Cover of Taiwan
Cover of Taiwan: Revealed
(Image credit: TBC)

Asian hipsters have long flocked to Taiwan for its unbeatable combination of jaw-dropping scenery, culture, retail therapy and addictive food culture -- something the West has only belatedly come to appreciate. And good timing, too, as Wallpaper* recently pitched up in this gem of an island for Operation: Taiwan Revealed.

The mission: to capture, in images, Taiwan's many-splendoured charms, and to document the incredible pool of talent that's claiming the region's cultural and artistic high ground.

Over the course of two diary-busting weeks, our crack team of writers, stylists and photographers scoured the island.

We talked to established architects and uncovered up-and-coming talent who are reshaping Taipei's skyline. We stepped out with a master of modern dance. We dined on an incredible array of street-food and nosed around the kitchens of a new generation of chefs who are blending Western techniques with Taiwan's culinary traditions.

And to work it all off, we took to the road on stylish two-wheelers for a grand tour of the island's Eden-esque panorama of gorges, pristine forests and mist-shrouded mountains.

The results of our caper can be found in a special supplement to the Wallpaper* June issue of which some 30-odd images are previewed exclusively here on wallpaper.com.

It's safe to say that we've just found our new favourite holiday bolt-hole.

Map of Taiwan

Map of Taiwan

(Image credit: TBC)

A mountain road near Juifen

A mountain road near Juifen

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Cyclists on Minzhi Road

Cyclists on Minzhi Road in Hualien

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Taroko Gorge, a marble canyon

Taroko Gorge, a marble canyon that form part of Taroko National Park

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Viewpoint in Jinguashi

Viewpoint in Jinguashi

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Installation by architect Sheng-Yuan Huang at a park

Installation by architect Sheng-Yuan Huang at a park in Luodong, Yilan County

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Taiwans East Coast

Taiwans spectacular East Coast

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Taiwanese bicycles and accessories

Riding High - Taiwanese bicycles and accessories

(Image credit: Paul Zak)

Lu Huang Lu and the Interbreeding Field team at Paradise Lost Park

Lu Huang Lu and the Interbreeding Field team at Paradise Lost Park, Taipei

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Architect Ray Chen on the terrace

Architect Ray Chen on the terrace of his Taipei home

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Architect Kyle Yang of arctangent in his Taipei studio

Architect Kyle Yang of arctangent in his Taipei studio

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Kirs Yao of Arctech Architects inside LangYan Museum

Kirs Yao of Arctech Architects inside LangYan Museum 

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Calligrapher Dong Yang-Zi inside the National Concert Hall

Calligrapher Dong Yang-Zi inside the National Concert Hall, Taipei

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan choreographer Lin Hwai-min with dancers Tsai Ming-yuan and Huang Pei-hua

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan choreographer Lin Hwai-min with dancers Tsai Ming-yuan and Huang Pei-hua -

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

Artist Huang Po-Chih in his studio

Artist Huang Po-Chih in his studio, Taipei

(Image credit: Dana Lixenberg)

333 Restaurant and Bar in Hotel Quote

333 Restaurant and Bar in Hotel Quote, Taipei

(Image credit: Ben Murphy)

L’Idiot, Mediterranaen eaterie

L’Idiot, Mediterranaen eaterie, Taipei

(Image credit: Ben Murphy)

San Hsi T’ang Restaurant, top floor of National Palace Museum

San Hsi T’ang Restaurant, top floor of National Palace Museum Taipei

(Image credit: Ben Murphy)

Taiwanese restaurant

Taiwanese restaurant Aoba, Taipei

(Image credit: Ben Murphy)

Abu Restaurant

Abu Restaurant, Taipei

(Image credit: Ben Murphy)

Taiwanese restaurant Shin Yeh

Taiwanese restaurant Shin Yeh, 85th floor of building 101, Taipei

(Image credit: Ben Murphy)

VVG Table

VVG Table, Taipei

(Image credit: Ben Murphy)

Xiaoman restaurant and tea house

Xiaoman restaurant and tea house, Taipei 

(Image credit: Ben Murphy)

Taiwanese street market delicacies styled on Taiwanese designed tableware

Taiwanese street market delicacies styled on Taiwanese designed tableware

(Image credit: Paul Zak)

Steamed dumplings, blasam pear, Chinese leeks and mixed vegetable rolls

Steamed dumplings, blasam pear, Chinese leeks and mixed vegetable rolls presented on local designed tableware -

(Image credit: Paul Zak)

Taiwanese Tea Ceremony

Taiwanese Tea Ceremony

(Image credit: Ben Murphy)

Back cover of Taiwan

Back cover of Taiwan: Revealed

(Image credit: TBC)

Melina Keays is the entertaining director of Wallpaper*. She has been part of the brand since the magazine’s launch in 1996, and is responsible for entertaining content across the print and digital platforms, and for Wallpaper’s creative agency Bespoke. A native Londoner, Melina takes inspiration from the whole spectrum of art and design – including film, literature, and fashion. Her work for the brand involves curating content, writing, and creative direction – conceiving luxury interior landscapes with a focus on food, drinks, and entertaining in all its forms