higher than night markets, hot springs, and cultural landmarks.

Why weren’t there more mainland tourists visiting Taiwan in July and August 2011?

Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau cited two main reasons: local travel agencies were still adapting to the new individual travel application process, and July–August is peak tourist season domestically, making it hard for mainland visitors to find hotel rooms and crowding popular sites.

When did individual travel from mainland China to Taiwan officially begin?

Individual mainland Chinese travellers were first allowed to visit Taiwan independently starting June 28, 2011, following the official launch of the program.

What special event did Qunar.com organize to promote Taiwan travel in August 2011?

Qunar.com partnered with Liontravel.com and Xinmedia.com to run the “Travel Taiwan with Hotel Inspectors in August” campaign, where six hotel inspectors explored six different themed itineraries across Taiwan to gather firsthand experiences and insights.

Which Taiwan attractions saw fast-growing popularity according to the poll?

Besides the top-ranked fruits and coffee shops, oyster omelettes , budget homestays , and Taipei’s Wufenpu shopping district showed the fastest increases in votes among mainland tourists.

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