The people are friendly. It's an open, liberal society with a vigorous mindset and democratic development.
In short, about 3,000 mainland students who have studied in Taiwan say it's an eyes-wide-open experience and a once-in-a-lifetime must-do.
The students have returned home after engaging in various short-term exchange programmes on the island in the past several years. But a high percentage recommend the Taiwanese experience to fellow students.
'It's a worthy experience, and I am already missing it,' said Huang Xiaolin , a finance major at Yanan University in Shaanxi who recently completed a four-month exchange programme at Shih Hsin University in Taipei.
In yet another sign of warming cross-strait relations, Taiwan's legislature approved a bill on August 19 to allow up to 2,000 students from the mainland to study at 168 universities and academic institutes in Taiwan each year. The students, in anticipation, began enrolling for regular studies as early as March.
The ruling came after more than 13 years of debate, some of which was violent, and is expected to attract a number of mainland students who are curious about everything to do with Taiwan - a territory the mainland has long claimed as a breakaway province that must be brought back to its fold.
Unlike students on short-term exchange programmes, who may stay in Taiwan for no more than a year, students of master's and doctoral programmes may apply to study in Taiwan for two years, which can be extended for two more years. Students who apply for four-year bachelor programmes in local universities can come as early as next September, according to the latest decision.