There are many documentaries about Taiwan and these ones are some of the best ones that provide insight into the country’s history, culture, politics, and society.
These documentaries cover various topics, from Taiwan’s complex relationship with China to its vibrant arts and culture scene.
Documentaries About Taiwan
Please note that some of these documentaries about Taiwan are political in nature, but there is “no side of the argument” intended in this article. It’s merely suggesting some of the best documentaries to watch to understand Taiwans’ past and potential future.
What do you know about Taiwan? (2023)
That’s a pretty simple but awesome title for a documentary about Taiwan. It gets right to the point.
It shows the lives of “ordinary” Taiwanese and their lives in Taiwan and the beauty and culture of the island. If there was a first documentary to watch on Taiwan this would be a good start.
The documentary is on DW Documentary, a German public broadcast service. You can watch the whole documentary for free on YouTube:
Inside Taiwan: Standing Up To China (2023)
This is one of the more recent documentaries about Taiwan and explores China’s ambition to bring Taiwan under “Chinese” control and what that would mean for the wider world, with the potential for a “dangerous” confrontation.
It shows how ordinary citizens are paying with their own money to train at military camps and the island’s preparation for a possible conflict with China.
You can watch it on BBC Select where there is also an option for a free trial. Trailer for Inside Taiwan:
Taiwan vs. China: The Rocky Road to Democracy (2021)
Another one by DW Documentary also looks at modern Taiwan and its struggles with mainland China.
It shows China’s claims to Taiwan and how the Taiwanese people see themselves as an independent democratic country. The Sunflower Student Movement in 2014 brought out the youth of the country in protest at the government’s increasing economic ties with China.
This one is also free to watch on YouTube:
Yeh Shih-tao, A Taiwan Man (2022)
This documentary shows the life of the nativist writer, YEH Shih-tao who was famed for writing A History of Taiwanese Literature which helped produce future works for literature in Taiwan native to the country.
His writing career lasted over 60 years and he survived many traumatic events, such as the Japanese occupation.
While it shows his life, it also shows how Taiwanese writers have struggled to overcome adversity over the past century.
This is a good Taiwanese documentary to watch if you have an interest in literature, writers, history, and the Taiwanese consciousness.
Let It Be (2004)
This is one of the more different documentaries about Taiwan on this list and shows the lives of several ageing farmers in Houbi Township and shows how the country is mostly self-sufficient in many of its agriculture sectors, such as rice production.
But the documentary doesn’t show just that, it shows how the farmers’ lifestyle has barely changed in 50 years and their relationship with the land and each other.
This is a good one to watch for a more personal look at Taiwanese farmers.
If There Is a Reason to Study (2016)
If There Is a Reason to Study is a documentary that spans 7 years. It started in March 2009, showing a young student named Yang when he was 14 years old and studying at a Junior High School as a grade 8 student.
It follows him and his friends as they go through middle school and high school and shows how their lives evolved during this time and their experiences in the education system of Taiwan.
This is a good documentary on the school system of Taiwan.
Beyond Beauty: Taiwan From Above (2013)
Taking a break from political documentaries about Taiwan and exploring the people of the country, this simple but very effective documentary directed by Chi Po-lin, visually showcases Taiwan’s natural beauty from an aerial perspective.
It highlights the island’s diverse landscapes and environmental challenges and is one of the highest-grossing documentaries in Taiwan.
The movie isn’t free to watch but here’s a trailer:
Hebei Taipei (2015)
Li is a former soldier whose family broke apart during wartime and was born in the Hebei Province of China. He joined the military when young, not because of politics, but to live and survive by helping those who fed him by fighting.
This conflict brought him to Taiwan where he has lived for six decades. He has never returned to his home in Hebei. This documentary is directed by Li’s daughter and is not only a memoir of Li but also the struggles many young men had in the upheaval of China and the birth of Taiwan as an independent country.
“I’ve never dared to cry since I came to Taiwan. Whenever I cry, a war breaks out.” (Li)
Trailer for Hebei Taipei:
The Silent Teacher (2017)
This documentary tells the touching and unique story of a Taiwanese woman who donated her body to science and became a “silent teacher” to medical students. It explores the ethical and emotional aspects of body donation.
Trailer for The Silent Teacher:
The Mountain (2015)
The Mountain takes a look at the indigenous people of Taiwan.
For centuries, Taiwan was under colonial rule from European powers through to the Asian countries of Japan and China and the indigenous people of Taiwan have lived through them all.
During colonization, the indigenous people have had their cultures changed and through the eyes of a Truku elder, this documentary explores the history of the Aboriginal recertification movement.
Trailer for The Mountain:
Short YouTube Documentaries About Taiwan
On top of all these “Mainstream” documentaries about Taiwan, there are many excellent short documentaries on YouTube to discover.
In fact, YouTube is an excellent place to find many good insights into many aspects of Taiwan and all the videos are free to watch.
Backbone of a Nation: The Stunning Mountains of Taiwan
As described on their YouTube description:
Renowned for its stunning natural beauty, Taiwan is dominated by soaring peaks. Around 70 percent of its land area is covered by mountains, with over 100 peaks taller than 3,000 meters.
The island’s mountains play a central role in the cultures of some indigenous tribes and are also home to a wide range of ecosystems. This video explores the beauty and majesty of these Taiwanese icons as well as the massive tectonic forces that led to their formation.
Full video:
Satoyama-Taiwan’s Tenuous Dance with Nature
As described on their YouTube description:
Ting-feng Liu and several generations of his forebears have farmed and made their life here in this highland village in Central Taiwan for well over a century. This century of experience taught respect for seasonal rhythms created sustainable synergies with nature and promoted interdependence with the land.
It transformed Lishan into a beautiful patchwork of paddy fields, ponds, and forests. When the highway came to this once remote rural area, it unhinged Lishan’s finely tuned sustainability and diluted man’s relationship with the land.
However, the discovery of the Taiwan giant water bug in Lishan changed things here once again, for the better.
Full video:
The Research and Conservation of Taiwan’s National Parks
The description on their YouTube video is way too long to put here but to sum it up at the end they said:
Thanks to the long-term endeavours and wisdom of the nameless heroes and heroines, we are now able to understand the wonderful habitats and ecology of Taiwan’s National Parks better. In this film, the studies and surveys of bats, sambar deer, and coral reefs are documented.
Let us follow the researchers’ footsteps to see how they work to produce and practice knowledge for the ecological conservation, the ecological habitats, and the bio-diversity of Taiwan’s national parks. We hope that you will enjoy the documentary and join us to protect our environment.
Full video:
BBC Travel Show – Taiwan Special
There is no description in their YouTube video for this but it’s a good short documentary about travel in Taiwan showing many aspects of the country.
Taiwan Street Food – 5 Must Eat Foods in Taipei!!
Okay, I couldn’t help but add this one at the end as it’s done by one of my favourite food/travel bloggers Mark Wiens. He’s an expert on street food and here he explores some of the best street food in Taipei.
You can’t have a list of documentaries about a country without having something on the food of the place.
One Extra: The Great Buddha+ (2017)
While not a traditional documentary, this Taiwanese dark comedy film provides a satirical look at contemporary Taiwanese society. It offers a unique perspective on the lives of ordinary people in Taiwan.
The film explores themes of class disparity, corruption, and the desire for escapism. It blends elements of dark comedy and social commentary, creating a unique and thought-provoking cinematic experience.
Taiwan
On a personal note, Taiwan is one of my favourite countries in Asia, and watching some of these documentaries about Taiwan will give you a sense of the beauty of the country, its people, and its struggles.
I highly recommend visiting Taiwan someday.
For more documentaries in the region take a look at the 15 best documentaries about Japan.
And for more documentaries about Taiwan take a look at this site.
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