Taiwan is situated in the middle of a chain of islands in the western Pacific, about midway between Korea, Japan to the north and Hong Kong, the Philippines to the south. It is 160 km (100 miles) off the southeast coast of Mainland China. Taiwan has an area of approximately 36,000 sq km (14,400 sq miles) and is about the same size as Holland.

Taiwan can be divided geographically into five major divisions: the central range, volcanic mountains, foothills, tablelands, and coastal plains and basins. The central range of high mountains runs from the northeast corner to the southern tip of the island. It occupies almost half of the island. Yu-shan (Jade Mountain), 3950 m (12, 959 ft) in height, is the highest point.

The climate in Taiwan is sub-tropical in the north and tropical in the south. Warm ocean currents give Taiwan a climate that makes vegetation abundant and permits two to three rice harvests a year.

In summer (May to September) the temperature is about 27 degrees C (80.6 degrees F) to 35 degrees C (95 degrees F) with humidity rising to 78%. Winter (December to February) is short and cool (16 degrees C) (60.8 degrees F). Snow falls only on the higher mountains. The typhoon season is from July to October.